BOARD SETS UP COMMITTEE TO APPROVE HIRING
The Board voted unanimously (12-0; Reps. Barbara Blanchard, Michael
Koplinka-Loehr, and Frank Proto were absent) to create a Fiscal Management
Committee, for 2002 only, that will review all requests to fill vacant
County positions. The new committee will be chaired by Tim Joseph; members
will be Michael Koplinka-Loehr, Leslyn McBean, Peter Penniman, and George
Totman.
County Administrator Steve Whicher reported that his office is looking
at the 10 percent budget reduction scenarios for the current budget year
that most departments have prepared. County departments have been asked
to show how they can reduce spending by 10 percent in their 2002 budgets
and cut an additional 10 percent from budgets they project for 2003. The
purpose of the scenarios is to help the Board members start to cope with
the County’s gloomy budget situation.
Budget Committee Chair Peter Penniman reported that the County is facing
a $1.2 to $1.5 million funding gap this year, due to increased demand and
cost of Medicaid services. This new challenge to maintaining a balanced
budget is in addition to other factors that are causing a $4 – 6 million
gap in 2002. Contacts: Peter Penniman, Budget Committee Chair, 387-5897;
County Administrator Stephen Whicher, 274-5551.
STOP-DWI GRANTS FIGHT DRUNK DRIVING
The Board gave unanimous (12-0; Reps. Barbara Blanchard, Michael Koplinka-Loehr,
and Frank Proto were absent) approval to two state grants awarded to Tompkins
County to deter drunk driving and repeat behavior by DWI offenders. A $29,988
grant will fund extra weekly DWI patrols in the Village of Trumansburg
and allow for multi-agency coordination of checkpoints and special efforts
to keep drunk drivers off the road throughout the county. The grant will
also provide testing equipment for random screening of Felony Drug Court
participants. A second grant of $4,000 will fund public information on
traffic safety, including alcohol misuse, speed, aggressive driving, and
pedestrian and bicycle safety. Both grants were awarded from the New York
State Department of Motor Vehicles, Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.
Contact: John Beach, Stop-DWI Coordinator for Tompkins County, 274-5524.
GRANTS SUPPORT LOCAL EVENTS AND TOURISM PROMOTION
A total of $21,300 in tourism grants was awarded by unanimous vote
(12-0; Reps. Barbara Blanchard, Michael Koplinka-Loehr, and Frank Proto
were absent) of the Board. Tourism grants are supported by local room occupancy
tax and are reviewed and recommended by the Strategic Tourism Planning
Board. The following grants were approved:
Cayuga Nature Center – Maple Sugar Festival, $2,000
Community Arts Partnership – Artists’ Markets, $1,000; Greater Ithaca
Art Trail, $2,000
Community School of Music & Arts – National Dance Day, $1,000
Ithaca Downtown Partnership – Apple Harvest Festival, $1,000
Ithaca Festival – Circus Eccentrithaca, $3,000
Kitchen Theatre – Pre-holiday Getaway Package Marketing Campaign, $5,000
Paleontological Research Institute – Summer Discovery Trail Calendar,
$4,000
Southside Community Center – Nguzo Saba: Seven Principles of Kwanzaa,
$2,300
Contact: Michael Lane, Economic & Workforce Development Committee
Chair, 844-8440.
ROOM TAX FUNDS GO TO BEAUTIFICATION
The Board gave unanimous (12-0; Reps. Barbara Blanchard, Michael Koplinka-Loehr,
and Frank Proto were absent) approval to a plan to provide directional
signs and flower beds at gateways to the county and central locations.
The tourism measure will use $32,000 of room occupancy tax revenues and
will be administered by the Chamber of Commerce. Matching funding of $15,000
is anticipated from the Ithaca Downtown Partnership for plantings in the
downtown area of the City of Ithaca. Contact: Michael Lane, Economic &
Workforce Development Committee Chair, 844-8440.
LOCAL LAW DEFINES BED & BREAKFAST
Following a public hearing, by a vote of 10-2 (Reps. Dooley Kiefer
and Leslyn McBean voted no; Reps. Barbara Blanchard, Michael Koplinka-Loehr,
and Frank Proto were absent), approved a local law that defines a “bed
and breakfast inn” as owner-operated, and having no more than ten guest
rooms. The purpose for the law is to clarify a provision that exempts B
& B establishments from an increase in the local room occupancy tax
passed by the Board last year. In December the Board approved an incremental
increase from the current 3 percent to a ceiling of 5 percent, by July
2003, on overnight lodging. The tax increase will not be applied to Bed
and Breakfasts, as they are now defined in the new law. Contact: Michael
Lane, Economic & Workforce Development Committee Chair, 844- 8440.
FIRE COORDINATOR MILLER HONORED BY RESOLUTION
Retiring Fire and Disaster Coordinator John (Jack) Miller’s 30- year
career with Tompkins County was honored with a special resolution and a
standing ovation from Board members.
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