Village of Forest Hills

Planning Board Minutes

October 21, 2002

Present:  John Adams, Sally James, Herman Lieberman, Ian Prichard (visiting), Ruth Shuler, David Shapiro, Gene Tweedy; Absent:  Michael Germano.

The meeting was called to order by Adams at 7:10 p.m. 

Procedures for minutes:  Shapiro will send minutes in draft form to Adams; Adams will distribute minutes to Planning Board for review and feedback.  Feedback will be reviewed at the next PB meeting.  Once approved by the PB, Adams will forward the minutes to Mary Ann Budall for distribution to the village residents.

Tweedy reviewed proceedings from Council meeting:  Topics included frat houses, road repair, topics to addressed by PB, inclusion of PB members in signing of documents.  Tweedy will coordinate road repair on the north side; Mark Ellison will coordinate the south side.  The road committee functions independently of the PB, and is advisory to the Village Council.  Tweedy reported that it would be more economical to repair the north and south sides of the road at the same time.

Engineering report:  Prichard summarized the location and status of existing sewer lines.  The Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority is lacking funds to develop the sewer system; the village has no official input into decisions of the TSWA.  A feasibility report was commissioned by the Council and has since been completed; concern was expressed about the reduced quality and relative incompleteness of the report.  There are some acute problems within the village which will become worse as the village is developed further.  Prichard suggested that there are other ways of achieving sewer lines at lower cost; he recommended that the residents of the north and south decide what they need and what unique problems should be addressed.  Adding a sewer system (and a fire protection system) would add to our home values.  Tweedy suggested collecting the necessary data and then bringing in a consultant to advise accordingly.

Adams indicated that he will represent the PB to address to the Village Council:

What is the status of the contract between the Council and W. K. Dickson & Co. regarding the Preliminary Engineering Report?  Who on the Council is the point person to pursue this issue?  At what point did the Council pay to have the work done?  Also, what is the PB’s responsibility to getting the roads repaired?  Adams will ask the questions and ask for guidance; he will invite further communication from the Council.

Adams suggested that we seek and create leadership to determine the issues to be addressed, priorities, and strategies for address.  Adams concluded the meeting and dismissed at 9:00 p.m.

Submitted by,

David Shapiro