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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-02 ;l c:t .... ..... V A Newsletter for Em P Y to ees and Retirees 1 of Tompkins County r� -' �j c i F EBRUARY 1997 Volume 10 Number 2 RUOOLPH LANDS EARLY AT PUBLIC WORKS by Cheryl Nelson '. Even though Christmas eve was quite a few days away, Rudolph decided to take a practice run at the Public Works facility on Bostwick Road. When employees arrived ' II T4iger „,, 0 „ at work on December 11th, they noticed a young, male 1 . deer trapped in the `pit” adjacent to the basement of the building. Apparently the deer had become confused or & e. was being chased and tried to leap through or over the V building only to run into a concrete wall and fall into the qK "i'' pit. Cornell was contacted and a veterinarian arrived on the scene. Rudolph was tranquilized, removed from the it • premises, his wounds treated, and then released when he woke up. S0000000, if you stopped believing a long time ago that reindeer could fly, you might want to reconsider! If you are passing by the Public Works facility on Bostwick Road, ;.'t keep an eye out for Rudolph and his friends practicing their • take -offs and landings. 7 �Y .:. ---- f:1...., ' .ip, I, , ,1' .,i •.. ,, ,,'. 7-, •- - ",.‘0. - 0, -- iiAP''' --„ As s' ���AF t.-..,.-1 r '" � $ 1 1F0 R.9P ^u M8 4d tl _ ! F t n l � �," r A h � X^" 4 $` Wy Q4 k ¥ F 'S W ' MI f t i i 4 d • S �� / F # . G 1 ..111 �.. . ■ t y f ° Many thanks to Leighann Fowler pictured here at the "Mystery Dinner," for all the wonderful trips she organized for us. She will be leaving the area and we wish her well. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S COLUMN CHILD CARE SURVEY by Scott Heyman by David S. Boyd, AICP Executive Director The Year Ahead The results are in from the second Employee Child Care survey. Following are some "sound bites" from those results. The end of the year is a time for taking stock. * The second survey was directed to employees with What has gone well, what hasn't, and what should be our children ages 12 or less. We received 99 responses; goals for the upcoming year. however, four of them were "invalid" (i.e., respondents did not have children or submitted duplicate information). From where I sit: f ill" MIN * One of our primary "objectives" of this survey was to get E a "census" of employee's children. We can't be sure if we Last year c• , / got them all, therefore the figures should be considered to we made good 11111)4/ v i5 have a small range of error. However, it is logical that headway on what I Q since parent - employees recognized their vested interest in think are our two `� k I► participating in the survey, we suspect that the response most critical long - `'=' a rate was very high. In all, 153 children were identified. Of term goals, IX these children, 69 (45 %) were under the age of 4 with the ll' improving the remainder, 84 (55 %) being age 5 or older (up to 13). training and These figures will be very useful to the Task Force in education at generating and analyzing alternative forms of an employee opportunities for assistance program. employees and * Another primary objective was to find out how parent - making the Board 11 ' � 1 employees felt about the choice between "a cash subsidy of Representatives' i, 0 employee ti , to the e t to help pay for day care rovider/ ro ram" P llit p Y Pp Y Y P p 9 goals clearer and O �. il l !i. and "a day care center in a centralized location in or near more well - defined. .11,-. .11,-. - k downtown Ithaca that accepts all children, but give 1 For the �'� = preference to County employees' children and offers first time we hired ' discounted tuition to County employees." The results v... w..O".R ' 94. a countywide overwhelmingly supported the "subsidy" alternative: 88 T r a i n i n g (93 %) favored the subsidy, while 7 (7 %) favored the center. Coordinator. He has a strong employee training The survey provides a lot of other really interesting data; background, he has staff assistance from the Personnel however, for the most part, it is supplementary. Department, he has a budget to work with, and someday, Information on weekly expenditures, types of child care somehow, he will have an office. providers /programs, and where employees live and work For the first time the Board of Representatives has will all be useful for the Task Force in generating its stated, by a Resolution enacted on January 21, what is the alternatives and making its fi nal recommendation to the role of County government, what is their vision of the Board of Representatives. community we all serve, and what are