Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Resolution No. 2018-48: Resolution Supporting Inclusion and Rejecting Hateful Threats made
Against Tompkins County Residents (ID #7669)
WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Legislature believes that cultivating an inclusive culture
enhances individual potential and encourages a variety of perspectives that ultimately drives creativity
and innovation, and
WHEREAS, the leaders of Students United at Ithaca High School shared a similar value and
engaged in activism around the issues of inclusion and systemic bias, and
WHEREAS, these student leaders and their families have been targeted for threats, verbally and
otherwise, that are steeped in racism, bigotry, and xenophobia, and
WHEREAS, despite continuing efforts by many people and organizations nationally and
internationally, racial discrimination and violence persist throughout the world, and
WHEREAS, racially motivated hate crimes and inequality of treatment and opportunities have no
place in society, should not become normalized, and should be rejected outright, and
WHEREAS, hate crimes in the United States remain at a steady level; the FBI’s Uniform Crime
Reporting (UCR) Program released Hate Crime Statistics, 2016 reported that of the 6,121 criminal
incidents, 6,063 were single-bias incidents. Of the single-bias incidents:
· 57.5 percent were motivated by a race, ethnicity, or ancestry bias;
· 21.0 percent were motivated by a religious bias;
· 17.7 percent were motivated by a sexual orientation bias;
· the remaining incidents were motivated by a gender identity, disability, or gender bias, and
WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Legislature states that all acts of hatred, bigotry, and violence
spread fear and run counter to the principles that we have always adhered to in Tompkins County, now
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Tompkins County Legislature applauds the leaders of Ithaca’s Students
United for standing on principle and raising awareness to the issue of equity and inclusion thus educating
and reminding school and community leaders of the existing problem,
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Action Summary for Resolutions
Tompkins County Legislature
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
RESOLVED, further, That the Tompkins County Legislature recognizes the Ithaca City School
District for its decision to support a new production that will give the students of Ithaca High School an
opportunity to demonstrate excellence in the dramatic arts, and in particular, its selection of Hairspray, a
play that confronts issues of racism and inclusion in our society,
RESOLVED, further, That Tompkins County Legislature denounces the hate language and
horrifying atrocities that the student leaders and families of Students United have been subjected to,
RESOLVED, further, That the Tompkins County Legislature wishes to send a clear message to
those perpetrators of the hateful, threatening messages that their actions will not be tolerated or accepted
in this County and that we will employ any and all resources available to us within the extent of the law to
repel such behaviors and protect the fine citizens of Tompkins County from any form of unspeakable
hatred.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
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Consent Agenda
Resolution No. 2018-49: Appointment of Temporary Hearing Panels for 2018 (ID #7628)
WHEREAS, the Department of Assessment and the Tompkins County Legislature both agree that
the fairest and most equitable way to value property for assessment purposes is on an annual basis at full-
market value, and
WHEREAS, Real Property Tax Law 523-a permits the Tompkins County Legislature to appoint
up to six Temporary Board of Assessment Review members to serve on Administrative Review Panels,
and
WHEREAS, Real Property Tax Law 523-a permits the compensation of Temporary Board of
Assessment Review members, now therefore be it
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Action Summary for Resolutions
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Resolution No. 2018-50: Resolution in Opposition to the Proposed Garbage Incinerator in the
Town of Romulus, Seneca County (ID #7632)
WHEREAS, a recently formed company named Circular EnerG, LLC, has proposed building the
largest garbage incinerator in New York State in the Town of Romulus, Seneca County, squarely between
Seneca and Cayuga lakes, the two largest of the Finger Lakes and just north of Tompkins County, and
WHEREAS, the company has never operated a solid waste facility and has proposed burning
2,640 tons of garbage every day, and
WHEREAS, a 260-foot smoke stack will emit dioxins, furans, lead, mercury, arsenic, chromium,
particulates, hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, associated with increased levels of
health outcomes such as asthma, respiratory tract infections, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers,
and
WHEREAS, the incinerator will be located 3,200 feet from the K-12 Romulus Central School,
