Present: M. Koplinka-Loehr, Chairman; P. Penniman; S. Davis; G. Totman; D. Kiefer
Staff: R. Erb, D. Squires, S. Whicher, W. Skinner, J. Wood, A. Fitzpatrick
Called to Order
The meeting was called to order at 12:05 p.m.
Changes to Agenda
The following items were added to the agenda:
- Resolution No. - Setting the Income Limits for the Senior
Citizens Real Property Tax Exemptions
- Local Law No. - Amending Chapter 150, Article I of
the Tompkins County Charter and Code
- Proposal to amend Local Law No. 6 of 1991 - Fair Practice
Chair's Report
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said he did not have a report.
Report from the County Administrator
Mr. Erb thanked Mr. Whicher for his presentation to the municipal officials concerning the assessed value for vacant land. He felt Mr. Whicher responded well to the concerns.
Report from the Finance Director
Mr. Squires reported that he has been hosting the auditors for the last two weeks. It appears things are going smoothly. He said he met with the City last week and discussions continue to move towards having a joint auction in June. The agreement is being reviewed by both governments on how it will be handled. He noted that the City only has 16 properties to auction. Ms. Kiefer asked if the City makes a special effort to avoid foreclosure on owner-occupied homes; Mr. Squires said the City is not as pro-active, but does bring taxpayer situation to Common Council for final consideration.
Report from the Public Information Officer
Ms. Skinner provided the Committee with an update on the Census. She said yesterday was the last day to use the 800 number to request forms; it will now only be used for information. The "Be Counted" forms are now available at 17 different locations around the County including post offices and town halls. Those forms are only available through April 12th. On April 12th the Census Bureau will begin to look at non-response follow-up and decide which houses to get in touch with. During the month of May there will be about 100 people who work for the Census going door-to-door. She reported that the last update (April 4th) for the national average for the mail-in return rate was 55 percent; New York 54 percent; and Tompkins County 58 percent.
Ms. Skinner reported on the Public Information Advisory Board and stated Chuck Broadhead was elected as its Chairperson. She distributed copies of a proposed recommendation for an alternative to the public forum. There is some agreement that having the public forum in the Fall is not as effective as having one or more public meetings earlier in the year. If that was going to happen, it would have to be before the end of May. She said there are three big issues currently being discussed by the Board: (1) jail expansion and incarceration alternatives, (2) emergency communications upgrade, and (3) tobacco settlement income. It was felt that the three issues need separate attention and that the Board could sponsor a public meeting for each. It would include a short education session followed by questions and answers. She said Ms. Blanchard is already planning one for the towers project. The advisory board suggests convening a citizens group that is allowed to study, relatively in-depth, an issue that is being discussed by the Board and offer some advice.
Mr. Penniman said his concern is that a broad spectrum of citizens be recruited and not just activists who are already involved. Ms. Skinner said there are avenues for recruiting.
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr felt that it was the consensus of the Committee to proceed with the advisory board's recommendation.
Ms. Kiefer raised a concern that this could cause problems with existing advisory boards. Ms. Skinner did not feel it would and that it is more citizen-based and one-time.
Approval of Minutes
It was MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Ms. Davis, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve the minutes of March 2, 2000 with the corrections submitted by Ms. Kiefer.
Assessment Department
Mr. Whicher thanked the Committee for allowing him to give the presentation to the municipal officials concerning the assessed value for vacant land. He said April 8th is the last date for the informal hearings. He reported that there was one big surprise--the Industrial Development Agency granted a pilot exemption to Ithacare without notifying the Department for $85 million. He said he has a meeting to review the editorial with Gary Stewart of the Ithaca Journal and the editorial board before it is published.
Mr. Penniman said he is sensitive to the fact that tax assessments does put pressure on some people to sell and that those same properties quite often do not demand services. For example, farmland has the opportunity for agriculture exemptions. He asked if there was anything available for forest or vacant land. Mr. Whicher stated that forest land has the largest exemption program in New York State. He said there currently is not a program for vacant land and suggested he would be willing to help the activist group put together a program to take to the legislature. Mr. Whicher stated that agriculture land overall in the County has gone down.
