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05-08-2008	Committee Fails to Consider Recommendation on Future of County Women/Infants/Children Nutrition Program
	After more than an hour of discussion, the County’s Health and Human Services Committee Wednesday declined to advance a proposal that called for the County to discontinue Health Department ...

05-06-2008	Legislature Sets 3 Percent Tax Levy Increase Goal for 2009
	The Legislature tonight took the first step toward preparation of a 2009 Tompkins County budget, establishing a financial goal of a maximum tax levy increase in 2009 of 3 percent. The 3 percent levy ...

05-06-2008	Legislature Welcomes Will Burbank
	After operating one legislator short for the past two months, the Legislature has returned to its full complement of members. Legislators welcomed their newest colleague, Democrat Will Burbank, ...

05-06-2008	Public Hearing Scheduled on County Code of Ethics
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, scheduled a public hearing on a proposed modification to the County’s Code of Ethics, determined by local law. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, ...

05-02-2008	Reverse Mortgages for Seniors Workshop
	A free seminar, “Understanding Reverse Mortgages,” will be offered on Wednesday, May 14, from Noon-1:00 PM at Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca. David Stoyell, from the Office for ...

04-29-2008	Tompkins County State of Emergency Lifted
	A State of Emergency which had been in effect in Tompkins County since Friday, April 25th has been lifted by County Administrator Stephen Whicher, effective as of 12:00 Noon today, April 29th. The ...

04-29-2008	Change of Assessment Letters Going out April 30th
	Beginning April 30th, the Tompkins County Department of Assessment will mail letters to property owners whose assessments have changed since the 2008 Assessment Disclosure Notices were mailed ...

04-25-2008	State of Emergency Declared in Tompkins County Because of Fire Risk
	Tompkins County Administrator Stephen Whicher has declared a State of Emergency in Tompkins County, effective as of 5:00 p.m. today, because of ongoing weather conditions which create a serious risk ...

04-25-2008	Library to Open at Noon on Tuesday, April 29, 2008
	Due to construction related to the Cayuga Green Project, the Tompkins County Public Library will not open until noon on Tuesday, April 29. The delayed opening is a result of a planned, ...

04-23-2008	Youth Services Director Honored With Day Care Council Award
	The Day Care and Child Development Council of Tompkins County has recognized County Youth Services Director Nancy Zahler as the 2008 recipient of its June Rogers Early Childhood Award. The award was ...

04-18-2008	Learn About the Route 96 Corridor Study
	At an upcoming information session, residents will have an opportunity to hear preliminary findings of the County’s Route 96 Corridor Management Study and to share their insight and concerns about ...

04-17-2008	Aging Office Seeks Yard Work Volunteers
	The Tompkins County Office for the Aging maintains a list of individuals who would be willing to do yard work for senior citizens in the spring and summer months. The office is currently updating ...

04-17-2008	Operation Delays for Recycling and Solid Waste Center
	The Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division advises that the entrance to the Recycling and Solid Waste Center will be reduced to one lane for incoming traffic due to construction as part of ...

04-15-2008	Budget Chair Warns of a Tough Budget Year in 2009
	Reporting on preliminary preparations for the 2009 budget process, Budget and Capital Committee Chair Nathan Shinagawa predicted that 2009 will be a difficult budget year and cautioned that ...

04-15-2008	Legislators Urge Preservation of Federal Highway Aid
	Facing an anticipated loss of $4.9 million in federal highway funds from projects scheduled for 2007 but delayed, the Legislature by unanimous vote of those present asked the Federal Highway ...

04-15-2008	County and Lifelong Investigating Joint Facility
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote of those present, authorized the County to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to proceed with investigation into possible joint facilities for Lifelong and ...

04-10-2008	Project Care Volunteers Needed
	The Tompkins County Office for the Aging needs volunteers in Groton, Newfield, Freeville and Trumansburg to assist homebound senior citizens through the Project Care Program. Volunteers ...

04-07-2008	County Poet Laureates at Library April 17
	The Tompkins County Public Library will celebrate National Poetry Month with a reading by County Poet Laureates past and present, Michelle Courtney Berry and Paul Hamill, Thursday, April 17, 2008 at ...

04-02-2008	Committee Begins to Discuss Future of Women/Infant/Children’s Nutrition Program
	The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee today began to consider a proposal that would discontinue County Health Department sponsorship of the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, ...

04-01-2008	County to Extend County Administrator Search; Administrator Whicher to Remain Through November
	Tompkins County will continue its search for a new County Administrator. At tonight’s meeting of the County Legislature, Chair Michael Koplinka-Loehr reported that a successful candidate has not yet ...

04-01-2008	Administrator Anticipates Negative County Impact From New State Budget
	Administrator Steve Whicher told the Legislature tonight that cost-shifts contained in the just-passed 2008-09 New York State Budget could cost the County close to $400,000 in 2008, and approximately ...

04-01-2008	Legislature Approves Architectural and Design Services for Health Department Building
	The Legislature, by a vote of 11-3 approved the firm of Labella Associates, P.C. of Rochester to provide architectural and engineering design services for renovation of the building at 55 Brown Road ...

03-27-2008	Citizens Urged to Participate in Earth Hour 2008 This Saturday
	Tompkins County residents are urged to turn off their lights for an hour this Saturday to participate in Earth Hour 2008, a worldwide event demonstrating the commitment to address the problem of ...

03-25-2008	Tompkins County Disposal Punch Card and Coupon Prices
	Tompkins County Disposal Coupons and Punch Cards have increased in price for 2008. 2007 punch cards and coupons can be used until March 31, 2008. On April 1, 2008 users of the Recycling & Solid ...

