HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-09 ct 0 , L F A Newsletter for
Employees and Retirees
of Tompkins County
7 '�`F �- 0:�EPTEMBER
1993 i h r
1■ Volume 6 Number 9
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COFA ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING
The CORRIDORS staff salutesANN BENNETT, Cleaner,
The Office for the Aging will be holding its annual on her completion of one year of NOT SMOKING, as of
public hearing on October 25, 1993 at the Salvation September 16. Ann says, "If I can do it, anybody can do it.
Army building at 150 N. Albany Street, Ithaca at I don't guarantee its easy, but it can be done ". Ann was a
10:00 a.m. You are invited to join us to give smoker for 47 years! She deserves our applause. The
comment on our proposed 1994 Plan. Copies of the employees in Building C especially extend their
Plan will be available in our office at congratulations to Ann...she's "their cleaner ".
320 N. Tioga Street, on October 18.
If you have any questions, feel free to call 274 -5482. GOOD WORK, ANN!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Brought to you by the Reward and Recognition Sub - Committee of the Employee Council
The following is a list of employees celebrating anniversaries with Tompkins County during October. If you have any comments about this
feature or do not wish to have your name listed in your anniversary month, please contact Leighann Baldwin at 272 -9257.
OCTOBER
Martin Adams Marsha Cox Cecilia Grier Margo Koonce Henry Peterson
D.G. Bancroft Sandra Draghi Harry Hawk Charles Krebs Jamie Pietter
Maxine Beitel Leslie Dullea Barbara Hazard Peggy Kristof Elke Schofield
Stu Bergman Michelle Eighmey Joline Hendrix Maxine Lelik Nancy Schuler
Christine Brill Joyce English Deborah Horton Theresa Lyczko Gary Shippos
Carl Burgess Ruth Evelien David Hurd Diane Maarschalk Christy Stevens
Anni Callaghan Vicki Farrell Trinna Iacovelli Lucinda Mallery Nancy Suci
Carol Chase Susan Fast Christine Ion Anne Meeker David Thomas
Augustine Churchill Eleanor Frandsen Frank Justice Suzanne Meenen Beatrice Valent
Virgie Clark Donald Franklin Barbara Karaviotis Linda Minges Lauri Wallenbeck
James Clasby Melissa Gatch Harold Kastenhuber Roxan Noble Lori West
Valeria Coggin Randall Good James Kazda Lisa Nymark Angela White
Bonnie Cook Mitchell Gray, Sr. Kathleen Kelly Anne Peppin Eleanor Zahler
(Apologies to Margrethe Bang- Termansen for misspelling her name Last issue).
(If we have inadvertently omitted anyone, please call Leighann Baldwin at 272 - 9257, and we will make sure they are properly
recognized next month!) We thank you all for a job well done!
EMPLOYEE COUNCIL CHAIR'S REPORT....b Cheryl Nelson
The Council met on September 1, 1993 at the Old Jail. The first order of business was to conduct elections for the 93 -94 year. The
following are the elected officers: Cheryl Nelson, Chair, Pat Nowakowski, Vice Chair, and LeighAnn Baldwin, Secretary. The Executive
Committee: Hiroshi Takashima, and Barbara Karaviotis (along with the Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary). The annual report of the 92 -93
year is available from your Council representative. Council representatives are LeighAnn Baldwin, SW; Bill Chapp, DSS; Chris Decker,
MHB; Carolyn Hewitt, Biggs B; Mamie Kirchgessner, Biggs A; Margaret Marks, DSS; James Myers, DSS; Pat Nowakowski, Bldg C; Sophie
Stark, Sheriff's; Tom Cannon, Biggs A; Peter Coats, Biggs B; Sherry Conover, Biggs B; Tom Herden, Bldg C; Barbara Karoviotis, MHB;
Margo Koonce, SW; Cheryl Nelson, PW (Bostwick Road); Richelle Siclare, Biggs B; Hiroshi Takashirna, DSS; Valeria Cogen, Bldg C;
Shirley Meyers, Old Jail and Sharon Prezioso, DSS.
These representatives will be actively involved in task forces and committees throughout the year. If you have issues, suggestions, or
comments, please seek out your Council representative. Also, these representatives are to disperse Council information to the employees
they represent in order to promote communication.
