Councilor Contemplations – February 2020

Sara Bollinger – Manlius Town Councilor

Power to the People!

The big story this month was the outpouring of resident engagement regarding a proposed apartment complex near the Megnin Farms subdivision.  Heather and Katelyn met with a neighborhood group early in February. The Town received dozens of letters and more than 100 people attended the Public Hearing on the 24th.  The developer withdrew the application the next day.

People are using the OPEN PODIUM time.  It is so cool to have a mechanism for people to get their issues raised or questions answered.  Join us before any meeting at 6:15PM.

Solar 

Katelyn introduced motions to provide a tax exemption for residential solar panels and to adopt a unified solar permit and amend the local law to incorporate the unified permit.  Both passed.

A Solar Farm is proposed on Taft Road near the Dewitt line.  LaBella is the developer and Source Renewables will be the operator.  A Public Hearing has been scheduled for March 25th.

Happenings

Brolex Properties has proposed a new town home development on the site of Freeman Interiors off Route 92 between the bridge and the Huntwood development.

The Planning Department Annual Report is now available for public inspection.

The deadline to request property tax exemptions is Monday March 2nd because March 1st falls on a weekend.

John has been diligently working on the live stream for Board meetings.  We hope to be live in March!

Training

Elaine and Sara attended an Onondaga Fire Coalition meeting.

Elaine, Katelyn and Sara attended a three-day training provided by the Association of Towns [AOT].  Ed Theobald was elected first Vice-President of the AOT and is expected to become President next year.