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The Town and Village of Lansing boards held a joint meeting at the Village of Lansing Office last night to consider areas where the two municipalities can cooperate, and to discuss a controversial rise in the amount the Town proposes to charge the Village for snow removal.  "There are a lot of things that we need to work together on," said Town Supervisor Scott Pinney.  "If we share things there will be a cost savings for everybody."

Village Mayor Donald Hartill noted that it was the first joint meeting of the full boards since the Village was formed.  He said that while the two governments were at odds when the Village incorporated, they have gradually grown a cooperative relationship that has been beneficial to both.  "We're starting to do more of that with the Warren Road sewer district, our snow plowing enterprise, and things like that," he said.  "I think there are opportunities for other kinds of shared activities."


One of those is the Warren Road sewer project, which was recently approved by the State Comptroller's office.  The $2.6 million project will bring sewer to the Warren Road Business Park in the Town, as well as several apartment complexes.  The two municipalities have agreed on a memorandum of understanding that will allow the Town project to hook into the Village's sewer.  Hartill and Pinney agreed to sign the agreement, and Town Councilman Bud Shattuck reported on the status of the project, and its timetable.

The hot button issue was Village snow removal.  The Town Highway Department handles snow removal in most of the Village.  Until now the contract between the municipalities has been very favorable to the Village.  Last Fall the Town said it wanted to change the agreement to cover the actual cost.  That would mean $51,000 instead of $25,000.  Highway Superintendent Jack French and Deputy Superintendent Charlie Purcell were on hand to answer questions about costs and procedures.

Some time was spent last night clarifying charges that the Town was doing a poor job of plowing in the Village this winter as a bargaining ploy.  Complaints about this winter's service were included in the agenda the Village had provided.

"We came here with open minds," Pinney said.  "We have professional people in our highway department that take a lot of pride in their work.  When I read something like that it's insulting not only to me, but to the entire highway department.  Jack French has worked here for 32 years and he has in no way maintained the roads this year any differently than he has done in the past."


French strongly defended his department, stating that he had only received one complaint from the Village all winter, and that from a person with a history of complaining.  Hartill assured Town officials that he was merely passing on the complaint the Village had received and did not mean it as an accusation.

Pinney passed out packets of documentation showing the actual costs of servicing the Village, including services the Town doesn't bill the Village for, like brush pickup, drainage and shoulder work.  In the 2008-2009 season alone the total was $99,456.  The packet included detailed reports showing the cost of each highway worker, materials, and equipment.

"These are not estimates," Pinney said.  "This is what they used."

The boards discussed different approaches that could be used in a new contract.  Pinney suggested a three year average could help the Village balance costs between severe and mild winters, or that they could pay actual costs each year.  Hartill said that the three year approach might not be necessary.

The Town Highway Department plows about 93 miles of Town roads, 16.6 miles of Village roads, and 42 miles of Tompkins County roads that are within the Town.  Because of lower speed limits, the Village's drainage system, and the way salt melts Village roads are spread with 100% salt.  Because of a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation the supply of salt available from Cargill has been limited, driving the price up.  French explained that the Town has to pay his crew whether it snows or not, and the Village is only charged for the time its roads are actually plowed.

Village officials said they would take the figures back and come up with a proposal.  Several Trustees thanked French for providing such detailed information.

The boards also discussed added services the Town could provide for the Village.  With the Dart Drive project on the slate for this year, French said that he could provide the paving at a good price, and better quality than the Village might otherwise be able to get.

"I'm sure it's going to be a continuing discussion," Hartill said.  "It's important for both of us."

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