TOWN BOARD MINUTES
January 18, 2000

Posted 1/18/2000

Proceedings of a regular meeting of the Pittsford Town Board held in Pittsford Town Hall on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 at 7:00 P.M. local time.

PRESENT
Supervisor Carpenter; Councilpersons Marini, Higgins, Green; Attorney for the Town Spinelli; Staff persons Duane, Wilson, Beck.

ABSENT
Councilwoman Zutes.

ATTENDANCE
22.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

MINUTES OF JANUARY 11, 2000
A resolution was offered by Marini, seconded by Green,
RESOLVED, that the minutes of January 11, 2000 are approved as submitted.
ROLL CALL: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Declared carried.

RESOLUTIONS OF COMMENDATION: EAGLE SCOUTS
A resolution was offered by Carpenter, seconded by Higgins,
RESOLVED, that Boy Scouts Amer Haroon, Steven D. Pomerantz and Andrew O. Howk will be presented with signed and sealed resolutions of commendation from the Town Board on the occasion of their attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.
ROLL CALL: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Declared carried.

VOUCHERS APPROVED FOR JANUARY 2000
A resolution was offered by Green, seconded by Marini,
RESOLVED, that January 2000 vouchers #36077 through #36319 in the amount of $144,893.91 are approved for payment.
ROLL CALL: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Declared carried.

PUBLIC HEARING SET: JEFFERSON HEIGHTS SEWER DIST. EXT. JH-136 (LANDS OF MALVERN HILL SUBDIVISION)
A resolution was offered by Higgins, seconded by Marini,
RESOLVED, that a public hearing is set for Tuesday, February 15, 2000 at 7:15 P.M. local time in Pittsford Town Hall to consider the approval of Jefferson Heights Sewer District Extension JH-136 (Lands of Malvern Hill Subdivision).
ROLL CALL: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Declared carried.

JOHN MITCHELL APPOINTED HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION VICE CHAIR FOR 2000
A resolution was offered by Carpenter, seconded by Marini,
RESOLVED, that John Mitchell is appointed the Vice Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission for 2000.
ROLL CALL: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Declared carried.

DISCUSSION: TERM LIMITS FOR VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS
Supervisor Carpenter said that it has been the policy of the Town Board to limit the terms of Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals members to one seven-year term and the terms of Historic Preservation Commission members to two four-year terms. He said that he would like the Town Board,
with advice from volunteer board members, to review this policy. He said that there is merit in encouraging well-trained, effective board members to serve longer. He said that he will write a memo to advisory board members asking for their input.

PUBLIC HEARING: PROPOSED LOCAL LAW NO. 1 OF 2000; REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED PERSONS
Supervisor Carpenter opened the hearing. He said that the adoption of this law would increase the annual income amounts allowed for disabled persons to qualify for a real property tax exemption.
As there were no speakers, the Supervisor closed the hearing.

LOCAL LAW NO. 1 OF 2000 ADOPTED; REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED PERSONS
A resolution was offered by Carpenter, seconded by Marini,
RESOLVED, that the proposed local law is adopted as Local Law No. 1 of 2000; Real Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Persons. (See Attachment A)
ROLL CALL: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Declared carried.

PUBLIC HEARING: PITTSFORD SEWER DIST. NO. 1 EXT. NO. 66 (LANDS OF 2621 CLOVER ST.)
Supervisor Carpenter opened the hearing. He said that this would be a one-lot extension. The petitioners will pay all costs for the extension. William DuBois, 3 Old Acre Lane, said that he supports the sewer extension but that he would like assurance that there will be no interference with the wetlands at the back of the property where some clearing has occurred. Supervisor Carpenter said that he believed the sewer would be constructed at the front of the property. He said that wetlands are protected from encroachment. He said that he will get back to Mr. DuBois about the wetlands. As there were no other speakers, the Supervisor closed the hearing.

PITTSFORD SEWER DIST. NO. 1 EXT. NO. 66 (LANDS OF 2621 CLOVER ST.) APPROVED
A resolution was offered by Higgins, seconded by Green,
RESOLVED, that Pittsford Sewer Dist. No. 1 Extension No. 66 (Lands of 2621 Clover St.) is approved. (See Attachment B)
ROLL CALL: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Declared carried.

DISCUSSION: TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES
Historic Preservation Commission Chair William Pieper met with the Town Board to discuss circumstances under which the Town could authorize exemptions for properties with historic landmark designations. Supervisor Carpenter said that during prior discussions, Town Board members have agreed that exemptions should be limited to improvements that enhance the historic quality of the structure and should be granted for a specified time period. Mr. Pieper said that the Commission has discussed a three-year assessment reduction. Mr. Carpenter noted that the state model calls for a ten-
year reduction. Town Board members and Mr. Pieper agreed that the cost for improving historic structures is usually higher than it is for other structures. Supervisor Carpenter said that the Town Board will continue to study this matter.

GROUP HOME PROPOSAL: 65 KNICKERBOCKER RD.
Supervisor Carpenter noted that residents in the vicinity of the proposed group home at 65 Knickerbocker Rd. had received a mailing about attending this informational hearing. He explained the mandated procedure for addressing the application and noted that the town has established a Group Home Advisory Committee as a liaison to address residents' concerns.

The Grace Lutheran Residential Services is proposing to establish a group home at 65 Knickerbocker Rd. Thomas Holt, President, Patrick McGrath, Program Administrator, and Mary Phillips, Director of Clinical Services, spoke on behalf of Grace Lutheran Residential Services.

The home has five bedrooms, a large living room, a three-season room, a kitchen and three full baths. There is an attached two-car garage and a large side yard for recreation. The agency expects to improve the landscaping and hopes to install sewers, reconfigure the driveway and to build a fence and a deck at the rear of the property. The agency expects to have a small van that will be kept in the garage. There will be no more than two or three cars in the driveway at any one time.

The clients are six mildly to moderately retarded adults. They all will participate in some type of daytime activity outside the home. There will be one staff person on duty during the day, two at night.

No one in the audience spoke against the proposed group home. Members of the audience who spoke were:

• Eve Strella, 15 Stuyvesant Rd., questioned whether drug-addicted or mentally ill persons could be clients. She was reassured that they could not.
• Jean McAndrew, 47 Jordan Rd., Werner Herrmann, 2 Stuyvesant Rd., and Ed Starowicz, 8 Stuyvesant Rd., saw the group home as a positive addition to the neighborhood since 65 Knickerbocker Rd. has been empty and untended for several years.
• Lynda and David Newman, 6 Tiffany Ct., parents of one of the clients, said that the Grace Lutheran Residential Services has an excellent record at keeping their other two group home properties in good shape and in providing quality services to their clients.
• Others in the audience asked about cars parked in the driveway and about the clients' ability to deal with Knickerbocker Rd. traffic.

Supervisor Carpenter said that he expects that the Town Board will make its recommendation at the February 1 Town Board meeting.

As there was no further business, the Supervisor adjourned the meeting at 8:20 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret A. Beck
Town Clerk

THE OFFICIAL BOARD MINUTES ALONG WITH ATTACHMENTS, IF ANY, ARE ON FILE IN THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE, LOCATED IN THE PITTSFORD TOWN HALL, 11 S. MAIN STREET, AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS OF 9:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. WEEKDAYS.