News Archives: 2019

Visit “What I’ve Said.” It’s found on the drop-down list of the Main Menu. You’ll find past essays, formerly posted on this website’s Home Page.

“What I’ve Said” captures the moment of the times; items of interest, Enfield legislative actions, and points of controversy during the 2019 Town Board election campaign and beyond, up through today.

Here’s a recent list:

An “Arranged Marriage” on the Rocks; the Reimagining Report’s Failures, Posted Mar. 30, 2021

Clerk Woods’ Departure, First posted Mar. 2, 2021

Whistling Past the… What? Posted Feb. 23, 2021

State Fairgrounds, Here I Come! (You think?),Posted Feb. 15, 2021

Vaccine for Seniors… Now! Posted Feb. 6, 2021

Hoarding… and Hurting.Posted Jan. 21, 2021

Our Night of Toxic Tantrums, Posted Jan. 15, 2021

“A Gun to my Head!” Enfield Board names Redmond Supervisor, Posted Jan. 12, 2021

(and more…)

Taking A Stand, a tab on the top menu, provides my take on various issues of community concern in Enfield; commentary on our Town’s Current Events. I hope my words will prompt robust debate.

Note: Former Home Page essays, earlier posted here, now may be found on the “What I’ve Said” tab on the top menu.

Current Postings:

March 2021: Policing Reform: My Take

July 2020: Local COVID-19 Surveillance Testing

2019: My Stand on Fracking

2019: What I Stand Against

Check out the latest local stories from Enfield and Tompkins County under the Latest News tab.

Here’s What’s News:

July 28th: Enfield Board slates “Terms Laws” for November ballot

July 23rd: Newfield Board poised to take lead and adopt Stretch Code

July 20th: County “Cash for Capital” likely to win the race for federal funds

July 19th: County Committee seeks to raise new Administrator’s pay to $160 Grand

July 18th: Enfield Board, County agency at odds over solar farm compensation

July 15th: From Goldenrods to Hard Hats; Library Place construction may restart soon

July 15th: Tompkins Airport will seek grant money for transit center

July 14th: Terms-of-Office Hearings postponed two weeks.

July 8th: Speed Bumps on Bank Street? Unlikely

July 7th: Exactly Whose Recovery Strategy is this, Anyway?

July 4th: People… or Bricks? Tompkins County’s ARP dilemma

July 1st: Exploding houses (their prices, that is) overtax Assessment staff

June 30th: Intense West Hill storm tears roof from barn

June 30th: Schill out; Pillar into T.C. Legislature

June 29th: Enfield Board sets July hearing on extended officers’ terms

June 25th: Lynch Suspends County Legislature Campaign; Outlines 2023 Plans

June 22nd; updated June 23rd: Greenlee wins Democrats’ nod in Legislative District 8

June 16th: Tompkins Legislature confirms new Director of Emergency Response

For previously-reported stories, visit the Reporting Archives sub-heading under this tab. Stories are archived by the month(s) of their posting.

This is a Big Deal! Your comments could influence how our elected officials serve in office for decades to come.

Wednesday night, July 28th, beginning at 7 PM, our Enfield Town Board takes comment at a Public Hearing on whether future terms of office for Town Supervisor, Town Clerk, and Highway Superintendent should be extended from their current two-year length to four years.

You can participate in-person at our meeting room in the “Town Court” Building, or virtually via zoom. Visit our Town’s website for the link:

https://townofenfield.org/public-hearing-and-a-special-town-board-meeting-july-28-2021-at-7-pm/

Following your comments, our Town Board is likely to vote on whether to advance the proposed longer terms to a Public Referendum this November.

(The extended terms, if approved at the polls, would not commence until future terms of office beginning with those elected in 2023.)

But I, for one, will use your opinions to determine my vote. These longer terms were proposed by our Supervisor, Stephanie Redmond. I’m not sold on the idea. So your opinion matters to me.

Democracy works only when You Show Up! See you, Wednesday.

The numbers remain small, but the number of active COVID-19 cases in Tompkins County has more than quintupled in just one week.

Daily statistics show as many as 17 active cases in Tompkins County on Tuesday, July 27th. That’s up from just three active cases on July 20th.

Local hospitalizations have doubled over the week, rising from one to two. (Overall resident deaths remain at 31.)

The last time active cases were this high was on June 10th.