03-19-2008	Stuart Stein Honored with Cogan Tourism Award
	Former long-time County legislator and Legislature Chair Stuart Stein, who currently chairs the Tompkins County Strategic Tourism Planning Board, was honored March 18 with the Howard Cogan Tourism ...

03-18-2008	Airport Land Authorized for Inclusion in Lansing Sewer District
	The Legislature, by a 10-3 vote (with Legislator Carol Chock absent and the District 12 seat vacant) authorized 12.5 acres of land belonging to Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport to be included in a ...

03-18-2008	Community Water System Fees Approved
	By a unanimous vote of those present (with Legislator Chock absent and the District 12 seat vacant), the Legislature authorized the Health Department to implement a $130 fee for each of the county’s ...

03-18-2008	Legislature Distributes Additional Funds Through Municipal Sales Tax Agreement
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote of those present (with Legislator Chock absent and the District 12 seat vacant), adjusted the 2008 budget for City of Ithaca services supported through the ...

03-11-2008	Introduction to Alzheimer’s for Caring Relatives
	A free workshop for persons concerned about a relative or friend with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder is being held Thursday, March 27, 3:00-4:30 p.m. at the Cooperative Extension Education Center, ...

03-04-2008	Legislature Makes Recommendations on New York State Budget
	In a dozen separate actions, the Legislature took official stands on elements of Governor Eliot Spitzer’s executive budget, weighing in on provisions which will be under review by the New York State ...

03-04-2008	Absentee and Sample Ballots Now Available
	Absentee and Sample ballots for the March 18 Village elections in Cayuga Heights, Dryden, Groton, and Trumansburg are now available from the Tompkins County Board of Elections. Applications for ...

03-04-2008	Library Sunday Hours Now Fully Funded
	The Tompkins County Public Library is pleased to announce that it has achieved full funding of Sunday hours in 2008. A $15,000 legislative grant from Senator George H. Winner Jr., (R-53rd) and ...

02-19-2008	Legislator Tim Joseph Accepts State Parks Appointment; Legislature Pays Tribute
	On his final day of legislative service, long-time legislator and former Legislature Chair Tim Joseph announced he has accepted an appointment as Director of New York State Parks, Finger Lakes ...

02-19-2008	Contract with White Collar Employees Ratified
	The Legislature ratified a one-year bargaining agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association, White Collar Unit, which provides a 3 percent increase in base salaries. The vote was 12-1-1 ...

02-19-2008	Legislature Funds Purchase of New Voting Machines
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (with Legislator Kathy Luz-Herrera absent), allocated the local matching funds required to purchase voting machines to improve access and participation by voters ...

02-19-2008	Legislature Funds Purchase of New Voting Machines
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (with Legislator Kathy Luz-Herrera absent), allocated the local matching funds required to purchase voting machines to improve access and participation by voters ...

02-13-2008	Tim Joseph Resigns From County Legislature
	Tompkins County Legislator and former long-time Legislature chair Tim Joseph has submitted his resignation from the Legislature, effective as of end of the day February 19th, the date of the ...

02-12-2008	Nominations Sought for 2008 Senior Citizen Award
	The Tompkins County Office for the Aging is now accepting nominations for the 2008 Senior Citizen of the Year Award. The Senior Citizen of the Year Award is granted to a senior citizen who has ...

02-11-2008	Administrator’s Report Assesses Potential State Budget Impact
	Presenting the results of his initial review of how Governor Spitzer’s proposed 2008 state budget might affect County operations, County Administrator Steve Whicher told the legislature’s Budget and ...

02-08-2008	Committee Recommends Funding for New Voting Machines
	The Legislature’s Government Operations Committee today recommended that the County allocate contingent funding for the purchase of court-ordered voting machines, to improve access and participation ...

02-06-2008	TC3 President Presents Annual “State of the College” Report
	Tompkins Cortland Community College President Dr. Carl Haynes on Tuesday presented the Legislature his annual president’s report, assessing the state of the college as 2008 begins. Dr. Haynes ...

02-05-2008	Legislature Hears Empire Zone Update
	The coordinator of the County’s Empire Zone Program told legislators the Tompkins County Empire Zone, designated by New York State in 2006, has exceeded expectations during its first full year of ...

02-05-2008	Legislature Establishes 2008 Succession
	The Legislature, by a vote of 14-1 (Legislator Tyke Randall voted no), approved an order of succession of County Legislators, to serve in the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair, if those leaders are ...

02-04-2008	Primary Election Hours Noon To Nine P.M.
	Polling sites for the Presidential Primary on Tuesday February 5 will be open from noon until 9 p.m. Only Democratic and Republican voters are eligible to vote in this primary. If you’re not sure ...

02-01-2008	Tompkins Joins Other Community Partners in Regional “Green Purchasing” Consortium
	New York’s first community based, multi-sector consortium has formed in the Finger Lakes region to promote environmentally preferred processes, procedures, products, and services. The Finger ...

02-01-2008	“How to File an Informal Assessment Review Application” Workshops Scheduled
	Over the next two months the Tompkins County Department of Assessment will be conducting a workshop titled “How to file an Informal Assessment Review Application” in each township and the City of ...

01-29-2008	Information on Aging Services Available
	Are you wondering about services for senior citizens? From questions about Medicare, to concerns about an older relative, the staff at the Tompkins County Office for the Aging can help you. ...

01-28-2008	Tompkins County Board of Elections Chooses Ballot Marking Device
	The Tompkins County Board of Elections held an open meeting on Monday January 28 at 2:00 pm to choose a ballot marking device (BMD) to use in this fall’s elections. Commissioners Elizabeth W. ...