Resolution
It was MOVED by Mr. Totman, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to submit the following resolution to the full Board for approval:
RESOLUTION NO. - CORRECTION OF TAX ROLL - TOWN OF DRYDEN (KATSIROUBAS)
WHEREAS,
this Board is informed that an error has been made in the 1999/2000 Tax
Roll for the Town of Dryden parcel 38.-1-30.12, assessed to Konstantinos
Katsiroubas, and was charged $12,103.20 for solid waste fee, it should
have been $121.04, and
WHEREAS, taxes
have not been paid on the erroneous value, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That a corrected
tax bill be issued and $11,982.16 be credited to the solid waste account.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
Resolution
It was MOVED by Ms. Davis, seconded by Mr. Penniman, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to submit the following resolution to the full Board for approval:
RESOLUTION NO. - SETTING THE INCOME LIMITS FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION
WHEREAS,
the County Board of Representatives desires to increase the income limits
for the Senior Citizens Real Property Tax Exemption, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That M as stated
in Local Law No. 3 of the year 2000 be defined as $19,500,
RESOLVED,
further, That the following schedule of income limits and corresponding
percentage exemptions be adopted:
Percentage Assessed Valuation
Annual Income Exempt from Taxation
$19,500 or less
50 percent
$19,501 -> $20,499
45 percent
$20,500 -> $21,499
40 percent
$21,500 -> $22,499
35 percent
$22,500 -> $23,399
30 percent
$23,400 -> $24,299
25 percent
$24,300 -> $25,199
20 percent
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
Local Law - Extending Filing Deadline for Senior Citizen Exemptions Under Specific Circumstances
It was MOVED by Mr. Totman, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote to authorize the setting of a public hearing and adopting the following local law:
Section 1. This Local Law amends Chapter 150 of the Tompkins County Charter and Code to add new sections 150-3 and 150-4.
Section 2. Section 150-3 and 150-4 of the Tompkins County Charter and Code shall read as follows:
§150-3 Late applications. Notwithstanding §150-2, an application for such exemption may be filed with the assessor after the appropriate taxable status date but not later than the last date on which a petition with respect to complaints of assessment may be filed, where failure to file a timely application resulted from: (a) a death of the applicant's spouse, child, parent, brother or sister; or (b) an illness of the applicant or of the applicant's spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, which actually prevents the applicant from filing on a timely basis, as certified by a licensed physician. The assessor shall approve or deny such application as if it had been filed on or before the taxable status date.
§150-4 Renewals. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, the assessor may accept applications for renewal of exemptions pursuant to this Chapter after the appropriate taxable status date. In the event the owner, or all of the owners, of property which has received an exemption pursuant to this Chapter on the preceding assessment roll fail to file the application required pursuant to this Chapter on or before taxable status date such owner or owners may file the application, executed as if such application had been filed on or before the taxable status date, with the assessor on or before the date for the hearing of complaints.
Section 3. This law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of the State.
Personnel Department
Organization Development Position Reconfiguration
Ms. Fitzpatrick gave a brief overview of the plan to reconfigure the position of Organization Development Coordinator. Ms. Kiefer feels it would be difficult for two people to share the responsibilities and work activities of this position. Ms. Fitzpatrick said that during the interview process there were no candidates that had strengths in both areas of affirmative action and quality management. It was felt that the two candidates in mind would be co-coordinators and possess the right skills in the field to carve out pieces to work as a team collaboratively. Mr. Koplinka-Loehr stated that the reconfiguration is within the dollar amount budgeted and also allows flexibility. He said there will also be an evaluation period in a variety ways including the Community Affirmative Action Committee, and Leadership Council. Ms. Davis noted that she is not in agreement with the proposal.
Internship Program
Ms. Fitzpatrick briefly reviewed the attached program. She said there are interns now working for the Spring semester. Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said the next step in the process is to prepare a resolution creating the positions and forward it to the full Board for approval. Ms. Fitzpatrick noted that this proposal will be presented to the Department Heads before the resolution is approved.
