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Home My WebLink About2023-10 Newsletter - Late Edition (2) Town of Ithaca October — Second Newsletter Brush Pick up has concluded. You can bring your brush to the Public Works Department on Seven Mile Dr. during normal business hours. Leaf Pick-up begins November 61h Early Voting Ithaca Town Hall and the County's Crash Fire Rescue Building October 28 through November 5th for the 2023 General Election with Election Day on November 7th V O T- HELP AMERICA ti VOTE Poll Workers Still Needed! Dakota Tsen 's winning Sticker Sample Ballots and More and the award goes to...... NYS Building Officials Conference Code Official of the Year l The Town of Ithaca is incredibly lucky to have Marty Moseley as the Director of Code Enforcement, and it seems the State agrees Steven McDaniel,NYSBOC Past President and Historian has put it more eloquently than I could- It is with great pride and immense pleasure to honor and celebrate Marty Moseley who has played a pivotal role in transforming our organization. In our organization's history, there have been times when we faced challenges and uncertainties that seemed insurmountable. It was during such a critical juncture that Marty took the helm as our President, and under his leadership, our organization has experienced a profound and positive transformation. When Marty assumed the role of President, he was faced with a myriad of complex issues, and an organization that was struggling. But, instead of shying away from these challenges, Marty embraced them with unwavering determination and a vision for excellence. Over the course of his tenure, Marty has implemented a series of initiatives that have not only modernized our organization but have also elevated it to new heights. He recognized the disconnect within our organization, and he tirelessly worked to bring our organization back together again. Moreover, Marty championed inclusivity and collaboration within our chapters, fostering an environment where every voice is valued and heard. His commitment to professional development and leadership has empowered countless individuals within our organization to reach their full potential. Perhaps most notably, Marty understood the importance of NYSBOC's legislative efforts. He actively sought out and increased the membership of our legislative committee. He fostered several relationships with Senate and Assembly members, bridging the gap between our organization and the New York State Legislature. He not only gained their trust but has also made them partners in our journey towards progress. He has made NYSBOC a known name in the legislature. As we honor Marty as the "Code Official of the Year," we must also acknowledge the countless hours of hard work, the sleepless nights, and the unwavering dedication that have brought us to this moment. Marty serves as an inspiration to us all, a beacon of leadership, and a testament to what can be achieved when one person's vision is aligned with the greater good of the organization. In closing, let me express my profound gratitude to Marty for his exceptional leadership, his dedication to our organization, and his unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of our organization. Congratulations, Marty, on being named the "Code Official of the Year." Your legacy will continue to guide and inspire us for years to come. Thank you for your outstanding service. Fall Back Don't forget to Fall Bach on Sunday, November Sth and Check and Change Your Batteries in All Your Smoke and CO2 Detectors! Reminder that all types of heating unit installations require a building permit. JOIN OPERATION GREEN LIGHT • _ VETERANS amazon Operation Green Light for Veterans is an opportunity for residents and businesses to show their support for our Veterans that they are seen, appreciated, and supported, especially as they transition back to civilian life, by installing or using a green light bulb in your outdoor or indoor fixtures from dusk on November Wh through dawn on November l 2th 'Veterans Day is Observed Friday,November IOth and all Town Offices will be Closed Natura Area Ithaca Bike'�Rental(%^ Bo Mori Nfil Ii. SC .. East Shore Drive Pedestrian and Bike Study Public Information Session Wednesday, November 15" from 5:45-7:15 pm - Boynton Middle School Cafeteria The Planning Department invites you to attend an information session/open house regarding the East Shore Drive Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Corridor with engineering consultants Barton & Loguidice at the Boynton Middle School Cafeteria. The engineers will share information on and display schematic alternative plans for NYS Route 34 between the Boynton Middle School and the Ithaca Youth Bureau (James L. Gibbs Dr.) This project is a feasibility study for a capital improvement plan to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety in the area by developing designs to link existing multi-use trail infrastructure on approximately 700' feet of East Shore Drive (NYS-34)between Boynton Middle School (N. Cayuga Street) and the Ithaca Youth Bureau(James L. Gibbs Dr.) This is a key corridor providing an important link to Stewart Park and the Cayuga Waterfront Trail for walkers,joggers, and cyclists of all ages and from various City of Ithaca neighborhoods, as well nearby Town of Ithaca and Village of Cayuga Heights neighborhoods. The corridor is also an important and busy transportation route for cars and trucks, including the location of on- and off-ramps for NYS-l 3 with access to NYS-34. Learn more at this event and at E Shore Drive Pedestrian Bicyclist Safety Corridor Study r 'Al r I E�7 Taxman Tax Payment Schedules Ithaca City School District—October 31' Village Taxes — October 31`t(after which they are re-levied to your County Tax Bill) Town/City County Taxes—Sent the last week of December Single Payment—Due January 31St Split Payment—Due January 31`t and July 1`t A message from Jay Franklin, Director of Tompkins County Assessment One thing that never ceases to amaze me is just how poorly my profession has done in educating the public inexactly what the job of the assessor is in NYS. While we are often referred to as "Tax Assessors", that is a very misleading title; a better title would be "Property Assessors". The main job of an Assessor is to value real property, based upon a percentage of the market value your assessment is what you can sell your house for and in Tompkins County, the Legislature has decided upon a 100% assessment for the past 20+years. Assessment is NOT involved in the levying, collection, or enforcement of real property taxes. Assessors are not involved in the weighing of monetary support for different programs; that is in the political realm and what sets the tax levy, which is the amount each level of government sets as what they need to operate. The task of assessing property in Tompkins County is not subject to political influence. I've seen nearly the entire history of the Tompkins County Assessment Office; my father helped start the office in 1970 and worked here until he retired in June 1996 and I started shortly after his retirement as a Data Collector in January 1997. This office has never experienced political pressure to alter an assessment or change the way we do our work. As a civil servant, my position as Director of Assessment and those of my Assessors are not subject to 6-year reappointment terms like Assessors in many other communities. We are given the autonomy to do our job according to the real property tax law without any political repercussions. So, if you talk to me and say, "I know you're just trying to raise revenue for the County."you will get a sharp rebuke (I apologize in advance for jumping on you). If we doubled assessments or cut assessments in half, the tax levy would not change; the assessments made by my office do not change the spending decisions made by the various levels of government which determine the total amount of income, or Tax Levy, needed to operate and provide those services they decide upon supporting. I know taxes are a big topic as even when I am in a conversation with someone who doesn't know what I do, taxes will come up as much as the weather does. Please, help me: When this happens to you,please say "You know, it's not the assessor's fault that your taxes are high. The assessor only values your property. If you think that number is right, and you feel taxes are too high stilt -then make your concern known to the School Board, the Town Board, the County Legislature, the Village Board, the City Common Council, the Fire District. Also, communicate your concerns to your State and Federal representatives,because if they reduce state/federal aid, your property taxes will go up to make up for that loss. My office can only control what we are responsible for; we will take 100% responsibility for the values on the assessment roll. If we are wrong,please ask us to look at your property again; give us the information to back up your stance; maybe send us some information so we can learn about the current real estate market. Assessment is a job and a task that I believe in and that I have dedicated my working life to by trying to ensure our assessments are accurate. I am fortunate enough to have a great staff that shares this dedication to our profession and the equitable assessment of properties in the County. The resulting tax burden is the responsibility of all of us as residents of our community, and we can make our voices heard not by yelling at the Assessor,but by learning about the impact of the tax levy by attending public meetings and voting on our school, town/city and county budgets and letting our elected officials know our thoughts. Jay Franklin-jfranklin(a_tompkins-co.org