Annexation Special Joint Meeting Monday, June 4th At High School
Tomorrow, Monday, June 4th, at 7:00 PM, there will be a joint public hearing of the Trumansburg Village Board and the Ulysses Town Board to discuss the proposed annexation of two lots owned by William Auble on Seneca Road, west of route 96, into the Village of Trumansburg.
You wouldn’t know this, though, by looking at the official governmental web sites of the Village of Trumansburg and the Town of Ulysses. There is nothing on either site that indicates that this meeting is taking place at all. The Village government calendar shows that there will be no public meetings on June 4. The Town of Ulysses web site shows nothing either.
There was an article in the Ithaca Journal which mentions the June 4th meeting, but there is nothing published about the meeting in the most recent issue of the Free Press, Trumansburg’s paper of record – not a calendar listing, and not a public notice.
I got word of tomorrow’s meeting through a phone call from another village resident, and from an email sent by another resident, Dorothy Vanderbilt. The body of that email reads,
Dear Fellow Trumansburg residents,
I just found out last night about an annexation meeting regarding development of property along route 96 just past the fire station (proposed strip mall from what I’ve been told). I have to admit I do not know many details but I plan to read the attached Annexation document (PDF) and attend the meeting next Monday, June 4, 7:00 PM in the H.S. auditorium. I hope you all can attend as well! It is my opinion–and I hope many of you agree– that this type of development will further degrade Trumansburg!SPREAD THE WORD!
Attached to that email are two electronic documents: A Microsoft Word version of the legal notice you see below, and a PDF version of the petition submitted by William J. Auble. That petition shows that the document was submitted to both Tammy Morse, Trumansburg Village Clerk, and Marsha Georgia, Ulysses Town Clerk. Please look at the documents yourself.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a petition pursuant to General Municipal Law Article 17, has been received by the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses, Tompkins County, New York and the Board of Trustees of the Village of Trumansburg, Tompkins County, New York, for the annexation of the following described territory situated in the Town of Ulysses to the Village of Trumansburg: William J. Auble owner/petitioner Tax Parcel # 11.-2-7.1 consisting of 38.56 acres fronting in part on Route 96 and Tax Parcel # 11.-2-4 (Trailer Park) consisting of 59 acres, 4380 West Seneca Road.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that on the 4th day of JUNE 2007, at 7 p.m. of that day, a joint hearing upon such petition will be held by the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses and the Board of Trustees of the Village of Trumansburg, at the Trumansburg High School Auditorium, Main Street, Trumansburg, New York. At such time and place all persons interested in the matter may be heard. Objections based on any of the grounds set forth in General Municipal Law Section 705 (1) (a), (b), (c), or (d) shall, in addition to oral testimony thereon, be submitted in writing.
By Order of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Trumansburg
Village Clerk
Tammy Morse
Notice is hereby given? To who?
The Microsoft version of the document shows that the legal notice you see above was created on May 10, 2007 at 8:58 AM, and was printed out at the same time.
Where did Dorothy Vanderbilt get these documents? They’re not available for download on either the Trumansburg or Ulysses web sites.
Has there been a politically-motivated selective release of these documents by a member of the Ulysses Town Board or Trumansburg Village Board, or a member of the supporting staff? How come the Trumansburg Free Press didn’t get the legal notification in time to publish last week, but Dorothy Vanderbilt did? Why didn’t Tammy Morse or Marsha Georgia make the petition available to the public online?
I have many questions about the selective publicity for the annexation meeting tomorrow, and very few answers. One thing, however, is crystal clear: The interaction between the Town of Ulysses and the Village of Trumansburg on the one hand and the public and local media on the other hand is not functioning adequately. Maybe it’s the fault of the board members. Maybe it’s the fault of the clerks. Maybe it’s the fault of the media. Maybe we in the public just aren’t showing enough interest to provoke adequate notice of public meetings. I don’t know who’s to blame, but wherever the problem lies, it needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
The issue of the annexation of William Auble’s properties is too important to let these public hearings go without adequate publicity in time for residents to plan to attend. Personally, I won’t be able to attend, as I’ll be on business in Texas on Monday.
