Call to Order

 Chair Randall called the meeting to order at 3:31.

Agenda Additions or Deletions

 The following items were added to the agenda:
· Chair’s Report
· Resolution – Expression of Gratitude to New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) for Assistance with Biggs B Power Outage – Facilities Division

Persons Wishing to Address the Committee

 Doug Albern, resident of Gulf Road, McLean, addressed the Committee regarding specific concerns related to the McLean-Cortland Road reconstruction project.  He spoke of the curb-cut and sidewalk placements on his property and what he believes to be inappropriate for the grade and proposed design.  Mr. Albern has spoken to the project engineer and Mr. Lampman about the concerns and was informed initially that it would be addressed, however, was subsequently informed by Mr. Lampman that the cost of a reinstallation would not be covered in the budget.  Following discussions, Mr. Albern witnessed that the Fire Department curb-cut had been revamped several times and called the matter to Mr. Lampman’s attention, who said he would see if it is possible to do anything further for Mr. Albern.  Mr. Albern is concerned with the grade of one of the driveways as it is significantly different from the original grade.  Mr. Marx indicated he was not aware of the problem until this report and will review the matter and contact Mr. Albern within the week.  Mr. Booth requested an update be provided to the Committee.

 Merry Jo Bauer, and Carolyn Grigorov, residents of Coddington Road, presented the Committee with a letter and copy of a petition from residents regarding the scope and design of the road reconstruction project.  Ms. Bauer said there have been three public meetings and the general consensus of those signing the petition is their concerns and preferences do not appear to be fully addressed; she wished to allow the Committee time to review the matter and place the reconstruction project on the next Committee agenda.  Mr. Marx indicated his belief that it would be more prudent to wait until the fourth meeting has occurred as the project scope and design is significantly different than previous presentations.  In addition, he noted that in order to receive Federal funding toward the project it is a requirement that there be fifteen feet of pavement on either side of the centerline.  Ms. Bauer indicated the concern is not the fifteen feet figure, but rather the twenty-five feet that would include the drainage, shoulder, etc.  She also expressed concern that the improvements will increase speed on the road and would like to see a four-way stop at the Burns Road intersection.  In response to Ms. Kiefer’s question about which portion of the road the references are made to, Ms. Bauer indicated that while it is both phases of the project that are involved, the primary concern at this time is with Phase 2, the southern portion including Burns Road.  Mr. Marx briefly covered some design changes that are being made such as a reduction of on-street parking, walkways, and design that will change the scope of the project.  Ms. Grigorov also indicated that the right-of-way phase could be costly as no present right-of-way exists.  Ms. Bauer spoke of the potential loss of mature trees if the road is widened.

 Mr. Booth shared the information provided by County Attorney Jonathan Wood regarding the potential liability the County would have if the road is not up to today’s standards.  In addition, he believed that the County would also desire to continue to receive State and Federal funding for reconstruction projects.  Mr. Booth reiterated his strong belief that if walkways or other non-standard amenities were requested to be included in a project the local share should be the responsibility of the municipality.

 Ms. Grigorov spoke of municipalities negotiating successfully with the State to receive a variance for a ten-foot lane specification due to special considerations.

Chair’s Report

 Mr. Randall reported a meeting took place with Ron Peckham, Executive Vice President, and Mark Petranchuk, Airport Division Manager of C&S Engineering, and Bob Nicholas, Airport Manager, to address concerns noted regarding the lack of clarity in C&S’s presentation for the Committee on the Obstruction Clearance project at the Ithaca Regional Airport.  Mr. Randall said he was afforded the opportunity to personally express concerns and thoughts noted by the Committee.

Approval Minutes – September 26, 2006

 It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Ms. Mackesey, and unanimously approved by voice vote of members present, to approve the minutes of September 26, 2006, as amended.

Commissioner of Planning and Public Works Report

Brown Road

 Mr. Marx shared information received from the New York State Department of Transportation regarding the Route 13/Brown Road/Sapsucker Woods Road intersection.  He expressed disappointment at the limited scope of the review and analysis and noted that another serious accident had taken place this past week at the intersection.  Mr. Marx has written a response expressing his dismay and requesting a more comprehensive review as it is thought the present one considered only right-angle accidents which is an incomplete analysis and therefore reached an erroneous conclusion.  Ms. Kiefer said the staff at the Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology has indicated a willingness to close off their end of Sapsucker Woods Road if possible due to employee injuries at the intersection.

Solid Waste Fire

 Mr. Marx reported the afternoon of October 23rd there was a small fire inside of a truck loading solid waste inside the Central Processing Facility building.  Although the cause is not fully determined it appears that an inflammable material had been mixed with the solid waste and ignited.  The truck was driven outside and local firefighters requested the load be dumped in order to spread out the material and fully extinguish the fire.  A press release was issued asking residents to be cautious of the type of material being set out for pick up, or when brining in their own solid waste.

