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02-06-2012	Interested in developing affordable housing in Tompkins County?
	The Housing Fund - Funding Round 5: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is now open for the Community Housing Affordability Program and Community Housing Trust Program. The Housing Fund, which ...

02-06-2012	IDA Provides Information on Proposed Amendment to AES Cayuga Agreement
	The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) tonight sponsored a session to provide information and respond to questions about the proposed amendment to the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes ...

02-03-2012	County Environmental Advisory Boards Seek New Members
	Residents of Tompkins County are invited to apply for membership on advisory boards that provide input to the Tompkins County Legislature on environmental matters. The Water Resources Council ...

02-01-2012	County Officials Voice Concerns to Albany Leaders
	County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson, Legislator Will Burbank, and County Administrator Joe Mareane spent the day at the State Capitol in Albany today, urging legislative leaders to act on key ...

01-31-2012	Comments Heard on County Redistricting Proposal
	At the first of two public hearings, the County’s Independent Redistricting Commission put forth its recommended plan for reapportioning County legislative districts. About ten people attended ...

01-30-2012	Commission Invites Comment on Proposed Redistricting Plan
	The County’s Independent Redistricting Commission next Tuesday will hold the first of two public hearings on its proposed plan for reapportioning County legislative districts. The meeting will ...

01-25-2012	County Gas Drilling Concerns Taken to Albany
	Tompkins County Legislature concerns about hydrofracking were actively communicated to State lawmakers yesterday, as hundreds of people from across the state rallied at the State Capitol to urge a ...

01-23-2012	Council of Governments Releases Study of Potential Hydrofracking Impact
	The Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) has released a study of the potential impact of hydrofracking on the region: “Tompkins County Community Impact Assessment – High Volume Hydraulic ...

01-20-2012	Tompkins County Tourism Program to Hold Grant Workshop
	Organizations or individuals interested in learning more about funding opportunities available through the Tompkins County Tourism Program are invited to attend a grant workshop on Tuesday, January ...

01-17-2012	Committee Issues Recommendations to Achieve Universal Broadband Service
	After more than a year of research and deliberation, the Tompkins County Broadband Committee presented its recommendations to the County Legislature regarding how to best extend broadband Internet ...

01-17-2012	Robertson Reelected Legislature Chair, Vice Chair Not Yet Decided
	The Legislature overcame repeated deadlock at its last meeting two weeks ago, and reelected Martha Robertson (D – District 13, Dryden) to her third year as Legislature Chair in 2012. The Chair’s ...

01-13-2012	Redistricting Commission Identifies Favored Option
	The County’s Independent Redistricting Commission Thursday decided on a favored, 14-district plan to reapportion County legislative districts. The Commission supported a slightly modified version ...

01-12-2012	Capital Plan Committee Eyes Design for New Legislature Space
	The County’s Capital Plan Review Committee today reviewed proposed concept plans for Legislature space on the second floor of the Old County Courthouse. HOLT Architects and County Facilities ...

01-09-2012	Opportunity to Serve on the County Planning Advisory Board
	The Tompkins County Planning Advisory Board (PAB) currently has a vacancy for an at-large representative. With representatives from a diverse array of stakeholder interests, the PAB is uniquely ...

01-03-2012	Labor Agreement with Corrections Union Ratified
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (with Legislator Carol Chock excused), ratified a three-year bargaining agreement with the County’s Corrections Union, retroactive to 2010 and continuing through ...

01-03-2012	Chair’s Election Deadlocked. Leadership Decision Delayed for Two Weeks
	Despite nine ballots, members of the Tompkins County Legislature have failed to yet elect a Chair of the Legislature for the 2012 term. The position of Chair is filled each year by a majority vote ...

12-23-2011	Workshop January 10 on Tompkins County Strategic Tourism Plan
	Organizations or individuals interested in participating in the development of the Tompkins County Strategic Tourism Plan for 2012–2020 are invited to attend a community workshop on Tuesday January ...

12-20-2011	Legislature Authorizes Increased Bond Authority for Human Services Annex Improvements
	The Legislature, by a vote of 12-3, increased bonding authority for improvements to the new Human Services Annex building. (Legislators Pam Mackesey, Frank Proto, and Kathy Luz Herrera voted no.) ...

12-20-2011	Legislature Recommends Statewide Ban on High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing
	After approving three resolutions related to the issue of gas drilling two weeks ago, the Tompkins County Legislature has now called for a statewide ban in high-volume hydraulic fracturing in New ...

12-16-2011	Redistricting Commission Refines Focus to 14-District Plan
	The County’s Independent Redistricting Commission, charged with preparing a recommended plan for reapportionment of County legislative districts, narrowed its review process further at its tenth ...

12-14-2011	Capital Committee Recommends Increased Bond Authority for Human Services Annex Improvements
	The Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee, meeting in special session Tuesday, recommended that bonding authority be increased for improvements to the new Human Services Annex building on West ...

12-08-2011	Capital Plan Committee Examines Human Services Annex Improvements
	The Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee today continued to examine plans to improve the new Human Services Annex building (formerly occupied by Carpet Bazaar) into space to be initially ...

12-08-2011	Tompkins Projects Receive Significant Funding in State Economic Development Awards
	Awards announced today by Governor Andrew Cuomo through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative provide significant support for projects initiated by Tompkins County to help spur ...

12-06-2011	Lane Calls for Open Leadership Selection Process, Asks to be Considered for Chair
	Looking ahead to next month’s annual election of leadership for the County Legislature, Legislator Mike Lane, in a statement to the Legislature, urged that “a more publicly transparent selection ...

12-06-2011	Legislature Affirms Official Positions on Gas Drilling
	The Tompkins County Legislature, through three coordinated resolutions adopted without dissent, took an official stand on issues related to gas drilling though horizontal drilling and high-volume ...

12-06-2011	Proposed State Health Regulation Could Disrupt Home Health Agency Sale
	Legislature Chair Martha Robertson and County Administrator Joe Mareane told legislators they are deeply concerned about a proposed “emergency” State Department of Health regulation intended to ...

12-01-2011	Tompkins County Council of Governments Takes Comment on Proposed DEC Gas Drilling Rules
	Area residents had the opportunity to officially weigh in on New York State’s proposed gas drilling rules, at an Ithaca hearing tonight sponsored by the Tompkins County Council of Governments ...

11-23-2011	Restoring Wetlands Near Cayuga Inlet: Presentation December 1
	A program to be held December 1 will present results of research showing how Cayuga Inlet wetlands lost over the past two centuries might be restored. The Tompkins County Environmental Management ...

11-23-2011	Redistricting Commission Issues Interim Report
	Nearly five months after it began its work, the County’s Independent Redistricting Commission has filed an interim report with the County Legislature, summarizing its activities to date. The ...

11-22-2011	Memorial Open House Honoring Bob De Luca December 5
	On Monday, December 5, the Tompkins County Community Mental Health Services Board and Tompkins County Mental Health Services will host a Memorial Open House in honor of long-time Mental Health ...

11-15-2011	Legislature Backs Legislation to Implement Phased State Takeover of Medicaid Costs
	The Legislature, without dissent, urged passage of proposed State legislation that would implement a multi-year State takeover of the local share of Medicaid over the next eight years. It was noted ...

11-15-2011	Legislature Urges Involvement, Support for County Health Departments Related to Gas Drilling
	Maintaining that county health departments are responsible for ensuring the safety of local drinking water supplies and protecting public health, including the responsibility under pending ...

11-15-2011	Legislature Adopts 2012 County Budget
	After two-and-a-half months of budget deliberations, the final action took less than ten minutes, as the Tompkins County Legislature tonight adopted the County’s 2012 budget and its capital program ...

11-09-2011	Legislature Hears Positive Comments on Recommended Budget
	The session was short, the comments appreciative, as the Tompkins County Legislature tonight took comment on the recommended amended County Budget for 2012. Tonight’s formal budget hearing lasted ...

11-07-2011	Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System on November 9
	The first-ever nationwide test of the federal Emergency Alert System (EAS) will be conducted this Wednesday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The nationwide test of the national alert and ...

11-07-2011	Public Hearing on Proposed 2012 Budget November 9
	The County Legislature invites county residents to comment on the County’s proposed 2012 budget at a public budget hearing to be held Wednesday, November 9. The hearing will begin at 7:00 p.m. at ...

11-04-2011	Newest Citizens Welcomed in Naturalization Ceremony
	Young and old alike, 45 applicants were admitted as the newest citizens of the United States of America by the Honorable Robert C. Mulvey, Justice of Supreme Court, in the main courtroom of the ...

11-04-2011	Redistricting Commission Narrows Its Active Options
	At its eighth meeting, held Tuesday, November 1, Tompkins County’s Independent Redistricting Commission, charged with developing a plan to reapportion Tompkins County legislative districts, reduced ...

11-03-2011	Vacant City Land Reestablished as Vegetated Stream Corridor Along Fall Creek
	The Tompkins County Planning Department is working closely with the City of Ithaca to enhance the stream corridor on the City’s vacant parcel on Fall Creek. The parcel sits on the northern bank of ...

11-01-2011	Five-Year Employment Contract with While Collar Employees Approved
	The Legislature, by a vote of 14-1 (Legislator Frank Proto voted no) ratified a five-year collective bargaining agreement between the County and Civil Service Employees Association Local 855 (While ...

11-01-2011	Legislature Adopts 2012 Budget Amendments
	The Tompkins County Legislature, by a vote of 12-3, formally adopted amendments to the 2012 tentative budget, as recommended by its Expanded Budget Committee. (Legislators Dooley Kiefer, Carol Chock, ...

11-01-2011	Legislature Approves Minutes Policy
	After over a year of deliberation and study, the Legislature approved an updated policy governing minutes of meetings of the Legislature and its committees. The final vote was 12-3, with Legislators ...

10-28-2011	Extended Hours for Information and Absentee Voting
	If you have moved within the county in the last few months, you may need to go to a different poll site for the General Election on November 8th. You must vote based on your residence as of Election ...

10-28-2011	Airport Sustainable Master Plan Receives National “Airports Going Green” Award
	Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport is being recognized with a prestigious national award for its Sustainable Master Plan. The Plan has been chosen as a recipient of the 2011 “Airports Going Green” ...

10-27-2011	Opportunities to Serve on the Tompkins County Board of Health
	The Tompkins County Board of Health (BOH) anticipates two vacancies beginning January 1, 2012. One is a consumer (non-physician) seat. A consumer may be someone who has received ...

10-26-2011	Recommended Amended Budget Would Increase Levy Just Under 4%
	Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee moved ahead in the 2012 County Budget process tonight, recommending for consideration by the Legislature an amended tentative 2012 County budget ...

10-25-2011	Latest Actions Reduce Recommended Budget
	Recommendations made tonight by Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee would reduce the County Administrator’s recommended 2012 County Budget by more than half-a-million dollars, and the ...

10-21-2011	Redistricting Commission Continues Review, Reduces Active Options
	The County’s Independent Redistricting Commission, charged with recommending a plan for reapportioning County legislative districts based on the 2010 Census, continued its work this week. Members ...

10-18-2011	Legislature Urges State Delay on Gas Drilling Regulations
	The Legislature is calling upon New York State to withdraw new draft regulations on gas drilling through high volume slickwater hydraulic fracturing until the Environmental Impact Statement on such ...

10-18-2011	Legislature Calls for Open Process for Africana Center Realignment
	By a vote of 13-2, the Legislature urged Cornell University Administrators to engage in an open, inclusive process in implementing plans to restructure the University’s Africana Studies and Research ...

10-18-2011	Legislature Approves Sale of Home Health Agency
	The Legislature, by a vote of 11-4, approved sale of the County’s Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) to the firm HCR, based in Rochester, NY, directing the County to enter into a sales agreement, ...

10-17-2011	Tompkins County Mourns the Death of Mental Health Commissioner Bob De Luca
	Tompkins County Mental Health Commissioner Robert De Luca, who has led the County’s Mental Health Department for the past decade, died this weekend, after bravely battled significant health ...

10-17-2011	Legislators Begin to Consider 2012 Budget Amendments
	Six weeks after receiving a recommended 2012 County Budget from County Administrator Joe Mareane, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee began the process of proposing recommended changes ...

10-14-2011	Portions of the Cayuga Inlet are Re-opened to Boat Traffic
	The Cayuga Inlet will be partially re-opened to normal activities this afternoon upon the successful application of the Herbicide Aquathol K (active ingredient Endothall) in the Cayuga Inlet on ...

10-14-2011	Airport Disaster Drill Saturday, October 15
	Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport will conduct a Federal Aviation Administration required disaster drill Saturday morning, October 15. Please see the announcement below from David Crawford, Airport ...

10-14-2011	Capital Committee Learns More About Center of Government Options
	The Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee on Thursday continued to examine potential Center of Government alternatives, as architects presented elements of their preliminary report regarding ...

10-12-2011	HCR Recommended to Take Over County Home Health Agency
	In the latest step of a process that has taken more than a year, the Legislature’s Health and Services Committee today recommended the firm HCR, based in Rochester, NY, to purchase the operating ...

10-11-2011	Sample and Absentee Ballots Available
	Sample Ballots for the November 8 General Election can be viewed at www.votetompkins.com. Absentee ballots are also now available. The absentee application can be printed off the web site, or you can ...

10-11-2011	Four Department Budgets Presented in 2012 Budget Review
	Tompkins County Legislators, acting as an Expanded Budget Committee, wrapped up the presentation phase of their review of the tentative 2012 County, as they heard from four more County ...

10-07-2011	Latest Safe Medication Disposal Day Collects Over 800 Pounds of Medications
	Last week’s Safe Medication Disposal Day took in more than 800 pounds of unwanted household pharmaceuticals, from 409 participants. The Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal reports 834 pounds of ...

10-07-2011	County Celebrates Opening of New and Improved Recycling Center
	With the snip of a ribbon displaying examples of the many things that can now be recycled, representatives of Tompkins County and its private partners ReCommunity and Casella Waste Services today ...

10-06-2011	Tompkins County Budget Review Continues
	Tompkins County Legislators, acting as an Expanded Budget Committee, heard budget presentations from some of the County’s largest departments, as they continued tonight with review of the tentative ...