and in close proximity to the Hillside Children’s Center (a residential facility that houses troubled youth),
the Five Points Correctional Facility, the Seneca County Jail, and the Willard Drug Treatment Campus
putting those populations at risk, and
WHEREAS, the Circular EnerG trash incinerator will bring 238 trucks per day transporting
garbage from long distances that will clog local county roads six days a week, which equates to 148,512
additional trucks per year ultimately entering and leaving the facility, and
WHEREAS, diesel exhaust from trucks and locomotives contain compounds that contribute to
ground level ozone that irritates the respiratory system aggravating asthma and some which are known
human carcinogens, and
WHEREAS, the incinerator will withdraw 445,000 gallons of water from Seneca Lake every day,
and
WHEREAS, the wine, craft beverage, agriculture, and agri-tourism industry is driving job
creation and economic growth in the Finger Lakes, which is home to hundreds of family vineyards and
wineries that generate $2.9 billion in economic activity and supports 60,000 jobs in the Finger Lakes
alone, and
WHEREAS, the Finger Lakes has recently become a nationally recognized tourist destination that
now attracts millions of visitors annually to its local wineries, breweries, restaurants, farms, and other
tourist attractions, with businesses located on and around Seneca Lake at the center of this activity, and
WHEREAS, tourists travel to the area attracted to the natural beauty and rural, unindustrialized,
character of the Seneca Lake communities and the surrounding Finger Lakes area, and
WHEREAS, garbage disposal, including trash incineration, is not compatible with current or
future economic development goals of the region, and
WHEREAS, the Finger Lakes region is already the dump for half of New York State’s municipal
solid waste, and
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Action Summary for Resolutions
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WHEREAS, the Seneca Meadows Landfill in Seneca County is the largest landfill in New York
State and Seneca County already receives a disproportionate share of the State’s garbage to manage with
containment efforts to minimize the impact on the environment, local communities, and the tourist
industry, and
WHEREAS, reduced reliance on landfilling through aggressive waste reduction, recycling, and
composting should be pursued as a solid waste disposal strategy for the Finger Lakes and New York State,
and
WHEREAS, incineration does not eliminate the need for landfills, as for every 3 tons of waste
that is burned, 1 ton of highly toxic ash is created requiring 52 trucks per day to handle the ash alone that
also requires landfilling, and
WHEREAS, the Circular EnerG trash incinerator is antithetical to local and regional goals to
reduce the amount of trash that travels through and is disposed in the Finger Lakes, and
WHEREAS, the State of New York has adopted aggressive greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
reduction goals of 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 and the combination of emissions from trucking
garbage long distances and the incinerator process will counter these State efforts, and
WHEREAS, the State of New York has established a goal of 50% energy generation from
renewable energy technologies by 2030 and the New York Public Service Commission’s Clean Energy
Standard does not recognize burning garbage as a form of renewable energy generation such that the
Circular EnerG trash incinerator will not help New York State meet these renewable energy goals, and
WHEREAS, energy technologies that are recognized as renewable under New York State law and
that are compatible with local and regional economic development goals and local zoning requirements
can meet additional energy demands without putting public health, the environment, and public
infrastructure at risk, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, further, That copies of this resolution be sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo, New
York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, New
York State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, New York State Senate Democratic Conference Leader
Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York State Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey
Klein, State Senators Pam Helming, Tom O’Mara, and James Seward, Assembly members Phil
Palmesano and Barbara Lifton, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congress member Tom
Reed, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos, New
York State Public Service Commissioner Chair John Rhodes, New York State Department of Agriculture
and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Chair Richard L. Kaufman, New York State Empire State Development Commissioner Howard Zemsky,
New York State Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, Romulus Town Supervisor David
Kaiser, Romulus Planning Board Chair Tom Bouchard, and Seneca County Board of Supervisors Chair
Robert Shipley.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
