Archive: News

Albany- State Senator Mike Nozzolio, advised consumers who were contemplating purchasing wine or beer in the coming days and weeks to make their purchases by yesterday (Thursday).  On Friday, May 1st,  new taxes rammed through by Governor David Paterson and the New York City Democrats who now control the State Legislature, will take effect.

In the Finger Lakes region, the number of new wineries continues to grow and the development of specialty beers is also expanding.  With a growing emphasis on agriculture and tourism, these new taxes send the absolute wrong message to businesses contemplating New York State as a place to operate.

WASHINGTON, DC – In response to growing concerns and confirmed cases of Swine Flu in Upstate New York, U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri announced today that he is posting information on his official web site to direct constituents to reputable federal and state agencies regarding the virus and help answer any questions they may have.

“Concerns about Swine Flu are real and should be taken seriously,” Arcuri said, “I will continue to provide my constituents with as much information as I can so they can protect themselves and their families.  We should all take the simple steps necessary to prevent the spread of the virus and work together to ensure that Swine Flu is stopped quickly and permanently.”

As Legislators prepare for their annual Budget Retreat this week, County Administrator Joe Mareane cautions that local impacts of a global recession has produced an “extraordinarily difficult” situation for Tompkins County, as it begins to prepare the 2010 County Budget.

Mareane told the Legislature’s Budget, Capital and Finance Committee that the property tax levy would have to rise by close to 15% next year simply to sustain current operations, an approach that would clearly not be a viable option, especially at such a “fragile” economic time for local residents and businesses.  Because of the nature of county government, he noted, county budgets vary directly with the economy, more than any other local government.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), New York State Police (NYSP) and Associated General Contractors (AGC) joined today to deliver their annual message on the importance of worker and motorist safety in construction and maintenance work zones.  A press conference was held in a construction work zone along State Route (SR) 31 in the Town of Verona, Oneida County.

“Work zones are busy places and frequently contain dozens of people working on different aspects of projects all at the same time,” said NYSDOT Utica Regional Director Michael A. Shamma.  “Every year, motorists and workers are killed and injured in work zones across the nation.  Work zones and the highly visible people who are within them deserve both a reduction in your speed and your undivided attention to driving safely.”

The Legislature’s Budget, Capital and Finance Committee will be asked to recommend that the Legislature set a 3% tax levy increase goal for the 2010 budget.  The proposed target came out of informal discussion by legislators at their annual budget retreat Wednesday, April 29.

If adopted by the Legislature, a 3% target would require the County Administrator to incorporate close to $4.4 million in program changes (through spending reductions or new revenue), as part of the 2010 tentative County budget to be presented in September for Legislature consideration.

Albany- New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio today condemned the total lack of oversight and accountability regarding the spending of billions of taxpayer dollars New York State will receive from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Senator Nozzolio and his Senate Republican colleagues are supporting a comprehensive reform plan that would maximize job creation and ensure greater openness, transparency and accountability with regard to the billions of dollars in federal stimulus funding New York will receive over the next two years.

	The Village of Lansing election is slated for April 28th.  Mayor Donald Hartill , Deputy Mayor Larry Fresinski , and Trustee Lynn Leopold are all running unopposed for another two year term.  The election will be held at the village Office at 2405 N. Triphammer Road, from noon to 9pm.

Larry Fresinski is finishing his eighth term as a Village Trustee, and currently serves as Deputy Mayor.  After 16 years he's running for another two year term to continue the work he envisions for the Village.  Fresinski takes the lead on the technology side, maintaining the Village Web site, experimenting with technology to stay in contact with Village residents, and maintaining the Village office Internet connection and email.

He met with the Lansing Star at the Village Office Monday to talk about where the Village has been in the past few years, and where he sees it going during his ninth term.

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A small group of people from different segments of Lansing met Tuesday to see what can be done to get the North Log Cabin erected at the entrance to Salt Point.  The 1791 cabin came home to Lansing in 2007 after close to 50 years behind the Cayuga Museum in Auburn, and is currently a pile of logs stored near the Town Highway Department.  After Monday's meeting the prospects of getting the cabin restored were still uncertain, but considerably more likely.

"At this point it's going to be a completely volunteer effort," Shattuck said.  "This meeting is to see if any people can step forward.  Here's a pile of logs, here's the historical perspective of it, here's a place to put it.  We don't have any money... put it down there."

The Lansing Commons development suffered another delay at the April 15 Town Board meeting when the board was unable to approve a preliminary environmental review and the Planned Development Area (PDA).  While board members favor the development they wanted more time to resolve questions on environmental impact and public opposition to a proposed 15,000 gallons-per-day wastewater treatment plant.

"This is private property and I am in favor of this project," said Town Councilman Bud Shattuck.  "I think that a project on that property is the landowner's right.  At the same time, for a project this big, for something we've never done before, that we need to make sure that we're looking at the full environmental impact of it.  I think it's premature for us to move forward with approving this without more discussion."

By pooling their efforts, public agencies in Tompkins County can now use biodiesel fuel to operate their vehicle fleets, achieving a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to the environment.

Members of a new interagency Alternative Fuels Consortium today formally celebrated the launch of biodiesel use within Tompkins County, voicing their strong commitment to environmental stewardship.  The Alternative Fuels Consortium is made up of all of the county’s 17 municipalities, Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, as well as the county’s school districts and fire departments.

Legislature Urges Clarification of State Law on Political Caucusing

The Legislature, by a vote of 12 to 2, urged the New York State Legislature to clarify the New York State Open Meetings Law regarding political caucuses, to better differentiate between political and public matters.  (Legislators Tyke Randall and Kathy Luz Herrera. voted no.)  The open meetings law was amended in 1985 to exempt such caucuses from provisions of that law.  The measure states that, while political caucuses are appropriate to deal with policies and priorities, they should not be used to make decisions on public issues and that the County Legislature firmly believes that public business should be considered and debated in public.

	The Village of Lansing election is slated for April 28th.  Mayor Donald Hartill , Deputy Mayor Larry Fresinski , and Trustee Lynn Leopold are all running unopposed for another two year term.  The election will be held at the village Office at 2405 N. Triphammer Road, from noon to 9pm.

Donald Hartill is running for his seventh term as Mayor of the Village of Lansing.  Before becoming Mayor he served as a Village Trustee for eight years.  Hartill and his wife Marion has lived in Lansing for 41 years.  He is a Professor of Physics at Cornell, and travels frequently to participate on projects including the CERN particle collider in Geneva.

Hartill sat down with the Lansing Star Monday to talk about past achievements, future goals, and his candidacy.

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