10-05-2011	Sheriff Lansing Orders Closure of Cayuga Inlet
	In response to today’s declaration by City of Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson of an environmental emergency in the City of Ithaca due to the infestation of the invasive plant species Hydrilla in Cayuga ...

10-04-2011	Legislature Mourns the Passing of Long-Time Legislator and Chair Harris Dates
	Legislature Chair Martha Robertson paid tribute to former legislator and legislative chair Harris B. Dates, who died September 26, after a short illness. Mr. Dates served 29 years on the Tompkins ...

10-04-2011	Budget Hearing Set for November 9
	The Legislature, without dissent, scheduled the formal public hearing on the 2012 County Budget and the 2012-2016 Capital Program for Wednesday, November 9, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The hearing will ...

10-04-2011	Legislature Preserves Tax Cap Override Option
	The Tompkins County Legislature has retained the option of considering an override the State property tax cap, if it so desires, when the time comes to adopt the 2012 Tompkins County Budget. After ...

10-03-2011	Interested in developing affordable housing in Tompkins County?
	The Housing Fund - Funding Round 4: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) now open for the Community Housing Affordability Program and Community Housing Trust Program The Housing Fund, which ...

09-30-2011	Noted Cornell Historian Delivers Next Civil War Lecture Monday, October 3
	Cornell University Professor of History Margaret Washington will present “Lincoln Must be Pushed: Civil War and Agitation before the Emancipation Proclamation,” the next in the series of Civil War ...

09-30-2011	County Clerk Valenti Praises State for Shelving Vision Self Certification
	Tompkins County Clerk Aurora R. Valenti is praising Governor Andrew Cuomo for his action blocking a new State Department of Motor Vehicles regulation that would have permitted motorists renewing ...

09-29-2011	Redistricting Commission Hears City Comments
	At its sixth meeting on September 27, the Tompkins County Independent Redistricting Commission listened to comments from City leaders concerning the reapportionment of County legislative districts. ...

09-29-2011	Legislature Approves Funds to Eradicate Hydrilla
	Meeting in special session, the Legislature approved an emergency appropriation of $26,100 in contingency funds to enable chemical treatment to eradicate the invasive plant species Hydrilla from the ...

09-27-2011	Surprise Honor for Commissioner Bob De Luca at Mental Health Recognition Celebration
	As the Tompkins County Mental Health Services Board tonight held its third annual “Celebration and Recognition of the Community of Care That Serves the People of Tompkins County,” it provided a ...

09-27-2011	Busy Night for 2012 Budget Review
	Tompkins County Legislators, acting as an Expanded Budget Committee, had their busiest night yet of review of the tentative 2012 County budget, hearing presentations from ten County departments and ...

09-26-2011	Much of the Focus on Human Services at Community Budget Forum
	Representatives of several human services organizations urged County Legislators to preserve funding for the county’s most vulnerable, as they consider the County budget for 2012. About 35 ...

09-23-2011	Annual Community Budget Forum September 26
	The Tompkins County Legislature will hold its annual Community Budget Forum Monday, September 26, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Borg Warner Room of the Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E. Green ...

09-21-2011	Comments Heard on Proposed Tax Cap Override Law
	The Legislature Tuesday took public comment on a proposed local law that would authorize the Legislature, if needed, to override the tax levy limit for 2012 under the New York State property tax ...

09-21-2011	Safe Medication Disposal Day Coming Up Saturday, October 1
	It’s almost time for the next Safe Medication Disposal Day in Tompkins County. On Saturday, October 1, residents will once again have a chance to get rid of household medications they no longer ...

09-20-2011	Legislature Authorizes Bonding for Racker Centers Improvements
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, authorized the Tompkins County Development Corporation to issue up to $4 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds to support facility improvements at Franziska Racker ...

09-19-2011	Legislators Examine Seven More Program Budgets
	Tompkins County budget review continued tonight, as Legislators, acting as an Expanded Budget Committee, heard presentations from seven more departments and agencies. Legislators are continuing to ...

09-16-2011	Community Mental Health Services Celebration and Recognition September 27
	On Tuesday, September 27 from 5-7 p.m. at the Ithaca Holiday Inn, the Tompkins County Mental Health Services Board will sponsoring its third “Celebration and Recognition of the Community of Care That ...

09-16-2011	Flu Vaccinations Available at Tompkins County Health Department
	Should you get a flu shot this year? Here’s an easy answer: Everyone, Every Year (Everyone over the age of 6 months). This is the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ...

09-16-2011	UPDATE: Tompkins County Telephone Service Restored
	Telephone service at Tompkins County offices has now been restored. The County Office of Information Technology Services reports service was restored as of about 1:05 p.m. The outage, related ...

09-14-2011	Community Budget Meetings Coming Up in Danby and Caroline
	Tompkins County will hold two more community meetings to discuss next year’s County budget next week in Danby and Caroline. The meetings will take place on Wednesday, September 21 at the Danby ...

09-13-2011	Special EMC Meeting Wednesday
	The Tompkins County Environmental Management Council (EMC) will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening, September 14, regarding hydrilla, the Cayuga Inlet, and related decisions involving ...

09-13-2011	Review of 2012 Budget Continues
	Legislators, acting as an Expanded Budget Committee, tonight heard four program presentations in a second night of review, as it continued to examine County Administrator Joe Mareane’s 2012 tentative ...

09-12-2011	County Legislators Begin 2012 Budget Review
	In their initial review session of County Administrator Joe Mareane’s recommended 2012 County Budget. Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee tonight heard their first seven department ...

09-09-2011	Officials Assessing Damage After This Week’s Storm
	Tompkins County Emergency Response and municipal officials are assessing local damage from this week’s heavy rainstorm. In cooperation with the New York State Office of Emergency Management, ...

09-09-2011	Tompkins County Tourism Program to Hold Grant Workshop
	Organizations or individuals interested in learning more about funding opportunities available through the Tompkins County Tourism Program are invited to attend a grant workshop on Wednesday, ...

09-09-2011	Capital Committee Hears Preliminary Results of Center of Government Study
	The Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee today heard a progress report from HOLT Architects on the Center of Government Study, that examines whether a business case exists for replacing three ...

09-08-2011	Severe Weather Update: September 8 - 6:30 a.m.
	Roads Closed Until Further Notice in Tompkins County County and City Government Delay Opening Until 11:00 a.m. Tompkins County Sheriff Ken Lansing has closed all roads in Tompkins County until ...

09-08-2011	UPDATE: Sheriff Lifts Road Closure Order Effective 9:00 a.m.
	Tompkins County Sheriff Ken Lansing has lifted the road closure order in Tompkins County effective at 9:00 a.m. The closure will be replaced by a Travel Advisory, with drivers urged to exercise ...

09-08-2011	Groton Town Hall Budget Meeting Postponed
	In light of current weather conditions, County Legislator Brian Robison has postponed tonight’s Town Hall meeting to discuss Tompkins County’s 2012 Budget. A new meeting date will be set in the ...

09-07-2011	Emergency Response Monitoring Local Outlook for Heavy Rain
	The Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response is closely monitoring weather conditions and the forecast for likely heavy rain over the next day or two. Officials report that the Southern ...

09-07-2011	Heavy Rain Situation – UPDATE
	The Department of Emergency Response reports that the National Weather Service in Binghamton advises that a band of heavy rain is making its way into the Central New York and Finger Lakes region. ...

09-07-2011	Severe Weather Update: September 7 – 10:30 p.m.
	TRAVEL ADVISORY ISSUED Tompkins County officials are advising no unnecessary travel, as heavy rain from a slow-moving tropical weather system continues to fall at rates of 1-2 inches of rain per ...

09-06-2011	Administrator Releases 2012 Recommended Budget
	Tompkins County Administrator Joe Mareane has delivered to the County Legislature a 2012 Recommended County Budget that maintains needed core services within constrained fiscal targets, responding to ...

09-06-2011	Legislature Schedules Hearing on Proposed Tax Cap Local Law
	The Legislature, by a vote of 10-5, scheduled a public hearing on a proposed local law that would authorize the Legislature, if needed, to override the tax levy limit for 2012. (Legislators Peter ...

09-06-2011	Legislature Adopts Road Preservation Law
	Many months after it was first discussed and following two public hearings and several other opportunities for public input, the Legislature, by unanimous vote, adopted a County Road Preservation ...

09-02-2011	Committee Discusses Proposed Road Preservation Law
	As requested following a public hearing before the Legislature last month, the Legislature’s Facilities and Infrastructure Committee today took another look at the County’s proposed Road Preservation ...

09-01-2011	Join in a Community Conversation About 9/11 and Service Thursday, September 8
	To mark the tenth anniversary of the tragedies of September 11, 2011 and the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, the Tompkins County Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee, in ...

09-01-2011	New Recycling Guidelines – You Can Now Recycle More!
	Taking another step toward making it easier for residents to recycle, Tompkins County is now accepting new types of materials for recycling, right at the curb. Single stream recycling, adopted ...

09-01-2011	New Recycling Guidelines – You Can Now Recycle More!
	Taking another step toward making it easier for residents to recycle, Tompkins County is now accepting new types of materials for recycling, right at the curb. Single stream recycling, adopted ...

08-30-2011	Tompkins County and New York State Launch Pilot Project to Cut Costs and Modernize Filing Process
	Tompkins County and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance announced today a new pilot project to benefit those who buy real estate in the county. The county and the state ...

08-30-2011	Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Needs Your Input!
	The Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council has scheduled five community forums throughout the region—including one September 8th in Ithaca—to gain citizen input as it prepares a ...

08-29-2011	Two More Community Budget Meetings This Week
	Two more Legislator-sponsored community meetings on the 2012 Tompkins County budget are coming up this week. The first will take place on Ithaca’s West Hill on Wednesday, August 31, beginning at ...

08-26-2011	Emergency Response Officials Monitoring Hurricane Irene; Expect Effects Similar to a Severe Summer Storm
	The Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response is closely monitoring the approaching hurricane called Irene. Most of the models used by the National Weather Service show the major storm impact ...

08-23-2011	Community Meeting on the 2012 County Budget – Wednesday, August 24
	A reminder that Tompkins County will hold another in its series of community meetings to discuss next year’s County budget on Wednesday, August 24. The meeting will take place at the Cayuga Heights ...

08-23-2011	Redistricting Commission Considers First Steps Toward District Review
	After listening to more municipal input tonight, members of the County’s independent redistricting commission reached informal consensus on where they will begin their work toward preparing a plan to ...

08-19-2011	Tompkins County Launches New Online Employment Application Process
	To enhance customer service, Tompkins County Personnel is implementing a new online application process to provide an easier way to submit job applications. As of Tuesday, August 23, this secure ...

08-19-2011	Civil War Commission to Sponsor Lecture by Acclaimed Author August 25
	Well-known author and artist Stephen Poleskie will tell about the man called “the most shot-at man during the Civil War” during a lecture cosponsored by the Tompkins County Civil War Sesquicentennial ...

08-17-2011	Aging Office/Justice Center Location Question Addressed Through Compromise Plan
	Trying to decide among a half-dozen options regarding where to locate the County Office for the Aging (COFA) and the Community Justice Center, the Legislature, after more than an hour of discussion ...

08-17-2011	Legislature Hears Comment, Delays Action on Proposed Road Preservation Law
	The Legislature took public comment on the latest version of a proposed Road Preservation Law, that would regulate high intensity truck traffic to protect county roads from damage, but decided to ...

08-17-2011	Legislature Declines to Increase Budget for Ellis Hollow Road Reconstruction
	The Legislature, by a narrow margin of 7-8, failed to come forth with the approval needed to appropriate $93,000 from the Highway Fund Balance to support higher than anticipated cost for the Ellis ...

08-15-2011	Another Community Meeting on the 2012 County Budget – Thursday, August 18
	A community meeting to discuss next year’s County budget is coming up in the City of Ithaca this Thursday, August 18. The meeting will be held at the Cooperative Extension Building, Room B, at 615 ...

08-11-2011	Recommendation, But No Firm Direction From Capital Committee on Aging Office, Justice Center Locations
	The Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee, in nearly two hours of discussion, tackled the difficult task of reaching consensus on where to locate the County Office for the Aging (COFA), which ...

08-10-2011	Redistricting Commission Listens to Municipal Input
	In the first of two sessions seeking input from municipal leaders, the County’s Redistricting Commission on Tuesday heard from two Town Supervisors concerning how the apportionment of County ...

08-08-2011	SAVE THE DATE - Next Safe Medication Disposal Day Saturday, October 1
	Mark your calendar! The Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal has set the date for its next Safe Medication Disposal Day. This collection event, which gives residents the chance to safely dispose ...

08-04-2011	Another Town Hall Meeting on 2012 County Budget – Wednesday, August 10
	The latest in a series of legislator-sponsored community meetings on next year’s County budget will take place Wednesday evening, August 10 in the Town of Ithaca. The August 10 meeting, sponsored ...

08-02-2011	Public Hearing on Road Preservation Law Scheduled August 16
	The Legislature, without dissent, authorized a public hearing on the County’s proposed Road Preservation Law. The hearing will take place on August 16, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at Legislative ...

08-02-2011	Legislature Accepts Four Criminal Justice Grants
	The Legislature, without dissent, accepted four criminal justice grants. The Sheriff’s Office was awarded two grants under the New York State Byrne JAG Equipment Grant program, $24,243 for jail ...

08-02-2011	Legislature Approves Appropriation of 2010 Rollover Funds
	The Legislature appropriated $142,534 in certified unspent funds (known as “rollover”) for five departments from 2010 to departmental accounts for use in the current year’s budget. Among the ...

07-29-2011	Ellis Hollow Road Westbound Lane Closing - EXTENDED
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be extending the closure of the westbound lane of Ellis Hollow Road, between Thomas Road and Turkey Hill Road, in the Town of Dryden, until approximately ...

07-28-2011	Dryden Community Meeting on the 2012 County Budget – Monday, August 1
	The second in a series of community meetings to discuss next year’s County budget is coming up Monday evening, August 1 in the Town of Dryden. The meeting, sponsored by County Legislators Martha ...

07-28-2011	Council of Governments Supports Study Assessing Potential Gas Drilling Impact
	The Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG), by unanimous vote of those present, agreed to commission a land use analysis and impact assessment project, examining the effects horizontal gas ...

