Archive: News

Contract Awarded for Airport Customs Facility
The Legislature awarded the bid for the new General Aviation Customs Facility at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, the third phase of the Airport expansion project, funded in part through New York State's Upstate Airport Initiative grant program. The contract was awarded to Streeter Associates, of Elmira, NY, for its bid of $5,234000, submitted June 13th. The award was approved without dissent, with Legislators Amanda Champion and Mike Sigler excused. The project will be funded through the Governor's Upstate Airport Initiative Grant and a portion of the Airport Fund Balance.

Other airport bids awarded, with anticipated receipt and acceptance of associated Federal Aviation Administration grants:

• An award to Tracey Road Equipment, Inc., of East Syracuse, NY, for its bid of $815,526.00 for Multi-Tasking Equipment snow removal equipment (anticipated local Airport share $41,272); and
• Award to Suit-Kote Corporation, Cortland, NY, for its lowest responsible bid of$740,987.50for rehabilitation of Taxiways A&C (anticipated Airport local share $44,919.50.)

Legislature Affirms Support for Women's Reproductive Rights
Noting the passage of what it terms the "extreme abortion bans" passed by Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Louisiana, Ohio, and other states during 2019 as efforts to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, the Legislature passed a resolution supporting women's reproductive rights. The vote was unanimous, with Legislators Amanda Champion and Mike Sigler excused.

The measure states that "the Tompkins Cunty Legislature strongly condemns any effort at the local, state, or federal levels to roll back or overturn the rights guaranteed by Roe v. Wade, specifically the rights of people to make their own reproductive health decisions in consultation with their medical providers." The resolution notes that New York State recently enacted the Reproductive Health Act, which codifies the constitutional standard of Roe v. Wade in state law, removing abortion from the criminal code and establishing it as a matter of public health. While women in New York State are protected, it was noted that women in other states are not protected. Legislators Deborah Dawson, Anna Kelles, and Chair Martha Robertson all thanked their colleague Henry Granison for preparing and bringing forward the resolution.

Contingent Funding Authorized for Route 13 Corridor Study
'The Legislature, without dissent (Legislators Mike Sigler and Amanda Champion were excused), approved use of$171,270 in contingency funds to support the cost of the 2020 New York State Route 13 Corridor Study. As part of the 2019 Tompkins County budget process, $200,000 was set aside in the Contingent Fund for the purpose of preparing a traffic study focused on Route 13 from the Dryden Village to the intersection with Warren Road.

Authorized by the Legislature's Facilities and Infrastructure Committee to issue a Request for Proposals and to award a contract for the corridor study, the Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability, in conjunction with the Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council and the Route 13 Advisory Working Group, is prepared to award the contract to Barton & Loguidice, of Liverpool, NY, as lead consultant for the study, for a cost of $155,700.

The Legislature's action allocates $171,270 from the Contingent Fund to the Department of Planning and Sustainability, the amount sufficient to implement the contract, including change orders not to exceed 10% of the cost.'

Among other business,

• The Legislature authorized the County Administrator to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Cornell University and the Town of Ithaca regarding planned realignment of Pleasant Grove Road and Cradit Farm Drive in the Town of Ithaca, in conjunction with the planned North Campus residential project.
• The Legislature scheduled a public hearing at its next meeting July 16th, 5:30 p.m., on a proposed Local Law that would amend Article 26 of the County Charter. The proposed amendment would clarify the duties of the Office of Human Rights and the County Human Rights Commission. The hearing will be held at Legislature Chambers, 121 E. Court Street, Ithaca.
• The Legislature approved updates to several County Administrative Policies, including a new policy on the Flying of Flags on County Buildings, which has prompted ongoing discussion and several revisions over the past several months. Legislator Rich John was the sole vote against the flag policy, saying he had an issue with the provision that calls for use of taxpayer funds to buy flags for various interest groups and that the County should be very careful about using taxpayer money to support such statements unless they have demonstrated community support.
• The Legislature observed a moment of silence in honor and memory of former Caroline Town Supervisor and long-time community leader Robert Spaulding, who was killed in a recent motor vehicle accident.

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