Called to Order

 The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m.

RESOLUTION NO.      - ADOPTION OF REVISED ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 01-19 - EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN

 It was MOVED by Mr. Stevenson, seconded by Mr. Randall.

  MOVED by Ms. Herrera, seconded by Mr. Stevenson.

 Ms. Kiefer arrived at this time.

Following a brief discussion, the Committee agreed with Ms. Kiefer’s recommended suggestions; which are reflected in the policy attached.

A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes – 4; Noes – 0; Excused – 1 (Sigler).  RESOLUTION AND POLICY APPROVED.

 WHEREAS, the County Emergency Action Plan policy required revision to more accurately reflect current existing regulations, procedures, and directives, now therefore be it

 RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Public Safety and Government Operations Committees, That the following Administrative Policy is hereby revised and adopted:

   01- 19  Emergency Action Plan

SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

 Resolution
 It was MOVED by Mr. Stevenson, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve and submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval.  Mr. Squires said the proposal being recommended was based on a number of factors and one of the most important factors for this particular firm is they capped their fees.  He noted this firm has been in business for five years.

RESOLUTION NO.  - AUTHORIZATION OF CONTRACT FOR BOND COUNSEL SERVICES

 WHEREAS, a Request for Proposals was issued for Bond Counsel Services due to the closure of the public finance practice of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and
 WHEREAS, in April the County received proposals from eight firms desiring to represent the County, and
WHEREAS, the County Attorney and Finance Director reviewed and analyzed proposals based upon experience, cost, and professional reputation with New York municipal clients, and
WHEREAS the proposal submitted by Trespasz and Marquardt, LLP of Syracuse, New York, was selected for recommendation because of the firm’s commitment of staff availability to meet tight deadlines, cost effectiveness of proposal, familiarity with Tompkins County, and availability to attend County meetings when requested, now therefore be it
 RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That the County Attorney is authorized to engage the firm of Trespasz & Marquardt, LLP of 251 West Fayette Street, Syracuse, as bond counsel for a three-year period based upon the terms outlined in the request for proposal.
 SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II - 25

Approval of Minutes

 January 10, 2006
 It was MOVED by Mr. Randall, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, to approve the minutes of January 10, 2006, as submitted (with the recommended revisions by Ms. Kiefer).

 A brief discussion followed and Ms. Herrera said that like Ms. Kiefer she served on a record-keeping task force that prepared a report about process for taking and transcribing minutes.  There is quite a bit of time spent working on minutes and she believes adding things omitted would require staff to spend an inordinate amount of time and if done in a precise manner all meetings would have to be done totally by audio tape.   She feels that committees should accept the professional minutes as presented with some minor changes.  Ms. Kiefer commented that in most cases she is offering suggestions for clarity.

A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes – 3; Noes – 1 (Herrera); Excused – 1 (Sigler).  MINUTES APPROVED.

 January 18, 2006
 It was MOVED by Mr. Randall, seconded by Mr. Stevenson, to approve the minutes of January 18, 2006, as submitted (with the recommended revisions by Ms. Kiefer).  A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes – 3; Noes – 1 (Herrera); Excused – 1 (Sigler).  MINUTES APPROVED.

 February 15, 2006
 It was MOVED by Mr. Stevenson, seconded by Mr. Randall, to approve the minutes of February 15, 2006, as submitted (with the recommended revisions by Ms. Kiefer).  A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes – 3; Noes – 1 (Herrera); Excused – 1 (Sigler).  MINUTES APPROVED.

 March 15, 2006
 It was MOVED by Mr. Stevenson, seconded by Mr. Randall, to approve the minutes of March 15, 2006, as submitted (with the recommended revisions by Ms. Kiefer).  A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes – 3; Noes – 1 (Herrera); Excused – 1 (Sigler).  MINUTES APPROVED.

 April 19, 2006
 It was MOVED by Mr. Randall, seconded by Mr. Stevenson, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of April 19, 2006, as submitted.  MINUTES APPROVED.

Future Agenda Items

 Ms. Kiefer asked for an update on the survey conducted about ideas for the position of Public Information Officer.

 Mr. Stevenson asked about the status of the discussion concerning the residency issue for advisory boards.  Ms. Herrera said the Committee will continue their discussions and forward resolutions as appropriate to the full Legislature for consideration.  Some of the discussions about advisory boards will include:  (1) residency requirements; (2) process for appointing advisory board members; and (3) Legislator membership and responsibility.

 A brief discussion followed concerning the policy for residency requirements and Ms. Kiefer asked that consideration be given for out-of-county residents to serve on advisory boards under certain circumstances based on their knowledge and expertise by virtue of their position.  It was the consensus of the Committee to direct the Clerk of the Legislature, Cathy Covert, and County Attorney, Jonathan Wood, to bring forward a proposal for the Committee to consider that would require advisory board members be County residents with the understanding the suggestion offered by Ms. Kiefer be included.  Mr. Wood commented that if the Legislature agrees to appoint out-of-county residents to its advisory boards that the policy and appropriate bylaws be amended as well.  He suggested that language such as “…accept as otherwise provided by law or specifically approved by the Legislature” and make the decisions separately by advisory board.