07-26-2011	Redistricting Commission Hears From County Legislators
	The County’s Independent Redistricting Commission, charged with preparing a plan for reapportioning County legislative districts, listened to comments from seven members of the County Legislature ...

07-22-2011	July 25th Forum - “Drilling and the DEC: Responding to New Guidelines”
	The Tompkins County Council of Governments Task Force on Natural Gas Drilling is among more than 20 community cosponsors of a public forum, to be held Monday, July 25, which will provide information ...

07-22-2011	Recycling and Solid Waste Center Construction Update
	Beginning Monday, July 25th through Friday, July 29th the Drop-off Area at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center (RSWC) will be temporarily closed due to construction. Users of the Drop-off Area ...

07-22-2011	Niemi Road Daytime Closing
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be closing Neimi Road, between Hanshaw Road and Sheldon Road, in the Town of Dryden, for road crossing pipe replacements, beginning Monday, July 25, 2011, ...

07-21-2011	Committee Reviews, Fails to Recommend Aging Office/Community Justice Center Proposal
	The Legislature’s Government Operations Committee today took a careful look at a proposal that would relocate the County Office for the Aging to soon-to-be-vacated space at the County Health ...

07-19-2011	Residents Urged to Protect Themselves During Current Heat Wave
	With high temperatures and high humidity forecast for the next several days, local officials are urging residents to take the steps necessary to protect themselves from the danger of heat-related ...

07-19-2011	Legislature Extends Authorization on Military Pay
	The Legislature extended the County’s authorization regarding pay for County employees called up for military duty. (The vote was 12-3, with Legislators Carol Chock, Will Burbank, and Peter Stein ...

07-19-2011	Project Generations Program Recognized as Distinguished Youth
	The Legislature has recognized Project Generations, a student-run organization at Ithaca College, as this month’s Tompkins County Distinguished Youth. Nominated by the County Office for the ...

07-18-2011	Second Annual “Project Sticker Shock” to be Held in Trumansburg
	From July 21st though July 24th the Community Coalition for Healthy Youth of Tompkins County will be partnering with local teens to sponsor “Project Sticker Shock” in Trumansburg and Jacksonville ...

07-14-2011	Capital Committee Examines Alternate Approach for Aging, Community Justice Programs
	The Legislature’s Capital Program Review Committee today reviewed a potential new approach to address space needs for two County human services programs. The proposal would relocate the County’s ...

07-14-2011	Recycling and Solid Waste Center Construction Update
	Beginning Monday, July 18th through Thursday, July 28th traffic patterns at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center (RSWC) will be changed due to paving work and other construction related activities. ...

07-13-2011	No Change Not an Option, Redistricting Commission Told as it Begins Legislative District Review
	Members of the county’s new Independent Redistricting Commission, charged with preparing a plan for reapportioning County legislative districts, took a first look yesterday at how population ...

07-13-2011	Committee Appointed to Oversee Home Health Agency Divestment Process
	County Administrator Joe Mareane updated the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee concerning next steps toward divestment of the County’s Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA), following ...

07-13-2011	Committee Appointed to Oversee Home Health Agency Divestment Process
	County Administrator Joe Mareane updated the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee concerning next steps toward divestment of the County’s Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA), following ...

07-08-2011	Town Hall Meeting on 2012 Budget July 13
	Legislator Pat Pryor (District 6) will sponsor a town hall meeting on next year’s County budget Wednesday evening, July 13. The meeting, entitled “Tompkins County Budget, 2012: The Process, the ...

07-08-2011	Learn About the 2010 Tompkins County Youth Development Survey July 18
	What do parents, community members, neighbors or organization leaders need to know about youth in Ithaca and Tompkins County and their participation in at-risk and positive behaviors? The ...

07-08-2011	Fenner Road Daytime Closing - UPDATE
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be closing Fenner Road, between Lansingville Road and Davis Road, in the Town of Lansing, for road crossing pipe replacements, beginning Monday, July 11, ...

07-07-2011	Tourism Board Seeking Arts and Culture Representative
	The Tompkins County Strategic Tourism Planning Board (STPB) has a vacancy representing arts and culture. Tompkins County residents are invited submit an application no later than July 22, ...

07-05-2011	Property Tax Cap, No Mandate Relief? Legislators Want to Learn More
	Now that the long-discussed New York State property tax cap has become reality, County officials are focusing on specifics and working to determine the actual magnitude of the cap and to clarify the ...

07-05-2011	Courts Call for Additional Legislature Space
	Legislature Chair Martha Robertson told Legislators the New York State Court System, which has called for the Legislature to vacate its chambers by the first of the year to make way for a Supreme ...

07-05-2011	Legislature Approves Airport Construction Project
	The Legislature took several actions related to Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, including acceptance of a $1.5 million dollar grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, approval of a ...

07-01-2011	Committee Recommends Revised Road Preservation Law
	Months after the proposal was first advanced, the Legislature’s Facilities and Infrastructure Committee is recommending adoption of a county road preservation law, one that incorporates revisions ...

07-01-2011	Lyme Disease on the Increase in Tompkins County
	The number of Lyme Disease cases has steadily increased in Tompkins County since 2006 the Tompkins County Health Department reports. Karen Bishop, Community Health Nurse Supervisor noted that in 2006 ...

06-28-2011	Independent Redistricting Commission Begins Work
	The new independent commission charged with preparing a recommended plan for reapportioning County legislative districts based on the 2010 Census, has officially started its work. The commission ...

06-28-2011	TCAT Invites Community to June 30 Party
	Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) is inviting its passengers and the community to a celebration at which time TCAT will announce a major award from the Washington, D.C.-based American Public ...

06-24-2011	And the Survey Says…
	Overview to the 2010 Tompkins County Youth Development Survey Did you know: ~ 1 in 3 Tompkins County high schoolers are current alcohol users. ~ 1 in 6 are current marijuana users. ~ Tompkins ...

06-23-2011	Cornell Expert Says Hydrofracking Already Affecting New York State
	Reflecting on lessons learned and questions yet to be answered about the hydrofracking and the economy, a Cornell expert today told members of the Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) that ...

06-22-2011	Legislature Moves to Divest of Home Health Agency
	Culminating months of discussion and in-depth review, the Legislature has reached the difficult decision of deciding the future of the Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA), operated by the Health ...

06-22-2011	Legislature Adopts 2011-2011 TC3 Budget
	Following a public hearing, the Legislature, by unanimous vote, adopted the 2011-2012 operating budget for Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3). The $35.9 million budget holds the sponsoring ...

06-22-2011	Legislature Urges Governor to Rescind Secure Communities Agreement
	The Legislature, by a vote of 13-2, urged Governor Cuomo to rescind the Memorandum of Agreement signed last year with the federal Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement ...

06-17-2011	Community Mental Health Board Seeks Nominations for September Recognition Celebration
	On September 27, the Tompkins County Community Mental Health Services Board will hold a celebration to recognize achievements—of individuals, families, programs, and organizations—in the areas of ...

06-15-2011	IDA Turns Down Arrowhead Ventures Tax Abatement Request
	The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency today, by a 2-4 vote, declined to provide Arrowhead Ventures a requested sales tax exemption and Mortgage Recording Tax abatement related to ...

06-14-2011	Health Committee Recommends County Move Toward Divestiture of Home Health Agency
	When the County Legislature considers the future of the County’s Home Health Agency, that discussion will be based on a recommendation from its Health and Human Services Committee to proceed toward ...

06-13-2011	Committee Recommends Funding to Fill Gap Left By State
	The County Legislature will be asked to allocate more than $200,000 for preventive programs for children and families, to make up a significant shortfall in State support. The Legislature’s budget ...

06-10-2011	Petition Process Underway
	As of June 7, the Petition process for the fall elections is now underway. Designating Petitions are passed for candidates seeking the nomination of an officially recognized party. In New York ...

06-08-2011	Committee Hears Private Perspective on Home Health Agency
	County officials today continued their process of gathering information on potential options, as they consider whether the County should continue to operate its Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA), ...

06-07-2011	Legislature Sets 2012 Budget Guidelines
	County departments and agencies are being directed to prepare 2012 budget scenarios showing how they would reduce spending by 7.8% and 11.2%, as a starting point in the 2012 County budget process. ...

06-07-2011	Legislature Appoints Independent Redistricting Commission
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (Legislators Peter Stein and Kathy Luz Herrera were excused), appointed the nine-member independent commission charged with preparing a recommended reapportionment ...

06-07-2011	Personnel Commissioner Anita Fitzpatrick Reappointed
	The Legislature confirmed County Administrator Joe Mareane’s reappointment of Anita Fitzpatrick to a new six-year term as the County’s Personnel Commissioner. The vote was 12-1 (Legislator Leslyn ...

06-06-2011	Legal and Financial Planning For Family Caregivers
	A workshop on "Legal and Financial Planning for Family Caregivers” will be presented on Wednesday, June 15 from Noon - 1:30 PM at the Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, in ...

06-03-2011	Partners Break Ground for Recycling and Solid Waste Center Upgrade
	The first ceremonial shovels of earth were thrown today, to celebrate the launch of a nearly $2.5 million upgrade to the Tompkins County Recycling and Solid Waste Center, a project that speakers said ...

05-31-2011	County Work Group Urges State to Address Gas Drilling’s Effects on Real Estate
	Concerned about effects that are already being felt in the local real estate market, a Tompkins County group is urging State officials to address economic considerations related to natural gas ...

05-27-2011	Road Construction Announcements
	CODDINGTON ROAD CLOSING: The Tompkins County Highway Division will be closing Coddington Road, between Middaugh Road and Banks Road, in the Town of Caroline, for road crossing pipe replacements, ...

05-27-2011	Memorial Day Closings and Curbside Recycling Pick-up Schedule
	The Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division (TCSWMD) Office will be closed Monday, May 30 in observation of the Memorial Day holiday and will re-open on Tuesday, May 31. The Tompkins ...

05-27-2011	Two Local Seniors Honored at Annual Luncheon
	The Tompkins County Office for the Aging Advisory Committee paid tribute to two local seniors at its 2011 Annual Luncheon May 26th. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to Ardie Bennett for ...

05-23-2011	Budget Committee Urges Greater State Latitude for Local Revenue Requests
	The Legislature’s budget committee today authorized its Chair to recommend to State officials a plan that would establish permanent rate thresholds concerning several State-authorized county revenue ...

05-20-2011	County, Sheriff Urge Motorists to “Wise Up, Slow Down” Through Speeding Enforcement Initiative
	Beginning Monday, May 23rd, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office and several other local law enforcement agencies will begin a coordinated, ongoing effort to address the problem of speeding in the ...

05-19-2011	Committee Hears Comment on Home Health Agency Future
	The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, in a two-hour session today, listened to public comment, as it continued to weigh potential options concerning the future of the Certified Home ...

05-17-2011	Legislature Adopts 2012 Financial Guidelines, But Many Express Reluctance
	Anticipating the likelihood of a State property tax cap, the Legislature followed the recommendation of its budget committee and directed the County Administrator to prepare two budget scenarios for ...

05-17-2011	Financing Approved for Two Capital Projects
	The Legislature approved bonding to cover construction cost of two capital projects, approving issuance of up to $2.5 million in serial bonds and notes to pay for part of the cost of improvements at ...

05-17-2011	Legislature Declines Request for State Legislation Related to D.A. Investigator Position
	A proposal to request home rule authority from the State Legislature to adopt a 20-year retirement plan for the new investigator position in the District Attorney’s Office failed by a vote of 5-7 ...

05-13-2011	Committee Seeks Input on Future of Home Health Agency
	The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee will discuss the future of the County’s Certified Home Health Agency at a special session May 19 and is seeking guidance from the community on ...

05-12-2011	Judge Says County Must Pay for Latest Courthouse Renovation Plan
	The administrative district judge of the New York State Court System today told the Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee that the County must pay for the mandated renovation of County ...

05-11-2011	Linking Business and Education Through “Educator in the Workplace”
	The Tompkins County Workforce Investment Board is seeking business partners and educators to participate in the Summer 2011 “Educator in the Workplace” program. For the second year, the Board, in ...

05-10-2011	Examination of Home Health Care Agency Options Continues
	The information-gathering process continued today, as County officials considered program aspects as they weigh part potential costs and benefits associated with continued operation of the County ...

05-09-2011	Recommended Tax Levy Increase Guideline Reflects Likely Prospect of Property Tax Cap
	Considering the approach to use this year to prepare the 2012 County budget, the Legislature’s budget committee today recommended that the Legislature direct the County Administrator to develop two ...

05-06-2011	Ellis Hollow Road Construction Resumes Monday, May 9 – Westbound Lane Will Be Closed to All Traffic
	Reconstruction of Ellis Hollow Road in the Town of Dryden resumes Monday, May 9. Beginning 6:00 a.m. Monday, the westbound lane of Ellis Hollow Road, between Thomas Road and Turkey Hill Road, ...

05-06-2011	Home Health Care in Tompkins County – Panel Discussion May 10
	The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) operates one of two Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHA) in the County. (Certification means that under New York State and Federal Medicare regulations, ...

05-04-2011	City Urges Residents/Businesses to Prepare for Flooding Conditions
	The City of Ithaca is monitoring weather conditions very closely as Cayuga Lake is nearing the flood stage level, and 1-2 inches of rain is in the forecast for tonight into Wednesday afternoon. The ...

05-03-2011	Legislature Moves Ahead With Center of Government Study
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote of those present (Legislators Brian Robison, Nathan Shinagawa, and Kathy Luz Herrera were excused) appropriated additional funding and awarded HOLT Architects of ...

05-03-2011	Legislature Accepts Two Grants
	The Legislature accepted two grant awards, both by unanimous vote of those present (Legislators Brian Robison, Nathan Shinagawa, and Kathy Luz Herrera were excused). The Legislature accepted a ...

04-29-2011	Tentative Assessment Roll Filed April 29th
	Beginning April 29th, the Tompkins County Department of Assessment will mail letters to property owners whose assessments have changed since the 2011 Preliminary Assessment Change Notices were mailed ...

04-29-2011	Legislator Takes County Concerns to the White House
	Tompkins County government has an opportunity to voice its concerns to the Obama administration at a White House meeting next week. County Legislator Nathan Shinagawa has been invited to attend a ...

