Amid packed house, Tompkins sends message on Data Center

Highlights of January 20 meeting; Tompkins County Legislature

Reporting courtesy: Tompkins County Department of Communications; Monika Salvage, Communications Director; January 23, 2026

Legislator Dawson (D-Lansing, Ithaca Town) presented a Resolution Requesting New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to Reject the Modified Water Withdrawal Permit Application from Cayuga Operating Company, LLC and Instead Require a New Application and Environmental Review Process. A large number of individuals in support of the resolution filled the legislative chambers that evening.

Speakers expressed concern that the proposed AI data center in the Town of Lansing represents a significant change from the former coal-fired power plant and should not be allowed to proceed under an existing or modified water withdrawal permit.

Speakers cited risks to Cayuga Lake from the proposed project, including potential thermal pollution, harmful algal blooms, chemical contamination, harm to aquatic ecosystems, and long-term impacts on wildlife and drinking water. Many questioned the accuracy and transparency of the applicant’s claims regarding closed-loop cooling and water use, noting conflicting statements and permit filings that suggest large-scale withdrawals could occur.

Additional concerns included increased electricity demand leading to higher energy costs for residents, noise pollution, climate impacts, and inadequate oversight or accountability by state regulators. Overall, commenters urged a full environmental review, a new water withdrawal permit, and stronger protections to ensure public resources are not compromised and costs are not shifted onto the community.

Most legislators spoke in support of the resolution, emphasizing accountability, transparency, and the need for a new water withdrawal permit and modern environmental review given the site’s proposed shift from a retired coal plant to a high-intensity data center. Supporters stressed that the county lacks land-use authority but has a responsibility to urge the DEC to apply current environmental standards, particularly to protect Cayuga Lake.

Legislator Weiser (D-Caroline, Danby) urged colleagues to hold DEC accountable.

**Dissenter Sigler: “I just hear so much factual inaccuracy” from opponents.**

“Given the age of the permit, the absence of modern monitoring requirements, the lack of reliable historical withdrawal data, and the material change in use, there is no regulatory or environmental justification for treating this as a mere modification, ”Weiser stated.

Legislator Sigler (R-Lansing) cautioned, “I think you’re rolling the dice on this. I think this resolution might open the door for DEC to open up the existing license to other uses.”

The legislature approved the resolution with 14 votes in favor, 1 opposed (Legislator Sigler, R-Lansing), and 1 recusal (Legislator Wakeman, D-Dryden).

[Note: Between community activists and legislators, discussion of the Dawson Resolution regarding the Lansing data center occupied a full two hours, more than half of the meeting.]

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Chair’s 2026 “State of the County” Address:

Chair Shawna Black delivered the State of the County address, highlighting the county’s current status, its accomplishments in 2025, and how shared priorities are shaping the year ahead. Selected excerpts follow:

**Black: “The state of this county is strong, resilient, and determined.”**

“Tonight, I’m honored to share the State of Tompkins County. I am confident in saying: The state of this County is strong, resilient, and determined.

“Strong because the strength of this County comes not from one single person, but from our collective commitment, especially the commitment of this Legislature and the dedicated County staff who turn policy into real-world impact – every single day.

“Resilient because even with rising costs, housing pressures, federal uncertainties, and growing service demands, Tompkins County continues to deliver. The story of this past year is one of dedicated public servants, strong partnerships, and a clear commitment to serve all of our community members.

“Determined because we stand by our values of respect, accountability, integrity, equity, and stewardship. A few weeks ago, we welcomed eight new legislators to this body alongside eight returning members. That infusion of fresh perspectives, energy, and lived experience has already deepened our deliberations, sharpened our questions, and strengthened our ability to make difficult decisions with integrity and care.”

[Chairperson Black also announced her 2026 legislative committee assignments. For those legislators who represent Enfield, Randy Brown will newly-chair the Government Operations Committee and sit on both the Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee and the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee. Newly-elected legislator Rachel Ostlund will become Vice-Chair of the Public Safety Committee and sit on the Health and Human Services Committee and on a newly-formed committee charged with review of the County Charter.]