County Employee Sustainability Committee Process

 Mr. Marx reported a resolution will be brought forward to the next Government Operations Committee meeting to provide the Sustainability committee with a charge regarding work on developing a sustainability plan for County government.

Black Diamond Trail

 Mr. Marx spoke of the Black Diamond Trail that has been proposed to connect the County’s state parks, noting that he has spoken to Mr. Sczesny, Highway Supervisor, about the possibility of utilizing highway crews for several days in the winter off-season to clear areas of the trail.  He believes that when combined with municipal crews from the three towns and City, and New York State Parks the work could be completed within several years and this work could contribute toward improving municipal cooperation.  The land in question is almost all owned by the State, however there are some areas where discussions would be required such as a small privately owned section and how to best link the trail within the City limits.

Mowing of County Roads

 Ms. Kiefer spoke of Environmental Management Council member Ms. Ashley Miller’s past letter to the Ithaca Journal that suggests the County consider seeding of wildflowers and low-maintenance plants rather than mowing shoulders and ditches so frequently.  With no highway staff in attendance, she gave Mr. Marx a copy of the letter and hoped this would be addressed at a future meeting.

Executive Session

 It was MOVED by Ms. Mackesey, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously approved by voice vote, to enter into an executive session to discuss potential real estate negotiations.

 An executive session occurred between 4:15 p.m. to 5:05 p.m.  On motion, the Committee left executive session at 5:05 p.m.

Biggs B Power Outage

 Mr. LeMaro reported on the power outage that occurred at the Biggs B building on October 4th as a result of a lightening strike.  He shared with the Committee his experience of having employees of New York State Electric and Gas Corporation assist in determining the placement and extent of the power loss.  Mr. LeMaro reported that a vintage-1965 fuse was blown, and fortunately a spare was available on site.  Upon installation of the fuse, it was obvious that the County-owned transformer was also damaged.  Mr. LeMaro was able to locate and install a portable generator that enabled the building to have power by 4:45 p.m. the following day.  In addition, in order to restore permanent power as quickly as possible, NYSEG Electric Field Planner, Doug Volbrecht worked with the Facilities staff and an outside contractor, Richardson Brothers Electrical Contractors, to develop a solution that could be implemented expeditiously; transformers for the building were installed at the pole, eliminating the need for the County to purchase their own.  He reported that the approximate cost for the necessary wiring was $36,500.  In addition, he spoke of the ability for the generator, which is the size approved for purchase to handle the load extremely well.  Mr. LeMaro indicated it is anticipated insurance will cover the costs of the damage.

 Mr. LeMaro stated that he was impressed and grateful with staff members at the Health Department who as a result of emergency training were able to calmly and efficiently suspend departmental operations at one location, yet continued assisting the public from various locations.  In addition, he thanked Ms. Nelson, Ms. Lynch, and the other staff involved for the ability to work in the technical coordination and dissemination of information to the public.

 Mr. LeMaro said as a result of the outstanding commitment to assisting the County to restore power to the Biggs B building by the staff of NYSEG, he would like to have a resolution of appreciation brought forward.

It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Ms. Mackesey, and unanimously approved by voice vote, to recommend approval of the following resolution to the full Legislature.  RESOLUTION APPROVED.  It was noted that NYSEG will be informed of the date the resolution will come before the full Legislature.

RESOLUTION NO.       EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE TO NEW YORK STATE ELECTRIC & GAS CORPORATION (NYSEG) FOR ASSISTANCE WITH BIGGS B POWER OUTAGE  - FACILITIES DIVISION

 WHEREAS, the Biggs B building that houses the Tompkins County Health Department lost electrical power due to a storm that went through the area on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 4, 2006, and
WHEREAS, New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) responded quickly by dispatching emergency crews to Biggs B to assist in restoring power to the building, and
WHEREAS, upon arriving at the scene, NYSEG determined that the storm had only impacted Biggs B and no other facilities in the area, and
WHEREAS, after determining that the damage was solely to Biggs B, the NYSEG responders, under the direction of NYSEG Supervisor, Daniel Knapp, stayed at the scene to assist the Facilities division staff in tracing the damage within the building, and
WHEREAS, the damage was traced to a County-owned electrical transformer in Biggs B, and
WHEREAS, the County placed a portable generator on site for supplying temporary power to the building until a permanent repair could be achieved, and
WHEREAS, in order to restore permanent power as quickly as possible, NYSEG Electric Field Planner, Doug Volbrecht worked with the Facilities staff and an outside contractor, Richardson Brothers Electrical Contractors, to develop a solution that could be implemented expeditiously and meet the best interests of the County, and
WHEREAS, the permanent solution required NYSEG crews to work with Richardson Brothers Electrical Contractors and Facilities division staff to install new transformers outside of Biggs B on a NYSEG-owned power pole, and
WHEREAS, this teamwork allowed for the work to be completed and permanent power restored to Biggs B within fifteen (15) days after the damage occurred, now therefore be it
 RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, That the Tompkins County Legislature hereby extends its gratitude to the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation for their prompt assistance to Tompkins County in a time of need
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