04-29-2011	County, City, and Town Join Forces to Combat Climate Change
	The Town of Ithaca, City of Ithaca, and Tompkins County are coordinating their efforts to address the impact of climate change—reducing energy consumption while saving taxpayer dollars; planning for ...

04-29-2011	County, City, and Town Join Forces to Combat Climate Change
	The Town of Ithaca, City of Ithaca, and Tompkins County are coordinating their efforts to address the impact of climate change—reducing energy consumption while saving taxpayer dollars; planning for ...

04-28-2011	Storm Damage Update
	Following a preliminary survey of storm damage, Tompkins County Director of Emergency Response Lee Shurtleff reports that, pending final confirmation from field examination by the National Weather ...

04-27-2011	Two-Front Weather System Creates Strong Potential for Flash Flooding
	The National Weather Service is forecasting the strong potential for flash flooding in our region beginning this evening from two storm systems moving toward our area—the first system expected to ...

04-27-2011	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued
	The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for eastern Tompkins County through 9:45 p.m. Strong winds and heavy rain expected. The earlier issued Tornado Warning for ...

04-25-2011	Administrator Presents Plan for Mid-Year Budget Adjustment
	County Administrator Joe Mareane today presented a plan to the County’s Budget and Capital Committee intended to address cuts in State aid enacted as a part of the 2011-12 State Budget. The ...

04-25-2011	State Officials Advise County Committee on Broadband Initiatives
	Two state experts provided a community briefing today on programs at the state and federal level related to the development of broadband service, invited by the County’s Broadband Committee to assist ...

04-21-2011	Apply to Serve on Independent Redistricting Commission – DEADLINE EXTENDED
	The Tompkins County Legislature is providing more time for county residents to express their interest in serving on the County’s Independent Redistricting Commission, which will prepare a recommended ...

04-21-2011	IDA Approves Amendment to AES Cayuga Agreement
	The Tompkins County Industrial Agency (IDA) has approved amendment of the payment-in-lieu-of taxes (PILOT) agreement for the AES Cayuga power plant in Lansing. The amendment, approved by ...

04-20-2011	Financial Analysis of County Home Health Agency Presented
	The County has received a consultant’s report analyzing the certified home health agency (CHHA) operated by the Health Department. The report, prepared by the firm of Jack Venesky, CPA & Associates, ...

04-20-2011	Legislators Mull Future of Legislative Chambers
	Legislators began to wrestle with the prospect of moving from their current Chambers, most likely to interim space in the Old Courthouse, following the New York State Court System’s request for the ...

04-20-2011	Legislature Accepts Climate Showcase Grant
	The Legislature formally accepted a more than $375,000 Climate Showcase Communities grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The County, in partnership with EcoVillage at Ithaca’s ...

04-19-2011	New York State Limits STAR Exemption Growth
	As part of the New York State budget for 2011-2012, the state has changed the way the STAR exemption has worked since its inception in 1999. If school tax rates increase greater than 2%, eligible ...

04-15-2011	Committee Considers Update on Courthouse Renovations, Recommends Increased Budget for Center of Government Study
	The Legislature’s special Capital Plan Review Committee yesterday received new information from the administrative district judge of the New York State Court System, which could affect the timetable ...

04-15-2011	Davis Road Bridge Closing
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be closing the Davis Road Bridge, between Champlin Road and Lafayette Road, in the Town of Groton, for bridge painting, beginning at 7:00 a.m., on Monday, ...

04-14-2011	Learn How to Become a SKYWARN Spotter
	Tompkins County’s Department of Emergency Response is sponsoring a National Weather Service SKYWARN Spotter Course. The session will take place on Thursday, April 21, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the ...

04-13-2011	County Dispatch Personnel Recognized for Important Service
	The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) sponsors an annual week-long celebration of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. This event is celebrated each year during ...

04-13-2011	Latest Disposal Day Collects Over 800 Pounds of Unwanted Medications
	The Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal reports continued success from its third Safe Medication Disposal Day last Saturday. The collection days provide a simple, safe, and secure way for ...

04-12-2011	Through Major EPA Grant, Tompkins County Recognized as Climate Showcase Community
	Tompkins County, in a unique partnership with EcoVillage at Ithaca’s Center for Sustainability Education, has been awarded a $375,450 federal grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ...

04-11-2011	Administrator Projects More Than $5 Million Budget Gap for 2012
	County Administrator Joe Mareane delivered a sobering outlook to the Legislature’s budget committee today concerning the County’s 2012 budget. Mareane said projections for the coming budget year ...

04-08-2011	Members Sought to Serve on Independent Redistricting Commission
	The Tompkins County Legislature is seeking applications from county residents interested in serving on the County’s Independent Redistricting Commission. The commission is charged with preparing a ...

04-08-2011	First Civil War Commemorative Lecture April 11
	On Monday, April 11, the Tompkins County Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, in partnership with the Tompkins County Public Library, holds the first in a five-year series of lectures marking the ...

04-08-2011	Watch for Your “R” Decals! Single Stream Recycling Update
	Over the next few weeks the County’s curbside recycling collector will be distributing “R” decals that help identify your un-marked container for recycling. Please make sure to set out your ...

04-05-2011	Legislature Creates Independent Redistricting Commission
	The Legislature set the stage for the process of reapportioning the County’s legislative districts as a result of the 2010 Census. The Legislature, by a vote of 14-1 (Legislator Carol Chock voted ...

04-05-2011	Jay Franklin Confirmed as Assessment Director
	County Administrator Joe Mareane has appointed Jay Franklin, who has served as Interim Director of Assessment for more than a year, to a permanent appointment as Director of Assessment, an ...

04-05-2011	County Moves Ahead in Eying Community Justice Space Options
	The Legislature, by a vote of 13-2 (Legislators Kathy Luz Herrera and Leslyn McBean-Clairborne voted no), directed staff to proceed with investigation of the possibility of relocating the Day ...

04-04-2011	Chair Thanks Community for a Successful Census Count
	Now that 2010 Census results are in, the Chair of the County’s Complete Count Census Committee is thanking the committee and its many community partners for their efforts to help achieve a complete ...

03-30-2011	Tompkins County in Top Ten of Healthiest Counties in New York State
	The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin today released county health rankings for most counties in the United States. Tompkins County ranked fourth in the ten healthiest ...

03-29-2011	County Gathers Further Information Regarding Proposed Road Preservation Law
	At a fact-finding session tonight, the County sought further suggestions from those interested in a proposed road preservation law that would amend the County Code to regulate certain heavy ...

03-25-2011	Another Opportunity to Safely Dispose Unwanted Medications Saturday, April 9
	On Saturday, April 9, residents will once again have a chance to get rid of household medications they no longer need, as the Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal (CSMD) holds its third Safe ...

03-23-2011	Adults Underestimate Tobacco Advertising in Local Stores, But Acknowledge That Ads Influence Kids
	An informal survey conducted in Ithaca earlier this month finds that adults significantly underestimate the extent of tobacco product advertising in stores that sell cigarettes, while recognizing ...

03-22-2011	Legislature Endorses State Legislation to Extend Sales Tax Authority
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, approved State legislation pending in the Senate and Assembly that would extend the County’s authority to enact an additional one percent sales and use tax for ...

03-22-2011	FAA Grant Approved for Airport Equipment
	By unanimous vote, the Legislature accepted a $28,500 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to acquire and refurbish used friction measuring equipment for Ithaca Tompkins Regional ...

03-21-2011	IDA Approves Support for Arrowhead Ventures Project
	The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) today approved bonding support for the Arrowhead Ventures project, a mixed-use development in the Village of Lansing, adjacent to the Shops at ...

03-21-2011	Lake Road Bridge Closing
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be closing the Lake Road Bridge, between Lake Street and Tannery Circle, in the Village of Dryden, for a bridge deck replacement, beginning at 7:00 a.m., on ...

03-18-2011	New Local Program Reduces Waste by Controlling Unwanted Mail and Phone Books
	More than 100 billion pieces of unsolicited mail are received by Americans each year. To combat unwanted mail, Tompkins County has joined four other communities across the country to debut a waste ...

03-18-2011	Why Are Young Adults Living in the Ithaca Area? Take a Brief Online Survey to Help the Workforce Career Center Find Out!
	Tompkins Workforce New York Career Center wants to better understand why youth and younger adults are living in the Ithaca area, and why they might stay or move away. The Center has posted a ...

03-17-2011	IDA Poised to Reconsider Support for Revised Arrowhead Project; Advances Recommended Amendment to AES Cayuga Agreement
	The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) today received a revised request for bonding support for the Arrowhead Ventures project, a mixed-use development in the Village of Lansing, ...

03-16-2011	Brian Wilbur Named Interim Communications Center Manager
	Tompkins County Administrator Joe Mareane today announced that former Ithaca Fire Department Chief Brian Wilbur has accepted an interim appointment to manage Tompkins County’s 911 Dispatch Center. ...

03-15-2011	Frank Kruppa Appointed Public Health Director
	The Tompkins County Legislature tonight confirmed the appointment of Frank Kruppa to the position of Public Health Director. The appointment of Kruppa to the top position in the County’s Health ...

03-15-2011	Legislature Supports Youth Services Funding and Community Action Programs
	In two separate actions, the Legislature voiced their official support for two programs which face serious potential budget challenges. The Legislature, by unanimous vote, urged Governor Cuomo and ...

03-15-2011	Legislature Authorizes Funding Application for Regional Transportation Study
	The Legislature authorized the County to apply for up to $250,000 in Federal Transit Administration funds to access funds set aside by the Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC) to ...

03-11-2011	Legislator Leslyn McBean-Clairborne Recognized for Humanitarian Achievement
	Legislator Leslyn McBean-Clairborne has been selected as a recipient of the 2011 Harriet Tubman Humanitarian Achievement Award, recognizing her for exemplifying the values the great Harriet Tubman ...

03-10-2011	Residents Advised to Prepare for Possible Flooding
	Heavy rain forecast for overnight, coupled with expected significant snow melt, means that flooding may occur in low-lying areas of Tompkins County, especially overnight. The National Weather ...

03-08-2011	Committee Warned Governor’s Budget Could Severely Affect Human Services Programs
	The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee today heard a sobering assessment regarding how the Governor’s executive budget for the coming fiscal year could affect county government and ...

03-07-2011	Curbside Recycling Pick-up Delay
	Due to inclement weather, curbside recycling will not be collected on Monday, March 7. Recyclables scheduled for pickup on the 7th will be collected on Tuesday, March 8. Recycling collection will be ...

03-01-2011	Legislature Renews Request for Authorization to Increase Mortgage Recording Tax
	The Legislature, by a vote of 11-3, once again asked the State Legislature to approve legislation which would authorize the County to increase the county mortgage recording tax by 0.25% if it so ...

03-01-2011	Legislature Urges Extension of Tax Surcharge on the Wealthy
	Stating its belief that “all New Yorkers should share in sacrifice in these difficult fiscal times, especially those most financially able to do so,” the Legislature called for the State Legislature ...

03-01-2011	Investigator Position Approved for D.A.’s Office
	The Legislature, by a vote of 11-3, approved creation of a confidential investigator position in the District Attorney’s Office. (Legislators Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Brian Robison, and Mike Lane ...

02-25-2011	“Paper and Containers…Mix It Up!” Single Stream Curbside Recycling in Tompkins County Begins March 7th!
	Starting Monday, March 7th, county residents will be able to mix their paper and containers all in one bin, as Tompkins County begins to accept mixed recyclables at the curbside through single stream ...

02-25-2011	Village Elections March 15
	The Villages of Cayuga Heights, Dryden, Groton and Trumansburg will hold elections on Tuesday, March 15. Only registered voters living within these village’s boundaries are eligible to ...

02-22-2011	Public Safety Committee Recommends Investigator Position for D.A.’s Office
	The Legislature’s Public Safety Committee today, by a 5-0 vote, provided an initial recommendation to create a confidential investigator position in the District Attorney’s Office. While committee ...

02-18-2011	Committee Considers Structure of Proposed Redistricting Commission
	The Legislature’s Government Operations Committee today began to examine a draft proposal for how County the task of County redistricting could be approached, once 2010 Census results are received. ...

02-18-2011	Interested in developing affordable housing in Tompkins County? Notice of Funding Availability Announced
	The Housing Fund - Funding Round 3: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is now open for the Community Housing Affordability Program and Community Housing Trust Program. The Housing Fund – that ...

02-17-2011	Local Youth Coalition Graduates from National Academy
	The Tompkins County Community Coalition for Healthy Youth (CCHY) proudly announces its graduation from the National Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Coalition Academy. The graduation ...

02-15-2011	Legislators Express Ongoing Concern About Impending Property Tax Cap
	Calling this “a critical time for counties,” Legislature Chair Martha Robertson told her colleagues that representatives of the State’s 62 counties attending last week’s conference of the New York ...

02-15-2011	Federal Stimulus Grant Approved for Health Department
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote accepted more than $30,000 in federal stimulus funds awarded to the Health Department through the New York State Department of Health. The grant provides ...

02-15-2011	Marcus Wilkinson Recognized as Distinguished Youth
	The Legislature recognized Marcus Wilkinson, a senior at Ithaca’s Lehman Alternative Community School as this month’s Tompkins County Distinguished Youth. In a nomination letter from LACS principal ...

02-11-2011	Tobacco Free Tompkins and Other Partnerships Launch “Tobacco Marketing Works” Campaign
	An innovative media campaign was launched today statewide to educate New Yorkers about the effect that tobacco industry products and marketing in stores have on youth smoking. The campaign reflects ...

02-04-2011	Legislators Express Concern About State Budget Issues
	Members of the County Legislature had a chance to communicate their concerns about how the New York State budget could affect Tompkins County, as they met with one of the members of the County’s ...

02-04-2011	Tompkins County Personnel Office Now on “Facebook”
	Tompkins County’s Personnel Office is now offering job-seekers another way to learn about county employment opportunities, through a new page on the social networking site Facebook. The page may ...

02-01-2011	Legislature Listens to Comments, Delays Action on Proposed Road Preservation Law
	The Legislature took public comment on a proposed new local law that would amend the County Code to regulate certain heavy commercial or industrial uses of County roads with the potential to cause ...