There are still four vacancies on the Council. If you are interested in becoming a Council member, please let me know. The Council is
comprised of open minded, willing employees dedicated to making Tompkins County a better place to work. You must however, be sure
that your supervisor has approved your participation in the Council and your time for. Council meetings.
SAFETY SHORT....b Frank Croreau
An analysis of injuries thus far for 1993 shows that back and 3. Avoid having to stretch or extend arms to lift. Make sure
shoulder injuries are the largest catagory of incidents. racks or shelves have easy access and that barrels and other
Contributing factors to injuries are mainly improper bodily items are not in the way.
motions, including improper lifting, carrying/moving items, and 4. Reduce long periods of standing. If you are at a machine use
bending and reaching. Also contributing are factors such as a chair that has a good back support.
cluttered work areas. What can we do? 5. Reduce or eliminate barriers over which an object must be
lifted.
JOB DESIGN from the back's point of view 6. Minimize lifting objects above shoulder level. Use a ladder or
Most jobs just kind of evolve. There is a certain task to be step stool.
done and a limited amount of time, equipment, and manpower to 7. Avoid twisting the body while carrying or lifting.
do it. But there is another factor which should be considered 8. Reduce stooping. If working at a bench or table either sit or
when jobs are designed /executed...YOUR BACK stand up straight.
When designing/executing jobs remember the following safety 9. Allow one foot to be elevated when standing and allow knees
ingredients: to be elevated above hip level when sitting. Use foot rests to
accomplish this. REMEMBER...
1. Avoid manual lifting whenever possible.
2. Minimize lifting objects from the floor or low levels. Use a No one can protect your back as well as you!!
forktruck or other lifting device to elevate load to where you
have to place it. So lift and bend those knees!
r Did you know that... by Pkit LaPadula, DSS
V
` 'fi * More than 45,000 Tompkins County residents are
, i served through programs funded by United Way of
Tompkins County?
t ..
%,,- • 82 cents of every dollar you contribute to United Way
�., °° F - ' goes directly to help people in need?
• Local volunteers visit and carefully review each United
/' . Way funded organization to make sure your money is
' A 'kJ," * ' spent well
t
ir= a eta ` y4 e. * ' * United Way funds the Day Care and Child
; _ ' ,,, Development Council which provides the coordination
necessary for the development and maintenance of a
; ," ; p 1 . , community wide, quality child care system?
* \ e e „ t \ *The Task Force for Battered Women and Child Sexual
t k £ Abuse Project will provide counseling and support
4 1 ` , groups for 55 sexually abused children?
�'"
1 i
Y t y ` * The American Red Cross will provide 8,500 nights of
t''` -, I °; ,- '- , ., ° i ' ' lodging to homeless individuals and families, and will
:.
A assist 75% of these people in finding housing &lobs?
• Gadabout Transportation Services provided more than
�, , ‘ 38,000 rider trips to senior citizens and individuals with
=;w * ' disabilities last year?
Many County retirees enjoyed seeing each other at the recent There are so many ways in which United Way of
County Picnic. For reprints of this picture, send a self- addressed, Tompkins County touches each of us. The above
stamped envelope to Louise McEwen, 125 East Court Street. examples are only a few. It is likely that you or
someone close to you has been a recipient of a service
provided by United Way.
-
.
S ,� 4- As this year's chair of the Tompkins County
Employees campaign, I urge you to chip in and help. In
+� 0 the past few years, we've all witnessed communities pull
( together after floods, hurricanes, snowstorms and
earthquakes. These events have taxed the limits of
service organizations throughout our country. It is now
YOUTH BUREAU WINS AWARD that your help is needed most.
for Grassroots Organizing by Sara Hess
Back in 1983 Don Carigan got tired of talking individually to his friends FLU SHOTS... an ounce of prevention
about what he wanted his community of Groton to do for his children, he Flu shots for County employees, provided by the
and Carmen Molinda decided to call a meeting. To their surprise, 200 Health Department, will be $5.00. Wellness will
parents and local officials attended. With help from Nancy Zahler at the pay $2.50. More information will be com out in
County Youth Bureau, the town and village created the first local Youth mid to late October regarding dates and locations
Commission in the county. for getting your flu shot. Last year, 131
Understanding the importance of citizen involvement in local decisions, employees took advantage of this wellness promotion
the County Youth Bureau has since then helped to create and support 10 in cooperat w the H
i t h H ealth Department.
commissions or youth planning groups, each with 5 -25 active volunteers.