Emergency Backup Generators for County Buildings  - Report

 Mr. LeMaro provided an update of the Building “C” generator, noting the pad has been poured and appropriate casing for electrical wiring is in place.  It is anticipated the generator, which is special ordered to accommodate the noise and emission standards desired, will be in place by Thanksgiving.  In addition to the generator a transfer switch will be installed.  Mr. LeMaro noted the substantial difference he has had with regard to the contractor who was awarded via this low bid versus other electrical contractors he has worked with.  This contractor has worked piece-meal on the project.  He said although they were the lowest bid, he does not believe the project is proceeding in the most efficient manner.

Damage to Solar Panels

 Mr. LeMaro reported there has been another incident of vandalism to the solar panels located on the Library roof.  Seven panels, with an estimated cost of $1,000 each installed, have been broken as a result of bottles being thrown off the top floor of the new City parking garage.  The Committee discussed the possibility of asking that a screen be put in place to prevent this, however, Mr. LeMaro said he had spoken with the City’s Planning Director who said the screening on the floor below is an architectural detail, and would be much too costly to install on the top floor and the City will not do consider doing so.

Staff Change – Assistant Facilities Director

 Mr. LeMaro reported on a staff change, his new Assistant Director, Steve Christoffersen, left October 13.  Ms. Rachel Kissinger (formerly of Streeter Associates) has been appointed as the new Assistant Facilities Director  Ms. Kissinger, who holds a B.S. in Liberal Studies, was one of the finalists during the recent recruitment process.

Highway Capital Status Report

 The Committee was provided with a written report and noted the following items:

· Ms. Kiefer stated Mr. Charles McDermott of C&S reported the environmental staff of the Federal Aviation Administration has indicated a preference of lighting versus changing the present height of Warren Road in order to comply with the runway extension at the airport.
· In response to questions about the extent of completion of the McLean-Cortland Road project, Ms. Fuller, who drives the road regularly, noted most of the paving is complete and it appears to be in the final stages.
· Mr. Booth expressed concern regarding public perceptions of highway projects, particularly with regard to Coddington and Ellis Hollow Road projects.  A brief discussion occurred during which it was noted that the public does not fully understand the difference between reconstruction and pavement treatments.  In addition, it is difficult for the public to understand the various phases a project undergoes, and how design requirements for State and Federal funding drive a portion of the project design.  Mr. Marx said part of the difficulty is due to the length of time between major projects; if it is occurring after a twenty-year span the suburban sprawl that has occurred requires design changes.  The Committee stated an explanation of the design process and funding of projects should be more clearly defined, as well as making it clear that although resident concerns and preferences would be taken into account, it may not be possible to do.  Mr. Marx indicated his displeasure with the public interaction skills of the consultant working on the Coddington Road project and would not recommend using the firm in the future.  Mr. Marx noted that Pubic Works is already planning a handout describing the Federal highway process Mr. Booth requested.
· With regard to Ellis Hollow Road, Ms. Kiefer stated a discussion regarding the color of shoulders should take place.

Audit of Final Payment to Chemung Contracting – Parallel Taxiway Relocation (PHASE II) – Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport
 

RESOLUTION NO.       - AUDIT OF FINAL PAYMENT TO CHEMUNG CONTRACTING  –  PARALLEL TAXIWAY RELOCATION (PHASE II) - ITHACA TOMPKINS REGIONAL AIRPORT

 It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Ms. Mackesey, and unanimously approved by voice vote by members, to approve the Audit of Final Payment as follows:

     WHEREAS, Chemung Contracting has completed the Parallel Taxiway Relocation (Phase II) contract at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport to the satisfaction of the County, and all Prime and Sub-Contractors’ Labor Law Certification forms, executed Lien Affidavit and Consent of Surety to Final Payment have been received, now therefore be it
     RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Facilities & Infrastructure Committee, that the following claim against the County of Tompkins, be and hereby is audited by the Tompkins Legislature:

Vendor                               Payment Requested              Account No.           Amount

Chemung Contracting            9 (and Final)                     HT. 5601.59239      $351,635.74

     RESOLVED, further, that the Finance Director be and hereby is authorized and directed to pay said claim from Account No. HT. 5601.59239.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
(No further action required)

Note :  This was a federal Airport Improvement Project (AIP) funded by FAA (95%), NYSDOT (2.5%) and Airport Operational Budget (2.5%). The total of Chemung Contracting's contract was $4,048,252.20.

Adjournment

 On motion, the Committee adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Karen Fuller, Deputy Clerk