02-01-2011	Legislature Appropriates Funding to Support County Corporate Compliance Plan
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera was excused) approved the funding needed to develop and implement a formal Tompkins County corporate compliance program. Corporate ...

01-31-2011	Residents Urged to Prepare for Significant Snow Forecast Over Next Two Days
	The Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response is alerting residents to significant snow forecast for the area between tonight and late Wednesday. The National Weather Service/Binghamton ...

01-28-2011	Public Information Meeting January 31 on Proposed Road Preservation Law
	Residents will have the opportunity to learn more about the County’s proposed road preservation law at an information meeting on Monday, January 31, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at the first-floor ...

01-28-2011	Capital Committee Continues to Mull Future Space Needs
	As it moves forward in considering the County’s future space needs, the Legislature’s special Capital Program Review Committee today heard the findings of studies evaluating space in three county ...

01-27-2011	Council of Governments Calls for State Mandate Relief Before Imposing Local Property Tax Cap
	The Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) today joined in urging New York State to significantly cut the unfunded mandates that cause local property tax increases before it imposes a ...

01-21-2011	Health Department Urges Residents to Take Precautions During Cold Weather
	Temperatures are expected to be very cold this weekend, and Tompkins County Health Department is stressing that all residents take precautions to avoid exposure to extremely cold conditions which can ...

01-19-2011	Tourism Grants Workshop January 24th
	There will be a Tourism Grants Workshop on Monday, January 24th, 3:00-5:00 pm., at the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 904 East Shore Drive, 2nd floor. Pre-register for the ...

01-18-2011	Chair Announces Committee Assignments and Appointments for 2011
	The Legislature’s committee structure will remain much the same for the coming year, but Chair Martha Robertson’s committee assignments and appointments contain several key changes. Regarding ...

01-18-2011	Gail Holst-Warhaft Named Poet Laureate
	Legislature Chair Martha Robertson has appointed Gail Holst-Warhaft as Tompkins County Poet Lareate for 2011. Born in Australia, the new Poet Laureate brings to the position a diverse background, ...

01-18-2011	Contract Awarded to Examine County Certified Home Health Agency
	The Legislature provided the approval needed to conduct an expert review of the County’s Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA). The Legislature, by unanimous vote, awarded the firm of Jack Venesky, ...

01-07-2011	95 Years of Election Results Online
	The Tompkins County Board of Elections recently completed a major project to archive, digitize, and post online local election results dating back to 1915. Many staff members and interns took part in ...

01-04-2011	Robertson Elected to Second Year as Legislature Chair; Kiefer Reelected Vice Chair
	The Legislature has reelected Martha Robertson (D) to lead the Legislature during 2011. The position of Chair is filled each year by a majority vote of the 15 members of the Legislature. The chair ...

01-04-2011	Chair Robertson Offers Thoughts to Governor Cuomo in Annual Legislature Message
	Looking back on 2010 and ahead to 2011and stressing the codependent relationship between county and state government, Legislature Chair Martha Robertson in her annual address to the Legislature urged ...

01-04-2011	Public Hearing Scheduled on Proposed Road Preservation Law
	The Legislature, by a vote of 13-2, scheduled a public hearing on a proposed local law that would amend the County Code to regulate heavy commercial/industrial use of County highways to preserve ...

12-30-2010	Recycling and Solid Waste Center Fee Changes in 2011
	As of January 1, 2011 the following fees will change at the Tompkins County Recycling and Solid Waste Center. Coupons for larger vehicles, wagons, SUVs and mini vans (Category 2) will increase ...

12-21-2010	Legislature Awards Contracts to Upgrade and Operate Recycling and Solid Waste Center
	The Legislature approved a new public-private partnership to upgrade the Tompkins Recycling and Solid Waste Center, ushering in improvements that will make recycling easier and divert more materials ...

12-21-2010	County to Purchase Ithaca Building to House Aging Office
	Tompkins County will purchase the building that most recently housed the Carpet Bazaar, located at 214-216 West State Street (Martin Luther King, Jr. Street) in Ithaca to house the County Office for ...

12-21-2010	Legislature Approves Funding for Long-Term Center of Government Study
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, appropriated $50,000 in contingent funding to support an expert study to examine the County’s long-term space needs, to provide more information on the Center of ...

12-15-2010	Government Operations Committee to Review Road Preservation Options December 16
	The Legislature’s Government Operations Committee at its December 16 meeting will review and discuss how to preserve local roads from damage from temporary heavy use. The meeting will take place ...

12-14-2010	Second Public Input Meeting on Pine Tree Road Improvements, Monday, December 20
	On Monday, December 20, the Tompkins County Highway Division, along with the Town of Ithaca and Cornell University, will host its second public information meeting regarding a project to improve ...

12-13-2010	IDA Turns Down Support for Lansing Development
	The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), by a 4-3 vote, today declined to approve a request for bonding support for a mixed-use development project in the Village of Lansing, adjacent ...

12-13-2010	Sustainable Airport Master Plan Gains National Attention
	Airport Manager Robert Nicholas was recently asked to address the “Airports Going Green” Conference that was held November 15 through 17 at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Chicago’s “Miracle Mile.” ...

12-07-2010	Legislature Supports IDA Bonding for Lansing Development
	The Legislature, after two hours of thoughtful discussion, provided the approval needed for the County’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to proceed further in considering bonding for a mixed use ...

12-07-2010	Legislators Support Federal Law to Change Terminology for “Developmentally Disabled”
	The Legislature urged support of pending federal bills, commonly known as “Rosa’s Law,” which ask that all references to “mental retardation” be amended to “developmental disabilities.” The action, ...

12-07-2010	Legislature Requests Continued Sales Tax Authorization
	By a vote of 13-1 (Legislator Frank Proto voting no and Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera excused), requested State authorization to extend the additional one percent sales tax rate in Tompkins County, ...

12-01-2010	Planning Committee Declines to Recommend IDA Support of Lansing Development Project
	The Legislature’s Planning, Development and Environmental Quality Committee, by a 3-2 vote, today failed to recommend Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) support for a mixed use ...

11-30-2010	National Influenza Immunization Week - December 5 to December 11
	National Influenza Immunization Week highlights the importance of flu vaccination for the best protection against the flu. And receiving a flu vaccination in December or later will still provide ...

11-30-2010	Library to Offer Remote Access, Enhanced Borrowing Privileges for Holidays
	A marriage between new technology and old fashioned customer service will ensure that Tompkins County Public Library patrons have access to their favorite books, music, DVDs, and online resources ...

11-19-2010	County Maintains High Bond Rating, Negative Outlook Removed
	Moody’s Investor Service has announced it is maintaining Tompkins County’s high municipal bond rating of “Aa1” and has removed the “negative outlook” qualifier that has been part of the County’s ...

11-17-2010	Capital Plan Review Committee Backs Further Research of Center of Government Concept
	The Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee today expressed its support of moving toward further analysis to explore the concept of a Center of Government building, exploring the potential costs ...

11-16-2010	Legislature Adopts 2011 County Budget
	The Tompkins County Legislature tonight adopted the County’s 2011 budget and the County’s capital program for the next five years, concluding two-and-a-half months of budget deliberations. The ...

11-16-2010	2011 Solid Waste Fee Established
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote set the 2011 Solid Waste Annual Fee, which holds the fee at its current rate of $56.00 per billing unit. As in the past, single-family residences, mobile homes, ...

11-16-2010	Bonding Authorized for Transonic Systems Project
	The Legislature approved the issuance of up to $4.5 million in tax-exempt private activity bonds by the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency to support expansion of Transonic Systems’ ...

11-12-2010	“Nancy Zahler Day” - Retiring Youth Services Director Honored
	Today is “Nancy Zahler Day” in Tompkins County, in honor of retiring Youth Services Director Nancy Zahler, who led the Youth Services Department for the past three decades. A proclamation from ...

11-10-2010	Alzheimer’s Workshop for Caring Relatives
	A free workshop for persons concerned about a relative or friend with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder is being held Friday, November 19, Noon – 1:30 p.m. at the Cooperative Extension Education ...

11-08-2010	Legislature Takes Comment on 2011 Tentative Budget
	Legislators listened tonight, as the public commented on the County’s 2011 tentative budget, at the Legislature’s formal public hearing on the recommended spending plan that has been developed over ...

11-06-2010	Public Hearing on 2011 Budget November 8
	The County Legislature invites county residents to comment on the County’s proposed 2011 budget at a public budget hearing to be held Monday, November 8. The hearing will begin at 7:00 p.m. at ...

11-05-2010	County Considers Proposed Local Law to Protect County Roads
	The Legislature’s Facilities and Infrastructure (F&I) Committee today took a first look at a proposed new local law that would regulate heavy commercial use of County highways to protect those public ...

11-03-2010	Legislature Adopts 2011 Budget Amendments
	The Tompkins County Legislature, by a vote of 14-1, formally adopted amendments to the 2011 tentative budget, as recommended by its Expanded Budget Committee. Legislator David McKenna voted no, but ...

11-03-2010	Broadband Committee Created
	The Legislature approved creation of a Broadband Committee and the appointment of 20 people to serve on it. The advisory committee is charged with assessing broadband infrastructure investment, ...

11-03-2010	Legislature Declines to Comment on Pending Federal Water Quality Mandate
	Legislators discussed, but declined to take a stand on new clean water regulations for the Chesapeake Bay watershed and a dispute between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State ...

11-01-2010	Recommended Amended Budget Would Increase Tax Levy 6.36%
	Concluding nearly two months of budget review, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee have recommended adoption of an amended 2011 tentative County budget. The recommended budget, to be ...

10-29-2010	Students Assist With Replacing Headstones of Local Civil War Veterans
	Assisting with a project undertaken by Tompkins County’s Civil War Commemoration Commission, Cornell students are helping to set new headstones for ten local Civil War veterans buried at the Ithaca ...

10-29-2010	Family Flu Clinic at the Health Department on Saturday, November 6
	Busy schedules can make it difficult to take the time for you and people you care about to get an annual flu shot. The Tompkins County Health Department is going to make it easier for you. You’re ...

10-28-2010	Greater Tompkins Intermunicipal Health Insurance Consortium Certified to Begin Operations
	First-of-its-type collaborative will produce significant health care savings for municipalities, employees, taxpayers More than four years after planning began, a 13-member intermunicipal health ...

10-27-2010	Legislators Continue to Recommend Restorations to 2011 Budget
	In their next-to-last scheduled session of budget review, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee tonight continued to recommend changes to the County Administrator’s tentative 2011 ...

10-26-2010	Focus on Social Services Funding Included in Latest Budget Review
	Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee tonight began to examine restoration of funds to support Social Services programs, as part of the County’s 2011 tentative budget. Those programs ...

10-21-2010	Legislators Recommend Partial Funding for Municipal Youth Services
	In their second night of decision-making, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee recommended partial restoration of matching funds to support Municipal Youth Development Programs, as part ...

10-19-2010	Legislature Opposes Natural Gas Drilling on State Forest Lands
	The Legislature voiced official opposition to gas drilling on State forest lands, but delayed action on a similar measure that would prohibit any County-owned land from being leased for natural gas ...

10-19-2010	Public Hearing on 2011 Budget Rescheduled to November 8
	The Legislature has adjusted the schedule for deliberations toward a 2011 Tompkins County budget, delaying the Public Hearing on the budget, which had been scheduled for November 3, until Monday, ...

10-19-2010	Legislature Extends Temporary Amendment to Fiscal Policy on Rollover
	The Legislature, on the recommendation of the Expanded Budget Committee, extended until the end of 2010 last year’s temporary suspension of the County’s rollover policy on personnel-related savings. ...

10-18-2010	Legislators Begin to Weigh in on 2011 Budget Amendments
	Nearly six weeks into the 2011 budget process, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee took the first steps toward recommended changes to the County’s 2011 tentative budget. The package ...

10-15-2010	Expanded Budget Committee Reviews Social Services Budget
	Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee last night examined the budget of the Department of Social Services as its final budget presentation before the committee begins to recommend ...

10-15-2010	Ellis Hollow Road Opening
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be opening Ellis Hollow Road for the winter, between Thomas Road and Turkey Hill Road, in the Town of Dryden, at approximately 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October ...

10-15-2010	Sample Ballots Available
	Sample ballots for the November 2 General Election are now available at the Board of Elections’ office or can be viewed at votetompkins.com. Absentee ...

10-14-2010	Can you give a little time this Saturday to help the environment?
	The Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal is looking for a few more volunteers to assist with the Safe Medication Disposal Day this Saturday, October 16th at TCAT headquarters on Willow Avenue in ...

10-12-2010	Budget Committee Examines Health Department Programs
	Much of the focus was on the Health Department, as Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee neared the end of the presentation phase of 2011 budget review—much of that discussion concerning ...

10-09-2010	Broadcast Forum on the 2011 Tompkins County Budget Tuesday, October 12
	On Tuesday, October 12, residents will have an opportunity to learn about the 2011 Tompkins County budget and the fiscal challenges the County faces as it prepares for next year, in an hour-long ...

10-07-2010	Legislators Asked to Restore County Youth Development Funds
	In their latest budget review session, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee were urged to consider the potential effects of cutting the County’s contribution to support municipal youth ...

10-05-2010	Legislature Urges State to Provide Mandate Relief Before Capping Local Property Taxes
	The Tompkins County Legislature has taken a firm stand on the issue of a proposed property tax cap, maintaining that New York State must significantly cut its unfunded mandates that cause local ...

10-05-2010	Legislature Accepts Federal Grant for Solid Waste Management Division
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (Legislator Will Burbank was absent), accepted a $29,500 “Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Rebuy in Schools Grant” awarded by the federal Environmental Protection Agency to the ...

10-05-2010	O.U.R.S. Teen & ‘Tween Leadership Council Recognized as Distinguished Youth
	Participants in a Dryden youth leadership program serving those living in local mobile home parks are recognized as this month’s Tompkins County Distinguished Youth. The O.U.R.S (Opportunity ...

10-04-2010	When an Elder Resists Help
	A free seminar for concerned relatives and caregivers of older adults, "When an Elder Resists Help," is being held Tuesday, October 19, 7:00-8:30 PM, at the Cooperative Extension Education Center, ...

