Archive: News

Kate Shanks-Booth Named Director of Youth Services
The Tompkins County Legislature, by unanimous vote, confirmed County Administrator Jason Molino's appointment of Kate Shanks-Booth as the County's Director of Youth Services. (Legislators Leslyn McBean-Clairborne and Amanda Champion were excused.) Ms. Shanks-Booth brings to the position more than 15 years of experience in not-for-profit leadership, more than a decade of that working with youth. For the past two-and-a-half years, Shanks-Booth has led the Women's Opportunity Center as Executive Director, leading the community non-profit with offices in both Ithaca and Syracuse. She previously served for six years as Assistant Director of the Cayuga Heights School Age Program; and before that as the Director of Research and Planning for Community Action Partnership, and as Director of Childcare Services for the St. Joseph School District, both in St. Joseph, Missouri.

The new Director of Youth Services holds a Master's of Business Administration degree and an Advanced Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the State University of New York Empire State College, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Missouri.

County Administrator Jason Molino told Legislators that the new Director was selected from a field of more than 25 applicants for the position.

"It is indeed an honor to serve in Tompkins County as the Director of Youth Services," Director Shanks-Booth said. "I am thrilled to be joining a fantastic team, that doing amazing things in our local communities."

Kate Shanks-Booth will begin service as Director of Youth Services March 11.

Legislature Approves Charter Change Regarding County Veterans Services Agency
Following a public hearing, the Legislature, without dissent, (Legislators McBean-Clairborne and Champion excused) approved a new Local Law that modifies the County Charter to pave the way for establishment of a Tompkins County Veterans Services Agency. The charter change designates the County Administrator (rather than the County Legislature) as appointing authority for the Director of Veterans Services, as is required under New York State Executive Law. Now that the charter change has been approved, Tompkins County will immediately begin the search for candidates to fill the new Director of Veterans Services position and establish the Veterans Services Agency.

Legislature Opposes NYS Executive State Budget Fund Reductions to Localities
Acting on a resolution brought forth by Legislator Michael Lane, the Legislature by unanimous vote (Legislators McBean-Clairborne and Champion excused) went on record in opposition to the proposed and amended 2020 Executive State budget, impacting Aid and Incentives to Municipalities, and County sales tax revenues.

The proposed Executive Budget significantly reduces the State revenue sharing program known as Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM), eliminating AIM funding for all towns and villages in Tompkins County—a total local reduction of nearly $400,000. An amendment to the Executive Budget on February 15 calls for making impacted towns and villages whole from changes to AIM funding by utilizing revenue from county online sales tax, should that online tax be adopted as part of the State budget.

"Instead of restoring AIM funding and signifying a desire by the State to act as partners with local governments, this budget amendment would require counties to make up for lost AIM funding with sales tax revenue, imposing a new mandate on counties," the resolution states. Requiring counties to make up for the State's cut in AIM funding to villages and towns "sets a horrible precedent," unnecessarily shifting the State's burden to local taxpayers.

"We don't need to fund another state mandate from county coffers," Mr. Lane said.

The Legislature urges New York State to restore full funding for AIM from traditional State revenues.

Sale of CDBG Loan Portfolio Approved; Program Income Committed to Airport Accessibility Improvements
Responding to a policy change by New York State regarding NYS Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Income Funds and a challenging March 31st deadline, the Legislature, by unanimous vote , (Legislators McBean-Clairborne and Champion excused), authorized sale of the County's NYS CDBG loan portfolio to Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services for $386,000. The resolution commits County use of the sale proceeds to construction of ADA-related improvements as part of the ITH Airport Terminal Improvement project that will accessibility of the facility to persons with disabilities. Program income from the loan portfolio sale is expected to help cover approximately half of the currently planned ADA-related improvements that are part of the Airport capital improvement project.

Last year, New York State made significant changes to its CDBG Program Income policies, so that as of March 31, 2019 communities will no longer be able to use program income funds and will be required to return all program income to the State. Selling the Loan Portfolio and committing sale proceeds to a State-approved CDBG-eligible activity was the only viable path identified to retain local use of funds while conforming to State requirements. Housing and Economic Development Committee Chair Anna Kelles noted that Tompkins County is the only county in the state that has been able to recapture the money that would have been lost by the New York State mandate. Because of strict State guidelines and the very tight timeline, no housing-related projects were found that would qualify. INHS Director Johanna Anderson expressed thanks to the County for what she called "a herculean task," to make sure that money that was invested in Tompkins County will stay in Tompkins County.

Also related to the Airport project, several people addressed the Legislature during Privilege of the Floor, expressing concern about the Airport expansion, specifically concerns about the U.S. Customs facility that is an element of the project. Some expressed fear that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could take advantage of the facility, others concern about impact on climate change. Both Legislature Chair Martha Robertson and County Administrator Jason Molino responded. "This is not a dangerous facility, this is under our control," Robertson said. "…There will not be tolerance for ICE coming into this facility, period." Administrator Molino noted there will be no access for anyone without going through security clearance, and that under the Memorandum of Understanding governing the facility the Legislature will be able to terminate for any reason with 90 days notice.

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