- By Dan Veaner
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Scott Pinney
January 2, 2008 was Scott Pinney's second day in office as Lansing Town Supervisor. In what is typically an organizational meeting that day he brought an agenda of items he hoped would shake up the Town. Like James Bond and his martinis, Pinney likes his town shaken, not stirred. But Lansing has been both this year, and Pinney says his conservative fiscal approach and drive to make Lansing more business friendly will make town government better.
As Lansing residents get their property tax bills one thing will be obviously better. In response to an inexplicable explosion in county assessments, the Town tightened it's already snug belt this year. Instead of the typical 3% or so rise in the tax rate, Pinney and the Town Board brought the 2009 tax rate in at minus 2%.
Doing that meant paying as little as possible for materials and services, and getting paid for the cost of services the Town provides. That resulted in the Tompkins County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals losing its dog control contract with the town, causing distress to SPCA supporters in Lansing, but saving taxpayers well over $10,000 that alone would have amounted to a large fraction of a percent of the tax levy.
As the dog control contract was being settled, Pinney told the Village of Lansing they had been grossly underpaying the Town for snow removal services. He proposed doubling what they would pay in 2009 to bring the price in line with what it costs the Town to service the Village.
One of the hottest spots in Pinney's campaign and first year in office has been the planning area, both the professional town department and the Planning Board. Pinney contended that the department was misaligned, and the Planning Board was erratic and unfriendly to business.
While he was aggressive in realigning the department, he has been surprisingly tolerant of a Planning Board that many people will only privately whisper that they think should be replaced from the ground up. When one Planning Board member allegedly physically attacked a Town Board member during a meeting he was asked to resign, but not forced (he didn't). Pinney admonished Planning Board members for running to the press prematurely with outdated information when they were unhappy with Town Board proposals. But he took no substantive action beyond a public scolding in a Town Board meeting.
When the Town Board's ambitious proposal to make zoning laws more friendly to incoming business caused public outcry, Pinney formed a committee to study the problem, carefully keeping himself away from the committee so it could function independently. Unfortunately the committee has not been productive to date, frustrating Town Board members who see changes as vital to Lansing's future.
But changes were dramatic in the Planning and Code Enforcement Office. Environmental Planner Darby Kiley's job was suddenly redefined as Engineering and Planning Coordinator. She promptly left for a position in Ithaca's planning office, and Jeff Overstom was hired away from TC Miller to fill the position. Code Officer Dick Platt's position was later changed from full to part time, and he departed for greener pastures. Town officials decided not to refill his position, and Overstrom and Building Inspector Lynn Day are covering those duties.
Pinney says he enjoys his role as the controversial Town Supervisor. He says he wants the 2010 tax rate to be another minus two or three percent, which will mean even tougher looks at departmental budgets. He continues to promote the idea of a town center, but admits that it will come to pass many years after his tenure as Supervisor. He remains a promoter of the Town, and 2009 will certainly see him continue to try to bring his vision of town government to Lansing.
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