Meanwhile, by July 27th, 70,678 local residents have received their first vaccination dose against COVID, with 67,099 having completed their vaccine regimen, a growth of 281 over the week.

The time may not be convenient, but I urge you attend.

Tuesday, August 10th at 11:00 AM, the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency will take public testimony on its proposed Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) plan proposed for Applegate Road’s planned Norbut Solar Farm. (Note the Public Hearing’s rescheduled date and time.)

The IDA proposes Norbut be assessed only $4,200/Megawatt in the first year of a 30-year PILOT payment plan. IDA does not propose to attach a requirement that Norbut also be obligated to fund a Host Community Agreement that would benefit exclusively the Town of Enfield.

We on the Enfield Town Board see problems with this PILOT. I’ve written about it on this website. I invite you to read what’s been written and then express your opinions at the August 10th Public Hearing. If you can’t attend in person, submit the IDA your comments in writing.

A majority of Newfield Town Board members signaled Thursday (7/22) their likely support for their Town’s adopting the New York Stretch Code, a more ambitious set of energy efficiency building standards that would affect new construction, both residential and commercial.

Board members expressed their sentiments following a Public Hearing where comments were mixed. Indeed, any final vote, likely in August, could break along party lines, with majority Democrats supporting the code, the Board’s lone Republican likely opposing it, and Supervisor Michael Allinger, an Independent, expressing no clear preference.

If it adopts the Stretch Code, Newfield could become only the 15th upstate community to do so.

Read the full story on the Latest News page.

It became amusing at times. But history is sometimes made this way.

Newfield Town Board members toyed openly and matter-of-factly Thursday night (7/22) as to the name their Town should give its new recreational park on Vankirk Road: How do the words roll together? Do the initials sound right?

Their final choice, by unanimous vote: “Newfield Community Park.”

We’re told the park’s only about half-finished. But a late-August ribbon-cutting is planned, likely August 28th.

By unanimous 4-0 votes, the Enfield Town Planning Board Wednesday (7/21) granted final approval to two small residential subdivisions, including a new 4-lot subdivision proposed by Patrick Head for the southwest corner of Enfield Center and South Van Dorn Roads. (See above graphic.)

You may recall Mr. Head once proposed an apartment house at that location. Head told planners months ago that his plans had changed, and that the economy makes individual lots the better choice. (Two of the original 5 lots proposed will be consolidated, limiting the building parcels to 4.)

Planners also gave fast-tracked final approval to Mark Smith’s proposed 3-lot subdivision at 237 Iradell Road (between Sheffield and Van Dorn). One of the new lots will be merged so as to cure an otherwise land-locked parcel.

The Planning Board found neither subdivision imposed significant environmental impact, thereby eliminating the need for a full Environmental Impact Statement.

To be squeaky-clean, the Planning Board will need to reaffirm its actions in August, as two of the four voting members attended virtually, making those in the meeting room one short of a legal quorum.

Chair Dan Walker said the Planning Board will discuss Enfield’s proposed Water Protection Law, with its proposed amendments to Site Plan Review regulations, as its first item in August.

Jonathan Wood

“We’ve got some holes in our staff that are pretty pressing,” Tompkins County Budget Committee Chair Deborah Dawson said at the close of her committee’s July 19th meeting.

For the first known time stated publicly, members confirmed the impending departure, likely retirement, of Tompkins County Attorney Jonathan Wood. Members indicated Wood would leave at year’s end.

Legislator Martha Robinson indicated that County insiders learned of Wood’s departure plans “about a month before” County Administrator Jason Molino announced his own resignation April 21st. Molino left the County’s employ in late-May.

“We had hoped to have some overlap before Jonathan left,” Robertson told the committee. But with a new Administrator’s search just beginning, the “overlap” Robertson seeks may or may not be achieved.

As you know, on June 24th, two days after the Democratic Primary, I suspended my campaign for Tompkins County Legislature. Nonetheless, although I’ve removed most of my yard signs from lawns and crossroads throughout this Great Tompkins-Southwest District, I have declined to pull up my own. I had a reason. I just couldn’t.

On the day I write this, Thursday, July 15th, I thought it was time; time I finally faced reality and pulled my yard sign from in front of my residence.

