WEEDSPORT - A couple of longstanding issues in the Town of Brutus are close to resolution - the Joint Planning Board and outdoor furnaces.
The town reviewed the draft of an amended intermunicipal agreement Monday night and is considering a local law to establish a combined planning board.
The intermunicipal contract between Brutus and Weedsport, established in 2002, surfaced during a disagreement regarding the terms for Joint Planning Board members.
The village favored retaining seven-year terms; the town favored shorter terms of four years.
Town board member David Miller said the revised contract eliminates the word “joint” from the planning board's title, without affecting the board's proportional representation, which would essentially remain the same.
“The very use of the adjective (joint) invites division,” Miller said. The new contract creates four-year terms.
While a committee addressed these issues, the board is waiting for input from attorneys.
If everything is in order and all are satisfied, a local law will be adopted that describes the planning board.
The village of Weedsport is holding a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, to discuss the proposed agreement.
The town also discussed proposed Local Law No. 3 on outdoor wood furnaces.
Town Supervisor James Hotaling said manufacturers asked the Environmental Protection Agency to come on board and advise them on developing cleaner burning units.
Hotaling said Phase I units could reduce harmful emissions by 70 percent, but a new Phase II unit will take out 90 percent.
If the monitoring services of the EPA are in place, Hotaling said, “the Phase II units will eliminate the headaches on our part.”
He noted Phase II units are available locally.
By March 2010, he said, the Phase I units end and only Phase II furnaces will be available.
The local law would then only be a matter of checking to make sure the new units are installed according to manufacturer's specifications with the same rules as any other accessory structure.
“As a practical matter,” he said, “we're not going to bother people putting in new units.”
The town now has 12 outdoor furnace units.
The board unanimously resolved to accept the proposal and move forward to the next phase, to hold a public hearing on the issue at the August meeting.
The town law does not address outdoor furnaces in the village of Weedsport.
In other news:
• Engineer Tom Piascik reviewed proposed plans on Water District No. 6 and Sewer District No. 1.
He also amended his report on Water District No. 7 to respond to the USDA Rural Development's engineer.
A preliminary determination package for funding this proposed district was prepared and submitted to Rural Development.
Engineering work to prepare a map, plan and report encompassing the area north of Route 31 to approximately the Seneca River costs $15,000.
The U.S. Rural Development Agency has approved a grant up to the amount of $7,500 in matched money to assist with the costs of this proposal.
Brutus has received a grant from the USRDA up to the amount of $7,500.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
The intermunicipal contract between Brutus and Weedsport, established in 2002, surfaced during a disagreement regarding the terms for Joint Planning Board members.
The village favored retaining seven-year terms; the town favored shorter terms of four years.
Town board member David Miller said the revised contract eliminates the word “joint” from the planning board's title, without affecting the board's proportional representation, which would essentially remain the same.
“The very use of the adjective (joint) invites division,” Miller said. The new contract creates four-year terms.
While a committee addressed these issues, the board is waiting for input from attorneys.
If everything is in order and all are satisfied, a local law will be adopted that describes the planning board.
The village of Weedsport is holding a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, to discuss the proposed agreement.
The town also discussed proposed Local Law No. 3 on outdoor wood furnaces.
Town Supervisor James Hotaling said manufacturers asked the Environmental Protection Agency to come on board and advise them on developing cleaner burning units.
Hotaling said Phase I units could reduce harmful emissions by 70 percent, but a new Phase II unit will take out 90 percent.
If the monitoring services of the EPA are in place, Hotaling said, “the Phase II units will eliminate the headaches on our part.”
He noted Phase II units are available locally.
By March 2010, he said, the Phase I units end and only Phase II furnaces will be available.
The local law would then only be a matter of checking to make sure the new units are installed according to manufacturer's specifications with the same rules as any other accessory structure.
“As a practical matter,” he said, “we're not going to bother people putting in new units.”
The town now has 12 outdoor furnace units.
The board unanimously resolved to accept the proposal and move forward to the next phase, to hold a public hearing on the issue at the August meeting.
The town law does not address outdoor furnaces in the village of Weedsport.
In other news:
• Engineer Tom Piascik reviewed proposed plans on Water District No. 6 and Sewer District No. 1.
He also amended his report on Water District No. 7 to respond to the USDA Rural Development's engineer.
A preliminary determination package for funding this proposed district was prepared and submitted to Rural Development.
Engineering work to prepare a map, plan and report encompassing the area north of Route 31 to approximately the Seneca River costs $15,000.
The U.S. Rural Development Agency has approved a grant up to the amount of $7,500 in matched money to assist with the costs of this proposal.
Brutus has received a grant from the USRDA up to the amount of $7,500.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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