the improvements in Finally, I think it would be appropriate to let service delivery outcomes that they most want to see employees know that the summary and results are between now and the end of the century. available upon request. I would be very happy to provide I won't surprise anybody when I say that in my copies, on paper or electronically, should employees view Partners for Quality is the focal point for the most contact me. important efforts to improve this organization. The above NO PROOF! NO PUFFS! two accomplishments are absolutely essential for us to Sue Kilgore, Healthy Heart Program succeed in achieving the aims of PFQ — more and better The Tompkins County Health Department and Tompkins - teamwork, labor /management partnership, better Cortland- Cayuga Tobacco Control Coalition reminds everyone supported employees, well trained supervisors who about ATUPA -- Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act. coach more than they direct, open candid This law prohibits sales of tobacco to children under 18 and communication in all directions, the use of data to make requires that cigarette vending machines be placed only in decisions, and a customer - focus in everything we do. specified areas under the watchful eye of a vendor. The upcoming year needs to be a breakthrough The law is intended to reduce children's access to year when Partners for Quality gets well established in the tobacco. Merchants may sell tobacco only to an individual who demonstrates, through a driver's license or other photo Public Works and the Health Departments, completes its identification, that he or she is at least 18 years of age. "rollout" in Social Services, when well conceived training Why is this important? opportunities for employees multiply, and when we use the ...research indicates that limiting access reduces the number of opportunity of the Board of Representatives goals teens who smoke statement to "connect" what we staff do with the goals of ...every day 3,000 kids become addicted to tobacco the Board of Representatives — speaking for all of our ...for every one person who dies from heroin abuse, over 100 taxpaying and service receiving customers. die from tobacco addiction begun before age 14. Help promote the effort that makes it difficut for kids to get cigarettes (and other tobacco products) by calling 274 -6710 for NO PROOF! NO PUFFS! Badges and Bumper Stickers. DO YOU HAVE A CREATIVE HOBBY? Here are more hobbies of county employees. We'd like to have yours, too! Please send a picture of your hobby and a short statement about it to Ruth Pond, Finance. Thanks! 1 1 .._y 1 _ --•--- __-„ Er ti f : ;,./ , , ,,. . -..—.:1.4,,, ,.. . � e� anaarw 1 . 11 „ � : I 8 _ ! 4 , tk '' • '•;; A jiii iiiii„. .4..... - .,., ::..., .: ,:;;! l' Ittl, , x i g _ .NdF,r. - j' - . Cx' y i. tY " yl Y R i Fran Armstrong, Payroll, has crafted eight afghans for her Galina Rozenfine, Assessment, enjoys spending her free children and grandchildren as a "remembrance" of their time doing pen and ink drawings of animals, vehicles, and mother and grandmother. Each has the person's name houses. She also designs logos for fun and extra and birthdate and is of their current interest. spending money. ((((((((( Solid Waste is still giving tours to • grade school children. Some of the thank you notes came f c ' ; I , � �,,� j. replete with pictures. from Linnett Warner 0 L. I l„�'L. . . _ � ,� +,, t r r ) - , r , T°5 , ' ( UnrvIwu.'e,e4., / 3 S. j J hft ' il 1 1 1 I t U ` ,� i. __:rw -.__ �_..- _- -- 1, � l "'�' -1 H' ' . 141_. �:.- - ' T .. ___ .._ _____ ____ . .. LEADERSHIP COUNCIL by Jerry Feist, Training Coordinator ■ The Leadership Council has added some new members. The Leadership Council was created by the Board of Representatives "to 0 .;� a have primary guidance responsibility "for the Board's effort "to review, � —�— restructure, and improve the ways in which it carries out the , � NOP responsibilities assigned to it..." The Leadership Council has been overseeing the County's Partners For Quality effort as one part of MOTORCYCLE RIDER their charge. They want to hear from you. If you have thoughts, questions, concerns, or ideas about how to improve the County, please COURSES AVAI LAB LE contact a member of the Leadership Council. by Cheryl Nelson, Public Works The motorcycle rider training courses 1997 Leadership Council Members schedule administered by BOCES and conducted at the Dryden High School is now Barbara Mink Chair, Board of Representatives 274 -5434 available for the 1997 season. Courses are Beverly Livesay Board of Representatives 274 -5434 available for both beginner and advanced Charlie