The annexation needs to be carefully considered partially because it’s being requested by Bill Auble, who, as I understand it, is no longer a Ulysses resident. Auble has also written some rather rude things about Trumansburg in a letter to the Free Press. Among other things, Mr. Auble claimed that people in Trumansburg don’t know each other or wave to each other on the street anymore. That’s a ridiculous claim, as I know scads of people already here in the village, and have only lived here two years. I wave to plenty of people on the street, and they almost always wave back, or stop and have a conversation. Trumansburg is a very friendly place, and how would Mr. Auble know otherwise, given that he doesn’t even live here any more?
Local legend has it that, when he didn’t get his way in the past, Mr. Auble spitefully set up a pig farm on the property he now wants to be annexed, with school buses buried in the ground, in order to create a literal stink in Trumansburg, along with an eyesore. I don’t know if this story is true, given that I didn’t live here at the time. If the story is true, Trumansburg ought to be very careful in dealing with such a person.
In his petition, William Auble says that the annexation of his property would enable “economic development” and “would allow for the creation of jobs and the availability of needed goods and services”. How? If Auble does not plan commercial development of the property, how would the annexation provide jobs and needed goods and services? I haven’t seen any proof that a strip mall is in the planning, but I can see how Dorothy Vanderbilt would come to suspect as much.
The proposed Water District 5 would be thwarted by the annexation deal, and that might be a good thing. Certainly, any Water District 5 proposal that depends upon the inclusion of people who already are receiving municipal water is not worthy of consideration.
However, members of the Village Board would do well to consider how this annexation will affect the balance of power in Trumansburg. How would the people living on Auble’s property vote in village elections? Would their votes be enough to change the political character of the village, and impact the lives of those currently living within village limits?
Before the annexation is accepted, all these questions should be asked, and answered, at Monday’s public hearing.
If you’re able to attend, leave your comments here and let me know how it goes.
Goods and services: Crystal meth?
Seriously, I see on the map that there are a couple of branches of the Trumansburg Creek running through these lots.
I’d like to see some questioning tonight about what’s going to be done to ensure the quality of this waterway if the land is to be developed.
Recall that the last time the Village rejected an annexation request from Mr. Auble, he flipped off the Village by “developing” his property into an infamous pig farm (it even got noticed by the national media). To shelter the pigs, he dumped a couple of old broken down school bus hulls on the property. He’s a very responsible businessman, that one. Hard to imagine that the Village would seriously consider doing business with him given his history.
So, Jonathan. Any number of T-burgers can confirm that the legend of Auble’s pig farm is absolutely true, proving once again that truth is always stranger than fiction.
Is “X†the drug of choice for this pseudonym? Is it a last name? First being Malcolm?
Now everyone uses pseudonyms. Go figure.
Most of the comments on this blog are those who agree with each other congratulating each other on agreeing. Wow. That doesn’t seem that productive.
I remember the pig farm. It was the perfect squelch. I wasn’t living in Trumansburg at that time but on the road working except for most weekends when I returned here. The pig farm was put there because the land was zoned agricultural and Auble wanted to build a store or two I believe is how it went. Maybe that was a strip mall proposed then too.
Anyway, It would be a most humorous irony if now in order to block the WD5 the most fearful of all things, a strip mall, was enabled in that part of town by the annexation. Perhaps it is time for another pig farm to remind those of the politicians that they do not always win by being spiteful and trying to get their own way by lies and deceit. A pig farm is very straightforward. And funny.
My objection to the WD5 controversy is the use of lies and deceit in order to block the project and not allowing it to come up for discussion for nearly three years now. So nothing is accomplished at all except organizational masturbation and proffering false information in order to spin the viewpoint.
WD5 should have been being discussed for the past three years or more but no one would allow Mr. Austic to present the plan for discussion. There are now and have been only objections and stonewalling to keep the public from considering this proposal because a few Board members are fear mongering about development.
Strip mall would be the perfect result a just desert for this kind of politics of lies, exaggerations, deceit and the usual that has become commonplace locally and in Washington in the last few years. Politics as usual seems to be made up of saying anything to get your way, unencumbered by the truth.
Kind of silly to block potable water, improved fire safety and general progress for some citizens and the community at large because of fear of building, something which may not agree with your taste but may function just fine in the town or village where you live. Now why should you determine what is best for your entire town?
Are you the emperor? Or the king? Or the queen? Why would you presume that your notions of what is best are actually best for an entire area? Do you really think you are smarter than anyone else so you need to control what gets before the public for their consideration? In spite of the fact that Trumansburg has survived nicely in the past?
