Archive: News

Concerned about effects that are already being felt in the local real estate market, a Tompkins County group is urging State officials to address economic considerations related to natural gas drilling.

Representatives of the Tompkins County Workgroup on Assessment and Land Valuation (a subcommittee of the Tompkins County Council of Governments’ Gas Drilling Task Force) met with State officials in Albany, asking that the State implement requirements as part of gas drilling regulations to prevent unintended negative consequences on the real estate market and county assessment rolls.

Some roads seem to scream for speed.  Add a rockin' beat on the radio, and a late start and you are jammin' even on Tompkins County's neighborhood roads.  It poses danger to children and pedestrians, not to mention motorists.  That prompted Tompkins County Sheriff Ken Lansing to launch 'Wise Up, Slow Down' Monday.  The unique initiative joins law enforcement agencies to focus on trouble spots using data collected by various county agencies.

"This obviously makes sense," Lansing says.  "Somebody had taken the time to do a very in-depth study with a lot of data, and narrow down for us to addresses their concerns.  I contacted the Cayuga Heights Police Department, the Ithaca Police Department, Cornell Police, and the State Police.  All of them have graciously accepted the invitation to be a part of this."

Four Lansing School employees were honored Monday when the Board of Education voted to grant them tenure.  Middle school psychologist Dana Robson, math teacher Francesca Crannell, social studies teacher Karen Cole, and School District Business Leader Mary June King were all voted tenure, after which the district threw a short party with punch and cake.  Middle School Principal Jamie Thomas and Superintendent Stephen Grimm introduced the newly tenured employees.

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New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and a coalition of investors today released a letter to oil giant Chevron urging the company to settle its 20-year legal battle with indigenous populations in the Amazon rainforest. The long-running court case alleges that Texaco, which merged with Chevron 10 years ago, destroyed huge tracts of the rainforest by dumping billions of gallons of oil waste products over several decades. Citing the “grave reputational damage” Chevron has suffered due to the lawsuit, DiNapoli and other investors called on the company to promptly negotiate a reasonable settlement to prevent further shareholder damage.

The Legislature’s budget committee today authorized its Chair to recommend to State officials a plan that would establish permanent rate thresholds concerning several State-authorized county revenue sources, currently subject to State approval through “home rule” requests.

The proposal would give counties “modest additional latitude to consider, debate, and determine the mix of revenues they find most equitable and appropriate for their communities, as well as the stability and ability to plan that is currently undermined by the need for revenues to be periodically reauthorized by the State.” The committee, by a 4-0 vote (with Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera excused), authorized Chair Jim Dennis, acting on the committee’s behalf, to prepare and distribute a letter to appropriate State officials proposing  the plan to raise thresholds for five revenue sources—changes that, it was noted, in most cases, reflect current reality.

The first thing parents, teachers, and students heard is that 10th grade Honors English is not going away, at least for now.  About 40 people attended a meeting Wednesday in which Lansing High School Principal Eric Hartz explained changes in the honors curriculum and strategies for bringing more opportunities to more students going forward.  After a similar meeting about a month ago he said that the 10th grade honors class would be eliminated.  But Wednesday he backed off of that idea.

"I'm truly trying to listen," Hartz told parents.  "We want to make good decisions for kids.  We want to make sure that we're providing the education that Lansing is known for.  I tend to move fast, but one of the things we have to do is slow down sometimes.  And I think at this point with English (Honors) we need to slow down and make sure we're doing the right thing for all kids."

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Lansing's $25,275,503 budget passed 552 to 237 Tuesday, with nearly 70% of voters saying yes.  A second resolution that permits the schools to purchase two busses also passed 547 to 224.  Incumbent School Board Vice President Glenn Swanson was reelected with 568 votes.  Tom Robinson (569) and Betsy Galvin ( 510) were also elected to fill seats being vacated by retiring members Richard Thayler and Glenn Cobb.  Virginia Mansfield-Richardson received 322 votes, and one write-in vote was cast for Andra Benson.

The new budget represents an estimated 3.34% rise in the tax rate, a 1.90% rise in the levy, and 3.68% rise in total spending next school year.  School officials estimate that will come to $43 additional dollars per $100,000 of assessed property value for homeowners with the basic STAR exemption.

Legislature Adopts 2012 Financial Guidelines, But Many Express Reluctance

Anticipating the likelihood of a State property tax cap, the Legislature followed the recommendation of its budget committee and directed the County Administrator to prepare two budget scenarios for 2012—one showing what could be supported within the limits of a 2% cap, the other a recommended budget that could be supported by a 5.4% increase in the tax levy.

The vote was 12-2, with Legislators Pat Pryor and Peter Stein voting no. (Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera was excused.)  Legislator Stein said the Legislature should set a recommended guideline of lower than 5.4%; Legislator Pryor said Legislators have done nothing since last year’s budget process to address priorities for the County.

NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoliNew York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli proposed legislation Tuesday to greatly enhance his ability to catch those who abuse the pension system.  The bill would grant the Comptroller access to New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s wage reporting system to identify New York State and Local Retirement System retirees working for local governments who exceed post-retirement earnings limitations.  If a state or local government employee earns more than those limits, the Comptroller has the authority to suspend and recoup any excess pension payments.

“This legislation sends a message to anyone who tries to game the retirement system:  if you don’t play by the rules, we will find you and make you pay,” said DiNapoli.  “Government agencies should be enabled to work together to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. This legislation will do just that. We have half the puzzle and Tax and Finance has the other half.  Together, we’ll solve this problem and stop this kind of abuse.”

Lansing Town Supervisor Scott PinneyLansing Councilman Marty Christopher presented a final Ethics Committee report Wednesday on whether rentals and purchases the Town made from companies owned by Town Supervisor Scott Pinney's wife represented misconduct or a conflict of interest.  Last year New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office conducted an audit of the purchases that recommended some procedural remedies.  The report found Pinney had been transparent about the business the Town did with the two companies, granting an interview to the Lansing Star for an August 21, 2008 article, and asking the Town Ethics Committee to look into the issue before the Comptroller decided to get involved.  Christopher says the report finally puts the issue to rest.

"This will conclude the entire investigation," Christopher reported.  "All the points of issue that the State never followed up on (have been addressed).  It will go on record, ending it as far as we're concerned."

Three of four school board candidates met with voters Monday to talk about their views of the Lansing Central School District and what they will bring to it , if elected.  Of three Board Of Education members whose terms are up this year, only School Board vice President Glenn Swanson is running again.  Virginia Mansfield-Richardson and Tom Robinson joined Swanson to answer questions for about 35 people.  Betsy Galvin, who could not be there Monday, sent a statement to be read aloud.


District Business Administrator Mary June King moderated.  King moderates like events for the League of Women Voters in Schuyler and Tompkins Counties.  The Lansing PTSO hosted the event.