But as I prepared for my task, I noticed something, beautiful dark red wildflowers growing about the sign. Should I remove that sign, our Town’s mowing crew might cut them off. Along my Gray Road shoulder at my house, those flowers grow only there.

No, I take the coincidence for no more than it is. But for the moment, I choose to accept it for what it likely is not.

For the moment, for now, until the seasons pass and the flowers wilt, the sign stays. And now you know why.

Bob

EVFC President Dennis Hubbell brought three pieces of bad news to the Enfield Town Board Wednesday (7/14). Each involves money.

#1: The price of metal has risen 128%. That likely means the new pumper the Fire Company plans to buy soon will rise in price accordingly.

#2: The Fire Company’s 24 emergency radios are no longer repairable. The County purchased them a decade ago. Now, if one breaks, it’s shot. Each costs $2,500.

#3: Computers, although only 3-4 years old (Yes, Windows 10) won’t accept new programs. They may need to be replaced.

Ouch.

Tompkins County Airport Manager Mike Hall told a Tompkins County Legislature committee Thursday, July 15th, that he’ll seek a piece of a new $250 Million statewide grant program and would use some of it to fund a new Multi-Mode Transit Center near his airport.

The Transit Center, an off-and-on wish-list item by the TCAT bus service, might eventually serve as a new hub for the service, moving it from its current garage on Willow Avenue.

Read full details under the Local News tab.

Those in charge of designing that county-backed (and partially Enfield/Newfield-funded ) Broadband Study claim in their “Market Assessment Study” that only four per cent of our county’s rural population lacks broadband Internet. And they’re not counting satellite service.

They admit the data is flawed. It underestimates the digital divide. But their map would show the Town of Enfield nearly 100% served. What do you think?

Read the details under the Latest News tab. And also read my posted July 2021 TCCOG Report. It will tell you even more.

After a full 15 months in exile, our Enfield Town Board returned to its old home on the second floor of the newly renamed “Town Court” Building, for our regular monthly meeting, Wednesday, July 14th.

It went well. All Town Board members attended. Several of you zoomed in via our newly-installed Hybrid meeting link with equipment we’d purchased last year, but never had the opportunity to use until this month.

State law still requires voting Board members to attend in person. We must extend to you that same right to attend in person. But this added convenience of hybrid attendance should be welcomed by all. And we hope it will encourage increased public turnout.

Why the zoom link dropped out one time, we don’t know. But we got it back. Technology has its limitations. Bear with us.

Bank Street resident David Humphrey approached the Newfield Town Board Thursday (7/08) urging the Board consider installing speed bumps on Bank Street to slow traffic.

Humphrey blamed the State’s recently-built roundabout at Rt. 13 and Trumbulls Corners Road for diverting Main Street traffic to the road by his house. He urged bumps be placed between Rt. 13 and the Covered Bridge.

Highway Superintendent Kevin Berggren opposed the idea, however, citing the safety risks speed bumps, themselves, impose.

Read the full story, posted under the Latest News tab.

Those living Downtown fought hard to get it. But with COVID-19 now less prevalent and with total tests dropping week by week, the Tompkins County Health Department has closed its North Tioga Street Downtown Testing Site. Effective after the July 4th holiday, all COVID-19 testing will now be performed at the drive-through site at the Shops at Ithaca Mall.

Tests at the mall will now be performed Monday-Friday only, 8:30 AM-4 PM. Saturday testing hours have been eliminated.

Numbers? As of July 7th, Tompkins County reported having performed a whopping 1,278,000 COVID-19 tests. Active COVID cases generally number in the single-digits locally. Active hospitalizations locally have dropped to one, two, or maybe, none. The number of local deaths from COVID-19 remains at 31.

Despite federal promises of full funding, Tompkins County continues to tap its contingency account to fund up to 25 per cent of the tests not otherwise covered by insurance or government mandate. But that may change.

“Our most recent FEMA reimbursements are at the 100 per cent level,” Deputy County Administrator Amie Hendrix told the County Legislature July 6th, “and we’ve been told that the ones we received at 75 per cent, we’ll be able to claim that additional funding.”

Total cost of Tompkins County testing, before reimbursement, according to Hendrix’ data presented the Legislature, now tops $2.6 Million.

Amanda Champion

As we in Enfield debate how to instill greater civility at our own meetings, Tompkins County legislators have suggested they draft a Code of Conduct to guide their own behavior.