10-01-2010	Criminal Justice Programs Part of Focus at Latest Budget Review Session
	As they continued review of the County’s 2011 tentative budget Thursday, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee examined several more requests, most seeking restoration of program ...

10-01-2010	Safely Dispose of Your Unwanted Medications Saturday, October 16
	Once again, community residents will have a chance to get rid of no-longer-needed household medications at the second community-wide Unwanted Household Pharmaceutical Collection Day on Saturday, ...

09-29-2010	Celebration of Youth Development Partnerships
	The Tompkins County Youth Services Department recognized the municipal and community leaders who have organized local youth development programs over the last 20 years at a celebration held on ...

09-28-2010	Legislators Continue to Hear of Target Reductions’ Effects
	At their fourth session hearing budget presentations from County departments and agencies, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee continued to hear about how directed target reductions of ...

09-27-2010	Support for Youth Services Funding Among Concerns Expressed at Community Budget Forum
	County Legislators tonight were urged to carefully weigh the long-term impact of a recommended cut in youth services funding, one of several messages voiced by citizens who attended the Community ...

09-25-2010	Strategic Tourism Planning Board Announces Grants Workshop
	On Monday September 27th there will be a workshop on the 2010 Tourism Grant Programs. The workshop will take place from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce / Visitors Center ...

09-24-2010	Community Invited to Annual Budget Forum September 27
	The Tompkins County Legislature invites community residents to its annual Community Budget Forum Monday, September 27, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Borg Warner Room of the Tompkins County Public ...

09-23-2010	TCCOG Members Advised on How County Budget Could Affect Municipalities
	County Administrator Joe Mareane briefed members of the Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) today on the fiscal pressures the County faces as the Legislature considers the 2011 Tentative ...

09-22-2010	Legislators Advised on Target Reductions’ Effects at Third Budget Review Session
	Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee spent their third night hearing department budget presentations, as they proceed toward action on a 2011 County budget. Presentations tonight ...

09-21-2010	Amie Hendrix Named Youth Services Director
	The Legislature confirmed County Administrator Joe Mareane’s appointment of Amie M. Hendrix as Director of Youth Services. Confirmation was unanimous, with Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera ...

09-21-2010	Recycling and Solid Waste Center Gets Ready for Upgrade
	Nearly a year after a Request for Proposals was issued, Solid Waste Management Division Director Barbara Eckstrom told Legislators that a County review team is ready to recommend a preferred vendor ...

09-21-2010	Legislature Supports Intermunicipal Cell Tower Initiative
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera was excused) authorized County participation in an intermunicipal project, initiated by several municipalities through the Tompkins ...

09-21-2010	Legislature Supports Intermunicipal Cell Tower Initiative
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera was excused) authorized County participation in an intermunicipal project, initiated by several municipalities through the Tompkins ...

09-17-2010	New Finger Lakes Buy Green Website
	Visit the newly improved Finger Lakes Buy Green website and discover where to purchase environmentally preferable products locally. The site ...

09-14-2010	Legislators Conduct Second Budget Review Session
	Legislators, acting as an Expanded Budget Committee, tonight heard five program presentations in a second night of 2011 County Budget review. The County Administrator’s tentative budget recommends ...

09-14-2010	Legislators Accept Airport Wildlife Hazard Assessment Grant
	At a special session conducted in conjunction with an expanded budget committee review meeting, Legislators by unanimous vote authorized acceptance of a $100,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ...

09-13-2010	County Legislators Begin 2011 Budget Review
	In their initial review session of County Administrator Joe Mareane’s recommended 2011 County Budget, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee tonight heard their first six department ...

09-10-2010	County Forms New Special Committee on Broadband
	The Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature has established a Special Committee on Broadband, and the County seeks applications from volunteers interested in serving on the advisory committee. ...

09-10-2010	Have a role in protection of water resources! Tompkins County Water Resources Council Seeks New Members
	Are you concerned about protecting water resources and quality in Tompkins County? Want to utilize your passion and skills in water resource management to help our local legislature make informed ...

09-07-2010	Administrator Releases 2011 Tentative Budget
	Tompkins County Administrator Joe Mareane has delivered to the County Legislature a 2011 Tentative County Budget that employs a balanced approach to address unprecedented fiscal challenges. The ...

09-07-2010	Local Retirement Incentive Approved
	The Legislature approved a special one-time local retirement incentive to eligible employees, seeking to minimize involuntary reductions in force in 2011. The vote was 12-2, with Legislators Brian ...

09-07-2010	Road Patrol Salary Interest Arbitration Results Announced
	County Administrator Joe Mareane reported the arbitrator has issued his decision in binding interest arbitration for the March 2006-February 2008 contract for uniformed members of the Employees Union ...

08-27-2010	Dryden Community Meeting on the 2011 County Budget – Thursday, September 2
	The latest in a series of community meetings to discuss next year’s County budget is coming up Thursday evening, September 2 in Dryden. The meeting will be held at the Dryden Community Café, 1 ...

08-23-2010	Budget Committee Recommends Local Retirement Incentive
	The Legislature’s budget committee is recommending the County offer a special one-time local retirement incentive to eligible employees, seeking to minimize involuntary reductions in force in 2011. ...

08-20-2010	New “Job Central” Job Search Site Links Job Seekers and Potential Employers
	Tompkins Workforce New York alerts residents to a new state job bank, launched by the New York State Department of Labor, to make job seekers’ career search easier and help businesses find qualified ...

08-17-2010	Robertson Says Proposed State Takeover of Medicaid Administration Could Cost Counties More
	Legislature Chair Martha Robertson, reporting on discussions to date by a statewide commission on the State takeover of Medicaid, said she and other county representatives on the commission fear that ...

08-17-2010	Contingent Funding Approved for District Attorney’s Office
	The Legislature appropriated more than $50,000 in contingency funding to cover expenses arising from prosecution of high-profile cases by the District Attorney’s Office. The vote was unanimous, with ...

08-17-2010	Legislature Approves Two County Sites for City Public Art Program
	The Legislature without dissent (Legislator Brian Robison was excused) approved the two County building sites for inclusion in the City of Ithaca Public Art Commission Mural and Street Art Program. ...

08-12-2010	Community Meeting on the 2011 County Budget – Thursday, August 19
	A community meeting to discuss next year’s County budget is coming up Thursday evening, August 19. The meeting will be held at the Cooperative Extension Building, Room A, at 615 Willow Avenue, ...

08-12-2010	Absentee Ballots Now Available
	Absentee ballots for the September 14 Primary Election are now available at the Tompkins County Board of Elections. Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the Board office or ...

08-12-2010	Searsburg Road Closing
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be closing Searsburg Road, in the Town of Ulysses, for a road crossing pipe replacement, on Wednesday, August 18, 2010, beginning at 6:00 a.m., until ...

08-09-2010	Administrator Warns of Difficult Budget Process Ahead
	Briefing the Legislature’s budget committee today, County Administrator Joe Mareane cautioned that the upcoming process of developing the County’s 2011 budget will be extremely difficult. Mareane ...

08-06-2010	Chair Robertson Named to Statewide Commission on Medicaid
	Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson has been appointed by New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) President Thomas Santulli to serve on a special NYSAC Presidential Commission ...

08-05-2010	Ellis Hollow Road Westbound Lane Closing
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be closing the westbound lane of Ellis Hollow Road, between Thomas Road and Turkey Hill Road, in the Town of Dryden, for road reconstruction and drainage, ...

08-03-2010	Proposed Property Tax Cap Would Be Devastating, County Officials Warn
	County officials expressed deep concern about a proposed State property tax cap, under review by the State Legislature. The proposal would cap increases in local property taxes by either 4% or 20% ...

08-03-2010	Legislature Approves Appropriation of 2009 Rollover Funds
	The Legislature appropriated a little over $120,000 in unspent funds (known as “rollover”) from 2009 to departmental accounts for use in the current year’s budget. Eight departments were certified ...

08-03-2010	Legislature Approves Reserve Funding for Health Insurance Consortium
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote (Legislator Dooley Kiefer was excused) authorized $500,000 in reserve contributions for the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, the ...

08-02-2010	Celebrate "National Night Out" Tuesday in Newfield!
	The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office along with many Newfield community organizations and various law enforcement agencies will be in Newfield Tuesday August 3rd, from 5-8 p.m. celebrating National ...

08-02-2010	Committee Advised on Emergency Preparedness Related to Gas Drilling
	The Legislature’s Public Safety Committee today was told that pre-planning will be critical to being prepared to address emergencies that could arise, should gas drilling in the Marcellus shale come ...

07-23-2010	REMINDER: Health Department Now Located at 55 Brown Road
	The Tompkins County Health Department has moved to 55 Brown Road. The move took effect as of Monday, July 19. Telephone numbers, fax numbers and emails are the same. Call program phone numbers for ...

07-22-2010	County Releases Comprehensive Summary of County Programs
	Tompkins County has released a report which provides both decision-makers and the public with a comprehensive profile of each of the County’s major departmental programs. The report, entitled ...

07-22-2010	Road and Bridge Closings
	The Tompkins County Highway Division alerts residents to the following road and bridge closings: BOICEVILLE ROAD CLOSING: The Highway Division will be closing Boiceville Road, in the Town of ...

07-21-2010	Legislature Chair Voices Tompkins’ Support for Drilling Moratorium
	Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson was one of the speakers at a news conference yesterday outside Senate Chambers in Albany, communicating the Legislature’s support of a proposed ...

07-20-2010	Legislature Awards Contracts for Public Safety Dispatch/Data System
	The Legislature awarded contracts to implement a new integrated public safety voice and data system, as the final phase of the County’s Public Safety Communications capital project. The vote was ...

07-20-2010	Legislature Expresses Support for Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Personnel
	Legislators were unanimous in approving a resolution support of law enforcement and emergency services personnel throughout Tompkins County, and especially Sergeant Bryan Bangs of the Ithaca Police ...

07-20-2010	Legislature Accepts Grant to Support Planning Assistance Related to Gas Drilling
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, accepted a $50,000 grant from the Park Foundation to partially support a one-year planner position to provide technical assistance to municipalities aimed at ...

07-19-2010	Tompkins County Health Department Moves to 55 Brown Road
	The Tompkins County Health Department has moved to 55 Brown Road. The move is effective today, Monday, July 19, 2010. Some services may be limited early in the week. Telephone numbers, fax numbers ...

07-19-2010	State Decreases Reserve Requirements for Health Insurance Consortium
	The New York State Insurance Department has agreed to a $1 million reduction in reserving requirements for the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, a decision Consortium ...

07-16-2010	Coalition, Teens Partner to Provide “Sticker Shock” GrassRoots Weekend
	During next week’s GrassRoots Festival in Trumansburg, visitors and residents won’t be able to escape the message that it’s illegal for adults to buy or provide alcohol to anyone under ...

07-14-2010	Reminder: Town Hall Meeting on 2011 County Budget – Thursday, July 15
	The second in a series of town hall meetings on next year’s County budget will take place Thursday evening, July 15 at the Ithaca Town Hall. The meeting, entitled “Tompkins County Budget, 2011: ...

07-12-2010	Budget Committee Recommends Contract Award for Emergency Services Data System
	The Legislature’s Budget and Capital Committee today recommended the award of capital contracts to implement a new integrated public safety voice and data system, the final phase of the County’s ...

07-08-2010	UPDATE: GIAC Cooling Center Will Not Be Open Friday. Residents Urged to Continue to Protect Themselves From Heat-Related Illness
	The heat emergency cooling center located at Ithaca’s Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) will close as of 7:00 this evening and will not reopen on Friday. The cooling center is located on the ...

07-08-2010	Capital Committee Recommends Freeing Up Old Library Space; Receives Administrator’s Report on Center of Government Concept
	Continuing its review of the County’s long-term capital needs, the Legislature’s special Capital Plan Review Committee took a first step in looking toward the future of the Old County Library and ...

07-07-2010	UPDATE: GIAC Cooling Center Will Be Open Thursday
	The heat emergency cooling center located at Ithaca’s Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) will remain open Thursday, July 8 to assist people in need during the current heat wave. The cooling ...

07-06-2010	Residents Urged to Protect Themselves During Current Heat Wave. Local Cooling Centers Open
	With temperatures above 90 degrees and high humidity forecast through at least Thursday, local officials are urging residents to take the steps necessary to protect themselves from the danger of ...

07-06-2010	Legislature Adopts 2010-2011 TC3 Budget
	Following a public hearing, the Legislature, by unanimous vote adopted the 2010-2011 operating budget for Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3). The $35.4 million budget holds the sponsoring ...

07-06-2010	Administrator Warns Senate Home Rule Denials Could Force Rethinking of 2011 Budget Projections
	County Administrator Joe Mareane once again cautioned the Legislature that prospects appear dim for gaining State approval of the County’s request for a quarter-percent increase in the county ...

07-02-2010	Highway and Bridge Closings
	The County Highway Division alerts residents to the following closings: TALMADGE ROAD BRIDGE: The Highway Division will be closing the Talmadge Road Bridge, in the Town of Groton, for bridge ...

07-02-2010	Recycling and Solid Waste Holiday Schedule
	The County Solid Waste Management Division Office will be closed Monday, July 5 in observation of the Independence Day holiday and will re-open on Tuesday, July 6. Tompkins County Recycling and ...

07-01-2010	Vacancy on County Ethics Advisory Board
	Tompkins County invites county residents to apply to fill a vacancy on the County’s Ethics Advisory Board. The County seeks applicants of good reputation and character who are familiar with the ...

06-30-2010	Legislature Accepts Hanshaw Road Determination and Findings
	The Legislature, at a special meeting, accepted the determination and findings from a March public hearing regarding the public use, benefit, or purpose to be served by the proposed reconstruction of ...

06-25-2010	Long-Time Public Health Director Alice Cole to Retire at Month’s End
	Tompkins County is preparing to bid a fond farewell to Public Health Director Alice Cole, who has served the County for 21 years, the last 17 as Public Health Director. Director Cole will retire ...

06-24-2010	Aging Office Alerts Seniors to $250 Medicare Drug Rebate
	The County’s Office for the Aging advises that the Affordable Care Act passed by Congress and signed by President Obama this year contains some important information for Medicare recipients. If ...