Why would you not allow the presentation of the actual plan for WD5 instead of doctored, misplaced, misinformed, false, erroneous, mistaken, biased, warped, inaccurate, spun, twisted, propagandized, bogus, phony, invalid, deformed, distorted, misguided, and just plain wrong information regarding this issue?
Raw dishonesty and irresponsibility have characterized this anti-austic and anti WD5 campaign. What is wrong with the truth to start from? Should be an amusing meeting.
Interesting. This meeting has been on my calendar for three weeks now.
It was announced at the last Village Board meeting on May 14th.
Marcia–
I wish you might have thought to tell the rest of us here about this meeting, if in fact you have known for 3 weeks. It does help if folks will share info they have when they come here. I think I can go, but, the late notice that it was planned makes scheduling much more difficult.
Krys,
I guess I assumed that people knew. I did read it in the Ithaca Journal and the meeting notices have been posted. Next time I will make sure I mention it even if I think I’m repeating myself.
Okay so here is the next info even if I am repeating myself. Next Village Board meeting is June 11th Village Hall 7:00. They will be discussing increasing our water rates.
Barry, there is a survey going around in which village residents can voice their opiniions about what they want. In this way, and not in your “I speak for everyone” tone is the “truth” going to be found out.
Why not wait for the results of the study before we decide what to do to develop? Why do we have these back-door unannounced meetings?
p.s. are you the barry that the failed restaurant is named after?
Good question about the secret meetings
Why indeed?
Why not have things out in the open? That is why I ask why the WD5 plan has been kept out of the public view?
Why the board prevents that?
I recall spending several hours at a public meeting about WD5 at the high school last June. A lot of people were there.
I would consider that out in the open, Barry.
Asyou might recall, several people out in the open were lined up for the open-mic portion of the June WD5 meeting, but many of them were unable to talk (the meeting was lasting a long time.)
In fact in the spirit of further openess, Mr. Austic ended the meeting saying that another meeting would be organized in the future so that more people could voice their opinions. We are now nearly twelve months into the future and…no…meeting…yet…
I ask the same question as Mr. Hayes: Why is the WD5 plan being kept out of view? When is the next meeting Mr. Austic and Board Members? I am looking forward to it. Perhaps it could be an annual event?
Water district 5 will probably be klilled. My question was why was M.r Austic not allowed to have those meetings in the beginning several years ago and to present the actual REAL plan? It has still not happened in my estimation. There was one meeting which practically had to be threatened to be alloowed as it was. The board fought it and made it as confusing as possible so the true picture would not be visible. Confusion reigned becasue instead of going to the residents on the district there were allowed a bunch of village people who already have water and do not want to share it. Because they think they have the ultimate say in everything as the center of the universe of the town of Ulysses.
anyway
the annexation meeting was sort of informative. I asked a question which was not answered. That Two Village board members solicited the annexation in order to block water district 5. Is it true that this happened?
not answered because the session was not a question and answer session. However there was another question which the lawyer answered regarding further actions in this matter of annexation. Interesting.
I really didn’t expect anyone to answer that question anyway
Just wanted it in the record. Seemed to take them aback when asked. So probably it is true that the annexation was solicited simply to block water district 5.
Then someone decided these were separate issues. I doubt that is the case. It was only solicited to block the water district. It does not give any control to the village unless they actually buy the property. And that is highly unlikely.
So things creep along at that petite pace.
So Annexation has nothing to do with WD5 but is intimately connected with it.
Interesting. The public has still not seen the actual plan as such because the Board doesn’t allow it. So far.
Should start with the actul plan for sdiscussions not just the imaginings of a few special interests.
i suppose Krys thinks the planners who work for B & L are not qualified because they actually work in planning and probably even have credentials not unlike her own claims.
So who is X? or is it x?
Barry Barry quite contrary
how can you stand all the smell?
Pig pooping this blog
with Doug’s self-serving swill,
and boring us all close to Hell.
Hey barry boy,
I’ll take that as a big fat “yes”
The Free Press has a little scrolling computer screen in their window which announces upcoming meetings. This is nice. If you’re walking by you might want to check it out. I read about this meeting in the newspaper (the Journal), on that little computer screen, and I also got the email.
Some of the posters here make it sound like there was this “conspiracy” to hide information from the public. All public meetings are announced in the newspaper in the legal section. If you have a burning desire to follow village or town government, you might want to get in the habit of reading these announcements. Regularly. The village can hardly be blamed because YOU didn’t read the newspaper! Is it a function of what a pass-the-buck kind of society we’ve become that people blame government when they don’t take it upon themselves to find out information that’s available to them, but instead expect to be notified personally when something is going on in government?