Government Operations Committee Chair Amanda Champion suggested such a Code at a June 3rd meeting. I commended her suggestion at the committee’s next meeting, July 1st. I offered these words:

“I think that you ought to think very seriously about a Code of Conduct. We’ll have five new members of the Legislature come on in January, and they’re going to have to be oriented, and we want to start them off on the right foot. “

I said I’d like to see a Code of Conduct include “some ground rules regarding political activity in and outside of legislative meetings.” I said, “I think there are bounds, appropriate bounds,” and “I think it would be wise to know what we can say in meetings and how we influence legislative decisions.”

We all play better as legislative decision-makers when we play by known rules. I’d argue the principle applies just as much in County Government as it does in Enfield.

Veronica Pillar

The June 30th counting of Absentee Ballots by the Board of Elections settled several races for the Tompkins County Legislature, where the winners of the Democratic Primary face no opposition in the fall.

Congratulations to Veronica Pillar, who will replace the short-tenured Leslie Schill in the Fall Creek Ithaca District. Pillar bear Schill by 38 votes, 309-271.

Other winners include Greg Mezey in Dryden, and Travis Brooks in another Ithaca City District.,

Read a full report on the vote counting on the Latest News tab.

For the second straight month, the Tompkins County Legislature has cancelled its monthly meeting of the Downtown Facilities Committee, this month’s session previously scheduled for Thursday, July 8th.

No meeting likely means no movement. Whatever’s being planned behind the scenes apparently isn’t moving.

Of course, no one tells us, the public, anything. You’ve heard my commentary on this before. I need not repeat it. Please, through those narrow windows of the Gov. Daniel Tompkins Building, let sunlight (and Democracy) shine!

Yes, on June 24th, I suspended my campaign for the Tompkins County Legislature. I will remain on the ballot through November. And the issues which energized me to run, energize me still.

Find the Issues underpinning my drive for reform and my Four Pillars of Leadership by clicking the Campaign 2021 tab on the top menu of this website.

My campaign statements and the commentaries I’ve written as I’ve walked this path in recent months I fully document in the essays provided.

This is, as they say, a “Living Document.” Ideas and essays are added as needed. As thoughts flow to words, those ideas will be posted.

And though my campaign may have hit a roadblock, my thoughts remain active, and I will continue to write from now through November. Read it here.

Bob

We, the two Democratic candidates seeking to become your next Tompkins County Legislator, to serve this Great Tompkins-Southwest District, Newfield and Enfield-South, had a lively hour of discussing the issues affecting Tompkins County and our community in the Candidates’ Forum, Sunday, June 13th, sponsored by the Enfield Town and the Tompkins County Democratic Committees.

If you missed the discussion, or would like to view it again, the You Tube post remains available for you to watch.

Here’s the You Tube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajJr7J7InWk

Vanessa Greenlee and I covered much ground. Ours is a collegial, positive campaign focused on the issues, our philosophy, and our approach to Tompkins County Government.

Happy viewing.

Thursday, June 10th, Vanessa Greenlee and I discussed the issues affecting our Tompkins-Southwest District in a Candidates Forum sponsored by the Tompkins County Democratic Committee.

If you missed seeing our candidates forum live, you can view the recorded video at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RigPQiUjkMw

The T.C. Democratic Committee paired our district’s forum with that for a district in western Dryden; Samantha Lushtak and Gregory Mezey the candidates there. It was an informative and lively hour. You’ll learn much about us by taking the time to watch.

Bob

Gray Road’s Cortney Bailey has filed nominating petitions to compete as an Independent candidate in this fall’s race for Enfield Town Supervisor. Cortney, president of the Enfield Community Council, will compete against appointed Supervisor Stephanie Redmond, the Democratic Party nominee, who seeks a full, two-year term.

Cortney’s entry will provide Enfield its only contest this year for Enfield Town offices.

Read the story of Cortney’s candidacy under the Latest News tab.

The Broadband Committee of the Tompkins County Council of Governments held its kickoff meeting Tuesday, April 20th, the committee to oversee a county-wide study seeking to identify rural areas unserved or underserved by broadband Internet, with the goal of providing service, potentially through a County-owned system.

Questions remain, including how much information committee members and County officials will be permitted to share with their constituents.

Click the Latest News tab an the top of this page to learn more.

