Public Hearing – Proposed Local Law No. f of 2000 - Amending the Charter and Code, Chapter 1.06, to Authorize Service of Non-County Residents on Advisory Committees

Chair Mink called the public hearing to order at 5:30 p.m. and asked if anyone wished to speak.

Ken Miller, Tioga County resident, spoke in opposition to the proposed local law. He said he does not believe a person living outside of Tompkins County should be permitted to serve on advisory boards or committees regardless of what expertise they have or if they work in Tompkins County. He said the current law is appropriate and should not be changed.

No one else wished to speak and the public hearing was closed at 5:34 p.m.

Public Hearing - Proposed Local Law No. g Of 2000 – Authorizing A Public Hearing On Local Law No. G Of 2000 - A Local Law Authorizing The Sale Of Its Rights, Title, And Interest In, To, And Under The Settlement Agreement With The Various Tobacco Companies, Including In Particular The Monies Payable To Tompkins County There Under (Securitization)
 
 

A Local Law in Relation to the Sale by Tompkins County of its Right to Receive Payments Expected to Become Due Under the Master Settlement and the Related Consent Decree and Final Judgement with Various Tobacco Companies

Chair Mink called the public hearing to order at 5:35 p.m. and asked if anyone wished to speak. No one wished to speak and the public hearing was closed at 5:35 p.m.

Public Hearing - Proposed Local Law No. 6 of 2000 - Electing an Early Retirement Incentive Program as Authorized by Chapter 86 of Laws of 2000 for the Eligible Employees of the County of Tompkins

Chair Mink called the public hearing to order at 5:36 p.m. and asked if anyone wished to speak. No one wished to speak and the public hearing was closed at 5:36 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and Roll Call of Members

Members and guests participated in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Present: 13 Representatives. Excused – 2 (Representatives Blanchard and Schuler).

Privilege of the Floor by the Public

Peter Meskill, Tompkins County Sheriff, announced this evening is "National Night Out" and there will be several events taking place throughout the County. Mr. Meskill presented the Board with a copy of the Department’s annual inspection from the Commission of Corrections and noted that for the first time since 1987, the Commission had no open issues when they departed from their three-day inspection. He acknowledged the work of the Jail staff, and Debbie Neimi, Jail Administrator, for their hard work. Copies of the report were distributed to the full Board.

Richard Glake, City of Ithaca, spoke in opposition to the proposed local law on the agenda to allow out-of-County residents to serve on advisory boards and committees. He said he believes only residents of Tompkins County should be allowed to serve on these boards because of the unique values residents of this County have. He feels if there are not enough people to serve on these boards, emphasis should be placed on better ways to recruit members.

Privilege of the Floor by the Board Members

Mr. Winch, District No. 8 Representative, said he has distributed brochures for Farm City Day to all Board members. The event will take place on August 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Dan and Ann Carey Farm in Groton. Mr. Winch invited everyone to attend this event and see a fine example of a well-run dairy farm in Tompkins County.

Mr. Proto, District No. 7 Representative, announced on August 12 the hamlet of Speedsville will be having their recognition event for all the work that was done in the Community Beautification and Revitalization program. Mr. Stein commented this was part of the Commercial Area Revitalization Program that the County funds. He said this is the sort of thing we can do to help small communities.

Millenium Report

Irene Stein, Director of the Office for the Aging, said COFA initiated the Millennium Project in 1999 to assess the status of Tompkins County’s seniors as the new millennium was entered. She provided the Board with the following overview of that report:

Eight task forces were sent up, one in each of the areas of Health Status, Health Care Financing, Housing, Income and Employment, Leisure and Volunteerism, Long-term Care, Mental Health and Transportation. These task forces include experts in the various areas from County government, private agencies and the general public. Their charge was to assess the status of seniors, identify highlights, problems and issues, and to recommend practical actions that could be taken at the local level over the first few years of the new millennium.