[No members were named to what had been the Downtown Facilities Special Committee, a committee that Randy Brown had chaired, leading to the inference that Shawna Black may disband that committee. / RL]

Other Legislative Business:

Following a search process and a recommendation by the county administrator, the legislature unanimously appointed Charles Githler as the new County Historian. Mr. Githler taught American History for 17 years at Newfield Middle and High School. He served as a board member of the Newfield Historical Society and is a current trustee of The History Center in Tompkins County. He succeeds Carol Kammen, who served in this role for over two decades and retired at the end of 2025.

The county administrator and deputies presented highlights of the critical work county departments accomplished in 2025. Organizational achievements included filling key positions, such as Commissioners of Whole Health, Department of Social Services, as well as Finance and Highway Directors. The county secured grant funding that reduced the local cost burden, including for the Assigned Counsel program, assessment system modernization, supporting young parents at DSS, expanded GIVE funding for public safety and probation initiatives, federal funding for the airport, and for food-waste reduction. The Planning Department awarded grants for affordable housing projects through the Community Housing Development Fund.

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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.

Highlights :

May 2024: Priority One: Our Boeing Problem; (Addressing poor academic performance in Enfield Elementary School and elsewhere in light of the district’s current budget controversy.)

November 2023: Flycars, Fund Balances, and “Flat-Broke” Towns; (Addressing a committee of the Tompkins County Legislature on the merits of cost-sharing for a Rapid Medical Response Service.)

September 2023: Think Before You Act (They Didn’t); (Addressing the Tompkins County Legislature to urge delay in proceeding with a Center of Government.)

August 2023: Democracy, Clinging by a Thread; (Addressing the Enfield Town Board on the controversy surrounding its appointment of Enfield’s initial Board of Fire Commissioners.)

July 2023: I am Impatient. They are Hungry. (Addressing the Tompkins County Council of Governments regarding the Tompkins County Food System Plan’s “Roadmap” and how it needs improvement.)

Prior postings and statements, (2019-2022) are now included in the Commentary Archives.

(Jan. 22): Resolving an issue that’s dogged the Enfield Fire District for more than a year, the District’s Board of Fire Commissioners January 20 designated a professional occupational medicine firm, “Occustar,” to oversee the legally-required physical examinations for firefighters.

The switch comes as doctors at Trumansburg Family Medicine, which has performed most of the Enfield physicals, signaled they may exit the service and as Commissioners’ Chair Greg Stevenson has warned that toughened regulations may demand a “medical director” to oversee exams.

Up until now, the obstacle had been cost. At the outset, Commissioners feared Occustar might cost twice the Fire District’s $6,000 annual budget line for its on-site service.

But the bid OK’d by Commissioners Tuesday cost the district only $6,818, reduced by a combination of factors. Stevenson said surplus funds in last year’s budget may be encumbered to make up any difference.

While Occustar will visit just once a year, likely in October, the Fire District will also contract with the medical service “WellNow” for physicals needed at other times, such as for new volunteers.

(Jan.21): Each January, Highway Superintendent Barry Rollins presents the Enfield Town Board a list of the roads he plans to repair, and Board members, by their signatures, grant him the funding to fix them.

At its January 14 meeting, the Town Board granted approval, and without argument .

The two roads Enfield Highway targets for major “permanent improvements” this year are a 2.5 mile stretch of Buck Hill Road South from Harvey Hill Road to Route 79, and a one mile portion of Harvey Hill Road from Rothermich Road to Black Oak Corners. Rollins budgets each project at $150.000.

Another $179,469 would be put toward “General Repairs” on roads about the town.

With those two roads set for major work, the question arose at the meeting: will the Buck Hill/Harvey Hill intersection get fixed? For almost a year, orange barrels have narrowed the crossing to protect a road sign that Highway moved out from the shoulder.