06-23-2010	Warren Road Closing Extension
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be extending the closing of Warren Road, between Hillcrest Road and Asbury Road, in the Town of Lansing, for road and bridge work, through Friday, July 2, ...

06-18-2010	Town Hall Meeting on 2011 County Budget June 21
	Legislator Pat Pryor (District 6) will sponsor a town hall meeting on next year’s County budget Monday evening, June 21. The meeting, entitled “Tompkins County Budget, 2011: The Process, the ...

06-15-2010	Legislature Calls for Payment of Overdue Transit Aid
	The Tompkins County Legislature is calling upon New York State to immediately come through with State Transit Operating Assistance, where quarterly payments have been delayed in absence of a state ...

06-15-2010	Legislature Authorizes Airport Parking Expansion
	The Legislature approved a contract to expand the long term parking lot at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport—one year earlier than called for in the airport’s master plan—and an interfund loan to ...

06-15-2010	Legislature Requests Determination on Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ Potential Role in Providing Technical Assistance Related to Gas Drilling
	The Legislature is asking a regional coalition to clarify how local Soil and Water Conservation Districts can provide technical assistance regarding questions related to gas drilling in the Marcellus ...

06-11-2010	Tompkins Gas Drilling Concerns Voiced at New York City Event
	Tompkins County concerns about risks associated with natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale were once again communicated, at a session in New York City earlier today. Legislature Chair Martha ...

06-10-2010	Capital Committee Reviews Facilities Needs as Part of 2011 Plan
	As it continued its work, the Legislature’s special Capital Plan Review Committee today looked toward the County’s 2011 Capital Program. As part of an overview of likely program elements next ...

06-07-2010	Committee Advised on Potential Future Gas Drilling Effects
	Members of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee were told today that local natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale will likely produce more above-ground emergency incidents—many stemming ...

06-01-2010	Legislature Establishes County Clerk, Sheriff Salaries
	The Legislature took a long and careful look at what the salaries should be for the elected positions of County Clerk and Sheriff for the upcoming four-year term. After nearly an hour-and-a-half of ...

06-01-2010	2011 Budget Guidelines Call for 6.9% Reduction
	The Legislature, following little discussion and without dissent, followed the recommendation of County Administrator Joe Mareane and its budget committee and established 2011 budget guidelines which ...

06-01-2010	Legislature Asks State to Authorize Increase in Local Mortgage Tax
	The Legislature is asking the State to approve home rule legislation in the Senate and Assembly authorizing the County to adopt a local law enacting a .25% increase in the county mortgage recording ...

05-28-2010	Commissioner Carey Recognized for Outstanding Community Service
	Tompkins County Commissioner of Social Services Patricia Carey has been honored by Tompkins Community Action as recipient of the agency’s Community Action Award for 2011. The award, presented at ...

05-27-2010	Health Insurance Consortium Approves Union Representation on Board of Directors
	The Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium today approved labor/union representation on its Board of Directors, as is required by Article 47 of New York State Insurance Law. ...

05-24-2010	6.9% Spending Reduction Recommended as 2011 Budget Guideline
	The Legislature’s Budget and Capital Committee today recommended fiscal guidelines for County departments and agencies in preparing the 2011 County budget. The recommendation, advanced by a 3-1 ...

05-21-2010	Community Mental Health Services Board to Celebrate and Recognize Local Community of Care
	On Tuesday May 25, 2010 the Tompkins County Community Mental Health Services Board will hold a celebration event to recognize achievements in the areas of mental health, developmental disabilities ...

05-21-2010	Board of Elections Recognized for Innovative Software Use
	The Tompkins County Board of Elections has been honored with a Best Practices Award from the New York State Board of Elections for its presentation on using free project management software to help ...

05-21-2010	Free Online Computer Training Available Through Tompkins Workforce New York
	New York State, through Tompkins Workforce New York and in cooperation with Microsoft Corporation’s “Elevate America” program, is distributing free vouchers for select e-learning courses and ...

05-21-2010	Free Online Computer Training Available Through Tompkins Workforce New York
	New York State, through Tompkins Workforce New York and in cooperation with Microsoft Corporation’s “Elevate America” program, is distributing free vouchers for select e-learning courses and ...

05-20-2010	Library to Close Friday for Staff Development
	In order to better meet the ever-changing needs of its patrons, the Tompkins County Public Library will be closed Friday, May 21 for staff training. The Library will resume its regular schedule at ...

05-19-2010	Two Seniors Honored at Annual Luncheon
	The Tompkins County Office for the Aging Advisory Committee held the Annual Luncheon for 2010 at the Clarion Hotel on May 11th. Karl Pillimer, PhD, Director for the Cornell Institute on ...

05-18-2010	Legislature Urges State Hydrofracking Ban
	The Legislature is calling upon New York State to ban all hydraulic fracturing operations to extract natural gas from shale until independent scientific assessments are competed to determine the risk ...

05-18-2010	Legislature Authorizes Biggs Building Sale
	The Legislature, without dissent (Legislator Carol Chock was excused), authorized the County Administrator to sell the Biggs Building, currently occupied by the Health Department, to Cayuga Medical ...

05-18-2010	Initial Expenditures Approved for Housing Fund
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote of those present (Legislator Carol Chock was excused), authorized the County to disburse the County’s share of funding related to the first recipients under the ...

05-14-2010	North Applegate Road Closing
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be closing North Applegate Road, between Hayts Road and Iradell Road, in the Town of Enfield, for a road crossing pipe replacement, on Monday, May 17, 2010, ...

05-13-2010	Capital Program Committee Mulls Future Administrative Space Needs
	As it continues to examine the County’s long-term capital needs, the Legislature’s special Capital Plan Review Committee today took a very early look at whether sharing administrative space with the ...

05-13-2010	Community Leaders Urge Safe Prom and Graduation Celebrations
	Nearly 1,000 families of high school Senior students from all six of the public school districts in Tompkins County are receiving letters this spring, urging them to provide celebrations that are ...

05-10-2010	Budget Committee Offers Preliminary Recommendation for Next Term Clerk, Sheriff Salaries
	The Legislature’s Budget and Capital Committee today made a preliminary recommendation on the salary levels for the County’s elected positions of County Clerk and Sheriff for the 2011-2014 term. But ...

05-07-2010	Jacksonville Road Closing
	The Tompkins County Highway Division will be closing Jacksonville Road, between Gorge Road and Taughannock Park Road, in the Town of Ulysses, for a road crossing pipe replacement, beginning on ...

05-07-2010	Scams Impact Area Seniors
	The Tompkins County Office for the Aging has recently become aware of older adults in our community receiving phone calls from individuals claiming that the senior has won some money. ...

05-06-2010	Interested in developing affordable housing in Tompkins County? Notice of Funding Availability Announced
	Funding Round 2: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is now open for the Community Housing Affordability Program and Community Housing Trust Program: Information Meeting May 17, 2010 The ...

05-04-2010	In Split Vote, Legislature Sets 5 Percent Tax Levy Increase Guideline
	As a starting point toward preparing a 2011 County budget, the Legislature set a financial goal of achieving a tax levy increase of no more than 5% in 2011. But Legislators stressed that, with ...

05-04-2010	Legislature Supports Proposed Environmental Law Change to Clarify Local Government Authority
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote of those present (Legislator Brian Robison was excused), endorsed a bill introduced by local Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton that would amend state environmental ...

05-04-2010	Legislature Hears Presentation on Enfield Wind Farm Proposal
	Project manager Marguerite Wells provided legislators an overview of Enfield Energy LLC’s proposed Black Oak Wind Farm project, which would develop a 50 megawatt wind farm on Black Oak Road in the ...

05-04-2010	Legislature Hears Presentation on Enfield Wind Farm Proposal
	Project manager Marguerite Wells provided legislators an overview of Enfield Energy LLC’s proposed Black Oak Wind Farm project, which would develop a 50 megawatt wind farm on Black Oak Road in the ...

04-30-2010	Possible Delays at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center
	The Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division alers residents that the inbound weigh scales will be serviced on Saturday, May 1 during operating hours. Please be aware that there will be ...

04-28-2010	2010 Tompkins County Workforce Strategy Released
	Tompkins County Area Development and the Tompkins County Workforce Investment Board today unveiled the 2010 Tompkins County Workforce Strategy, a plan the partners describe as “a road map for local ...

04-27-2010	Second Phase of 2010 Census Underway: Watch for Census Takers in Your Neighborhood
	Now that the mail-in phase of the 2010 Census has ended, census takers are in the area, visiting homes in person to ensure that everyone in Tompkins County is accurately counted. Census takers ...

04-27-2010	Reminder: Portion of Warren Road Closed
	The Tompkins County Highway Division reminds residents that Warren Road, between Hillcrest Road and Asbury Road, in the Town of Lansing, is closed for road and bridge work, through Friday, June 25, ...

04-23-2010	Helping the County “Go Green:” Sustainability Team Achieves “Outstanding” Accomplishments
	In an annual report to the County Legislature this week, Public Works Administrator Cheryl Nelson praised the County’s Sustainability Team for its many accomplishments during 2009. The ...

04-22-2010	County Historian to Lead Book Discussion
	The Tompkins County Public Library will host County Historian Carol Kammen for a discussion of her latest book, “Tompkins County, New York, Images of Work and Play,” tonight, April 22 from 5:00 to ...

04-21-2010	Road Closing Announcements
	The Tompkins County Highway Division alerts residents to the following road closings in the Town of Lansing. LANSINGVILLE ROAD: The Highway Division will be closing Lansingville Road, between ...

04-21-2010	Recycling Program Launch in Honor of Earth Day
	The Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division announces that Target has launched permanent community recycling stations in all of its stores to kick-off a month-long celebration for the 40th ...

04-20-2010	Legislature Supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform
	The Legislature urges federal enactment of comprehensive immigration reform. Citing the County’s ongoing strong commitment to protecting human rights and civil rights; its diverse immigrant ...

04-20-2010	Legislature Takes Firm Stands on State Legislation
	In four separate actions, the Legislature made its position known on issues currently pending in the State, three of them that potentially could affect county spending. Changes to the Medicaid ...

04-19-2010	Tompkins County Community Mental Health Services Board Seeks Nominations for Recovery or Outstanding Service
	In May, the Tompkins County Community Mental Health Services Board will hold a celebration event to recognize achievements in the areas of mental health, developmental disabilities and chemical ...

04-19-2010	Tourism Board Seeking Two Representatives: Arts/Culture and At-Large
	The Strategic Tourism Planning Board needs to fill two vacancies - one represents arts/ culture, and one seat is at-large. Tompkins County residents are invited to apply no later than April ...

04-16-2010	Get to Know Your New Voting Machines! Demonstration in Lansing Tuesday, April 20.
	The Tompkins County Board of Elections will hold a demonstration of the county’s new optical scan voting machines next Tuesday, April 20, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Lansing Community Library, 27 ...

04-15-2010	Cayuga Medical Center to Purchase County’s Biggs Building
	County Legislative Chair Martha Robertson today announced that the County has reached agreement with Cayuga Medical Center on the sale of the property currently occupied by the County Health ...

04-15-2010	Don’t Forget! Mail Your Census Form By Friday, April 16!
	The County’s 2010 Census Committee is reminding residents to get their completed 2010 Census forms in the mail by tomorrow—Friday, April 16. If Census forms are not mailing by tomorrow, the local ...

04-12-2010	Vacancy on Hillview Road Landfill Citizens Advisory Committee
	Residents of Tompkins County are invited to apply for an at-large vacancy on the Hillview Road Landfill Citizens Advisory Committee. The landfill, located at the headwaters of the Cayuga Inlet in ...

04-09-2010	Census Celebration in Collegetown Saturday, April 10
	The County’s Complete Count Census Committee invites the community to a Census celebration in Ithaca’s Collegetown on Saturday, April 10, from 12 Noon to 4:00 p.m. The event will take place on the ...

04-09-2010	Alternatives-to-Incarceration Cost Analysis Presented
	The Legislature’s Public Safety Committee has received the second phase of a report evaluating the County’s Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) programs, updating an evaluation performed in 2003. ...

04-08-2010	Special Committee Continues Review of County’s Capital Plan
	The Legislature’s Capital Plan Review Committee today continued review of the County’s 20 Year Capital Plan, adopted four years ago. As part of its work the special committee, led by Legislature ...

04-06-2010	Work Continues to Finalize Health Insurance Consortium
	County Administrator Joe Mareane, just returned from a day in Albany, reported to the Legislature on discussions with representatives of the State Insurance Department regarding financial aspects of ...

04-06-2010	Legislature Accepts State Airport Fund Agreement
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote after little discussion, accepted, through a supplemental grant agreement, a nearly $32,000 grant from the New York State Department of Transportation, as half of ...

04-06-2010	Meredith Lawhead Honored as Distinguished Youth
	Meredith Lawhead, age 14 of Ithaca, was honored as the latest Tompkins County Distinguished Youth, nominated by her mother, Heather Swift, for her “profound love for her community through her ...

03-31-2010	Celebrate National Census Day April 1st!
	Thursday, April 1st is National Census Day, and municipalities throughout Tompkins County will be celebrating the day, as they join in the county’s 2010 Census Complete Count campaign. Residents are ...

03-31-2010	Alzheimer’s: Managing Challenging Behaviors
	A free workshop, "Alzheimer’s: Managing Challenging Behaviors," will be held Friday, April 16, Noon – 1:30 PM at the Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca. The ...

03-26-2010	Turn Off Your Lights in Support of the Planet! Participate in Earth Hour 2010 This Saturday.
	Tompkins County residents are urged to turn off their lights for an hour this Saturday to participate in Earth Hour 2010, a worldwide event demonstrating the commitment to address the problem of ...

03-25-2010	Town Hall Meeting March 30 on Adolescent Brain Development and Teen Behaviors
	On Tuesday, March 30 the Community Coalition for Healthy Youth in Tompkins County will partner with the Groton Central School District and the Groton Youth Commission to host a town hall meeting on ...

03-22-2010	County to Present Draft Plan to Conserve Critical Agricultural Resources
	Over the past year, the Tompkins County Planning Department has been developing “The Tompkins County Conservation Plan – Part II: A Strategic Approach to Agricultural Resource Stewardship.” A ...

