| COUNTY ISSUES BONDS FOR TC3 CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS By unanimous vote (12 to 0; three Legislators were absent), the Legislature approved the issuance of $4 million in serial bonds for the support of Tompkins Cortland Community College’s master plan for campus improvements and expansion. The County has committed to providing a total of $10,246,000 to the college, as its share of the project. The $4 million, plus $3,659,000 in funds derived from refinanced tobacco settlement payments, $620,000 in currently available funds, and $1,967,000 in a credit from the college completes the County’s obligation. Michael Koplinka-Loehr, Chair, Budget and Capital Committee, 257-2329. LEGISLATURE APPROVES CONTRACT FOR BLUE COLLAR UNION The Legislature voted 11 to 1 to approve a labor contract with the County’s Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Blue Collar Unit. The agreement, which expires December 31, 2007, assures a 3.75 percent increase in wages in 2006 and a 3.75 increase in 2007. Blue Collar Unit employees will also receive a maximum of $2,261 per person cash bonus for service in 2005, pro-rated for those who worked less than 12 months. The bonus does not increase base salaries. Legislator Richard Booth voted against approving the contract. Contact: Steve Whicher, County Administrator, 274-5551. MEGA AIDS COUNTY’S WINDPOWER PURCHASE Former County Legislator Barbara Blanchard presented the Legislature with a check for $2,000 from the Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA) in support of the County’s purchase of electricity generated by windpower. The County has committed to purchasing at least 5 percent of its energy from clean generation sources and made a wind purchase of just over $8,000 for 2006, joining with the City of Ithaca in a joint wind purchase of over $16,000. MEGA was created in 1998 as an energy alliance that has saved money for village, town, city, and county governments; school districts; and manufacturers and businesses by aggregating purchasing power. MEGA is able to select the lowest bidder for gas and electric generation and pass the savings on to its member. Contacts: Barbara Blanchard, MEGA Board of Directors, 272-7664; Martha Robertson, Chair, Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality Committee, 272-0584. LEGISLATURE APPROVES SUCCESSION ROSTER The Legislature every year sets a succession order in case the top elected leaders of Tompkins County are incapacitated or not available in an emergency. In the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Legislature, the following officials would take the leadership role, in this order: Chair of the Budget and Capital Committee, Chair of the Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality Committee, Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, Chair of the Government Operations Committee, and Chair of the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee. The Legislature approved the succession order by a vote of 9 to 3. Dooley Kiefer, Michael Sigler, and Greg Stevenson voted no; Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Frank Proto, and Duane Randall were absent. Contact: Kathy Luz Herrera, Chair, Government Operations Committee, 273-8169. HISTORY CENTER QUILT GRACES LEGISLATURE CHAMBERS Matt Braun, executive director of The History Center at Tompkins County, spoke about a quilt that is on display in the Legislature Chambers. The quilt was recently donated to the History Center. It was made by local school children in 1976 to commemorate the U.S. Bicentennial. |