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Action Summary for Resolutions
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018
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Resolution No. 2018-51: Authorization to Accept Contributions in Support of the Finger Lakes
Rideshare Projects - Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ID #7612)
WHEREAS, the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC) has been coordinating
the implementation of an automated rideshare project known as Finger Lakes Rideshare, and
WHEREAS, the other current partners in the project, identified as the Finger Lakes Rideshare
Coalition, are Tompkins County, Cornell University, Ithaca College, Wells College, TST-BOCES,
Tompkins Cortland Community College, Binghamton University, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit,
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, and the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation
Council (ITCTC), all of whom have committed funding and/or staff resources towards this project, and
WHEREAS, Tompkins County has entered into an agreement with Zimride (EAN Services, Inc.),
dated April 29, 2016, to provide an online ridesharing platform and other services to implement the
Finger Lakes Ridesharing project at a cost of $18,000 per year, and
WHEREAS, Finger Lakes Coalition members will contribute $18,000 to support project costs,
now therefore be it
RESOLVED, further, That the Director of Finance be directed to make the following adjustments:
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Resolution No. 2018-52: Increase in Hours and Budget Adjustment - PROS (Personalized Recovery
Oriented Services) and Care Management Positions - Mental Health Services Department (ID
#7610)
WHEREAS, the Mental Health Department has 1.0 FTE Program Director PROS position and
1.0 FTE Program Director - Care Management position, funded in its target budget at 35 hours per week,
and
WHEREAS, the programs have seen increasing growth and transformation requiring more time
and attention, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health and Human Services and the Budget, Capital, and
Personnel Committees, That the positions of Program Director PROS, labor grade 18, position ID 556,
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Action Summary for Resolutions
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(18/537), and Program Director - Care Management, labor grade 17, position ID 583, (17/555),
competitive class be increased from 35 hours to 40 hours per week, effective March 5, 2018,
RESOLVED, further, That the Finance Director is authorized to make the following budget
adjustment on his books for the Sky Light Club and Health Home:
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Regular Agenda
Resolution No. 2018-53: Authorizing the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Mobility-On-
Demand (MOD) On-Ramp Technical Assistance Proposal (ID #7664)
WHEREAS, FTA recently announced the MOD On-Ramp Program to provide technical
assistance for up to six FTA grant recipients nationally to develop innovative business models for
integrated community mobility and thus be able to apply for future rounds of MOD funding, and
WHEREAS, successful proposers will receive technical assistance from FTA’s contractor -
Shared-Use Mobility Center, Inc., of Chicago, who will coordinate the business planning process and pay
related expenses, for the year-long project, and
WHEREAS, the County of Tompkins is a Direct Recipient, designated by the Governor of New
York State, for the FTA Section 5307 Urban Formula program, and
WHEREAS, the Age-Friendly Ithaca and Tompkins County Plan, adopted in December 2016,
recommended Tompkins County establish a working group to develop an integrated transportation system
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Action Summary for Resolutions
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WHEREAS, mobility operators have expressed support for the County to submit a proposal for
FTA’s On-Ramp program, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, further, That the County Administrator, or designee, is authorized to sign any and
all agreements between Tompkins County and the Shared-Use Mobility Center, Inc., or Federal Transit
Administration for the Project.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
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Resolution No. 2018-54: Budget Adjustment for Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant from
the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service for
Agritourism Development - Planning and Sustainability Department (ID #7657)
WHEREAS, the County was awarded United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural
Marketing Service’s Farmers Market Promotion Program (USDA-AMS-FMPP) funds for the purpose of
increasing direct farm sales through agritourism, and
WHEREAS, the County Legislature accepted the grant funds by Resolution No. 2015-212 in the
amount of $49,390, and
WHEREAS, the County Legislature placed the grant funds in the 2015 Budget by Resolution No.
