Staff:      S. Whicher, County Administrator; P. Carey, Social Services Commissioner

Called to Order

 The meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m.

Resolution

         It was MOVED by Ms. Blanchard, seconded by Ms. Schuler, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve and submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval:

RESOLUTION NO. 179 - URGING AN OVERRIDE OF GOVERNOR PATAKI’S VETO OF FUNDING FOR STATEWIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS

        WHEREAS, on August 20, 2004, New York State Governor Pataki vetoed the entire $57 million in capital for housing programs that had been provided by the State Legislature for 2005, including $2,345,000 in Rural Preservation Program funding and $4,966,500 for the Neighborhood Preservation Program, both of which support community-based housing organizations, and
WHEREAS, as a result of these vetoes, Better Housing for Tompkins County (BHTC) and Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) could each face cuts of more than half their annual allocations from New York State, resulting in a loss of $130,000 for Tompkins County housing programs, and
        WHEREAS, without these vital operating funds, Federal dollars cannot be leveraged to deliver much-needed programs to communities and will be in danger of being recaptured by the Federal Government and allocated to other States, and
        WHEREAS, for the year that ended June 30, 2004, the $130,000 in preservation program funds that these agencies received leveraged $9,748,533 in Federal and other housing investment, a ratio of 75:1, and
        WHEREAS, housing prices in Tompkins County have climbed dramatically in the last four years, while family incomes have not nearly kept pace with the increase, making affordable housing an urgent and growing need, and
        WHEREAS, the average price of residential properties in the county grew 46 percent between 2000 and August 2004 (Ithaca Board of Realtors), while incomes grew about 10 percent on average (estimate from Tompkins County Area Development), and
        WHEREAS, the Rural Housing Coalition estimates that Preservation Companies statewide return $26 in economic activity for every Rural Preservation Program dollar appropriated, and the benefits from the expenditure of these funds can be found all around New York State, and
        WHEREAS, BHTC and INHS rely on these funds as their largest sources of operating dollars, and use them cost-effectively to leverage other funds to assist first-time homebuyers, provide housing rehabilitation and home repair programs for seniors, and manage affordable rental housing, and
        WHEREAS, without core operating funds BHTC and INHS will not be able to continue to administer the grant-funded programs that Tompkins County residents, especially seniors depend upon, now therefore be it
        RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health and Human Services Committee, That the Tompkins County Legislature, urges New York State Assembly and Senate Representatives to work to quickly override the Governor’s veto of S.06055 and A.9555-B, to restore funding for Rural Preservation Program and the Neighborhood Preservation Program to the 2005 budget allocation.
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

Social Services Department

 Position Request
 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Todd, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve the position request to fill the vacancy of Social Welfare Examiner as presented.

Executive Session

 It was MOVED by Ms. Schuler, seconded by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to hold an executive session to discuss a personnel matter.  An executive session was held at 5:20 p.m. and returned to open session at 5:25 p.m.

Adjournment
 
    The meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m.