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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-17 listservGoogle Groups Municipal News update from Town of Ulysses staff Carissa Parlato <clerk@ulysses.ny.us>Mar 17, 2017 3:39 PM Posted in group: town-of-Ulysses Hello Ulysses, Read on below for local, county and state updates... In this issue: Town Board meeting rescheduled Bookkeeper needed for town Shared Services Study on Law Enforcement- public input sought Heat smarter with solar & more Outreach Assistants needed for TC Recycling Free lead testing for drinking water Should NY update its constitution? Upcoming town meetings Community Calendar TOWN OF ULYSSES NEWS: TOWN BOARD MEETING RESCHEDULED The Town Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, was cancelled due to severe weather. It has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 22, 4:30-6:30pm. View agenda here: http://www.ulysses.ny.us/calendar/? cmd=view&event=2123&category=Government BOOKKEEPER NEEDED The Town of Ulysses is accepting applications for a new bookkeeper through March 24 (or until a suitable applicant pool is obtained). For more information, visit http://www.ulysses.ny.us/pages/current- issues/128/bookkeeper-needed-for-town/ TOMPKINS COUNTY NEWS: LAW ENFORCEMENT SHARED SERVICES STUDY- PUBLIC INPUT SESSION A public input session will be held on Monday, March 20, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at The Space@GreenStar to gather comments, ideas, and concerns about how local law enforcement services are—and could be-- organized and provided in Tompkins County. Public input is an important element of a law enforcement shared services study commissioned by Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca, with participation by the Cayuga Heights, Dryden, and Groton police departments. In addition to the initial March 20th input session, the study team will undertake a survey of residents, facilitate focus group discussions and, when implementation options are identified, hold public meetings to hear comments about those options. The six-month study is being undertaken by the Rochester-based Center for Governmental Research (CGR), with support from the Municipal Restructuring Fund administered by the New York State Department of State. The study will evaluate the way police services are now provided within Tompkins County and assess potential organizational changes that could improve efficiency and effectiveness. CGR will be reviewing potential measures that range from combining certain functions, such as training, to fully consolidating police agencies. Their study will conclude with the presentation of a few options to the public and the legislative bodies of the participating governments for a decision about whether to move forward toward implementation. Police protection is one of the most important functions provided by local government, and among the most costly. The participating jurisdictions are committed to providing the highest quality of service at the lowest possible cost to their communities, and view the CGR study as a means to ensure that police services are organized in a way to best achieve those dual goals. Speakers will be asked to limit their remarks to three minutes, and encouraged to leave copies of their prepared statements with the consultants. A webpage has been created to allow the public to monitor progress on the study, and to offer their suggestions. The website can be accessed from the County’s web page at www.tompkinscountyny.gov or at https://www.cgr.org/TompkinsLESS/ The Space@GreenStar is located at 700 W. Buffalo in the City of Ithaca. Doors will open at 6:00 PM. Contact: Joe Mareane, Tompkins County Administrator; Julie Conley Holcomb, Ithaca City Clerk, 274-6570. GO SOLAR/HEATSMART MTG Come to a public meeting and find out how to make your home more comfortable and lower your heating bills through solar energy/smarter heating! Meetings are being held around the county this spring. Here are upcoming in our area: March 23rd (Thurs)- 6:30-8:30pm at Racker Center, 3226 Wilkins Road March 29 (Wednesday)- 6:30-8:30pm at Enfield Grange, 178 Enfield Main Road Visit http://www.solartompkins.org/community-meetings.html to see the full meeting schedule, or contact Jonathan Comstock at jonathan@solartompkins.org, phone: 607-351-1752, for more information. TOMPKINS COUNTY RECYCLING AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT SEEKS OUTREACH ASSISTANTS Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management intends to hire several Outreach Assistants to help promote recycling programs at community events in Tompkins County. This is a part-time position starting in April and continuing through mid-November. The position involves working as part of a team to enthusiastically promote participation in recycling and composting programs. Availability to work on weekends is a MUST. The rate of pay will be $15.00 an hour, for a maximum 40 hours of work. To apply: please send a statement of interest and brief resume to Geoff Dunn, Communications and Administrative Coordinator, at gdunn@tompkins-co.org. NEW YORK STATE NEWS: FREE LEAD TESTING PILOT PROGRAM: $1.5 MILLION STATE PROGRAM TO TEST RESIDENTIAL DRINKING