Rollins said the corner will be fixed. The crossing sign will stay where it’s been moved, but the road line will be narrowed to about where the barrels now stand.

Rollins also confirmed some trees may be cut in the repair areas.

Six seated; the Legislature, meeting Jan. 13

(Jan 15): Wednesday, January 14, in an annual rite of futility, this Enfield Councilperson, Robert Lynch moved to re-insert the Pledge of Allegiance into the start of every meeting for our Town Board. Since 2020, the Pledge gets recited only if someone requests it.

Once again, as always, no Town Board colleague seconded the motion. Current policy remains.

And whenever the Pledge is requested, Supervisor Stephanie Redmond and Councilpersons Melissa Millspaugh and Cassandra Hinkle remain seated. Councilperson Jude Lemke stands, but keeps hands to her sides.

The Pledge of Allegiance remains an opening ritual for the Tompkins County Legislature. But during an abbreviated legislative session January 13, as many as six legislators (Brooks, Dawson, Pillar, Hubbard, Packman, and an Enfield representative, Rachel Ostlund) remained seated.

Refraining from reciting the Pledge is a constitutionally protected right, of course. It also judges many things.

One wonders whether beyond the alternate reality that is Ithaca, Enfield, and Tompkins County, leaders behave the same. / RL

(Jan. 15): Since 2020, this Councilperson, Robert Lynch, has represented Enfield on the Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG), an intermunicipal advisory committee to the Tompkins County Legislature. TCCOG reviews current topics of governmental concern and recommends legislative action.

But there’s a change: By mutual agreement of the Enfield Town Board and this Councilperson at the Town Board’s January 14 Organizational Meeting, I will step aside, and Councilperson Jude Lemke will assume the responsibility to represent Enfield on TCCOG. Melissa Millspaugh will serve as alternate member.

In a final TCCOG report to the Town Board meeting night, I warned of a challenging year ahead for the organization.

A straw poll of TCCOG members December 11 had suggested that the group may uncouple itself from the rigors of New York State Open Meetings Law. Tompkins County insists Open Meetings rules apply. Should the two bodies disassociate, TCCOG could lose its meeting room and staff support. I warned it could happen within the year.

Councilperson Lemke will assume the duty of informing the Town Board of TCCOG actions. I will watch from the sidelines. / RL

(Jan. 12): Enfield Town officials voiced disappointment Monday as bids were opened for a giant culvert to be placed under Bostwick Road to deter flooding and prevent an existing culvert there from further deterioration and continuing stream erosion.

A Watertown firm, Jefferson Concrete, submitted the apparent lowest of three bids. But Jefferson’s totaled $471,600, far more expensive than project planners had hoped. The remaining bids registered at $684,514 and $705,800, respectively.

Angel Hinickle, Resource Conservation Specialist for the Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District, said original estimates had budgeted the purchase at as little as $200,000. But she said the State Transportation Department had demanded a ten percent increase in culvert size to accommodate for the feared future effects of climate change.

A New York Water Quality Improvement Grant in 2024 awarded Enfield more than $693,000 for the culvert replacement just east of Enfield Center. But added work would still require culvert installation and stream realignment, not included within the January 12 submissions.

Officials fear the latest bids could put the project out of reach. The Town Board will either accept one of the bids or reject them all January 14.

Sen. Gianaris

(Jan. 12): It never got out of committee last year. Senator Lea Webb and Assemblymember Anna Kelles supported it. And some legislators wanted a Special Session for adoption, but never got it.

Now comes word members of both New York legislative houses are moving again to pass the “New York for All Act.” It would block state and local officers from enforcing federal immigration laws and sharing sensitive information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents absent a warrant.

Claiming that the political climate for the bill has improved because of the federal Administration’s increasingly aggressive deportation tactics, supporters hope to advance the measure toward passage, even though bills like this have been proposed one way or another for the past six years. Leadership has never brought them to the floor. And Governor Hochul has stayed neutral.

