Archive: News

Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton (D/WF- 125th District) announced the passage of her legislation in the Assembly to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species across New York State.

“I am pleased that the Assembly has responded to the concerns we see across the state with aquatic invasive species, such as hydrilla, zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil. Once they take hold, eradication of these pest species is costly and often futile, so taking preventative measures with all watercraft as required by my legislation is the only long-term solution.” Lifton explained.

The Lansing Board Of Education (BOE) voted unanimously Monday to allow Superintendent Chris Pettograsso to send a letter of intent in support of a solar power company, Dynamic Energy, application for a NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research & Development Authority) grant to build a nearly two megawatt solar array that could provide 95% of the school district's electricity.  The project is estimated to save the district just under $45,000 in energy costs inits first year, and almost $1.4 million over the 20 year life of the contract.

"The concept is we would contract with this company to install a solar array, a big field of panels," said BOE President Glenn Swanson.  "Because we don't want to use up our playing fields and we don't have enough roof space it will likely be on an off-site location.  There is a lot of work to be done to figure that out and all the legal aspects of it."

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is alerting motorists of upcoming road work on Route 13 in the village and town of Dryden, Tompkins County.

Beginning on Monday, June 30, NYSDOT crews will begin milling the pavement surface in both directions between the intersection of Springhouse Road and Route 366.  The milling work should take up to three days, regardless of the weather.  On Monday, July 7, crews plan to return to place a 1 inch layer of new asphalt on this nearly 4 mile section of road.  This work is weather-dependent and is expected to be completed by July 11.

Legislative leaders joined with Governor Cuomo Wednesday to announce an agreement on a number of legislative measures to fight the rising heroin and opioid epidemic. These measures were a result of legislative recommendations first proposed by the New York State Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, of which Senator Mike Nozzolio is the Vice Co-Chairman.

“The heroin crisis has become an epidemic that is destroying countless lives and families across our State and Nation. No longer is heroin addiction only found in the inner big cities, but is all too prevalent in our suburbs, small cities and rural areas,” said Nozzolio. “This agreement represents an important step in combating the growing Opioid epidemic and I am pleased with Governor Cuomo’s leadership on this issue. I also applaud my colleagues on the State Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction who help bring this issue to the forefront.”

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today that his office has identified more than $5 million in unclaimed funds for local governments across the state. After reaching out and alerting officials from counties, cities, towns and villages of this lost money, DiNapoli’s office has returned more than $1.5 million so far. DiNapoli’s office oversees the state’s 31 million unclaimed funds accounts, valued at more than $13 billion.

“Every dollar owed to local governments should be collected and put to good use to help provide essential services for New Yorkers and to relieve the burden on taxpayers around the state,” DiNapoli said. “My office has returned more than $1.5 million in unclaimed funds to local governments in the last few weeks, but $3.5 million is still waiting to be claimed. I encourage local government officials to work with my office so that we can return the money as soon as possible.”

Legislature Supports Rural Public Transit Through Reform of Non-Emergency Medicaid Transportation
Acting on a resolution initiated by Legislator Dan the Legislature, by unanimous vote, expressed the Legislature’s strong support of rural public transit, in light of the impact of changes in New York State changes in managing and funding non-emergency Medicaid transportation, and urged the State to provide the financial support necessary to preserve these important services.

Noting that Medicaid funding for non-emergency transportation represents a substantial portion of the funding stream of public bus systems for many rural upstate counties, the measure states  that last fall’s change by the State in how its manages and funds Medicaid transportation has resulted in drastic decreases in revenue for many nearby counties, and that Tioga, Schuyler, and Cortland Counties’ bus service to Tompkins County is threatened by this loss of revenue.

County Administrator Joe Mareane presented the Legislature’s Facilities and Infrastructure Committee the Draft Capital Program for 2015-2019.   Both the Administrator and several legislators agreed it was beneficial to present the draft for initial review now, in advance of the 2015 budget process, when the program will be reviewed, and perhaps refined, before adoption along with the 2015 County Budget. 

Part of the County’s 20-Year Capital Plan, the draft Capital Program includes $51.2 million in total spending over the next five years, with $20.8 million in local share, which would be supported through property tax.

Lansing Girl Scout Troop 40086 held a a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Silver Award Presentation yesterday at the Lansing Ballfields Rest Rooms building.  The troop celebrated their renovation of the bathrooms.  Part of the project was making the bathrooms more accessible for disabled people.

"Amelia Massi, nancy Fish and and Bonnie Blair and the girls did a great job," says Park Superintendent Steve Colt.  "It was way overdue for a face lift.  Inside partitions have been put up, it's been painted.  New hand dryers were put in, mirrors, a drinking fountain outside, lights and a paver walkway, and a new garden at the end of the building.  The girls did a great job."

RFP (Request For Responses) Committee Chairman Daniel Adinolfi told the Lansing Town Board Wednesday that it should move forward with a plan to develop a town center on 156 acres of land across Route 34B from the town ballfields that could bring 260 new residential units and 23,000 square feet of retail shops to the property.  After reviewing four proposals the Town received from developers he said the committee agrees that three of the four meet town objectives and fit at least parts of an overall vision for the property.

"We reviewed all four responses," Adinolfi said.  "Three of the four looked viable and looked as if they could work together with sufficient planning.  At the end of the day we felt that the proposals that were sent in by Green Square, NRP Group and Calimar could work together, could work well."

Town attorney Guy Krogh was appointed Second Deputy Town Clerk Wednesday by unanimous vote of the Lansing Town Board.  Krogh will go through Lansing's legal records to prepare them for digital storage as part of Tompkins County's digital records storage project.  Krogh says that digitizing town records makes them easier to search and retrieval convenient, more consistant with FOIL and the Open Meetings law.

"I am probably the only person that understands what's in that pile of records, but I am not a town official," Krogh explained.  "This will make me a town official and give me the authority to act on behalf of the Town in relation to those records.  Unless you really know what those records are there is no way you can efficiently get through them to consolidate them, coordinate them, organize them and prepare them for microfiching and digitalization."

Two weeks ago the Lansing Town Board voted 3-2 to not hire a full time planner.  Since that time board members have been crafting a new job description for a part time planner.  Councilman Ed LaVigne told the Planning Board Monday that a part time position will be posted this week.

"When we have a proper candidate I would like you to be involved with that conversation," he told planning board members.

Watkins Glen, NY – Over 200 community members attended the Schuyler County Legislative meeting yesterday where the legislature approved a resolution supporting the Finger Lakes LPG Storage facility in a 5-3 vote despite widespread local opposition. Over 100 people and several media outlets were denied entrance to the meeting as the assembly space reached capacity. Countless attendees justified their opposition to the facility citing geological instability, and negative effects on tourism, community health, and decline in quality of lake water which is a drinking source for over 100,000 people.

The legislature has officially endorsed that 2.1 million barrels of propane and butane (88.2 million gallons) be deposited in a storage facility and increase natural gas storage to 2 billion cubic feet in underground salt caverns alongside Seneca Lake. While the proposed resolution passed, the meeting exposed resistance from business owners, residents and neighbors alike who exhibited fervent opposition to a venture which poses a threat to the community’s well-being. The three other counties surrounding the lake, Ontario, Seneca, and Yates, along with the Town and City of Geneva, the Town of Waterloo, and the Town of Ulysses have officially expressed opposition to the projects, as have over 200 local businesses.