1. Public information on benefits is being developed to be distributed at the Social Security Office and through Human Resource Departments of the County’s larger employers. This project responds to the fact that there is not enough knowledge of available subsidies and supports.
2. DSS is submitting a proposal for dental care for low-income individuals including the elderly as part of the 2001 budget process. This responds to the need of low-income elderly to be able to obtain dental care.
3. Veterans’ services have been and will continue to be publicized.
4. COFA plans to hire a short-term temporary outreach worker to identify eligible seniors for the highly undersubscribed Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Program (EPIC) in the fall.
5. COFA is working to expand Senator Seward’s Senior Citizens Guide to Health Care.
6. In order to better meet the many unmet needs of low-income seniors for help with home repairs, COFA has awarded some additional State funds to Better Housing for Tompkins County to serve 46 rather than 23 households this year. COFA has also entered into a contract with NYSEG to conduct assessments for NYSEG; payment for these assessments are being put in a Last Resort Fund which is used for home repairs for low-income senior clientele
7. An article on universal modification home design was printed in the Ithaca Journal.
8. COFA continued to provide education on reverse mortgages through a workshop on that topic.
9. Information is being gathered on how assisted living could be made more affordable to low and moderate income seniors. A task force will be convened next year.
10. COFA is working on a pilot-project basis to increase volunteer in home services to help allay the shortage of in-home paid workers.
11. COFA and DSS are increasing awareness of the value of older workers through their service on the Workforce Development Board.
12. The Health Planning Council has completed an assessment need for medical day care in the County. The assessment demonstrates a stated need. How to move ahead will be discussed.
13. A plan for public information on Mental Health issues has been developed; one P.S.A. has been issued.
14. The Mental Health Association received a grant to conduct a workshop to educate medical and other gatekeeper professionals on mental health issues.
15. The Health Department convened a group to work on the problem of the shortage on in-home and institutional workers.
16. Transportation information has been increased in various print media. The Intermunicipal Planning Council has written Senator Seward urging him to help move the Senior Highway User Plan out of Committee. COFA is working with the Council Director on how to incorporate senior issues into road and pedestrian programs.
17. The Ithaca College Gerontology Institute has developed a curriculum, which is being executed in Ithaca High School.
18. The Medical Center has placed a health-watch article about herbal remedies in the newspaper on its website. It is also in the process of linking their website to a larger one which will provide additional information. In addition, it is now standard practice to assess herbal remedy use in new patients so that they can be educated on the spot, and any potential problems of adverse interactions with other medications will be averted. Additional information on complementary medicine will also be provided in the Medical Center’s Health Fair in September.

Mr. Erb had no report

Report from the County Attorney

Mr. Theisen had no report.

Report from the Finance Director

Mr. Squires had no report.

Chair’s Report and Appointment(s)

Ms. Mink had no report or appointment(s)

Addition of Resolution(s) to the Agenda

It was MOVED by Mr. Evans, seconded by Ms. Davis, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to add the following resolution to the agenda:
 

Amendment of Resolution No. 4 of 2000 – Establishing 2000 Meeting Dates

Withdrawal of Resolution(s) from the Agenda

Following a brief discussion during the Government Operations Committee Report, Chair Mink gave Mr. Koplinka-Loehr permission to withdraw from the agenda the resolution entitled Adoption of Local Law No. f of 2000 – Amending the Charter and Code, Chapter 1.06, to Authorize Service of Non-County Residents on Advisory Committees.

Approval of Resolution(s) and Appointment(s) Under the Consent Agenda

RESOLUTION NO. 176 - BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS – VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS

MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Evans, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present under the Consent Agenda.

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health and Human Services and Government Operations Committees, That the Director of Finance be directed to make the following budget adjustments on his books:

Mental Health (#43)

Revenue Acct Title Amt Approp Acct Title(s) ____

Revenue Acct Title Amt Approp Acct Title(s) ____

Revenue Acct Title Amt Approp Acct Title(s) ____

It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Evans, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the appointment to the Water Resources Council of Jeff McDonald, New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Representative with a term expiring December 31, 2001.

Report and Presentation of Resolution(s) from the Government Operations Committee

Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, Chairman, reported the Committee had not met since the last Board meeting.