Few people can appreciate the great amount of work that goes into local government. I have no great fondness for certain representatives serving but I do respect their willingness to serve. I’m not sure where these conspiracy theories come from but they seem misguided to me.
no one answers the question of why the WD5 project has never been presented to the public as it stands as a beginning to discourse.
The riddler now eh?
another X druggie?
afraid to acknowledge who they are?
Everyone has a pseudonym now.
So why not use the truth as a start for discussion about WD5?
The lies and deceptions are tiresome indeed. And yes
contrary to this nonsense regarding WD5.
Actually I don’t really care about the water, just that the process should be straightforward and dispense with the spin and lies to bias any information.
Fear mongering I suppose is a tactic as well. — but maybe the truth would be good place to start.
The real plan never has been presented for any discussion. Why?
The annexation meeting was cute better than most TV.
And they didn’t answer that question either. that the Annexation was solicited to kll WD5 but they have nothing to do with one another. More deviation from the truth. Never direct information just spin.
Why not present the actual plan in a meeting and discuss that?
That is what should havebeen happening from the start. Mr. Austic has tried to do that time and again and is blocked while those opposed publish all sorts of imaginary scenarios of horror and development.
It is still pretty comical to see these antics. Entertaining at least.
And um what do you “X” take as a big fat yes?
the restaurant?
not mine and you would know this if you had any history in Trumansburg.
What is a big fat yes?
That your drug of choice is X? Keep doing it; the darwin effect should take care of that.
surely the riddler can do better than that.
Barry Barry quite contrary
is he a total nitwit?
Obsessed and in fear,
he drinks tons of beer,
and bores us with all of his *hit.
Doug Austic has never ever believed in process, consultation, or expertise. Check the record. On WD5, He tried to sneak his pork through from the beginning. He has always been a loan wolf. Then, in an amazing display of cooperation, he elisted his toady Rod Ferrentino to come to the Village Board as an emmissary. Funny, Doug! Then he had his own secret plan for the Village Board that he hadn’t even bothered to tell the Town Board about. Huh? What’s amazing is that he continues to think that the Town is his private sovereignty. Doug, hello, this is a democracy. Process and consultation and expertise are absolutely critical. Get it? Let’s do this right for a change.
barry, what’s with all the drug references?
sounds like you take the X, the way you love Doug Austic so
and since you seem to be so obsessed with drugs, let’s guess yours. Oxycontin? Crushed-up sudafed?
In response to Mary and her electric sign and small type newspaper theory, how about a plain old listng in the village calendar online? Isn’t that where most people nowadays would look? Probably not on a week-old digital sign in front of the most pathetic newspaper in the area. (keep sending me free issues though, they make good bird-cage liners). And don’t you think it’s funny that it was in the journal, not the “newspaper of record” for the area? not funny ha hal. Mary sounds like the conspiracy nut. she thinks the citizens have a conspiracy to get in her way and annoy her with their plebian tastes and outright ignorance as to where to find out about meetings (although it seems to take an unreasonable amount of detective work, as in this case)
Speaking of “newspapers” did you notice Ferrari’s article from the free pres reprinted on the cover of the times a few weeks back? The article referred to a “sidebar” with information, which of course was missing from the times version. Nice editing! And a great metaphor for the missing meeting announcements. Now you see it, now you don’t!
Unfortunately this line of responses seems to have sunk to a low level. Very unappetizing. This is about the time where i take a break from reading this blog because it doesn’t seem to be productive any more.
And many of you are frustrated at the behaviors of local politicians, yet don’t seem to be any different in the way you are debating the issues. Mind you i’m saying some, not all of the posters here.
How about leaving personal insults out of this and sticking to the issues? It seems like people feel really threatened or angered by opinions different that their own. Just my opinion.
Just throwing this out for discussion…
I attended the public meetings in the past regarding the annexation. Previously Mr. Auble was petitioning on his own behalf for annexation.
This time he was approached. Very different thing.
So, If I were him, I would be thinking that since I got an invitation, the chances are probably favorable to be accepted this time.
What puzzles me is this premature invitation for annexation.
He was approached with the village knowing that we are not in a postion to extend our water services. It is reasonable to think that he wouldn’t want that land to sit while he pays taxes on it, he would want it to generate income. Can’t do that without development. Can’t develope without water.
