Highlights of the September 19, 2006 meeting
of the Tompkins County Legislature
Legislature Ratifies Bargaining Agreement, Sheriff’s Employees Union: Civil Employees and Issues Not Subject to Arbitration
The Legislature (by a vote of 11 to 4) ratified a tentative contract agreement between Tompkins County, the Tompkins County Sheriff and the Employees Unit of the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department. 

Union members (the Sheriff’s Department Road Patrol and several clerical staff) have been working without a contract since March 2004. New York State Public Employment Relations Board factfinder Dennis Campagna submitted his report and recommendations after a joint Fact Finding and Interest Arbitration session conducted February 10, 2006.  With exception of vacation and some leave time provisions, the fact finder’s report covers only the civil employees who are part of the unit; most contract provisions for the department’s road patrol are subject to compulsory interest arbitration.  The arbitration report has yet to be issued.

In its ratification vote, the Legislature authorized a 46-month agreement, beginning March 1, 2004 and ending December 31, 2007.

Key provisions of the fact finder’s recommendations, as modified by the Legislature would
  • Retroactively increase wages for civil employees by 4.25 percent for the first year of the proposed agreement, and by 3.5 percent each year for years two through four;
  • Increase longevity payments for members with 20 or more years of service;
  • Retain five personal days per year, and allow accumulation to a maximum of ten days and accrual to help offset health insurance costs upon retirement;
  • Retain current county Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance coverage, but modify drug prescription co-pay provisions to a three-tier system, similar to that which applies to other county employees;
  • Incorporate as part of the contract the county’s practice of sharing the cost of retiree health insurance premiums.

The Union ratified the tentative agreement September 15.

The Legislature, by unanimous votes, also authorized the County to pay from the contingent fund more than $16,000 in attorney’s fees for Sheriff’s contract interest arbitration to date and to advertise for and hire a paid negotiator, if necessary, to reach a new Sheriff’s Department road patrol agreement.  The road patrol agreement for which the interest arbitration results are still awaited expired February 28.

Contact:  James Dennis, Chair, Personnel Committee, 387-4058.


Legislature Modifies Capital Project for Rural Transit Equipment
By unanimous vote, the Legislature amended a capital project created in 2003 to purchase four new transit buses and related equipment for rural Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) routes, with the assistance of more than $1 million in federal and state transit funds. The change was needed since the New York State Department of Transportation authorized $20,000 more than the County had asked for.  The project’s local share was already committed in the 2005 capital budget.

Contact:  Martha Robertson, Chair, Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality Committee, 272-0584.


Tessa Friedeborn Recognized as Tompkins County Distinguished Youth
The Legislature honored 12-year-old Tessa Friedeborn, a student at Ithaca’s Lehman Alternative School, as recipient of this month’s Distinguished Youth Award.  As a cast member for the Hangar Theatre’s production, “The Wiz”, she raised $3,500 in donations for the Red Cross to assist Hurricane Katrina victims from patrons attending five nights of performances, days after the hurricane hit. The Distinguished Youth Award is cosponsored by A & B Engraving, Bangs Ambulance Service, Purity Ice Cream and Cayuga Radio Group.
Contact:  Legislature Office, 274-5434.