The volunteers provide valuable service as they study local problems, plan
solutions, advocate for youth, and advise local government on how to best Fourth Annual Workout for Wellness
use scarce resources. Over 100 parents, teachers, youth, and neighborhood
leaders currently serve on these planning groups. This year "Workout for Wellness" will take place
In recognition of the Youth Bureau's important work in the community between September 27 and October 31.
development, Matilda Cuomo presented Director Nancy Zahler and Chair For the second year in a row Cornell will host the
of the Youth Board Thomas Hanna with the Eleanor Roosevelt popular Double Points Day. Pam Purvis, Coordinator of
Community Service award. the Healthy Heart Program, said, "Participants are
Recognition is a bonus, but the primary beneficiaries of this invited to Helen Newman Hall on the Cornell campus
decentralized system of planning are the children. Commission volunteers on Sunday, October 10, for Double Points Day."
have secured more than $150,000 in new, local tax dollars to match County
funds for new and expanded programs. Youth Commission volunteers were DON'T FORGET
instrumental in assuring that local governments maintained their supporrt The Retirement (Social Security) pre- retirement
for youth services even when New York State was reducing its commitment counseling seminar to be held Monday, November 8,
to the Division for Youth's Youth Development and Delinquency 1993 from 1:30 -4:00 p.m. at TC3, Dryden, in The
Prevention Program. To honor these hard working volunteers, the Youth Forum. Notices were mailed to departments 9/10/93.
Bureau held a successful "Tribute to Volunteers" last spring, during which REGISTER BY OCTOBER 4 through your
Representatives of the County Board presented certificates. department.
,
GRANDPARENTS PERSONNEL PERSONALS
Thanks to all the proud grandparents who sent the wonderful
pictures we have been enjoying. The names Oma, Gram, Gramma CONGRATULATIONS TO...
& Grammy are still the most popular names. The one original name John, (PW) and Susan Navarro on the birth of their
was "GUM ". daughter on September 8.
Thomas Saunders, (SW) & wife Julie on the arrival of
Thomas Jr. on August 8.
NX s Jon, (B &G) and Rebecca Jehu on the birth of Jon
Morgan Thomas on August 17. The vvr proud
`, -; Grandpa is Evan Jehu, Assessment.
a 1
Mildred S. Baker (County Hospital - retired) who
$ 1 - k ' married Jacob (Jack) Sonson on August 14. Best
i
,�. � .., °° � wishes!
Michael 8, Colleen 14, Jeffery 1 -1(2,
Mathew 8, Kevin 11, Andrew 11. SYMPATHY TO:
Sent by Ellis Grist, DSS Mike Day (Sheriff) and Cindie Day (Budget & Finance)
on the loss of Robert E. Day, father and father -in -law,
respectively.
.t, i' ' - '4. ,
> `� Marty Adams (PW) on the loss of his mother -in -law.
Katie Knapp (Planning) on the loss of her Mom.
1 `- -; 0 " -
WELCOME TO:
Sigrid Kerr, R.N.,M.S. as the Director of Patient
Services at the Health Department. Some of you may
_
. », remember Sigrid, as she conducted an employee
wellness survey for the County as a student intern in
Milk 1990.
GET WELL WISHES TO:
Jean Welch (retired -Bd. of Elections) who's now home
Gage Patrick Bush, 9 mos. from the hospital recouperating.
Sent by Pam Bush, Mental Health
Lois Hurlbut, wife of Hugh Hurlbut (retired - Personnel).
Jim Clasby, Sheriff's Dept.
YOU'RE INVITED
George Moses (Court Attendent) and his wife, Julia, will
celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on October 3,
8. 1993, at a reception being given by their family. The
' event is being held on Saturday, October 2, 1993, from
2-6 p.m. at the VFW Hall on West State Street. Stop by
W. to add your "congratulations" to George and Julia. We 16 , -
w t ai add ours here!
{
VETERAN'S DAY - NOVEMBER II
Veteran's Day is not an observed County holiday for
CSEA White Collar employees in the current contract.