01-24-2008	Tourism Grants Workshop January 22nd
	The county’s Strategic Tourism Planning Board will sponsor a Tourism Grants Workshop on Tuesday, January 22nd beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce / Visitors Center, ...

01-15-2008	Legislature Authorizes Acquisition of Brown Road Health Department Site
	After more than an hour of reflective and sometimes emotional discussion, the Legislature by a vote of 11- 4 gave the go-ahead for the County to acquire facilities at 55 Brown Road in the Village of ...

01-15-2008	Legislature Approves IDA Bonds for TC3 Improvements
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, authorized issuance of up to $18.5 million in tax-exempt county Industrial Development Agency Civic Facility Revenue Bonds to the Tompkins Cortland Community ...

01-15-2008	Legislature Establishes 2008 Management Salaries
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, set 2008 salaries for the County’s managerial personnel. Employees will receive a salary increase of 3 percent, if their salary is equal to the current County pay ...

01-07-2008	Absentee Ballots Now Available
	Absentee ballots for the February 5 Presidential Primary Election are now available at the Tompkins County Board of Elections. Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the Board office ...

01-02-2008	Koplinka-Loehr Elected Legislature Chair
	Members of the Tompkins County Legislature elected Michael Koplinka-Loehr (D) as Chair of the Legislature for 2008. The position of chair, filled each year by a majority vote of the Legislature’s 15 ...

01-02-2008	2008 Committee Assignments Announced
	Following his election as Chair of the Legislature, Mike Koplinka-Loehr announced standing committee assignments for 2008. To allow continuity of multi-year commitments already underway, the Chair ...

01-02-2008	Legislature Hears Consultant’s Presentation on Brown Road Health Department Site
	Consultant Kevin Marren, of the firm LaBella Associates, presented to the Legislature the latest conceptual drawings for the planned site for a new headquarters for the Tompkins County Health ...

01-02-2008
	Chair Michael Koplinka-Loehr's Address to the Legislature January 2, 2008 Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me. I certainly want to give special thanks to Leslyn McBean-Clairborne for two ...

01-02-2008
	Chair Michael Koplinka-Loehr's Address to the Legislature January 2, 2008 Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me. I certainly want to give special thanks to Leslyn McBean-Clairborne for two ...

12-21-2007	Committee Provides Favorable Assessment of Brown Road Health Department Site
	After reviewing a consultant’s latest building evaluation and conceptual drawings, the County’s Health Department Building Construction Committee has endorsed the further legislative consideration of ...

12-18-2007	Tim Joseph Chairs Final Legislature Meeting
	Tim Joseph, who has served seven years as Chair of the County Legislature, thanked his “legislative colleagues, past and present” for their support and “all County staff who did their jobs ...

12-18-2007	Legislature Expresses Official Appreciation to Former Colleague Dick Booth
	On the day that voters in the Legislature’s District 3 voted to elect his successor, the Legislature by unanimous vote approved a Resolution of Appreciation recognizing former Legislator Dick Booth, ...

12-18-2007	Legislature Considers, But Fails to Approve 2008 Managerial Salary Increases
	The Legislature, by a split vote of 6 to 6, with Legislators McBean-Clairborne and Tyke Randall absent, failed to approve a recommended 3 percent salary increase for County managerial employees in ...

12-17-2007	County Clerk’s Office and Department of Motor Vehicles Holiday Hours
	The Tompkins County Clerk's Office and the Department of Motor Vehicles in Ithaca will be closed on Monday, December 24th, and Tuesday, December 25th. Both offices will reopen at 8:30 a.m., ...

12-14-2007	Flu Shot Clinic on December 18th
	The Tompkins County Health Department will be holding another flu immunization clinic at its location on Harris B. Dates Drive. Many people were unable to get a flu shot at the Department’s clinic ...

12-14-2007	Library Cancels Sunday Hours for December 16th
	The Tompkins County Public Library will be closed on Sunday December 16 due to the expected inclement weather. The library will re-open on Sundays on January 13, 2008 from 1 - 5 p.m.

12-12-2007	Holiday Tips From The Health Department
	The Health Promotion Program at the Tompkins County Health Department offers “12 Tips for Healthy Holiday Choices.” Theresa Lyczko, the Director of the Health Promotion Program notes, “The tips are ...

12-07-2007	Get a Flu Shot Before the Holidays
	The Tompkins County Health Department will be holding a flu immunization clinic at its location on Harris B. Dates Drive. The clinic will be held on Thursday, December 13, 2007 from 1:30 – 4:30 ...

12-04-2007	Despite Majority Vote, Legislature Fails to Approve Procedural Change in County Ethics Code
	A proposed Local Law, which would have modified a provision of the County’s Code of Ethics governing the filing of financial disclosure statements, was supported by a majority of those attending ...

12-04-2007	Legislature Accepts State Stream Protection Grant
	By unanimous vote, the Legislature accepted a $70,000 grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to develop a comprehensive stream buffer program for Tompkins County. The ...

12-04-2007	Airport Improvement Expenditures Approved
	Without dissent, Legislators approved several expenditures related to ongoing improvements at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. Legislators § Awarded the contract for terminal fire alarm system ...

11-30-2007	Absentee Ballots and Poll Sites for December 18 Special Election
	Absentee ballots for the December 18 Special Election for County Legislature District 3 are now available at the Tompkins County Board of Elections. Only registered voters in this district are ...