Salary Structure
Ms. Kiefer said she hoped the Committee could decide on how to approach this topic. There was a brief discussion about the salary study done in the late 80s. Ms. Kiefer called attention to two concerns: (1) there are certain professional or technical positions the County has difficulty recruiting for because our salaries are not competitive in the market, and (2) it has been at least 10 years since the County salary structure was revamped as part of a pay equity study, and it is probably time to again test our salaries in general against the local market. She felt the Committee could also discuss merit pay or bonuses as an alternative to above-inflation raises.
The Committee agreed to discuss pay equity at the next meeting.
Executive Session
It was MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Mr. Penniman, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to hold an executive session to discuss personnel negotiations. An executive session was held at 1:05 p.m. and returned to open session at 1:08 p.m.
Mr. Penniman said he would be interested in seeing how the merit pay model at the Hospital works for them.
County Attorney
Resolution
Mr. Wood briefly
explained the resolution. He said one-year ago the State took a parcel
owned by the County on Yellow Barn Road. At the time, there was an agreement
for an advanced payment for $11,700. However, the County had to wait to
get a release from 10-12 landowners or wait until the time for challenge
expired. Mr. Wood said the challenge time has expired and now a resolution
is required in order for certain forms to be signed.
It was MOVED by Mr. Totman, seconded by Mr. Penniman, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to submit the following resolution to the full Board for approval. Ms. Kiefer requested the map showing the property be included with the resolution as an attachment when presented to the Board for approval. Ms. Squires noted that the money when received will be used to pay down the taxes held on the property.
RESOLUTION NO. - AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN DOCUMENTS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK
WHEREAS,
the State of New York took certain property from the County for highway
use, and
WHEREAS, the
County entered into an agreement to accept $11,700 from the State as an
advanced payment, and
WHEREAS, the
State requires a resolution from the County Board of Representatives authorizing
the County Administrator to sign particular documents, now therefore be
it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That the County
Administrator is hereby authorized to sign a Land Claims Payment Voucher,
an Affidavit of Title and any other documents necessary to obtain payments
from the State in relation to the taking designated by the State as Map
103, Parcel 123.
Amendment to Local Law No. 6 of 1991 - Fair Practice
The committee agreed to discuss the proposed amendment by the County Attorney at the next meeting.
Naming Spaces/Rooms
The Committee reviewed the proposed policy as follows for naming spaces/rooms in County-owned buildings. Mr. Erb spoke about his concern if a name is taken away from a facility.
Only under exceptional circumstances will the County consider permanently naming a room or other County space for an individual. (This is a continuation of an unwritten policy.) The County Board is not obliged to act favorably on any such request, but only after due deliberation and consideration.
Meanwhile, if a group of County employees wishes to honor a past or present employee by naming some item or some space in their workplace after a colleague, they may do so informally, without County Board action, recognizing that such naming will last so long as the group of employees remembers the honor. They may post the name on the space/item, and use the name in notices and documents. They should also recognize that such naming may conceivably be superseded by action of the County Board at some future time.
Following lengthy discussion, the Committee agreed that a list of criteria needs to be developed. Ms. Kiefer agreed to draft the list of criteria for the Committee to review.
It was MOVED by Mr. Penniman, seconded by Ms. Davis, to approve the first paragraph of the proposed policy as follows:
Only under exceptional circumstances will the County consider permanently naming a room or other County space to honor an individual or other entity. (This is a continuation of an unwritten policy.) The County Board is not obliged to act favorably on any such request, but only after due deliberation and consideration.
It was felt that in general new County buildings should be named for their function and never a commercial name. Ms. Davis stated for the record that it is her intent that the representatives who are duly elected and oversees County buildings are informed, aware, and approving of the names given to those buildings.
A voice vote on the amendment resulted as follows: Ayes - 3 (Davis, Penniman, and Totman); Noes - 2 (Kiefer and Koplinka-Loehr). AMENDMENT CARRIED.
A voice vote on the policy as amended resulted as follows: Ayes- 5; Noes - 0. POLICY AS AMENDED APPROVED.
It was the consensus of the Committee to refer this policy to County Administration to look at procedures for implementation and drafting of criteria.
County Clerk
New
York State License Plate Design Change
Ms. Valenti
was unable to attend the meeting, however, she distributed a copy of a
memorandum addressing some of the questions raised. It was recommended
that this item be postponed until October for further discussion as the
new plates will not be issued until October.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:52 p.m.