Evans Board of Representatives 274 -5434 riders. Scott Heyman County Administrator 274 -5551 Through a grant from American David Chase CSEA White Collar 274 -5294 Honda Motor Company, funding is available Penny VanSchoick CSEA White Collar 274 -5321 for three (3) county employees to take the Tony Denmark CSEA Blue Collar 274 -5290 course free of charge. The only requirement Jim Strehle CSEA Blue Collar Alternate 257 -0456 is your commitment to attending the four Emery Guest Sheriff 257 -1345 sessions in order to complete the course. If Lynn Watros Employees' Union of Tompkins 257 -1345 you are interested, contact Cheryl Nelson at County Sheriffs Department 274 -0302 for details. Courses fill up quickly - Bill Mobbs Department Heads 274 -0304 so don't delay! John Beach Department Heads 274 -5524 David Boyd Middle Management 274 -5570 p 1 p Loretta Bernal Confidential Employees 274 -5252 &I' <<"‘ LOS Other people connected to the Leadership Council: Recognition Anita Fitzpatrick 274 -5526 Nancy Zahler 274 -5310 Jerry Feist 274 -5526 Cheryl Nelson 274 -0302 Mary Pat Dolan 274 -5251 44b the Count C0t CLb by Aurora Valenti valid there any legsl document which is as r The Department of Social Services held its 1 valid to be used for identification as is a sixth annual Employee Recognition Awards driver's license (or passport)? Ceremony on January 23, 1997. Employees Answer: YES. It is a non - driver's photo Ni lt o I.D. ,which can be obtained from your local received awards in the following categories: Staff Award: Vicki Farrell, Fran Swartout, Motor Vehicle Bureau. Peggy Thomas -Carr, Lori Hill; Behind the For those of you under the age of 62 years, it will cost around $7 for Scenes: Joann Hill; Suggestions for Cost a four -year I.D. , around $13 for an eight -year I.D. Efficiency: Holly Stevenson; Promoting Teamwork: Liz Norton, Chen Hartman, Judy For those of you 62 years of age or older, a photo I.D. card from the Ryan, Sally Ryan; Advocacy and/or Service for Clients: Penny Calderazzo; Promoting DMV will cost only $3.75, valid for 10 years. DSS Community Image: Michel Kelly; Promoting Good Morale: Wendy Lutz; Many of us are unable or unwilling to obtain a permit to operate a Commissioner's Award: Andrew Timm. motor vehicle for one reason or another. Many of us find that in our later years, operating a motor vehicle is cumbersome, exhausting, and A special award was given to Mary Pat Dolan unnecessary. The non - driver 1.D. is for you! for her part in Promoting DSS Community Questions? Call Aurora Valenti 274 -5431 or Penny McGuire 273 -7187. Image. I .. , a ° ¢o - fis i3 Tompkins County BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES ' Courthouse, Ithaca. N.Y. 14850 Date: January 6, 1997 To: All Tompkins County Employees and Officers From: Catherine Covert, Clerk, Board of Representatives Scott Heyman, County Administrator Subject: Conflict of Interest The General Municipal Law of New York State and Tompkins County Local Law No. 4 of 1992 require any County officer or employee who has, will have, or later acquires an "interest" in any actual or proposed contract with the County to disclose the nature and extent of such interest in writing to the Clerk of the Board of Representatives. The laws define "interest" as follows: "'Interest' means a direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit accruing to a municipal officer or employee as the result of a contract with the municipality which such officer or employee serves. A municipal officer or employee shall be deemed to have an interest in the contract of (a) his or her spouse or domestic partner, minor children or dependents, except a contract of employment with the municipality which such officer or employee services; (b) a firm, partnership or association of which such officer or employee is a member or employee; (c) a corporation of which such officer or employee is an officer, director or employee; and (d) a corporation any stock of which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such officer or employee." If you as an individual, member of any partnership, or stockholder or trustee in any corporation, have an interest in any actual or proposed contract with the County, or anticipate acquiring such an interest, you must disclose the nature and extent of this interest in writing to the Clerk of the Board of Representatives. Your disclosure of an interest in a contract with the County does not necessarily mean that this interest must be ended. All disclosures will be carefully reviewed by the County Attorney, and if necessary, by the Board of Ethics and/or the appropriate committee of the Board of