11-20-2007	Legislature Adopts 2008 County Budget
	Nearly ten weeks after the process began, the Tompkins County Legislature tonight adopted a 2008 Tompkins County Budget. The final vote, approving the 2008 budget and the 2008-2012 capital program, ...

11-15-2007	Power Outage Scheduled at Health Department
	Electrical power to the Tompkins County Health Department will be disrupted temporarily between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Friday, November 16th to allow for the installation of a new generator. A ...

11-13-2007	Public Hearing, But No Comment on 2008 Tentative Budget
	The hearing was over almost as soon as it began. No citizens appeared tonight to address the Legislature at its annual public hearing called to invite citizen comment on the County’s 2008 ...

11-07-2007	Legislature Adopts Amended 2008 Tentative Budget
	With little discussion and no modification, the Legislature, by a vote of 8 to 4, adopted amendments to County Administrator Steve Whicher’s 2008 tentative budget and 2008-2012 capital program, as ...

11-07-2007	Special Election Scheduled to Fill Legislature Vacancy
	By unanimous vote (with Legislators Sigler and Randall absent), the Legislature scheduled a special election for December 18, 2007 in District 3 (City of Ithaca) to fill the unexpired term of ...

11-07-2007	Legislature Endorses Bonding for Family and Children’s Service Project
	The Legislature, by a vote of 11 to 1, approved issuance of up to $4.5 million in tax-exempt county Industrial Development Agency Civic Facility Revenue Bonds to benefit Family and Children’s Service ...

11-05-2007	Snow Shovelers Needed To Assist Seniors
	It’s not too early to think about snow! With winter coming upon us, the Tompkins County Office for the Aging is updating its listing of snow shovelers. Deep snow and icy sidewalks are dangerous for ...

11-01-2007	County Youth Services Department Marks 30th Anniversary
	Officials and well-wishers reflected on past achievements and looked ahead to the future, as the County Youth Services Department celebrated its 30th anniversary at a reception at Ithaca’s Hilton ...

10-25-2007	Council of Governments Recommends Interim Agreement for Animal Control
	The Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG), of which Tompkins County is a member, today recommended that its municipal members approve an interim agreement for animal control with the ...

10-24-2007	Expanded Budget Committee Reaches 2008 Budget Recommendation
	After seven prior sessions and four hours of discussion today, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee recommended an amended tentative Tompkins County budget which would increase the tax ...

10-22-2007	New Poll Sites for Town of Ithaca
	Beginning with the November 6 General Election voters in Town of Ithaca Election Districts 4, 11 and 12 will vote at Ellis Hollow Apartments, located at 1028 Ellis Hollow Rd. Voters should use the ...

10-18-2007	Second Round of 2008 Budget Changes for Expanded Budget Committee
	Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee continued in their process of recommending revisions to the 2008 tentative Tompkins County budget presented by County Administrator Steve Whicher ...

10-18-2007	Office for the Aging Workshop for Alzheimer's Caregivers
	Coping With Loss When A Loved One Has Alzheimer’s A free workshop, "Living with Loss: When a Loved One Has Alzheimer's," is being offered on Tuesday, October 30, Noon - 1:30 PM at Cooperative ...

10-17-2007	Health Department Building Construction Committee Established
	Legislature Chair Tim Joseph announced that he has charged a new advisory committee with guiding design and renovation of a new county Health Department headquarters on Brown Road in the Village of ...

10-16-2007	Legislature Approves Livable Wage for Project Assistants
	By a vote of 9 to 5, the Legislature approved changes to the County’s internship program, which include an increase in the pay range for project assistant interns consistent with local livable wage ...

10-16-2007	Legislature Updated on County Government Emergency Preparedness
	Legislators tonight heard an outline and update of the County’s emergency management program, a three-pronged effort carried forth by the County’s Department of Emergency Response, the County’s ...

10-16-2007	Legislature Updated on County Government Emergency Preparedness
	Legislators tonight heard an outline and update of the County’s emergency management program, a three-pronged effort carried forth by the County’s Department of Emergency Response, the County’s ...

10-15-2007	Office for the Aging Public Hearing and Senior Fair
	The Tompkins County Office for the Aging will be holding a Public Hearing and Senior Citizens’ Fair on Thursday, October 25, with registration beginning at 9:30am at Titus Towers, 800 South Plain ...

10-12-2007	Sample Ballots Now Available Online
	Sample ballots for the November 6 General Election may be viewed on the Tompkins County Board of Elections web site, www.votetompkins.com. Copies are also available at the Board office, located at ...

10-10-2007	Tompkins County Health Department Announces County Flu Clinics
	Tompkins County Health Department will hold flu clinics in eight locations in the County from November 1 through November 15. The Department will begin making appointments for the clinics on October ...

10-09-2007	Expanded Budget Committee Begins Voting on Budget Changes
	After mulling the County’s proposed 2008 budget for nearly a month, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee tonight began recommending modifications to the $72 million tentative budget ...

10-09-2007	Registration and Party Change Deadlines
	October 12 is the last day a new voter can register and be eligible to vote in the November 6, 2007 General Election. This is also the last day previously registered voters can apply for a party ...

10-09-2007	Absentee Ballots Now Available
	Absentee ballots for the November 6 General Election are now available at the Tompkins County Board of Elections. The last day to apply by mail for an absentee ballot is October 30. The last day ...

10-05-2007	Much Focus on Planning and Public Works, in Latest Expanded Budget Review
	Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee heard from 14 more County departments and agencies tonight, in its final formal presentation session before beginning to recommend changes to County ...

10-05-2007	Legislature Delivers Surprise Honor To County Historian
	When County Historian Carol Kammen, who has served as in that position for more than seven years, came to address her $5,000 2008 budget request before the County’s Expanded Budget Committee, ...