 Ms. Kiefer asked if the Committee would consider a resolution at a future meeting opposing, on behalf of Tompkins County residents, warrantless wire tapping.

Adjournment

 The meeting adjourned at 5:07 p.m.
 

Objective: To establish procedures for County government
and  affiliated emergency responders to follow in the event of a
  disaster, as defined by Article II-B of the New York State Executive Law,   Policy Number:  01-19
  and  including, but not limited to, flood, fire, storm, acts of terrorism,
earthquake, large-scale hazardous materials incidents, health epidemics,
etc…; and to direct the development of a Comprehensive Emergency
Management Plan (CEMP).

Reference: Natural Disaster Plan for Tompkins County; NYS Executive Law II-B;
Suggested Program Plan to Reduce the Impact of Floods, September 1982   Effective Date:  June 28, 1983
 (Planning Department); Resolution 184 (1981); County of Tompkins
Executive Orders Nos. 1 and 2 (May, 1975)

Policy   Tompkins County shall have in place an Emergency Action Plan
Statement: that deals with preparedness for, mitigation of, responses to, and           Modified Date: July 18, 2000
  recovery from both natural and human-caused emergencies disasters and      Resolution #: 168
that conforms with all legal mandates, is particular to Tompkins County,      Department:  Legislature
  and is kept current.

Procedure(s):

1. There shall be an Emergency Planning Committee (EPC) to assist in the coordinating relief efforts and requests
for outside aid and to assist with emergency planning.  The EPC members are appointed by the Director of Emergency Response and shall include:

1 – Elected County Official 1 – Elected City Official
1 – Municipal Official selected by the Tompkins  County Municipal Officials Association Cornell University Representative
Ithaca College Representative County Director of Emergency Response
Volunteer Fire & EMS Representative City Fire Chief
City Emergency Management Officer Cayuga Medical Center Representative
Commercial Ambulance Representative Public Health Director
County Sheriff               City Police Chief or Designee
County Highway Manager or designee               City Public Works Superintendent
Red Cross Executive Director Commissioner of Social Services or Designee
County Administrator (also serves for Planning Comm and Airport Manager or designee) A City Administrator
Ass’t Director of Emergency Response or designee

2. The EPC shall prepare a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan for Tompkins County, incorporating and updating existing response plans, mutual aid agreements, hazardous materials plans, and shall develop additional plans and agreements as appropriate.  The Committee shall review and revise the plan yearly and shall facilitate appropriate training activities.

3. The County Planning Department is hereby designated as lead agency for the development and maintenance of the County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan and will coordinate mitigation and related preparedness activities and strategies with the Department of Emergency Response and the Emergency Planning Committee.

4. The Chairman of the Legislature of Tompkins County is responsible for the conduct of disaster or emergency operations within the County exclusive of the City of Ithaca, which has its own procedure.  Command and control of scene operations shall remain a function of the municipality where each emergency exists, and their designated responders.

5. The Director of the Department of Emergency Response is the designated Disaster Coordinator for Tompkins County and liaison for the City of Ithaca Emergency Management Office, to serve as the coordinator of activities of governmental, private, and volunteer agencies operating within the County of Tompkins during the period of a disaster emergency.

6. The County Emergency Coordinating Center at the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response, 92 Brown Road, Village of Lansing, will be the permanent coordinating center.  All requests for assistance among departments and agencies will be channeled through the Emergency Coordinating Center and will be coordinated by the Director of the Department of Emergency Response.

7. In the event of, or the threat of, disaster:

A. The chief elected executive of the community affected (except for the City of Ithaca which has its own disaster or emergency plan) will:

i) Immediately notify the Emergency Communications Center, who will in turn notify the Director of Emergency Response.  The Director’s Office shall notify appropriate officials.

ii) Determine the extent of possible threat or disaster.

iii) Mobilize the heads of his/her municipal agencies and commit local agencies to action.

iv) Determine capabilities of his/her agencies and possible assistance needed.

v) Report to the Director of Emergency Response as to the extent of danger or disaster, and as to what assistance may be needed.

B. County department heads not directly involved with the Emergency Planning Committee should remain aware of the developing situation and stand ready to follow instructions issued through the Emergency Planning Committee or the County Administrator

C.   The County Administrator or his designee is authorized to allow the use of County Public Works equipment within Tompkins County when the need therefore is determined by the County Director of Emergency Response, under the following conditions:
 i)  The requests for such use shall be made by the Director of Emergency Response or the Assistant Director of Emergency Response after an evaluation at the scene of the emergency.

ii) If similar equipment is available at the city, town, village highway or Public Works Department in the municipality in which the emergency occurs, such equipment shall be used first.

iii) The rental cost on the equipment and the operator’s time shall be charged in the customary manner used by the County Public Works Department or municipality in normally making such charges.  The charges shall be against the County Department of Emergency Response’s budget, and the committee will recommend that appropriations be made to the Director’s budget to cover the items through a special appropriation at  for each instance.

iv) The Commissioner of Planning and Public Works, or his authorized representative, shall at all times make final decisions in relation to the safety of the equipment and the operator.  In the absence of supervisory Public Works personnel, the Public Works employee operating the equipment is the authorized representative.