The Lansing School Board conducted an organizational meeting July 14 to elect new officers and swear in the newly elected members. After three years as board President, Dan Brown nominated Bonita Lindberg for the post, and she was unanimously elected. Anne Drake was elected Vice President.

Seven months after Cingular first brought a proposal for a Lansing cell tower to the town government, it has finally been approved. The Town Board voted unanimously in favor of the tower in their July meeting. The tower will be constructed on Mary Searle's property on Conlon Road.

The hold up was due to Cingular's failure to provide information to the board that they needed to make their decision. Cingular representative Ryan Janowski frustrated the board by giving them incomplete information, or by not providing it in time for them to study it before board meetings. At the Board's request Cingular sent Attorney Douglas Dimitroff, and Damon Hobbs, a Cingular engineer, in May to answer all outstanding questions and provide the needed documents.

Town Board Member Bud Shattuck told the board that the Town of Lansing needs to consider a domestic partner policy at the July 21 meeting. Recently an employee was denied bereavement leave, because the town has no policy in place and thus, had no mechanism for granting the leave. Mr. Shattuck reported that the Personnel Committee has been considering such a policy and wants guidance from the board.

It seemed board members agreed that at least some benefits should be extended. The sticking point is that the town must clearly define "domestic partnership" in order to have a policy that is workable. Town Attorney Guy Krogh asked whether it means same-sex relationships, non-married different sex relationships, and what constitutes a qualifying relationship, saying the town would have to define these things. There is also the matter of fairness. If benefits are afforded to same-sex couples, for instance, how would the town justify not offering them to employees in a common-law marriage?

Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES District Superintendent Ellen O'Donnell was back for the June 23 school board meeting, to set the schedule for the "fast track" school superintendent search.  Summer schedules made it difficult to fit meeting times into the accellerated schedule, but it was finally decided that the board would choose the final six candidates on July 28, and begin interviewing those who make the final cut in August.  The board hopes to find a qualified candidate by September 1.

Dr. O'Donnell (left) addresses the board.

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In a perfect world it would only take 70 million dollars to alter or add the features needed for the Lansing School District campus.  Residents got a glimpse of how that world would look as a team from King & King Architects presented plans for Phase 2 construction and beyond.

Over the past school year King & King has been meeting with the facilities committee to learn what is needed by the district and each of the schools.  Once the list was compiled it was prioritized, and divided into potential "phases" as the 70 million dollar price tag was thought to be too steep for a single tax referendum.

$100,000 For Lansing Library

The Lansing Community Library Center was filled to capacity for a presentation by State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio at 11 AM Saturday morning. Town and library officials were alerted that the senator would be making monetary presentation fot the library's Phase 2 construction fund, but did not know the amount. Speculation was that he would be presenting about $50,000, but nobody could confirm that figure.

When Senator Nozzolio presented a larger-than-life check for $100,000 everyone present was delighted. "I'm almost speechless," exclaimed Kathy Miller, who heads fund raising for the Center.

(Left to Right) Councilman Marty Christopher, Councilman Doug McEver, Senator Mike Nozzolio, Library Board member Sandy Dhimitri, Library Fund Raiser Kathy Miller, Library Treasurer Cliff Buck, Town Supervisor Steven Farkas, Shalyn Watson (the Farkas' granddaughter), Alice Farkas, Jill Warner

Lansing is close to getting a new cellular tower on Conlon Road.  At the June 15 Town Board meeting it was reported that the town has received all the information needed from Cingular and that the "seeker" was complete.  The town put off a final vote on whether to allow construction of the 195 foot tower until the County has time to respond.  The County had been given the information that morning, so on the recommendation of both Town Attorney Guy Krogh and Cingular's attorney Douglas Dimitroff, the final vote has been postponed until the July 20 meeting.

Modified Fast Track Gets Into Gear

Faced with yet another search for Lansing School Superintendent, the School Board is trying a new approach that could net a permanent Superintendent by the end of this summer. With the help of Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES District Superintendent Ellen O'Donnell the board is trying a controversial "Fast Track" screening method suggested by former TST BOCES Superintendent C. Roy Dexheimer.

Coming to a Boil

A few weeks ago School District Business Administrator Gary Alger brought a couple of lengths of rusty, clogged pipes to the school board meeting and handed it around. Not all the board members wanted to touch them. They were pieces of what is left of the Middle School boilers. The school has two boilers, one that doesn't work and one that is seriously leaking. The main boiler failed recently, just in time for the warm weather. If it had failed in January the school would have had to be closed for weeks until it could be replaced.

Village Considers New Fire Station

Taxes Are a Consideration

 
The Village of Lansing's Board of Trustees considered the requirement for a new fire house in Monday's meeting.  The current facility needs to be replaced, because it is below standard in bunking capability and in its ability to support the new fire trucks.

School Vote Turnout Doubles

More than 650 residents voted in last Tuesday's election, more than doubling the number who voted in the last election. Bonita Lindberg and Thomas Keane kept their seats on the school board, while Glen Swanson filled the seat vacated by Michael Herzog.

 

Lansing Updates Dog Law

The town board unanimously adopted a new dog law in the May 18 meeting. The local law had not been updated since 1979 and the state law has changed many times since then, according to town attorney, Guy Krogh.