10-05-2007	County Administrator Search Process Underway
	Tompkins County has begun the process of searching for a new County Administrator to succeed Administrator Steve Whicher, who will retire next spring. The 15-member committee which will oversee ...

10-04-2007	Tompkins County Information and Referral Launches 2-1-1 Service
	Tompkins County residents can now dial 2-1-1 to find health care, services for seniors, programs for people with disabilities, mental health services, legal assistance, addiction treatment, ...

10-02-2007	Legislature Hears Report on Homeless Youth
	Housing, transportation, education and finding a job are the primary needs of the county’s homeless youth. Those factors were among the information communicated to legislators, as participants in ...

10-02-2007	Legislature Supports Farmland Protection Initiative
	The Legislature, without dissent, authorized the County to enter into an agreement with the Town of Dryden to implement a grant-funded program to preserve agricultural use for a parcel of farmland in ...

10-01-2007	Citizens Address Legislators at Community Budget Forum
	County officials tonight outlined Administrator Steve Whicher’s proposed 2008 Tompkins County budget at a Community Budget Forum sponsored by the County Legislature. Close to 30 people attended ...

09-28-2007	Community Invited to Annual Budget Forum
	Tompkins County residents will have the opportunity to learn about the 2008 Tompkins County tentative budget and to voice their concerns to Legislators at the annual Community Budget Forum, sponsored ...

09-27-2007	Tourism Grants Workshop Monday, October 1
	The county’s Strategic Tourism Planning Board will sponsor a Tourism Grants Workshop on Monday, October 1st, beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau, located at ...

09-25-2007	Public Safety, Human Services Among Topics of Continued Budget Review
	County legislators, acting as an expanded budget committee, tonight heard from leaders of a dozen more County departments and agencies, in the second of three presentation sessions concerning the ...

09-24-2007	Library Request Among Those Covered in Initial Expanded Budget Committee Review
	Tompkins County Legislators, acting as an expanded budget committee, tonight heard representatives of eight County departments and agencies explain their 2008 budget requests. The session was the ...

09-21-2007	County Receives “Small Cities” Grant to Address Affordable Housing Needs
	Tompkins County has been awarded a $600,000 grant from the Governor’s Office for Small Cities to continue and expand its Homeownership Program. In this week’s announcement of the grant award, ...

09-20-2007	Tompkins Health Care Consortium Project Presented at Statewide Conference
	The initiative by Tompkins County municipalities to develop a shared approach for employee health insurance was presented today at the 2007 Fall Seminar of the New York State Association of Counties ...

09-19-2007	Legislature Authorizes Bonding for Health Department Building, TC3 Improvements
	The Legislature, by a split vote and after considerable discussion, authorized the County to issue $3.5 million in serial bonds to support costs related to acquisition of property at 55 Brown Road, ...

09-18-2007	Legislature Approves IDA Revenue Bonds for Longview
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, approved the issuance by the County’s Industrial Development Agency of up to $14 million civic facility revenue bonds, to support the Ithacare Service Center ...

09-18-2007	Coddington Road Reconstruction Plan Approved
	By a vote of 10 to 4, the Legislature authorized approval of design and right of way plans for the reconstruction of Coddington Road in the Town of Ithaca. (Legislators Pam Mackesey, Greg Stevenson, ...

09-17-2007	Administrator’s 2008 Budget Meets Two Percent Levy Goal
	Tompkins County Administrator Steve Whicher has delivered to the County Legislature a 2008 Tentative Budget that meets the Legislature’s goal of a tax levy increase of no more than 2 percent. This ...

09-17-2007	Expanded Budget Committee Begins 2008 Budget Review
	Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee today received their initial briefing on the County Administrator’s 2008 Tentative Budget, guided through the budget document that will form the ...

09-13-2007	New Poll Site on West Hill
	Beginning with the September 18 Primary, voters in Town of Ithaca Election District 1 will use the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) as their poll site. PRI is located at 1259 Trumansburg ...

09-07-2007	Assessment Director Explains 2008 Local Property Revaluation, Clarifies Impact
	Tompkins County’s countywide property revaluation next year, increasing values to 100 percent of fair market value, is projected to produce an increase in the local municipal tax base. Assessment ...

09-04-2007	Hanshaw Road Reconstruction Project Moves Ahead
	By a vote of 13 to 1, the Legislature authorized the design and right-of-way plan for the reconstruction of one-and-a-half miles of Hanshaw Road. (Legislator Dooley Kiefer voted no; Legislator Tyke ...

09-04-2007	Legislature Authorizes Tourism Funding for Special Projects
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (Legislator Tyke Randall was absent) approved $28,700 in supplemental funding from the County’s Room Tax Reserve Fund for the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and ...

09-04-2007	Health Department Alerts Parents to Dangers of Lead-Contaminated Toys
	Days after the recent recalls of popular children's toys by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, many of these toys were still being sold in toy stores, drugstores, and other retail ...

08-23-2007	Committee Examines Alternatives for Retiree Health Insurance
	The County Personnel Committee today presented proposed alternatives for modifying retiree health insurance coverage, as the County looks at ways to bring ever-increasing health benefits costs under ...

08-22-2007	Legislature Extends Recreation Partnership Agreement
	The Legislature, by a vote of 12 to 3 adopted an extension of the intermunicipal Recreation Partnership Agreement, from January, 1, 2008 through December 31, 2012. Through the partnership, the ...