Mr. Auble will save approx. $25,000 on his water. He pays for his sewer service which we will lose revenue from.
He will pay approx $10,000 in Village taxes. A good savings for him.
Meanwhile on the Village side we lose money for fire protection because we lose that population from the town in the fire contract, we lose water and sewer revenue.
We have to maintain that area, plow roads. Certainly it makes sense that if any parcel should be annexed into the village that part makes sense.
It seems that while we are in the middle of a Comprehensive Plan for the Village that is probably at best a year away from deciding exactly what we want for our community, the invitation just doesn’t make sense to me, premature at best.
So, for those on the board who approached Bill Auble in regard to the annexation my question would be.. What exactly did you have in mind when you approached him and how did you feel it would benefit the Village?
Certainly they must have thought of these things, the problems that may arise, the lose of revenue and they must have the answers to those questions or they wouldn’t have asked him to petition for annexation in the first place, would they?
Excellent points contributed by Marcia. MAkes one think she should still be on a board. Anyway
X just wondering why X cannnot identify him/herself? Never did any drugs myself. Only alcohol and not that now.
High on trivia meetings now.
Oxycontinn never had it. Always kind of preferred morphine for severe pain. Percocet occasionally but not a usual thing only for post surgeries.
anyway who is X ?
and Richard? and Riddler.
Marcia’s comments and Bill Chaisson’s are excellent and thoughtful.
Probably the Name calling is not productive as Carissa says. So many unidentified people now. Phylogeny has really started something for pseudonyms it seems.
It’s true Doug is a lone wolf in personality but he has the benefit of the Town at large in mind in whatever he does. There is and has never been any evil intent in his actions. He knows what is good for the area just by being a long term resident for sewveral generations and has acted accordingly. He does a good job. Now I do not agree with everything he has ever advocated but this one is a good idea and is right to fight for. Ya gotta know when something is important and try for it.
I would have given it up a long time ago. He won’t give up because it is the right thing to do. The town needs that kind of committment. I suppose WD5 wikll be defeated but why not start with the plan and work for or against that not the imagined nonsense thqt gets the publicity. As a result of the cloud of propaganda no one knows what WD5 would do or would not do and has never been allowed to come to discussion because of BNoard members who oppose it but are not willing to take a stand and just vote it down. I guess there really isn’t enough to do for these board memebers.
Reminds me of Congress’ focusing on Clinton’s bedroom when the country was vulnerable to attack. Very stupid politics there too. Focus on the important things.
Water and Fire protection are important and the whole system will have to be expanded in the future. The whole area will eventually hacve to have municipal water and sewer unless truly rural.
Get with the program and let ulysses grow some. We need the tax base in this area.
Phylogeny Pangloss wants to know who the imposters are?
Jonathan,
To answer your question, since you are away.
This public hearing was not a question/answer session.
It was simply a public hearing so that both boards could hear statements from the citizens.
People had questions but got no answers because it was simply a meeting for them to hear statements. If legal questions were raised, those were answered by the attorney’s present who represented the town, the village and Mr. Auble.
It was clear by the very poor attendance that there needs to be further discussion on this matter. It was then that the village board and the town board said they would raise this topic again a their open board meetings to give people who could not attend a chance to voice their opinion. It is at those meetings people need to start asking the questions.
The Village Board and the Town board then said they would TRY to hold another meeting together though it is very difficult to find a date that twelve people can attend at once. Especially during the summer, which I can understand.
They have 90 days to come to a decision on the annexation.
This will go up for a vote by the way.
There will be an emergency meeting regarding the Main Street Project called by the Village Board to take place Wednesday June 6th at 10:00 am in the Village Hall.
Thanks, Marcia, for sharing meetings you hear about. And, thanks Carissa, for encouraging people to forgo the personal insults. Some folks think that public decisions should be made based on whomever can be the most persistently ornery, I guess.
Jonathan, the meeting was sparsely attended, and people needed the typical 20-minute-overview typically given by the applicant with help from the planning staff (in towns that consider this kind of issue more routinely). There seemed to be a lot of unanswered questions and misunderstandings of municipal land-use law. The lawyer from Thaler and Thaler gave a fairly reasonable synopsis of the “public value” that could be accomplished through annexation. Public members from the town, village, and even Covert, spoke. Mostly people stayed on topic, a bit not. The media were there and should be reporting.