Councilor Contemplations – June 2021

by Sara Bollinger – Manlius Town Councilor

Terms of Office for Town Clerk & Highway Superintendent
There will be a new item on the ballot in November! Please take note that the Town Board has recommended extending the Terms of Office for the Highway Superintendent and the Town Clerk from two years to four. This requires that voters to flip over the ballot in November where these questions are asked and vote.


3GI Central New York Inland Port
presented a revised plan for a zone change from Restricted Agricultural to Industrial at the June 9th meeting. The stated goal of this project is to reduce truck traffic and thereby CO 2 emissions. The Board noted that 3GI was not able to show that CSX has agreed to use the container pooling yard if it were to be built, and therefore declined to move forward with the zone change.


Salt Springs Water District
Residents of the proposed Salt Springs Water District were very active during June. There were lawn signs, letters, news articles and public comment. Landowners who support the water district were encouraged to sign a Petition during the month of June.


Solar Farms
There was a public hearing at the Planning Board regarding solar array farms. Councilors Deer and Kriesel asked the members of the Planning Board if they would like a Moratorium on Solar Array Farms, to which they responded positively. Many residents spoke in favor and opposition to the 11.5MW CVE proposal near the F-M High School as well as the LaBella 5MW facility proposed for Salt Springs Road. Councilors Kriesel, Waters and Denton met with the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency [OCIDA] regarding PILOTs for solar array farms.


Climate Smart Community
NYS Consolidated Funding Applications are due in July. The Town of Manlius has elected to apply for funding in support of being a Climate Smart Community. The application includes a component called ‘Comprehensive Planning with Sustainability Features’. Sustainable Manlius launched Get Sustainable, Manlius! at a press conference on June 24th . The program features energy efficiency options from simple to complex.


Recreation
Summer Recreation is back! The Town Recreation Department has hired staff and enrolled children for playground, swimming and sports programs.


The Rules of Decorum were amended to accommodate virtual attendees.


Appletree Ridge Water District
The Town has been asked to consider small water district on Appletree Ridge. The residents have been working with OCWA for some time and have elected to form a district so that the cost of construction may be spread over many years.