08-22-2007	Legislature Urges Continued Authorization for Use of Lever Voting Machines
	The Legislature, by a vote of 14-1 (Legislator Jim Dennis dissenting), urged that pending federal legislation include language to permit continued use within New York State of the traditional lever ...

08-21-2007	County Reviews Sales Tax Intercept Option; Extends One Percent Sales Tax
	Legislators heard a staff presentation on New York State’s offer to the County which, if accepted, would change the way the County supports Medicaid expenses. The State’s Sales Tax Intercept Option ...

08-13-2007	Absentee Ballots Now Available
	Absentee ballots for the September 18 Primary Election are now available at the Tompkins County Board of Elections. Only Democratic voters in the Town of Ithaca will be eligible to vote in this ...

08-08-2007	Brown Road Site Chosen for Health Department Headquarters
	Tompkins County will remodel existing space, rather than building new, to provide a new headquarters for the county’s Health Department. The County Legislature discussed site alternatives in a ...

08-08-2007	Contingent Funding Allocated for Assessment Appraisal, Staff Position Approved
	The Legislature, by a vote of 13 to 1 (Legislator Mike Kopinka-Loehr dissenting; Legislator Pam Mackesey was absent), authorized transfer of $50,000 in contingent funds to the Assessment Department ...

08-07-2007	Drop-In Children’s Center Receives Funding
	By a vote of 9 to 5 (with Legislator Pamela Mackesey absent), the Legislature approved $50,000 in contingent funding to enable Ithaca’s Drop-In Children’s Center to cope with an ongoing fiscal ...

08-01-2007	Special Legislature Session Focuses on Real Estate
	In special session, the Legislature conducted a three-hour-long executive session to discuss real estate negotiations. The closed-door meeting was the latest step in the ongoing analysis of ...

07-31-2007	Weatherization Assistance Available for Seniors
	The Weatherization Referral and Assistance Program (WRAP) of the Tompkins County Office for the Aging helps senior citizens with energy related problems and home repairs. The WRAP program can ...

07-17-2007	Legislature Backs IDA Bonds for Cayuga Medical Center
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, approved issuance of up to $5.5 million in tax-exempt county Industrial Development Agency Civic Facility Revenue Bonds to benefit Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca. ...

07-17-2007	Legislature Consolidates Fringe Benefit Accounts
	The Legislature, without dissent, authorized moving of employee fringe benefit allocations from individual department accounts to one centralized fringe benefit account, to improve financial ...

07-17-2007	Legislature Urges Full Federal Funding for Airport Security
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, voiced its strenuous objection to a proposed new agreement with the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that would reimburse the County for only ...

07-09-2007	Budget Committee Recommends Change in Fringe Calculations
	The County’s Budget and Capital Committee today recommended the County change the way it budgets employee fringe benefit expenses, centralizing the allocations in one account, rather than dividing ...

07-03-2007	Legislature Authorizes Reallocation of Unspent Funds
	By a vote of 9 to 2, the Legislature authorized 17 county departments to use surplus funds from 2006 to support current year expenses. (Legislators Dooley Kiefer and Pam Mackesey voted no; ...

07-03-2007	Legislature Reinstates State Theatre Grant, Among Several Tourism Program Actions
	By unanimous vote of those present, the Legislature authorized payment from county Room Tax Occupancy Funds of a $50,000 Tourism Capital Grant to Historic Ithaca supporting renovations to Ithaca’s ...

07-03-2007	Legislature Authorizes Supplements to Military Pay
	As it did in 2002 and 2004, the Legislature committed the County to pay the difference between base County salary and military pay for up to 90 days per calendar year, when a County employee is ...

06-28-2007	Final Assessment Roll to be Filed June 29, 2007
	On June 29th, the Tompkins County Department of Assessment will file the 2007 Final Assessment Roll. The 2007 Final Assessment Roll conforms in all respects to the 2007 Tentative Assessment Roll ...

06-28-2007	Recycling and Solid Waste Center Holiday Changes
	All curbside-recycling collections during the week of July 4th will not occur on schedule. Recycling collection for July 4th through July 6th will be delayed by one day. For example, if ...

06-28-2007	Finance Department to Issue Fall 2007 Certificates of Residence
	The Tompkins County Finance Department will issue Fall 2007 Certificates of Residence for community college students beginning July 5, 2007. The applications may be mailed (notarized and with ...

06-28-2007	Finance Department to Issue Fall 2007 Certificates of Residence
	The Tompkins County Finance Department will issue Fall 2007 Certificates of Residence for community college students beginning July 5, 2007. The applications may be mailed (notarized and with ...

06-19-2007	New Structure on Biggs Site or NYSEG Headquarters Considered for Health Department
	Giving the Legislature its first look at options for a new Health Department Building, the committee that has been studying the matter for the past six months told legislators it should decide ...

06-19-2007	Legislature Approves Tompkins Cortland Community College Budget
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (Legislators Martha Robertson and Leslyn McBean-Clairborne were absent) adopted Tompkins Cortland Community College’s 2007-2008 operating budget. The more than $30 ...

06-19-2007	2008 Budget Guidelines Adopted for County Departments and Agencies
	Following up its adoption at its last meeting of a two percent tax levy increase goal for the 2008 county budget, the Legislature, by a 9-5 vote, established fiscal targets for departments and ...

06-14-2007	Tompkins County Celebrates Diversity
	Along with members of the community, Tompkins County legislators, administrators and staff joined together today on the Ithaca Commons for a noontime event celebrating the County’s commitment to ...

06-14-2007	Legislature Will Get First Look at Health Department Building Options
	The County Legislature next Tuesday will be presented two potential site alternatives – but no recommendation yet – regarding future headquarters for the county’s Health Department. After a more ...

