Archive: News

Last Saturday (01/14) Senator Michael Nozzolio was in town to meet with Lansing residents and find out what is on their minds.  He held a series of meetings at the Lansing Town Hall, meeting with Town and Village officials, citizens, Lansing's Board of Education and Library Board members.  The most time was given to the citizens' meeting.  "This is your meeting," he began.  "If there is any particular question at the local level that we may address, we're here to do so."

Regional legislators and Sewer Committee members were on hand to report on projects and to be up to date with issues of concern.  Town Supervisor Steve Farkas, Village Mayor Don Hartill, Former County Legislator Tom Todd and current Legislator Mike Sigler and Sewer Committee members Rob Cutting and Andy Sciarabba sat up front with Nozzolio. Other officials including Village Trustee Lynn Leopold, Town Council members Connie Wilcox, Marty Christopher and Matt Besemer were in the audience.


The meeting started with a report by Town and Village officials on the sewer project.  Nozzolio pledged to help the negotiations with State Department of Transportation officials if he is needed.  "I am very very concerned with insuring that we protect our Finger Lakes," he told the assembly.  "To conserve them, and do everything we can to insure that the water quality is there for future generations."

Nozzolio represents over two thirds of the Finger Lakes area in the State Senate, and preservation of the water resources is one of his issues.  He has been involved in the establishment of the Finger Lakes Institute.  "It is an attempt to bring academic study and focus onto this region from the lakes' perspective," he explained.  

About a dozen questions were asked by community members (click here for details).  Nozzolio proved to be thoughtful, well read and well informed on all the issues raised, and asked to speak further with some of the questioners to get ideas for representing these issues in Albany.  His operation is slick -- he travels with photographers, assistants and aids and his schedule goes like clock work.  But he backs it up with substance.  He was respectful of everyone, clearly listening with  for opportunities to help where he can.


Before he left Nozzolio also met with representatives from the School District and Library Board.  

The School  district was represented by Superintendent Mark Lewis, Board of Education members Bonita Lindberg and Glen Swanson, and administrators Pam DiPaola and the new Director of Curriculum Deborah Pichette.  Steve Farkas, Connie Wilcox and Matt Besemer sat in representing the Town.

Lewis and School Board President Lindberg filled him in on the proposed capital project, and issues they face in getting the proposal passed and funded.  Nozzolio noted that "New York City schools have voracious appetites (for money)," and that Central New York must compete effectively for State aid.  He asked school officials to think carefully before supporting the "Mid State Formula," an initiative that is meant to bring more State monies to mid-state schools.  He told them he feels it could have the opposite effect and for that reason he does not support it.  "Changing the formulas radically could really hurt us," he said.

The Senator said that he will be stressing more accountability for school districts.  He said that State grants aren't always used for what they are targeted for, and this has led to distrust when awarding money to districts.  He also said he is co-sponsoring a proposal for school district property tax rebates.


Lewis asked about pension reform, saying that reinstating the policy of employees paying 3% of their contribution would save the district money.  Lindberg added that she thought it would be more equitable for taxpayers.  Nozzolio said that reinstating employee contributions are a matter of timing, and that it would need to be tied to property tax reductions.

Pichette sounded out Nozzolio on whether he would support funding for a Teacher Center in the district.  "We're one of 35 districts that don't have one," she told him.  Teacher Centers are a valuable training resource for faculty and staff, she explained.  Nozzolio said that he would go forward if she got a letter from the Board of Education supporting the effort.  Board members Lindberg and Glen Swanson indicated they would support it.

The Senator asked Lansing Community Library Center Treasurer Cliff Buck, board member Donna Scott and architect Burt Fortner about progress on the Library's capital project.  Last summer he presented a $100,000 State grant to the Library, which spurred to a successful fund raising campaign that has raised over $300,000 to date.  Buck said that he felt confident the project could be completed by the June 30 deadline Nozzolio had required.  But the Senator said he could offer some leeway.  He said it was important to encumber the money before the end of the fiscal year, but as long as contracts were signed that date is not actually required.  Buck was confident it wouldn't matter, saying "I think we'll be able to pull that off."

Scott told the Senator about community programs and building usage.  She spoke of the library as a community space that encourages different kinds of community involvement.  She sited an Eagle Scout project, a reading garden that was constructed last summer, as an example.

Nozzolio was impressed by the Library's progress.  "Congratulations on all you have done," he said.  Fortner, one of the architects and a future board member told Nozzolio "We are grateful you could help in such a dramatic way."

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