“This is a break-the-glass-and-pull-the-lever situation,” State Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said at a Downstate rally, reported by The Gothamist. “What the federal government is doing is abusing power, breaking the law, and doing so in ways that are just horrific.”

Senate leadership is on board, but Assembly leadership has yet to commit.

Republicans stand opposed. One GOP Assemblymember, Jarett Gandolfo, has sponsored a bill that would overrule certain sanctuary policies in places like Ithaca and require police departments statewide to notify federal immigration officials if they arrest someone who’s in the country without authorization.

Nuclear advocate Sigler

(Jan. 10): It could energize opponents on the Environmental Left should it advance farther. But Schuyler County has expressed interest in winning New York State’s permission to construct a new nuclear power plant, presumably on Seneca Lake.

In a January 7 news release, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced that Schuyler County stood among eight upstate locations to respond to NYPA’s solicitation for “potential host communities” where a new nuclear plant could be built. The solicitation came in response to Governor Hochul’s call last June for NYPA to foster construction of a zero-emission nuclear plant “to support a reliable and affordable electric grid.”

Exactly who within Schuyler County sought consideration and whether it was an arm of government the NYPA release didn’t say.

Broome County, Wayne County, Oswego County and Rochester were among other communities seeking consideration.

In Tompkins County, Republican legislator Mike Sigler has long endorsed nuclear power development. Yet none of the newly-announced applicant host communities border Cayuga Lake.

Some may recall that more than 50 years ago, a site near Lansing’s fossil fuel power plant was briefly considered for “Bell Station” a nuclear facility. But community resistance killed the plan.

“NYPA is currently reviewing responses to [its solicitation] and will use that information to help guide its nuclear efforts in 2026,” the authority’s news release stated.

Brown: Never meet again?

(Jan 9): Maybe Randy Brown, Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature’s Downtown Facilities Special Committee, threw the line out only for laughs January 6 when asked for a committee report:

“We didn’t meet in December, and we’re not meeting in January, and we may never meet again,” Brown answered. Chuckles followed.

True, the Legislature’s new Chair, Shawna Black could abolish Brown’s special panel when she structures committees later this month. Planning a Downtown Center of Government could get reassigned.

But Brown turned serious two nights later when briefed the Newfield Town Board on a downtown project now priced at $64 Million.

Every department has its “wish list” for what’s planned in a now 59,000 square foot building, Brown told Newfield January 8. “Now comes the math equation thing, and the math equation tells us we shouldn’t build a big building downtown.”

Brown’s vote is but one of 16 on the Legislature. And County Administration remains solidly behind the project. But half of those on this year’s Legislature are new, cost estimates have increased, and alternatives beckon.

Brown referenced both the Harold’s Square vacant downtown office space and the Cornell Business Park in Lansing.

There are 17 parcels up there, a number are empty, with buildings for sale, Brown said of the Business Park tract, suggesting the County take a second look.

(Jan. 7): Rosanna Carpenter, who came just 19 votes short last November of winning a seat on the Enfield Town Board, will likely secure appointment later this month to a seat as alternate on the Town’s Planning Board.

Carpenter passed the crucial test January 7 as other Planning Board members held the most informal of interviews with the candidate, asking her why she wanted to serve. Without argument, planners forwarded Carpenter’s name to the Town Board for consideration January 14. Expect confirmation.

Perhaps her attendance and interest served as the nominee’s prime attributes. Carpenter’s attended most monthly Planning Board meetings since launching her campaign for Councilperson last year.

Town rules set Planning Board membership at five, but allow for up to two alternate appointees. They get to vote should not all five regularly-appointed members attend a meeting. Greg Hutnik, who’s also been Deputy Town Supervisor, was an alternate for several years, but is moving out of Enfield and can no longer serve.

Planning Board Chair Dan Walker appealed at Wednesday’s meeting for yet a second alternate candidate to step forward.

New (again) to the podium; Shawna Black

(Jan. 6): The newly-elected, newly-enlarged Tompkins County Legislature convened and organized for the year ahead Tuesday Night.