We bid a fond farewell to Deputy Town Clerk Patricia Speno, who left Enfield Town Offices this month as the office transitions under the new leadership of Town Clerk Mary Cornell.

I admired Pat’s dedication to serving all of us in Enfield, both the residents in general and those in leadership on both the Town Board and the Planning Board.

When the Town Clerk’s Office fell suddenly vacant with Clerk Ellen Woods’ resignation, Patricia promised to put in extra hours to keep the office properly staffed and the public duly served. And she did.

I’ve praised Patricia publicly in meetings, and I praise her here. Good luck, friend and colleague. May your future be bright.

First Advice: Don’t count your chickens before eggs hatch.

Second Advice: Beware of the fine print.

That said, Sen. Charles Schumer has advised Enfield it could receive $370,000 under the American Rescue Plan, the massive $1.9 Trillion Relief Package authorized by Congress and signed by President Biden.

Beware: The aid is targeted. We’re told we can’t use it just to cut taxes or fund pensions. How could we use it (if, indeed, we do receive it)? Time will tell. And it could spell welcome relief for our Town.

Details forthcoming. That’s all we know for now.

From the Enfield Civility Resolution, adopted by the Town Board, Sept. 13, 2017:

RESOLVED to exhibit and encourage the kinds of personal qualities that are typical in a civil society—gratitude, humility, openness, passion for service to others, propriety, kindness, caring, sense of duty, and a commitment to doing what is right in the Enfield community. All Enfield board members, committee members and staff shall strive to:

Treat everyone courteously
Listen to others respectfully
Give open minded consideration to all viewpoints
Focus on the issues and avoid personalizing debate
Embrace respectful disagreement and dissent as democratic rights that are inherent components of an inclusive public process and tools for forging sound decisions and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Enfield board members, committees and staff shall strive to promote the use of and adherence to these guidelines in all Enfield community activities.

This is a picture of the Town of Newfield’s Salt Shed. We need one of our own. And we must work now toward getting it!

We have a grant to help finance the shed, funding up to half the cost. But we must prioritize this year to building the wood or canvas building before the money slips away.

The Tompkins County Finance Director reported Feb. 16th that bonding rates are at record lows. The County just floated a 15-year bond at just a little over one per cent; a Bond Anticipation Note at one-quarter per cent.

Money’s cheap. Now’s the time to act!

Save our aquifer. Save our salt. Save our money!

The Enfield Community Council, at long last, closed Feb. 10th on its purchase of the former Living Water Church, at 162 Enfield Main Road, for use as a much-needed community center.

Much excitement awaits, as does much work. Renovations must be made. ECC wants to provide an expanded kitchen facility to serve in the event of a town-wide emergency. Work lies ahead. Funds must be raised.

Please join in supporting the ECC in its efforts. You can expect more information soon.

Since January 2020, I’m proud to have been the Enfield Town Board’s representative on the Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG). At our regular Town Board meetings, I report on TCCOG discussions of intermunicipal interest that TCCOG has addressed in its meetings.

Now added to this website, filed under the the “TCCOG” tab, are the written versions of my monthly reports, presuming TCCOG has met since our Town Board’s last session. Please browse these reports and provide me whatever input you’d like.

All smiles and enthusiasm, Isabel Castillo joined the Enfield Town Hall administrative team February 10th, appointed by Supervisor Redmond as her new Deputy Supervisor.

Most recently from Rosenberg, Texas, a little south of Houston, Isabel has lived in Enfield for a bit over a year. This young mom and Hayts Road resident will assist the Supervisor in day-to-day matters, having earned experience with the Rosenberg Development Corp. , working in economic development and gaining experience in both planning and budgeting.

By law, Castillo’s is a discretionary hire. She serves at the Supervisor’s pleasure. All of us on the Town Board welcome Isabel’s arrival, even though for some of us the Deputy’s past authorized salary has been a sticking point.

“I’m very excited to get to know each and every one of you and be more involved in this community,” Castillo told our Town Board. “I’m very excited to see what all I can bring to the table and hopefully make a difference,” she added.

“Welcome, I’m overjoyed,” said Councilperson Virginia Bryant.

“Welcome aboard,” I added, stating that although I’d abstain because of the salary question, it had nothing to do with Isabel’s qualifications. I look forward to working with her. / Bob Lynch