06-12-2007	No Change Recommended Yet for Assessment Data Internet Policy
	The county’s Government Operations Committee today refrained from making any recommendation to change county policy on county release of assessment data over the internet. Most members concluded ...

06-06-2007	In Split Vote, Legislature Sets 2 Percent 2008 Tax Levy Increase Goal
	After multiple votes, the Legislature decided, by a vote of 8-7, to establish a financial goal of a maximum tax levy increase of 2 percent for 2008. A 2 percent increase in the tax levy (the total ...

06-06-2007	County Committee Recommends County Stand on Shortage of Home Health Workers
	The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee will ask the County Legislature to urge state action to increase the workforce of qualified home health care workers in New York State. If ...

06-06-2007	County Homeownership Program Celebrates 250th Closing
	On Friday, June 8th, the Tompkins County Home Ownership Program will commemorate a significant milestone: its 250th real estate closing, to help a Tompkins County homebuyer purchase a first home. ...

06-05-2007	Legislature Supports Impeachment Inquiry
	After listening to a half-hour of public comment and debating for nearly an hour on the appropriateness of local action, the Legislature took a stand on the call for federal investigation into ...

06-05-2007	Funds Approved for Community Re-Entry Initiative
	By a vote of 14 to 1 (Legislator Mike Hattery dissenting), the Legislature approved the allocation of $28,715 to support a pilot community re-entry initiative for county jail inmates, to ease their ...

06-01-2007	Public Comment Opportunity for Airport Safety Project
	Tompkins County and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are seeking public comment on the Environmental Assessment (EA) of a proposed project at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. The draft ...

05-30-2007	Tompkins Health Care Consortium Featured at Regional Shared Services Forum
	The initiative by Tompkins County municipalities to develop a shared approach for employee health insurance will be among the topics explored at a regional Forum on Shared Municipal Services ...

05-29-2007	Legislature Will Consider Revised 2008 Financial Goal
	The County Legislature, which on May 1 failed to adopt a financial goal to guide the 2008 budget process, will be asked next month to adopt a revised goal containing a smaller target tax ...

05-25-2007	Committee Invites Public Comment on Assessment Internet Proposal
	The County Legislature’s Government Operations Committee is asking the public to weigh in concerning proposed changes which would affect distribution of local assessment data via the internet. The ...

05-24-2007	Tompkins County Featured in Report Criticizing Statewide Jail Expansion
	A report released by the Center for Constitutional Rights maintains that policies of the New York State Commission of Correction (SCOC), rather than a genuine need for increased local jail cell ...

05-22-2007	Cameron New Director of Environmental Health
	The Tompkins County Health Department is pleased to announce the appointment of C. Elizabeth Cameron to the position of Director of Environmental Health. Cameron replaces John Andersson who retired ...

05-15-2007	County Administrator Stephen Whicher to Retire
	After seven years as Tompkins County Administrator, Steve Whicher tonight told the County Legislature that this year with the County will be his last. The Administrator announced his intent to ...

05-15-2007	Emergency Responder Communications Equipment Plan Approved
	By unanimous vote (with 2 Legislators absent), the Legislature approved a plan, advanced by the county’s Director of Emergency Response, to provide new radio equipment to the county’s emergency ...

05-15-2007	County Funding Approved for Catholic Charities Security Deposit Assistance Program
	After considerable discussion, the Legislature, by a vote of 9 to 4 (with 2 Legislators absent) provided $20,000 in one-time funding from the county’s contingency fund, to allow Catholic Charities’ ...

05-11-2007	Legislator Dick Booth Nominated for State Service
	Governor Eliot Spitzer has nominated County Legislator Dick Booth (D-City of Ithaca) to serve on New York State’s Adirondack Park Agency. Booth’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the New ...

05-10-2007	Quarter-Million-Dollar State Grant Will Help County Municipalities Reduce Health Care Costs
	The Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) has been awarded a $266,030 grant, under the Department of State’s Shared Municipal Services Incentive (SMSI) program. The grant award will ...

05-08-2007	Seniors Honored at Office for the Aging Annual Luncheon
	Two outstanding senior citizens were honored at the Office for the Aging’s Annual Luncheon, May 3, 2007. John Anderson, was awarded a certificate of appreciation acknowledging his tireless volunteer ...

05-07-2007	Annual Report for Tompkins County Stormwater Permit Available for Review
	The annual report for Tompkins County’s stormwater permit is now available for review. Members of the public are invited to ask questions and provide comments on the annual report at the May 21st ...

05-02-2007	Legislature Fails to Set Financial Goal for 2008
	There was much talk but, ultimately, no approval tonight for setting County financial goals for 2008. The Legislature failed to muster sufficient votes to approve a proposal that would have ...

05-01-2007	Legislature Reviews Criminal Justice/Alternatives to Incarceration Action Plan, Approves Annual State Service Plan
	County legislators learned about the 2007 Criminal Justice/Alternatives to Incarceration (CJ/ATI) Strategic Action Plan, the product of nearly a year of review, research and analysis by the county’s ...

05-01-2007	John Andersson, Long-Time Environmental Health Director, Recognized for Outstanding Service
	By unanimous vote, the Legislature expressed official appreciation to John Andersson, who is retiring after many years as the county’s Director of Environmental Health. Andersson has served the ...

05-01-2007	John Andersson, Long-Time Environmental Health Director, Recognized for Outstanding Service
	By unanimous vote, the Legislature expressed official appreciation to John Andersson, who is retiring after many years as the county’s Director of Environmental Health. Andersson has served the ...