By a strict party-line vote, legislators January 6 elected Democrat Shawna Black over Republican Mike Sigler as Legislature Chair. Black received 13 votes, Sigler three.

Black began her acceptance of chairperson duties with a statement commending the eight continuing legislators and eight legislative newcomers. They comprise this year a lawmaking body that expands from 14 members to 16.

Black called the combination a “beautiful balance of fresh perspectives and experienced leadership.”

The lead podium is not foreign for Shawna Black. First elected in 2017, the eastern Town of Ithaca representative previously served as Chair in both 2022 and 2023. For three years previous, Black served as Vice-Chair.

The evening’s only surprise came as Dryden’s Greg Mezey, last year’s Legislature Vice-Chair and a rising star in leadership, was never nominated—and did not compete—for either Chair or Vice-Chair.

For the year ahead, Lansing Democrat Deborah Dawson will serve as Vice-Chair. Legislators Tuesday elected her unanimously.

(Jan. 6): Going to a place where Tompkins County chickened out, the Enfield Board of Fire Commissioners Tuesday ditched The Ithaca Journal as its designated newspaper for publishing legal notices and opted to post them in Tompkins Weekly instead.

“I agree with Amanda that Gannett is a bear to deal with,” Commissioners Chair Greg Stevenson said, reflecting Fire District Secretary Amanda Walrad’s complaints that The Journal’s publisher misdirects affidavits and proves difficult otherwise.

In November, the Tompkins County Legislature similarly balked at The Journal’s designation. It then backtracked two weeks later after being cautioned state law requires the paper’s use.

But Stevenson got different advice. Joe Frank, attorney for the Association of Fire Districts, told him that using a weekly publication was OK, and that many fire districts already use them.

Newspaper designation was one of many votes taken at the January 6 organizational meeting. Without opposition, Commissioners re-elected Stevenson as their Chair. They reappointed Jamie Stevens as Fire Chief and newly-named Andrea Sutton Treasurer, with Drew Braman designated Deputy Treasurer.

Sutton will do “everyday stuff,” as Commissioner Barry Rollins described it. Stevenson said Braman will focus on “compliance” and operating procedures. Sutton and Braman will split a $7,500 combined salary evenly.

(courtesy Rochester Democrat & Chronicle)

(Jan. 5): I’m among those fed up with all the hype about the Buffalo Bills playing their last game January 4 in “old” Highmark Stadium and prepping for a 2026 season in “new” Highmark Stadium, a now $2 Billion (yes, with a B) open-air monstrosity that we New Yorkers are helping build.

For starters, the obvious question: With all that money spent, why no roof? The question seldom gets asked. But with the Bills’ colosseum directly downwind from nearly every Erie lake effect blast, and with greedy NFL owners extending the regular season into January, the question deserves an intelligent answer.

A Buffalo TV station’s unearthed 2024 report (WIVB) claims cost played a role. Roofing the place would have added $298 Million— or 20%— to what was in 2021 a $1.34 Billion venture. Just making it “roof ready” would have added $109 Million.

But we’re also told team owner Terry Pegula prefers outdoor football. “Terry is a traditionalist,” someone said. So maybe ownership pulled rank.

Yet when do we taxpayers get our say? The Empire State will contribute $600 Million toward construction; public money some would argue politicians have squandered to help a rich guy get richer.

Spending all that money and still getting a place with no roof? Oh, so fitting for a State named New York. Bundle up. / RL

Workers Center’s Sign

(Jan. 4): Despite the lightest of agendas, the January 6 organizational meeting of the Tompkins County Legislature could become another brutally long one.

On her own initiative, Lansing Democrat Deborah Dawson has pre-filed a resolution for Tuesday’s meeting that would register support for unionization efforts by nurses at Cayuga Medical Center, an effort that local hospital officials have allegedly taken questionable attempts to block.