03-19-2010	Need Help With Your Census Form? Questionnaire Assistance Centers Open
	Beginning today, residents have places they can visit to receive help with their 2010 Census forms or obtain a Census questionnaire if they did not receive one in the mail. Local Questionnaire ...

03-19-2010	Housing Fund Program Oversight Committee Announces Awardees of First Funding Round
	The Housing Fund Program Oversight Committee is pleased to announce that a recommendation has been made to fund the following proposals submitted for the Housing Fund December 2009 Funding ...

03-19-2010	Substance Abuse by Youth Produces Problems Later, Parents Make a Difference
	A nationally known expert in drug prevention and health education told those participating in an Ithaca workshop today that abuse by youth of prescription drugs and alcohol can produce long-term ...

03-16-2010	Legislature Conducts Hearing on Hanshaw Road Reconstruction
	At a public hearing that lasted more than one-and-a-quarter hours, conducted under provisions of the State’s Eminent Domain Procedure Law, residents expressed concern about the Hanshaw Road ...

03-16-2010	Legislature Endorses County Response to Google, Inc. Broadband Proposal
	The Legislature authorized the County to respond to Google, Inc.’s “Fiber to Communities” Request for Information, expressing the County’s interest in serving as a pilot community for a demonstration ...

03-16-2010	Legislature Opposes State Budget Reductions
	The Legislature, in three separate reolutions approved without dissent (with Legislators Dooley Kiefer and Nathan Shinagawa excused), went on record opposing proposed funding reductions for local ...

03-12-2010	Recognize a Special Senior!
	Do you know of an older adult who has done something special for the community? Nominate him or her to be recognized by the Office for the Aging at its 35th Annual Luncheon on May 11, 2010! ...

03-10-2010	“Everyone Counts in Tompkins County!” County Launches 2010 Census Campaign
	With a week to go before Census forms begin to arrive in mailboxes throughout Tompkins County, County officials and community partners gathered this noon to celebrate the 2010 Census and to urge ...

03-08-2010	County Must Examine Financial Impact of Potential Regional Broadband Initiative
	County Administrator Joe Mareane told the Legislature’s budget committee today that the County must quickly assess the local cost involved before deciding whether to seek federal stimulus funds as ...

03-05-2010	Community Invited to 2010 Census Kick-Off Event March 10
	The community is invited to join in a celebration to formally kick off Tompkins County’s 2010 Census campaign Wednesday, March 10, beginning at 12:00 Noon at the Tompkins County Public Library, 101 ...

03-04-2010	Improperly Sorted Recycling Leads to Missed Collection
	The Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division has observed an increased volume of improperly sorted recyclables placed at the curbside for collection. Improperly prepared recyclables or ...

03-02-2010	Legislature Strongly Opposes Retroactive State Tax on IDAs
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote after little discussion, went on record strongly against a retroactive “cost recovery” tax imposed on Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) across New York State. ...

03-02-2010	TC3 President Delivers Annual “State of the College” Message
	In his annual “State of the College” message, Tompkins Cortland Community College president Dr. Carl Haynes told the Legislature the College is strong and has accomplished much in the past year. But ...

03-01-2010	County Takes Steps to Pursue Final Phase of Public Safety Communications Project
	The County Public Safety Committee today indicated its support for proceeding toward implementing an integrated voice and data system, as the final phase of the County’s Public Safety Communications ...

02-26-2010	Curbside Recycling Pick-up Delay
	Due to inclement weather, curbside recycling will not be collected Friday, February 26. Recyclables scheduled for pickup on the 26th will be collected on Saturday, February 27. Regular schedules will ...

02-25-2010	Travelers Advisory Issued for Tompkins County Through 6 a.m. Friday
	Tompkins County Sheriff Peter Meskill has issued a travelers advisory for Tompkins County, which advises no unnecessary travel through 6 a.m. Friday, February 26. All roads in Tompkins County ...

02-24-2010	IDA Approves Revised Payment In Lieu of Taxes Agreement for AES Cayuga
	The County Industrial Development Agency today approved a revised 20-year Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement between the IDA and Lansing’s AES Cayuga power generating facility. The revision ...

02-23-2010	Absentee Ballots Available for Village Elections
	The Villages of Cayuga Heights, Dryden, Groton and Trumansburg will hold elections on Tuesday, March 16. Only registered voters living within the village boundaries are eligible to vote. Absentee ...

02-22-2010	Budget Committee Reviews Sobering Financial News
	The Legislature’s Budget and Capital Committee today recommended an adjustment to the 2010 County budget that would decrease the funding received by programs and agencies under the County’s municipal ...

02-17-2010	Legislature Supports Revised AES Cayuga Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement
	The Legislature, in an advisory action at its February 16 meeting, supported a revised Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement between the AES Cayuga power generating facility and the County ...

02-16-2010	Legislature Endorses Route 96 Corridor Management Study
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, accepted and endorsed the Route 96 Corridor Management Study, which evaluates how development along the corridor from the Village of Trumansburg to the City of ...

02-16-2010	Public Hearing Scheduled on Hanshaw Road Reconstruction
	The Legislature, by unanimous vote, scheduled a public hearing next month related to the project reconstructing Hanshaw Road in the Towns of Ithaca and Dryden and Village of Cayuga Heights. The ...

02-12-2010	County Temporary Assistance and Food Stamps Employment Plan Ready for Review
	A plan outlining how Tompkins County Department of Social Services (DSS) operates programs to provide employment services for Temporary Assistance and Food Stamp recipients is available for public ...

02-11-2010	Special Committee Begins Capital Plan Review
	A special committee of the Legislature today set the stage for its review of the Legislature’s 20 Year Capital Plan, adopted in 2006, beginning a process expected to continue through year’s ...

02-10-2010	Environmental Management Council Meeting Canceled
	Tonight's meeting of the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council, scheduled to be held at the Ithaca Tompkins Transit Center beginning at 7:00 p.m., has been canceled. There has been no ...

02-05-2010	Powerful Tools for Caregivers
	Are you caring for a spouse, a parent or loved one and feeling stressed emotionally, financially or physically due to the challenges of this care? Many caregivers share a similar experience as ...

02-04-2010	Unwanted Household Pharmaceutical Collection Day
	Sponsored by the Tompkins County Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal March 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., TCAT, 737 Willow Ave., Ithaca A community-wide event to address environmental challenges tied to ...

02-02-2010	Legislature Delays Vote on AES Cayuga Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement
	The Legislature has delayed consideration of support for revising the 20-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement between the County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the AES Cayuga ...

02-02-2010	Legislature Concludes Update of Legislative Rules and Procedures
	The Legislature completed the process begun a year ago to review and revise the rules and procedures of the Legislature. After more than an hour of thoughtful discussion, Legislators updated a dozen ...

01-25-2010	Tompkins Gas Drilling Concerns Featured at Albany Session
	Speaking on behalf of the Tompkins County Legislature, Chair Martha Robertson, as part of an Albany event today, urged that Governor David Paterson withdraw the proposed document that would regulate ...

01-22-2010	Legislators Briefed on AES Cayuga Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement
	The Legislature at their January 19th meeting heard a more than hour-long detailed briefing on the 20-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement approved in early 2009 between the county Industrial ...

01-19-2010	Recognizing Challenges, Chair Expresses Optimism in Annual State of County Message
	In the Annual State of the County message, Legislature Chair Martha Robertson notes that, while there is no doubt that Tompkins County face challenges in the year ahead, the Legislature and ...

01-19-2010	2010 Committees Assignments
	In her committee appointments, Chair Robertson notes that the 2010 committee structure closely follows that of past years. Standing committees remain at six. The Chair’s appointments move Human ...

01-15-2010	Three Grants Available for Event Producers
	A workshop will be held January 22nd at 3:00 p.m. at the Visitors Center, Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau for those interested in learning more about the Tompkins County Tourism ...

01-14-2010	2009 Passenger Totals Third-Highest in Airport History
	Passenger totals for Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH) were up again in December, bringing the airport"s total passenger boardings for 2009 to the highest level in nearly two decades, and the ...

01-14-2010	Wesley McDermott Selected as Interim Assigned Counsel Director
	As recommended by the County’s Advisory Board on Indigent Representation, County Administrator Joe Mareane has appointed long-time Ithaca attorney Wesley McDermott as Interim Supervising Attorney of ...

01-12-2010	County Mourns Death of Assigned Counsel Director Bob Stolp
	Robert Stolp, long-time Supervising Attorney for Tompkins County’s Assigned Counsel program, passed away Sunday night, January 10, following an illness. “Bob had been in charge of our Assigned ...

01-12-2010	Continued Demand for H1N1 Vaccination – Clinics Continue
	The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) provided 1,268 H1N1 vaccinations at community clinics and at the Health Department last week. To date TCHD provided 6,662 H1N1 vaccinations to Tompkins ...

01-05-2010	Martha Robertson Elected Legislature Chair
	The Legislature has elected Martha Robertson (D) to lead the Legislature during 2010. The position of Chair is filled each year by a majority vote of the 15 members of the Legislature. The chair is ...

01-05-2010	Five New Legislators Begin Service
	The Legislature welcomed five new colleagues for the four-year term that runs through the end of 2014. The newly elected Legislators, as well as ten incumbents, were sworn in by Tompkins County ...

01-05-2010	County to Begin Formal Examination of Long-Term Budget Challenges
	County Administrator Joe Mareane told the Legislature that it is time to begin a thoughtful and thorough examination of budgetary challenges the County is expected to face over the next three years ...

01-04-2010	Tompkins Gas Drilling Concerns Communicated at New York City Session
	Tompkins County concerns about natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale were aired, as federal, state and local legislators, representing districts across New York State gathered on the steps of ...

01-04-2010	Tompkins County Health Department Opens H1N1 Vaccination to all Tompkins County Residents
	Beginning this week, The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) will provide H1N1 vaccinations to anyone 6 months of age and older. Clinics will be held at the Department and at locations in the ...

12-24-2009	Municipal Officials Take Local Natural Gas Concerns to Albany
	Representatives of the Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) voiced local concerns about the issue of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale, as they met with staff from the New York ...

12-24-2009	Recycling and Solid Waste Holiday Schedules
	RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE CENTER: The facility will be closed on Friday, December 25th. The facility will be closed on Friday, January 1st. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DIVISION OFFICE: The office ...

12-24-2009	Newsletter for Family Eldercare
	The Winter 2009-2010 issue of the newsletter “IN SUPPORT OF CAREGIVERS” is now available at the Tompkins County Office for the Aging. To be mailed this free quarterly newsletter, or for ...

12-17-2009	Council of Governments Issues Comments on Natural Gas Drilling
	The Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) today added its official voice to concerns expressed regarding natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. Tompkins County is a member of the ...

12-15-2009	Legislature Takes Firm Stand on Natural Gas Drilling
	The Legislature, made the County’s concerns official about the issue of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale. The vote was unanimous, as the Legislature approved its comments to the New York ...

12-15-2009	Reflections and Recognition at Legislature’s End-of-Term Session
	At the final scheduled meeting of the four-year legislative term, members of the County Legislature looked back, acknowledging and thanking their five departing colleagues, including Legislature ...

12-14-2009	County Beginning to Feel Effects of State Aid Delays
	The Legislature’s budget committee was reminded today that New York State’s delays in state aid to county programs are having an effect on County finances. Finance Director David Squires told the ...

12-11-2009	Tompkins County Health Department to Continue Vaccinating Priority Groups
	The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) announced today that it will continue to vaccinate people who meet the criteria for priority H1N1 vaccination as determined by the Centers for Disease ...

12-08-2009	County Achieves “Extraordinary” Result in Construction Program Financing
	Tompkins County sold over $20 million in one-year bond anticipation notes today to support its construction program for an unprecedented note rate cost of only 0.34%, a result that Finance Director ...

12-01-2009	Long Range Transportation Plan Addresses County Emission Goal
	The Legislature heard an update from the Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council on development of the 20-year Long Range Transportation Plan, which addresses area transportation needs to meet ...

12-01-2009	Legislature Authorizes Precautionary Bonding Authority
	The Legislature, in a standard year-end resolution, delegated to Finance Director David Squires authorization to issue and sell $10 million in revenue anticipation notes, if needed, in anticipation ...

11-30-2009	Opportunities to Serve on the Tompkins County Board of Health
	The Tompkins County Board of Health (BOH) anticipates two vacancies beginning January 1, 2010. - One vacancy is for a consumer (non-physician) seat. A consumer can be someone who has actually ...

11-24-2009	Solid Waste Management Division Holiday Schedule
	Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division’s Office will be closed Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th in observation of the Thanksgiving holiday and will re-open on Monday, ...

11-19-2009	State Urged to Withdraw Drilling Regulatory Plan at Council of Governments Hearing
	At a four-hour-long Ithaca hearing, the State Department of Conservation repeatedly was urged to withdraw its proposed program to regulate natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale underlying ...

11-17-2009	Legislature Adopts 2010 County Budget
	Two-and-a-half months after the process began, the Tompkins County Legislature tonight adopted the County’s 2010 budget and the County’s capital program for the next five years. The budget, which ...

11-17-2009	Legislature Supports “Green Fleet” Initiative
	The Legislature approved a new County “Green Fleet” policy and authorized purchase of three hybrid vehicles in support of the County’s “Green Fleet” initiative. The new policy, approved by a vote of ...

11-17-2009	Local Development Corporation Approved
	The Legislature, by a vote of 12-2, authorized formation of the Tompkins County Development Corporation, which will operate in conjunction with the County’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA). ...

11-13-2009	Natural Gas Drilling: More Information on Ithaca Public Hearing November 19
	The Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) has released additional details concerning the Ithaca public hearing it will sponsor on Thursday, November 19 to take public comment on the State’s ...

11-13-2009	Holiday Travel Reminder From Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport
	Passengers using the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport during the upcoming holidays are advised to arrive at the airport at least one hour before scheduled departure time. If your flight is departing ...

11-10-2009	Interested in Developing Affordable Housing in Tompkins County?
	Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) now open for the Community Housing Affordability Program and Community Housing Trust Program: Information Meeting November 20, 2009 The Community Housing ...

11-10-2009	New Voting System Passes Audit
	Voters in the City of Ithaca used an optical scan voting system for the first time for the November 3 General Election. On Friday November 6, the Board of Elections conducted an audit to see if the ...

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