| LEGISLATURE ADOPTS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Culminating over two years of work and public input, the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the County Legislature. The plan is based on principles and policies that can be used to guide future development decisions at the municipal government level and through regional and intermunicipal cooperation. It principally covers information and guidance regarding housing, transportation, the local and regional economy, rural issues, and the environment and natural features. The plan has also identified a number of agencies and partners who have agreed to take the lead on action items. Several legislators applauded the plan and the extensive public comment process that the County Planning Department followed as it developed the plan. Frank Proto alone voted against adoption of the comprehensive plan, stating that he felt it was not complete enough for approval. Leslyn McBean-Clairborne and Dooley Kiefer were absent. Contacts: Kathy Luz Herrera, Chair, Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality Committee, 273-8169; Edward Marx, Commissioner of Planning, 274-5560. AIR SERVICE TASK FORCE GIVEN GO-AHEAD TO NEGOTIATE WITH AIRLINES The Air Service Task Force, charged by the County Legislature earlier this year to investigate the loss of air traffic at the Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport, discussed in an executive session possible negotiations to bring more air service to the airport. The Legislature encouraged the task force to seek additional service from interested air carriers. In open session, William Myers, a member of the task force, explained that the decline in use of the airport is unlikely to change without more options and competitively priced fares. "We have a sufficient market to support the airport," said Myers, "but 68 percent of local air travelers use other Upstate airports." Bringing in at least one additional carrier is seen as the best solution to restoring a significant amount of the local airport usage. Simply closing the airport is not an option, not only because an airport is essential to the local economy but because, even with no carrier, it would cost the County a minimum of $39,000 a month to pay the debt for airport construction. Keeping the facility "air carrier ready" would cost $90,000 a month. The task force is recommending a community approach to solving the problem. A few air carriers are willing to talk about coming to Ithaca, said task force assistant Charles Hamilton, but airlines are universally cautious and require such things as guarantees of volume of service and/or economic incentives. The air service task force is recommending a partnership among the County, Cornell University, and the local business community to meet interested carriers' requirements. While the details of community backing are undetermined, the Legislators agreed that the task force should proceed with airline talks.Contacts: Larry Baum, Air Service Task Force, 257-3524; Mike Hall, Air Service Task Force, 279-2662. COUNTY APPROVES TCAT CONTRACT By a unanimous vote, the Legislature approved a new structure for Tompkins County Area Transit (TCAT). The County is one of three partners asked to authorize an agreement to allow TCAT Inc. to operate the community's bus system starting January 1, 2005. TCAT was created as a joint venture among Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca, and Cornell University in 1998. TCAT Inc. formed as a not-for-profit corporation earlier this year in response to a requirement from the New York State Department of Transportation to become a single employer. The transportation agreement also transfers TCAT's capital assets (e.g. buses, equipment, and facilities) to Tompkins County, which will lease them back to TCAT for $1 a year, plus the guarantee of provision of bus service. Contact: Barbara Blanchard, Chair, TCAT Board of Directors, 272-7664. COUNTY TO ISSUE LICENSE TO ROUTE 13 DEVELOPER FOR USE OF PARCEL A title search in conjunction with commercial development along Route 13 in the City of Ithaca has revealed County ownership of a quarter-acre of land straddling the entrance to the new Lowes and Wal-Mart stores. Following an executive session to discuss negotiations for transferring the parcel to Will-Ridge Associates LLP, a company associated with Benderson Development Corporation, the Legislature voted in open session to license the land for access and signage. It was agreed that the County will study whether to ultimately sell or lease the land. Contact: Jonathan Wood, County Attorney, 27405546. COUNTY TO JOIN LAWSUIT AGAINST DRUG COMPANIES Tompkins County will join a number of other counties around the state in a suit against pharmaceutical companies that have reportedly inflated wholesale drug prices covered by Medicaid. If it is successful, the suit may help the County recover overpayments made to the drug companies. Contacts: Michael Lane, Chair, Government Operations Committee, 844-8440; Jonathan Wood, County Attorney, 274-5546. LEGISLATORS FAIL TO SET SALARY LEVELS FOR 2006 - 2009 The Legislature debated but failed to set salary levels for their successors. Under one proposal, County Legislators who are elected to terms starting in 2006 would receive a raise of $1,500 and graduated salary increases of $400 a year. The starting salary for each part-time Legislator would be $17,500 in 2006, increasing to $18,700 in 2009. The four-year terms of all 15 Legislators currently in office will end on December 31, 2005. Pay in 2005 will be $16,000. An alternate proposal would have raised the salaries by just $250 a year, but neither scenario garnered the eight votes needed for approval. It is traditional for the sitting Legislature to vote on the next term's salaries well in advance of the election season. Only 13 Legislators were present at the meeting and it was noted that either of the absent members may bring the matter back for another vote in January. Contacts: Michael Lane, Chair, Government Operations Committee, 844-8440. |