Michael Armstrong, III However, Public Officers Law (63) does state that
Sent by Fran, Comptrollers, & County employees who meet the Veteran criteria
Michael, Central Services, Armstrong, Sr. outlined in the law must be given 24 hours leave of
(Corrected from last issue) absense with pay on the day prescribed as Veteran's Day
(November 11). Each department head will receive a
copy of the law to post. If you meet the criteria to take
the day off with pay, please notify the department head
Kyle Fellows, 27 mos. in writing by October 22, 1993 and attach verification of
Sent by Penny McGuire, DMV Supervisor eligibility under the law to your request. If you have any
(Corrected from last issue) questions, please call Anita Fitzpatrick at 274 -5526.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT byScoU Heyman
One sunny and very warm Wednesday recently, yours truly took up Weights and Measures Director Judy Tynyk on her
standing offer to spend a day in the field with her carrying out her duties.
I had known from acting as Judy's supervisor for the last four years, and as her predecessor Lou Emmick's for the four years
before that, that Weights and Measures is not the straightforward, cut - and -dried matter that a lot of people think it is.
So I wasn't shocked at the number of judgment calls or the complexity of "a day in the life" of a County Director - -but I was
still quite surprised.
The day started with a serious complaint against a gas station. A customer had called Judy and said they were advertising
Super gas for the Regular price, but that wasn't what they were really charging. Judy consulted her lawbooks and spoke to
State Weights and Measures before we closed in on the putative offender. She took pictures, watched customers, and got a
receipt that showed what was being charged.
The facts, it turned out, were complicated. The owner was in fact charging the same price that he charged for Regular the
other six days of the week; but on this particular day he had to lower the Regular price another two - tenths of a cent because
his computer would not let him charge the same thing for two grades of gas. His new computer was arriving in a week. So
Judy told him to correct his sign to read "10 cents off Super ". He appreciated the fact that instead of fining him for a technical
violation she could see that he was doing his best to be honest with customers and was soon going to correct the technical
difference between his ad and what he was actually charging.
Next we spent a couple of hours inspecting the East Hill Mobil station. If you ever inherit a lot of money, think about
investing in East Hill Mobil at Judd Falls Plaza. The traffic on a weekday morning was amazing. Judy showed me all the ropes
of a gas station inspection and recertification. She also made me carry all of her 40 pound provers and pour them back into
the station's underground tanks after we had tested the pumps' accuracy. The station passed with flying colors.
After 1 spent some time in a meeting about Assigned Counsel we went to the Airport and inspected USAir's baggage scales.
Although one of them was older than the Airport, they both passed with room to spare.
Room to spare? The laws Judy enforces don't ever require perfect accuracy. That is not realistic for even the best weighing
and measuring devices. The tolerances that are allowed are all spelled out in the law.
Lastly we went to Taughannock Aviation and Judy told them how to set up an inspection of their tanker truck; Judy's test
equipment can't test anything so Large with such high pressure so they have to find test equipment and arrange for it to come
when Judy can be present to observe.
One of the most amazing aspects of Judy's job is that there is the usual mountain of paperwork and documentation involved,
but unlike the rest of us she cannot take care of it in a comfortable office -- essentially her truck is set up like an office. She
carries literally hundreds of different tools, weights, files, doo -dads, and they are all beautifully organized so she can find
whatever she wants and so things don't fly around. All of her files on all of the commercial establishments that she inspects
are always close at hand.
Thanks, Judy, I enjoyed my day as your assistant. Every time any of us goes shopping, our chances of getting what we pay
for are a lot better because of everything you do for us.
AIRPORT TAKES OFF byRobert Nicholas, Airport Manager italb, 1 , �.
It is rare for an individual to be able to oversee such sweeping changes in what is a relatively small area of Tompkins County government.
I feel privileged to have been present and to have played a small part in the transformation of the County's airport from an outmoded
transportation facility to what will be the state of the art for small airports.
Sometime in February or March 1994 the new terminal building, along with new landscaped parking lots, a new aircraft ramp and a new
access road will be ready for use by the general public. If you add to that an 800 -foot runway extension, a new fuel farm, and two sets of
new aircraft hangars, you have the essence of a $15 million program of airport improvements that will all have taken place within a 12 -month
period. If it has been a while since you were last at the airport, the next time you go there you may have to do a "double- take" before you
realize you are in the right place.
The new terminal will provide room for those people who have had to suffer cramped conditions over the past few years and it will allow
plenty of capacity for natural growth in the future. The runway extension will finally enable existing jet aircraft to lift a full load of passengers
during the summer months instead of restricting passenger loads or leaving people behind. It will also provide an added measure of safety
for aircraft taking off and landing.
