| LEGISLATURE SELECTS JOSEPH AS CHAIR Tim Joseph (D) will continue as chair of the Tompkins County Legislature. The chair, elected each year by his or her peers, is responsible for overseeing all Legislative functions. Joseph was nominated to his fourth consecutive term as chair by Leslyn McBean-Clairborne (D) who characterized him as a visionary who vigorously pursues what he believes in. She also said Joseph is compassionate and open to a variety of opinions, even those he disagrees with. George Totman (R) seconded the nomination. The vote was 14 - 1. Daniel Winch (R), who cast the sole no vote, issued a challenge to Joseph to be more inclusive of all members of the Legislature. Winch implied that relying on the 11-member Democratic majority to deal with issues often leaves out the Republican minority. Joseph said he accepted the challenge and would try to improve in this area. Michael Lane was unanimously elected Vice-Chair, also for the fourth time. Joseph delivered an address in which he expressed continuing concern about the role of state government in pushing up local property tax. While Joseph recognized that the growing local economy has generated more sales tax revenue and noted that Tompkins County adopted a stable budget for 2005, he warned that actions at the state level could upset that stability. He noted the growth of the community as a regional job center and an economic standout compared to its neighbors. Joseph listed a few of the successes of County government such as the upcoming issuance of a prescription discount card, the new consolidated dispatch center for emergency response, and the transition of Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) to a workable structure. He lauded the Air Service Task Force for its efforts to secure a new carrier for the airport. Joseph mentioned the County jail, which has been stripped of much of its inmate capacity by the state Commission of Correction in response to the County's decision not to expand the facility. Calling the state's action a "gross abuse of power," Joseph said the best local response is to work even harder at rehabilitation strategies to keep the jail population down. Joseph noted the value of citizen task forces and said he will soon be convening a citizen group on diversity. In closing, Joseph said the County will continue with strategic planning "to help clarify the issues that face us, prioritize our responses, and undertake proactive efforts to improve County government." Contact: Tim Joseph, Chair of the Legislature, 274-5434, 277-2519. 2005 LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE FEWER COMMITTEES As the newly-elected Chair of the Legislature, Tim Joseph announced that he has made assignments to six standing committees. While membership in the committees will change somewhat, most of the chairmanships are staying the same. Michael Koplinka-Loehr will remain chair of the budget committee, a position he used in 2004 to institute several changes to the County's budget process. Martha Robertson will continue as chair of Health and Human Services, the committee that oversees some of the County's largest departments and budgets, including the Department of Social Services. Michael Lane will stay as chair of Government Operations; and Kathy Luz Herrera will continue as chair of the Planning committee. Public Safety will be chaired by Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, who will take over the seat from Barbara Blanchard; and Facilities and Infrastructure will be chaired by Peter Penniman, who succeeds Dick Booth. Membership of the standing committees for 2005: -- Budget and Capital: Michael Koplinka-Loehr (Chair), Booth (Vice Chair), Thomas Todd, Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Martha Robertson; -- Government Operations: Michael Lane (Chair), Dooley Kiefer (Vice Chair), Dick Booth, George Totman, Kathy Luz Herrera; -- Planning, Development and Environmental Quality: Kathy Luz Herrera (Chair), Frank Proto (Vice Chair), Michael Lane, Nancy Schuler, Barbara Blanchard; -- Facilities and Infrastructure: Peter Penniman (Chair), Dooley Kiefer (Vice Chair), Nancy Schuler, Daniel Winch, Thomas Todd; -- Public Safety: Leslyn McBean-Clairborne (Chair), Peter Penniman (Vice Chair), George Totman, Martha Robertson, Michael Koplinka-Loehr; -- Health and Human Services: Martha Robertson (Chair), Daniel Winch (Vice Chair), Frank Proto, Barbara Blanchard, Dooley Kiefer. The two-year-old Consumer and Community Affairs Committee was dissolved and its responsibilities dispersed among the other committees. The responsibilities of the Communications Capital Committee (ComCap), which has primarily overseen the plans for building the Public Safety Communications System, will be folded into the Public Safety Committee. One existing special committee, Space Needs and Location, chaired by Frank Proto, will continue in 2005 until its charge of studying the County's current and future use of public buildings is completed. Contact: Tim Joseph, Chair of the Legislature, 274-5434, 277-2519. SALARIES FOR NEXT TERM'S LEGISLATORS WILL GO UP $400 A YEAR By a vote of 8 to 7, the Legislature set salary levels for their successors. County Legislators who are elected to terms starting in 2006 will 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. The Legislators' pay in 2005 is $16,000. Voting for the resolution were Kathy Luz Herrera, Tim Joseph, Dooley Kiefer, Michael Koplinka-Loehr, Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Frank Proto, Nancy Schuler, and Martha Robertson. Voting no, and in general in favor of a lower salary increase, were Barbara Blanchard, Dick Booth, Michael Lane, Peter Penniman, Thomas Todd, George Totman, and Daniel Winch. Contacts: Michael Lane, Chair, Government Operations Committee, 844-8440. SHERIFF PROMOTES YOUTH PROGRAMS TO REDUCE CRIME A presentation by Youth Services Director Nancy Zahler and Sheriff Peter Meskill detailed multiple studies that show that early childhood and school-age intervention and family support programs dramatically reduce crime and the propensity for crime in young people. Overall health and mental development are also vastly improved, and incidence of abuse reduced. Chair of the Legislature Tim Joseph remarked that the presentation was particularly apt, in light of the need to control the size of the local jail population. Joseph thanked the Sheriff for his steady belief in preventative social programs. Contacts: Nancy Zahler, Director, Youth Services, 274-5310; Sheriff Peter Meskill, 257-1345. COUNTY ENDS YEAR ON POSITIVE FISCAL NOTE Finance Director David Squires reported on several items. Squires aid he projects that the County will end 2004 with $1,750,000 more in sales tax revenue than was budgeted. In 2004 the county budgeted sales tax at $23,850,000, and now expects to receive $25,600,000. A final payment is due to the county on January 13. Another positive note, said Squires, is that the County's general fund cash position at year's end was $13 million as compared to $9 million the previous year. The number of properties exposed to tax foreclosure has been substantially reduced, reported Squires. In October, the County issued 109 foreclosure notices. As of today only 28 properties are still exposed to foreclosure action, he said. Contact: David Squires, Finance Director, 274-5545. TCAT FUNDS FLOW Tomorrow the County will be receiving approximately $600,000 in State Transit Operating Assistance (STOA), reported Finance Director David Squires. Receipt of these funds will close out the balance of an advance due to the County from Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT), and will allow the County to pass through to TCAT approximately $550,000. In a separate transaction the County will be distributing to TCAT its 2005 budget allocation to facilitate the cash flow of the new entity. Contact: David Squires, Finance Director, 274-5545. COUNTY POET LAUREATE OPENS LEGISLATIVE YEAR WITH VERSE Tompkins County Poet Laureate Michelle Berry recited three original poems, one written on the spot, to open the Legislature's year. Berry's work has been published in a variety of leading journals and anthologies. Her first book of poetry was The Month of Not Speaking. In 2003, she attended the Breadloaf Writer's Conference for poetry and won a Tompkins County Community Arts Partnership award for fiction. She has been an opening poet and vocalist for Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, and Howard Zinn. Berry is also an Alderperson on Ithaca's Common Council. |