04-24-2007	Office for the Aging Annual Luncheon May 3
	The Tompkins County Office for the Aging will hold its Annual Luncheon on Thursday, May 3, 2007, at noon at the Clarion Hotel, 1 Sheraton Drive, Ithaca. This year’s luncheon will feature Michael ...

04-20-2007	Committee Nears Recommendation on Emergency Communications Equipment
	No formal committee vote has yet been taken, but members of the county’s Public Safety Committee today indicated that they are prepared to support a plan advanced by the Director of Emergency ...

04-19-2007	Remembering the Virginia Tech Community and Their Families
	Tompkins County Administration extends sympathy to the Virginia Tech community and their families, and reminds citizens about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 22—28, 2007 On April 16, ...

04-19-2007	Human Rights Award Recipients Announced
	The Tompkins County Human Rights Commission congratulates this year’s recipients of county Human Rights Awards. The awards will be presented at the Commission’s 25th Annual Awards Dinner on ...

04-18-2007	Don’t Forget To B.R.E.A.T.H.E.: Tompkins County Human Rights Commission Hosts Spoken Word Showcase
	B.R.E.A.T.H.E., a new creative outlet program Building, Respect, Equality and Activism Through Hip-Hop Expression, is holding a Spoken Word Showcase on April 20th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event, ...

04-17-2007	Legislature Accepts Two State Grants, Authorizes Application for One More
	The Legislature, without dissent (with one Legislator absent), accepted $300,000 in state funds, under the Department of Transportation’s “Air 99” program, to support improvements and maintenance for ...

04-17-2007	Girl Scout Troop Recognized as Tompkins County Distinguished Youth
	Members of Ithaca’s Girl Scout Troop 600 were honored as recipients of this month’s Distinguished Youth Award. Nominated by Legislator Dick Booth, the scouts were honored for their presentation last ...

04-17-2007	Legislature Approves New Budget for Transportation Council, Increases Director’s Salary
	The Legislature (by unanimous vote, with one Legislator absent) approved the 2007-08 budget for the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council. The more than $350,000 budget is fully supported by ...

04-16-2007	Severe Weather and Recycling Collection Delays
	The Tompkins County Solid Waste Division advises that, due to the severe weather and the hazardous driving conditions, curbside recycling will be delayed by one day. Recycling collections scheduled ...

04-16-2007	Tompkins County Water Resources Council Meeting Cancelled
	Today’s meeting of the Tompkins County Water Resources Council, scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m., has been cancelled due to the weather. Members will be notified as soon as the meeting is ...

04-09-2007	National Human Rights Leader to Speak at Human Rights Commission Celebration April 21
	James L. Stowe, President of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA) will deliver the keynote address at Tompkins County Human Rights Commission’s 25th annual Human ...

04-05-2007	Public Meetings to Discuss Proposed Revisions to Tompkins County Sanitary Code
	The Tompkins County Health Department invites the public to attend a meeting to learn about the proposed construction permit regulations for all new private and public water wells and modified ...

04-04-2007	Agricultural District Designation Denied for Two Dryden Village Parcels
	The Legislature approved the addition of three properties to the county’s Agricultural District Number 1, on the east side of Cayuga Lake, but did not include two parcels proposed for inclusion, ...

04-04-2007	Legislature Supports New York State and Federal Funding for “2-1-1” Service
	The Legislature, without dissent, endorsed two measures urging funding to support development of “2-1-1” Community information systems at the state and federal level. The Legislature thanks the ...

04-04-2007	Update on County Sustainability Effort
	·The Legislature heard a progress report on the county’s employee-driven sustainability program. Facilitator Cheryl Nelson reported that much progress has been made since the Legislature created ...

03-28-2007	Judge Rowley Elected to Statewide Post
	Hon. John C. Rowley, Tompkins County Judge, has been elected President of the New York State Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals (NYSADTCP). Judge Rowley was elected to the post at the ...

03-23-2007	Community Budget Forum Saturday, March 24th
	Tompkins County holds its next budget forum on March 24. at the county Human Services Building.. Click on the link above for more on the forums.

03-23-2007	Public Hearing Scheduled for Hanshaw Road Improvements
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will conduct a public hearing on proposed reconstruction plans for Hanshaw Road at a public information open house on Tuesday, March 27th, at 7:00 p.m., at the ...

03-21-2007	Tompkins County Awards Nearly $72,000 in Tourism Grants
	The Tompkins County Legislature has awarded 27 grants, totaling almost $72,000, in the latest round of the County tourism grant program. The Legislature approved the awards at its March 20th meeting.

03-21-2007	Health Committee Declines to Pursue Local Law on “Tobacco 19”
	The county committee which had been mulling a possible local law to increase the county’s age for tobacco sales today concluded that the county should not “go it alone” to raise the legal purchase ...

03-20-2007	Legislature Authorizes Issuance of County IDA Bonds for Ithaca College Project
	By a vote of 12 to 1 (2 Legislators were absent; Legislator Frank Proto voted no), the Legislature authorized the county Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to issue up to $32 million in Civic ...

03-20-2007	Legislature Supports Tobacco-Free Zones for County Facilities
	By a vote of 12-1, the Legislature authorized establishment of Tobacco-Free Zones around all county faicilities. (Two legislators were absent, Legislator Frank Proto voted no.) The measure supports ...

03-20-2007	Jonathan Reed Honored as Tompkins County Distinguished Youth
	The Legislature presented Ithaca Jonathan Reed with this month’s Tompkins County Distinguished Youth Award. Legislator Leslyn McBean-Clairborne,said Mr. Reed was nominate