2016-82, and
WHEREAS, the project extended into and was completed in 2017 and the grant funds remaining
from 2016 Budget need to be placed in the 2017 Budget, now therefore be it
Revenues
A8020.44959 Federal Aid $27,594
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Action Summary for Resolutions
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Expenditures
A8020.54400 Program Expense $27,594
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Resolution No. 2018-55: Resolution Opposing the Use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in Response to New York State Electric and Gas's Non-pipe
Alternative Request for Proposal (ID #7653)
WHEREAS, Tompkins County has made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
(GHG) at least 80% by 2050 and the 2016 Tompkins County Energy Roadmap concludes that the
community must reduce the use of natural gas by at least 50% to achieve that goal, and
WHEREAS, New York State Electric and Gas’s (NYSEG) proposed Freeville ‐ Lansing pipeline
generated strong community opposition, and the County’s 2016 Energy and Economic Development Task
Force’s top recommendation was to seek a solution that would meet the community’s energy needs
without increasing reliance on natural gas, and
WHEREAS, considering these community goals, on November 16, 2017, the New York State
(NYS) Public Service Commission (PSC) issued an order authorizing NYSEG to implement a compressor
solution to meet reliability needs for existing customers, and to issue a Request for Proposals ( RFP) for
non‐pipe alternatives to meet future demand, in lieu of the previously proposed pipeline, and
WHEREAS, on December 18, 2017, NYSEG issued the RFP seeking non ‐pipe alternatives and
clarified in their February 9, 2018, “Questions and Answers and RFP Clarification” document that they
were seeking responses that would “introduce additional gas supply (or reduce current gas demand)
into/on the System”, and
WHEREAS, one method of adding gas to a system is to transport compressed natural gas (CNG)
or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by truck and inject it into the system, and
WHEREAS, NYSEG's RFP states (Section II, C. Eligible Resources): “Resources may be in the
form of any or all of the following resource types… Introduction of CNG, LNG to the extent allowed and
supported by the community….”, and
WHEREAS, injection of CNG or LNG would result in expanded use of natural gas which is
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Action Summary for Resolutions
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018
counter to Tompkins County's goal to decrease use of natural gas to achieve GHG emissions reduction,
and
WHEREAS, transportation of CNG or LNG on local roads introduces significant safety risks and
adds wear and tear to our roads, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, further, That the Clerk send a certified copy of this resolution to Joseph Syta, Vice
President‐Controller and Treasurer at NYSEG and to Hon. Kathleen Burgess Secretary, New York State
Public Service Commission (docket number 17‐G‐0432).
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
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WHEREAS, WENY TV, an ABC affiliate station originating in Elmira, NY, was formerly carried
on Channel 19 of the basic cable television package provided by Charter Communications/Spectrum to
subscribers residing in Tompkins County, and
WHEREAS, WENY TV’s news programming provides the most complete coverage of local
Tompkins County news and sports of any of the stations located in the television markets surrounding the
County, and
WHEREAS, Charter Communications/Spectrum has advised the Ithaca Common Council that its
choice was based on a Federal Communications rule requiring local cable providers to offer network
affiliates within their Designated Market Areas, and
WHEREAS, Tompkins County is technically within the Designated Market Area of Syracuse,
NY, even though Syracuse television news programming rarely covers Tompkins County news and sports,
and
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Action Summary for Resolutions
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RESOLVED, further, That public officials representing Tompkins County residents may call upon
the Federal Communications Commission (Media Bureau), if necessary, to clarify or change its rule(s)
relating to Designated Market Areas in light of the negative impact of placing Tompkins County in the
Syracuse Designated Market Area,
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WHEREAS, WSKG TV, a public television station originating in Binghamton, NY, is currently
offered as part of the basic cable television lineup that Charter Communications/Spectrum provides to
subscribers residing in Tompkins County, and
WHEREAS, WSKG TV’s programming offers local news and arts coverage of particular interest
to residents of Tompkins County, and
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Action Summary for Resolutions
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018
primary provider of local Tompkins County news and sports coverage, from its basic cable television
lineup, and
WHEREAS, it is, therefore, a public service, and in the public interest, for Charter
Communications/Spectrum to continue to offer WSKG as part of the basic cable television lineup it
provides to subscribers residing in Tompkins County, and
WHEREAS, Federal Communication Commission rules neither require nor prohibit Charter
Communications/Spectrum from continuing to offer WSKG as part of its basic cable television lineup,
now therefore be it
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Resolution No. 2018-58: Authorization to Accept 2017 Homeland Security Grant and
Budget Adjustment - Sheriff's Office (ID #7584)
WHEREAS, the Sheriff’s Office has been awarded funding through the New York State Division
of Homeland Security in the amount of $28,742.00 (FY2017DHSES) in 2017 and have not yet been
utilized, and
WHEREAS, said funds must be utilized toward law enforcement terrorism prevention activities,
and
WHEREAS, these funds will be used to replace outdated/broken portable radios, now therefore
be it
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Action Summary for Resolutions
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Public Safety and the Budget, Capital, and Personnel
Committee, That Tompkins County accept these grant funds in 2018 for the purpose of procuring the
aforementioned equipment,
RESOLVED, further, That the Director of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to accept the
grant funding from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and adjust the capital project fund
as follows:
RESOLVED, further, That the County Administrator, or his designee, be authorized to execute
any contracts or agreements related to this grant.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
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