WATER The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) announced that it is launching a pilot program to test lead in drinking water. The program is available to residents that are served by either a private well or public water system. The program is free of charge to residents, allowing everyone to have access to lead testing if they choose. The program began in February 2017 and will continue as long as funds are available. Residents who are interested in testing their tap water are encouraged to sign up on the NYSDOH website or by calling the Bureau of Water Supply Protection at 518-402-7650. Individuals who request testing will choose a participating laboratory that will provide containers and directions to draw two samples. The samples will be mailed to the lab where they will be processed and the results will be sent directly to the residents. The purpose of the Free Lead Testing Pilot Program is to encourage individuals to take appropriate action if a source of lead in drinking water is identified. Lead is a toxic metal that is particularly harmful to the developing brain and nervous system of children under six and pregnant women. Lead is found throughout our environment, but the primary source of lead exposure in homes continues to be through old and deteriorated paint. The free water testing program will allow residents to make informed decisions about their drinking water to best protect the health of their families. Full website with sign up and list of participating laboratories: https://health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/lead/free_lead_testing_pilot_program.htm For more resources on Lead Poisoning Prevention: http://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/lead/index https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/ NYS CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION Tompkins County Legislator Rich John shares the following information: Unfortunately, Albany has not put any money in the prior or present budget to do any educational, planning or preparatory work, a step that has been taken in the past. As a result, if the Constitutional Convention question preparatory work, a step that has been taken in the past. As a result, if the Constitutional Convention question is to be properly considered by the voters this year, it is important that local leaders are aware and informed about the process and the issues that might arise. TCCOG wishes to make sure you are able to accurately advise your constituents and make an informed decision yourself. There is a lively series of roundtable radio podcasts on The Capitol Pressroom at WCNY.org that provide a good introduction to the topic. Each podcast is about 45 minutes. The links for these programs are listed below. If you just want to listen to one, the “From imagination to Reality” program provides a useful summary. In addition, TCCOG will hold an information session on March 27th, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., at the Ithaca Town Hall Board Room with a local expert on the Constitutional Convention, Dr. Henrik Dullea. The purpose of the session will be to answer your questions and engage in a discussion of the risks and benefits in holding a Convention. Check out these presentations to learn more: Dec. 27, 2016: Special Presentation of Connect: NY – Criminal justice http://www.wcny.org/dec-27-2016-special-presentation-of-connect-ny-criminal-justice/ Dec. 26, 2016: Special Presentation of Connect: NY – Forever Wild http://www.wcny.org/capitolpressroom/uploads/podcast_files/DEC262016.mp3 Dec. 28, 2016: Special Presentation of Connect: NY – Power and Ethics http://www.wcny.org/dec-28-2016-special-presentation-of-connect-ny-power-and-ethics/ Dec. 29, 2016: Special Presentation of Connect: NY –Education and the Constitution http://www.wcny.org/dec-29-2016-special-presentation-of-connect-ny-education-and-the-constitution/ Dec. 30, 2016: Special Presentation of Connect: NY – From Imagination to Reality http://www.wcny.org/dec-30-2016-special-presentation-of-connect-ny-from-imagination-to-reality/ UPCOMING TOWN MEETINGS: (All are open to the public and meet at the Town Hall) Democracy depends on citizen involvement! Grab a friend and drop in to a meeting to see what’s happening. All town meetings are held at the town hall at 10 Elm St., Trumansburg, unless noted otherwise. For agendas and other meeting information, click on the event on the calendar here: http://ulysses.ny.us/calendar/?category=Government DON’T FORGET ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR! Check our community calendar at http://www.ulysses.ny.us/calendar/. You can also submit your own events. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forward this message to anyone else that you think would be interested. We’d love to connect with more residents. To send questions or comments, or be removed from this list, please e-mail clerk@ulysses.ny.us ~From your Town of Ulysses Public Servants -- Best, Carissa Parlato Ulysses Town Clerk Office hours: 8am-4pm, M-F (After hours by appt.) 10 Elm St. Trumansburg NY 14886 P. (607)387-5767, ext. 221 F. (607)387-5843 ulysses.ny.us Get the latest updates on the town- sign up for the e-newsletter! Click here.