Ms. Kiefer said she was going to ask that this be taken back to the Government Operations Committee because a situation had arisen where a required appointment to represent an agency (DEC) came up, and the individual resides in Syracuse. Ms. Kiefer said she was going to ask the Committee to consider allowing a State agency appointment of someone the committee feels would help the advisory committee, regardless of where that person resides.

Mr. Lane said he also thinks the Committee should take another look at this. He feels an article in today’s Ithaca Journal left the wrong impression with a lot of people and that realistically, this would only apply to particular persons in exceptional circumstances. Mr. Lane suggested that the Committee may want to revisit the entire advisory board structure.

Mr. Proto said he feels the Charter and Code has worked well for several years and does not think this change is necessary. He said if a person has a particular area of expertise there is nothing that would prevent them from providing the County with advice.

Ms. Mink said there were two people who spoke in opposition to the proposed law this evening. She said although both speakers opposed the law, she was affected by the resident of Tioga County who spoke against the law. She said although the points of view were the same, there was something peculiar about being told what to do by an out-of-County resident. She also noted that the County is obliged to do a formal Charter review every ten years, and as part of that it might be a good chance to look at the entire advisory board structure.

Chair Mink gave Mr. Koplinka-Loehr permission to withdraw this resolution from the agenda.

Report and Presentation of Resolution(s) from the Economic and Workforce Development Committee

Mr. Stein, Chairman, reported the next Committee meeting has not been scheduled at this time.

Mr. Stein reported on the electric and gas program and said the Committee met prior to the Board meeting to review gas bids. He said he informed everyone at the last Board meeting that the contract for natural gas ends on August 31. Most of the members of the Tompkins and Tioga Counties Electric and Gas Alliance were municipal and commercial customers. There were not many residential customers because the gas contract offered no savings to them. Mr. Stein said the natural gas market has fluctuated a great deal and is now at approximately twice the cost of what it was when the County first entered the market 10 months ago. He said the consultant has advised them not to go out to bid again and has urged them to seek a three-month extension to the County’s contract with NYSEG Solutions. Mr. Stein said this is the direction the Alliance is going and will be preparing a new bid to go out November 1^st.

Mr. Stein announced the Library Board of Trustees has set the date for the Grand Opening of the new Tompkins County Public Library which is scheduled for January 13 and 14, 2001.

Mr. Stein reported on the upcoming NYSAC Fall Seminar. At this meeting NYSAC will consider resolutions which it then submits to the Governor and the Legislature. He said he is a member of one of NYSAC’s standing committees that reviews those resolutions and asked that members let him know about anything they would like him to bring before the Committee.

Mr. Stein also reported on the Strategic Tourism Advisory Board, and said the Committee received a final report on the proposed wine center at its regular monthly meeting. He stated the feasibility study was funded by the County as part of the program to assist new tourist attractions in Tompkins County. Mr. Stein said it is not the County’s, nor the Strategic Tourism Advisory Boards’ responsibility to fund this program.

WHEREAS, the unexpended funds for the 1999 County Historian budget were $4,943, and

WHEREAS, these funds reverted to the General Fund at December 31, 1999, and

WHEREAS, additional funds will be needed in 2000 to establish the Office of the County Historian at a location to be determined, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Economic and Workforce Development and Budget and Fiscal Policy Committees, That $4,943 be appropriated from the Contingent Fund for use in the 2000 Budget towards the establishment of an Office of the County Historian:

FROM: A1990.54400 Contingent Fund $4,943

TO: A7520.54400 Program Expense $4,943

SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

Report and Presentation of Resolution(s) from the Public Safety Committee

Mr. Totman, Chairman, reported the Committee has not met since the last Board meeting.

WHEREAS, the Advisory Board on Indigent Representation wishes to change the number of individuals needed for quorum from seven members to a majority of the seated board members, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Public Safety Committee, That the following paragraph replace the language in Article II, Part 9., Quorum:

"A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of the seated board members."
 
 
 
 
 
 

RESOLVED, further, That the proposed amendment to the bylaws of the Advisory Board on Indigent Representation be and hereby is adopted, said bylaws are on file with the Clerk of the Board.

SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

WHEREAS, the Sheriff’s 2001 Fiscal Target includes $22,523 as payment to the Fire Coordinator for the following:

a. Motorola Service for certain handheld radios and vehicle radios $9,653

b. Operational charge-back for microwaves, phones, consoles,

WHEREAS, the charging back of operational expenses to the Sheriff’s Office has been in practice for many years and no longer serves any understandable purpose, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Public Safety and Budget and Fiscal Policy Committees, That the Sheriff’s Office no longer be required to reimburse the Fire Coordinator’s budget for operational expenses,

RESOLVED, further, That there be a commensurate reduction in the 2001 Fiscal Target for the Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $12,870,

RESOLVED, further, That the 2001 Fiscal Target for the Fire Coordinator be increased by $12,870 to offset the loss of revenue from the Sheriff’s Office charge-back payment,

RESOLVED, further, That the Motorola Service Agreement be amended to exclude the fully-depreciated radios allowing the Sheriff to utilize the $9,653 for either purchases or repairs and leaving a $9,653 decrease in the Fire Coordinator’s service contract costs with Motorola.

SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

Report from the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee

Mr. Todd, Vice Chairman, reported the Committee met on July 25^th. The next meeting will be August 15 at 9 a.m. in the Scott Heyman Conference Room. Mr. Todd requested that the Resolution authorizing a contract for the design of Red mill Road Bridge be acted on following executive session.

WHEREAS, while performing renovation work at the Tompkins County Courthouse two underground tanks were discovered which were causing indoor air quality concerns for the Courthouse employees, and

WHEREAS, the two underground tanks needed to be removed promptly from the premises, causing additional expenses to be incurred which were paid from the Building Assessment and Renovation Capital Account, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Facilities and Infrastructure and Budget and Fiscal Policy Committees, That $34,475 be appropriated from the Contingent Fund to Account 9576.4400 for reimbursement of the Capital Account HB1601.59239.16.43, Building Assessment and Renovation, for expenses incurred by the Courthouse Tank removal project.

SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

Report and Presentation of Resolution(s) from the Budget and Fiscal Policy Committee

Mr. Joseph, Chairman, reported the next meeting has been cancelled. He said the County Administrator is in the process of making his recommendation on 2001 budget proposals. Mr. Joseph reminded program committee chairs that they need to schedule meetings to review departmental budgets.

WHEREAS, a public hearing has been held before the Board of Representatives on August 1, 2000, to hear all persons interested in proposed Local Law No. 6 of 2000, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Budget and Fiscal Policy Committee, That Local Law No. 6 of 2000 - Electing a Retirement Incentive Program as Authorized by Chapter 86 of the Laws of 2000 for the Eligible Employees of the County of Tompkins be and hereby is adopted,

RESOLVED, further, That the Clerk of the Board shall publish in the official newspaper of the County a notice of adoption containing a synopsis of said Local Law, and shall within five (5) days file one certified copy in the office of the County Clerk, and one (1) certified copy in the office of the Secretary of State,

RESOLVED, further, That this incentive may be used by any eligible employee who so chooses, provided that the department head has recommended a plan that will result in a financial savings equal to 50 percent of the base salary of the retiring employee over a two year period following the retirement, said plan to be reviewed and recommended upon by the County Administrator and the department's program committee, and to be approved by the Board of Representatives,

RESOLVED, further, That departments shall continue to be responsible to pay the added cost to the retirement system that results from an early retirement, in addition to the department's regular Fringe Pool obligation,

RESOLVED, further, That departments shall be obligated to return to the general fund balance of the County (through a reduced fiscal target) an amount equal to the difference between the state-mandated savings (essentially the annual salary) and the amount of additional payment due the Retirement System.

SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

Report and Presentation of Resolution(s) from the Planning and Intermunicipal Coordination Committee

Mr. Lane, Chairman, reported the Committee has been discussing the Cornell radiation remediation site. He said no consensus was reached other than the Committee could not support the proposal in the form submitted by the Environmental Management Council. Mr. Lane said the committee heard from the Planning Department on efforts they are making towards the Vital Communities project. They are planning to schedule some community participation meetings in the Fall. There was discussion about the County’s Comprehensive Plan that was done in the 1970’s and the Committee will be taking another look at planning-types of issues. Kate Hackett, Water Resources Planner for the Planning Department, reported on the upcoming storm water regulations that municipalities and major employers will be dealing with. Mr. Lane explained that the Environmental Protection Agency through its agent in New York, which is the Department of Environmental Conservation, will be requiring permits of municipalities and large users to discharge its runoff from their storm water systems. Mr. Lane also reported on the second rural outreach meeting that was held last night in the Town of Enfield, and said it was very successful. He thinks the public was very appreciative that many members of this Board were in attendance.

Presentation of Member-Filed Resolution

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 4 of 2000 established the 2000 Board of Representatives' meeting dates, and

WHEREAS, the Board of Representatives wishes to cancel its August 15, 2000 meeting, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Board of Representatives hereby cancels the August 15, 2000 regular meeting,

RESOLVED, further, That the 2000 meeting dates will remain unchanged for the remainder of the year.

SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

Report from the Intermunicipal Resource Sharing Committee

Ms. Mink, Chair, reported the Committee will meet on August 25^th at 2:30 p.m. with Professor Rolf Pendall from the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University.

Report from the Library Construction Committee

Ms. Mink, Chair, reported the Committee has not met recently.

Report from the Old Library New Future Committee

Mr. Lane, Chairman, reported the Committee has not met since the last Board meeting; however, they took a tour yesterday of a records storage center in Ontario County to see how they manage their records. He said they saw how thousands of documents are managed and learned their program costs approximately $300,000 annually. Mr. Proto reiterated his previous comments about the grants that are available through the State Archives and Records Administration.

Report from the Tompkins 2020 Committee

Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, Chairman, reported the Committee met briefly before this meeting. He said the Tompkins 2000 Committee will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said he will distribute copies of the Quality of Life survey to all Board members.

Approval of Minutes of July 18, 2000

It was MOVED by Mr. Stein, seconded by Mr. Penniman, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of July 18, 2000 as submitted. MINUTES APPROVED.

Executive Session

It was MOVED by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Stein, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to enter into executive session to discuss contract negotiations and real estate matters at 7:09 p.m. The meeting returned to open session at 7:25 p.m.

WHEREAS, Tompkins County and the Town of Dryden cooperatively maintain a bridge on Red Mill Road (BIN 3209790) over Fall Creek in accordance with Resolution No. 43 of 1946 and 259 of 1998, and

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 75 of 1999 authorized an agreement with the State of New York whereby State and Federal sources will furnish 95 percent (95%) of the funding necessary to design a replacement bridge, and

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 16 of 2000 authorized the County to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Dryden whereby the Town will be responsible for 20 percent (20%) of the local share of bridge replacement design costs, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, That the County Administrator be and hereby is authorized to execute a Contract with McFarland-Johnson, Inc., to 49 Court Street, Binghamton, New York for design, bidding, and construction engineering phases of the referenced bridge project for an amount not to exceed $173,000,

RESOLVED, further, That the Engineering Division be authorized to execute supplemental agreements on behalf of the County with cumulative value not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the aforementioned contract amount, funds to be provided from Capital Account No. HZ5055.59239.

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WHEREAS, the County is the owner of certain real property in the Town of Ithaca designated as Parcels 7A and 8A and a portion of Parcel 4 easterly of Harris B. Dates Drive on the survey map, and

WHEREAS, Klaff Realty, LP, desires to enter into a purchase agreement with the County for the purchase of the property to develop commercial office space and/or high tech industry, and

WHEREAS, the project contemplated by Klaff Realty, LP, requires approval from the Town of Ithaca including the approval of compliance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Biggs A Special Committee, That the County Administrator is hereby authorized to execute a purchase agreement with Klaff Realty, LP, for the sale of this real property for $250,000 or, if the sale is completed within 100 days, for $200,000 and to execute all agreements and deeds needed to complete the sale.

SEQR ACTION: UNLISTED

(Short Form Environmental Assessment Form Completed)

Adjournment

On motion the meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.