The new terminal complex will be a beautiful facility which will fulfill the goals of the County staff and legislators who set it all in motion
several years ago; to have an airport of which we can be proud and which will provide the kind of image we would like to have for people
visiting our community for the first time.
Tompkins County Health Planning Council
You are invited to a series of free Forums on The Future of Health Care in Tompkins County:
Local Health Care Delivery - Monday October 4, 1993
Keynote Speaker: Bonnie Howell, President, CEO, Tompkins Community Hospital; Moderator: Prof. John Kuder, Comell University; and
Panelists: Betsy Crane, Ex. Dir., Planned Parenthood of T.C.; Dr. D. Robert Mackenzie, V.P. for Medical Affairs, TCH, Pres., Forger Lakes
Management Assoc.; Anthony Cooper, President, Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Alice Cole, R.N. Director of Tompkins County Health
Department; Dr. Lynn Smaha, President,Guthrie Clinic.
State Health Care Policy - Tuesday October 4, 1993
Moderator: Prof. John Kuder, Cornell University; and Panelists: Senator Seward; Assemblyman Marty Luster, Judith Leavitt, RN; William
Koester, Exec. Asst. to Supt. Ins., N.Y.S. Insurance Dept.; Timothy Bobo, Exec. Dir. Cent., N.Y. Health Systems Agency; John Ford, Dean
of Students, Comell University.
National Health Care Policy - Monday, October 25, 2993
Moderator. Jean Samuelson, Director of Benefits, Comell University. Panelists: Congressman Maurice Hinchey; Prof. John Kuder, Comell
University; Judith Leavitt, RN; Alan Pedersen, TCH; Stewart Auyash, Assoc. Prof, Ithaca College.
Forums held from 7 -9 p.m., Boynton Middle School, Ithaca
A reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m will precede each forum and provide the opportunity for one - on-one public interaction with panelists.
Co- sponsored by the Health Planning Council of T.C. (a program of the Human Services Coalition), Comell Cooperative Extension of T.C.,
the T.C. Office of the Aging, the T.C. Health Care Coalition, A.A.U.W., the League of Women Voters, and Planned Parenthood of T.C..
For more information contact Phyllis Brault at the Health Planning Council office, 273 -8686.
Data Processing has been left with an excess inventory of software ' �, r s":5" t ? P ‘,"‘E.,(717 .
4
which they are willing to sell to County departments at 25% y e, ,\ L ' '' .1V.1 ji T ' O
discount. Please call 274 -5417 if your department wants to
purchase dBASE III+ ($318.00) or IBM DisplayWrite -5
(5151.49).
My many thanks to all the County employees who came to my
HUMEROUS LABELS rescue when my faithful truck "BUBA" collapsed from exhaustion
The following two labels were received by the Purchasing Dept. along Route #13. Especially the two charming ladies who called
whose Director is Sheila Ferrari. the wrecker for me. Judy Tynyk, Director, Weights & Measures
Agent Sheila Purchasing Much thanks to Louise McEwen for all her informative and
County Of Tompkins compassionate help to me during this very strange time of illness.
Bostwick Rd ----- Barbara Mahony, DSS
Ithaca, NY 14850
I,11II�I.1Ih,I,1I,I1I I111�.I1II
The Children With Special Needs Division (CSCN) of the
Health Department provided work site training for two
OF TOpP ; T PNS Employment Unit clients, "Paul and Penny ". What a terrific and
INC T P L.E D T NOSA OF B z_1 Y FR rewarding experience! Hats off to Randy Good from DSS
Employment Unit for contacting us and providing individuals with
COUNTY COURT HOUSE skills that matched our needs.
T AC NY 14850-4284 A very special thanks goes to Judy Miller, CSCN Senior
Account Clerk Typist, for her willingness to reach out to those in
need and to offer her support and wisdom. It delighted all of us
when both "Paul and Penny" found work.
The photos in this issue were taken by Judy Tynyk, We're pleased to have been a part of this worthy program and
Chair of the Corridors committee. encourage others to give it a try. Suzanne Stopen, Director, CSCN
UNCLASSIFIEDS
FOR SALE:
Chest Freezer $35, King Size Waterbed with almost
new heater $50. 838 -3021 evenings. WORD OF THE MONTH
Meniscus - the convex or concave upper surface of a
column of liquid.