Representatives. The issue that will be examined in every instance is whether your contract creates a conflict with your responsibilities as a County employee and, if so, how this should be eliminated. If the position you hold is designated as a "key employee ", you must also file an Annual Disclosure Statement with the Clerk of the Board no later than May 15, 1997. The form for this filing was sent under separate cover. If you believe you should file this form and have not received one, please contact the Board office at 274 -5434. A memorandum similar to this one is sent to all employees every year as a reminder of this obligation. If at any time during the course of any year an interest such as described above should arise, you must notify the Clerk of the Board in writing at that time. l Unclassifieds Personnel Personals For Sale: Welcome to: 1982 Winnebago Motor Home: 27' Class A, 45,000 miles, roof air, sleeps six, rear Diane Bradac to the Personnel Office as of January. bath. $12,500 or best offer. 607 - 533 -7651. The January Bth minutes of the Free: Department Head meeting are now Two year old Beagle. Needs good available on the common directory in the home. Has all shots, good with children. Call DHMIN folder and also in the "Employee 273 -5631. Only" section of the County web page. For Rent: Ithaca Neighborhood .� ^. �i►� Interlaken - One bedroom apartment: Ell i�" Housing Services large yard, off street parking. $325 includes. 1Jli —i,.] ;�,-, 532 -8769 evenings and weekends. ..'..'-=-. L- Y. , i1 % by Ann DiPetta, VISTA Volunteer Found: Thought you couldn't buy a home? Think again! Ithaca in a recent Ann Lander's column: Neighborhood Housing Services is offering Home Buyer "Dear Rosalia: Education courses that will teach you: It's amazing to me that the article you sent p How the home buying process works was written over 50 years ago. Thanks for y g p sharing. Some of those 'isms' fit today. o How to assess and enhance your credit worthiness 0 Where to find special financing to make your monthly housing payments lower ling c Where to find a beautiful, completely renovated, yet affordable home. The first thing you need to do is attend one of our Lunch hour Orientations. The upcoming dates are February 11, March 13, and April 17 from Noon until 1 p.m. at INHS, 115 W. Clinton Street. Call 277 -4500 now to register! A rticles to be considered for the March 13 issue must be received ISMs by noon, Wednesday, February 19, 1997. Lengthy articles Socialism: You have two cows. Give should be on disk. Send by interdepartmental mail to Ruth Pond, one cow to your neighbor. Finance, or 125 East Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850. Fax: 274 -5505. Communism: You have two cows. Give both cows to the government, and they may give UNCLASSIFIEDS you some of the milk. Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County employees, retirees Facism: You have two cows. You give all and their immediate families. Ads may be for any purpose except no personal ads will be accepted. No County addresses or telephone numbers may be listed in of the milk to the government, and the govemment these ads. Use this coupon to send your ad via interdepartmental mail to Ruth sells it. Pond, County Corridors c/o Finance, or 125 East Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850. Nazism: You have two cows. The Please type or print legibly! Thanks! government shoots you and takes both of the cows. Anarchism: You have two cows. Keep both of the cows, shoot the government agent and • steal another cow. Capitalism: You have two cows. Sell one cow and buy a bull." COUNTY CORRIDORS Articles and opinion pieces for County Corridors are selected by the volunteer 1 soli editorial board based on their interest to Tompkins County employees and retirees. They do not necessarily express the opinions of the Editorial Board. Material is fir, cited from current employees, retirees and others. Material for publication is selected by the editorial board which reserves the right to edit any submissions except in the instance of copyright articles. The Editorial f � Board is made up of: Bill Chapp, Social Services; Sharon Cooper, Assessment; Lisa Eaton, (Proofreader), Finance- Purchasing; Iretta Ellis, Information Services; Scott Heyman, County Administrator; Louise McEwen, Personnel; Ruth Pond, , / (Editor), Finance- Purchasing; Judy Tynyk, (Chair), Weights and Measures; and 17 Vickie Wagner, (Artist), Drafting Technician. J Correspondence may be sent through County inter - department mail to: County Corridors, Go Finance- Purchasing, 125 East Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850.