BOARD SUPPORTS INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE
By a 12-2 vote, (Michael Lane was absent), the Board sent a message
to Albany that it supports the higher minimum wage recently passed by the
State Assembly. Kathy Luz Herrera introduced the resolution, which urges
the State Senate to approve an increase in the minimum wage from $5.15
to $6.75 per hour as of January 1, 2003. The Assembly approved the increase
on June 3. Voting no were Tom Todd and George Totman. Contact: Kathy Luz
Herrera, 273-8169.
TRIPHAMMER ROAD PROJECT TO COST COUNTY AN ADDITIONAL $150,000
The total cost of a planned pavement rehabilitation and bridge replacement
on North Triphammer Road has increased from $3.1 to $3.6 million. The lowest
bid received for the project was $678,341 more than the estimated cost.
The Board agreed to cover most of the County’s share of the increase –
$152,100 – with a transfer from the contingency fund. To be able to afford
the project, the County is postponing another construction project in Brooktondale.
The bidder, who was awarded the contract, is Economy Paving Company, Inc.,
of Cortland. The state and federal government reimbursement rate for the
project is 95 percent, while the County must pick up the remaining five
percent. The amount remaining in the County’s contingency fund for 2002
is $624,822. Contact: Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Blanchard, 277-1374.
SALARY INCREASES FOR SHERIFF, CLERK POSTPONED
A resolution that would have raised the annual salaries for two elected
positions was withdrawn. The resolution, which would have increased the
County Sheriff’s annual wage from $65,699 to $79,450 and the County Clerk’s
annual salary from $52,998 to $59,691, was returned to the Government Operations
Committee for revision. The salary increases, proposed for 2003, reflect
an attempt to establish pay equity for the two elected offices with corresponding
management positions in County government. Contacts: Tim Joseph, Chair,
Board of Representative, 274-5434, 277-2519; Michael Koplinka- Loehr, Chair,
Government Operations Committee, 255-6668, 257-2329.
ANNUAL COUNTY AUDIT SHOWS NO PROBLEMS
Budget Chair Peter Penniman reported that the annual audit of Tompkins
County’s fiscal practices shows no problems. The executive summary of the
audit, conducted by the Ithaca accounting firm of Ciaschi, Dietershagen,
Little & Mickelson, LLP, notes that the audit identified “no instances
of non-compliance and no internal control weaknesses” in the County’s procedures.
Contacts: David Squires, Finance Director, 274-5544; Peter Penniman, Chair,
Budget & Capital Committee, 387-5897.
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