“Resolved that the Tompkins County Legislature affirms its strong support for the fundamental right of all workers, including healthcare workers, to unionize and engage in collective bargaining,” Dawson’s 11-point resolution states. The measure stops short of counseling CMC nurses how to vote in a planned mid-January certification election. Yet its tone makes clear where Dawson falls on the issue.

“Supporting the right to unionize aligns with Tompkins County’s values of equity, fairness, respect for workers, and commitment to community well-being,” Dawson’s scripting states.

All 16 newly-elected or re-elected Tompkins legislators commence new, three-year terms Tuesday night. And normally, the only matter of substance would be electing a chairman and vice-chairman. But the Tompkins County Workers Center on social media has rallied allies to show up and voice solidarity.

“We must FILL THE CHAMBER to show we support our nurses,” the Workers Center advocates. Expect the gallery to be packed. Public advocacy could consume hours.

Dryden’s Dan Lamb

(Dec. 30): Admittedly, local leaders wanted more. But they see it as a start.

Six months after both houses of the New York Legislature granted overwhelming approval, Governor Hochul December 19 signed a bill directing each county in the state to “convene meetings and a planning process” with its included cities, towns and villages toward “developing and maintaining a comprehensive county Emergency Medical System Plan”

Tompkins County stands ahead of the curve, having authorized and funded a consultant’s study last June and having heard its findings in October.

The Enfield Town Board in August and the Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) in September each urged Hochul to sign the bill, though each group had wished the governor had taken further steps.

Enfield’s resolution had urged that both the state and its counties “ensure that any mandates resulting from this legislation are fully supported with county-level and/or state-level funding.” The measure Hochul signed failed to address costs.

At TCCOG, some leaders had urged New York go farther and declare EMS an “essential service,” a mandate that could force municipalities to subsidize ambulance operations.

“It’s another step, an incremental step,” Dryden Councilperson Dan Lamb described the now-signed legislation during the September TCCOG meeting, but “let’s go all the way and require this as an essential service, just like we do with fire.”

Less important locally, Hochul this month vetoed two other bills related to EMS. One would have exempted municipal ambulance spending from the property tax cap. The other would have granted limited Thruway toll waivers for fire trucks and ambulances.

Legislators Rich John (left), and Mike Lane

(Dec. 27): Appealing as it might otherwise be, the prospect of buying or leasing unused office space at the Cornell Business and Technology Park near the airport as an alternative to building a Downtown Center of Government was dealt a blow this month as Tompkins County encounters problems with property it already rents there.

To preserve a $300,000 federal tax credit, the County Legislature voted December 16 to commence “limited construction activities” on a planned solar array above the parking lot at 55 Brown Road, adjacent to the Whole Health Department. Cornell owns the land, and “has put a number of requirements onto the project,” according to the County Attorney, particularly as to insurance.

“I’m surprised here,” legislator Mike Lane said about the university’s pickiness. “We’re trying to do something to help the environment. I should think Cornell would be patting us on the back and saying what can we do to help with this?”

“This does seem like these requirements are pretty onerous,” legislator Rich John observed. “I just hope the Legislature going forward is really careful if there’s any consideration of renting any other property at the Cornell Tech Park, which is unfortunate.”

Last spring, Tompkins Bank approached Tompkins County, offering it properties the bank had repossessed at the park from a private developer. So far, County Administration has been cool to the idea.

Bostwick at Enfield Creek

(Dec. 24): In a richer town, this would be considered a routine repair, not worth a mention. But in Enfield, the replacement of a culvert beneath Bostwick Road has become a big capital project.

Bypassing customary Town Board consent for sake of expediency, Enfield Supervisor Stephanie Redmond Christmas week authorized the advertising of bids to purchase the culvert to be laid where Bostwick Road passes over Enfield Creek.

The 48-foot long, 36-foot wide, nearly 13-foot high concrete box culvert requested would replace a pair of aging, metal pipes placed under the road decades ago. The current culvert can dam up debris and cause flooding.

A state Water Quality Improvement grant, awarded in 2024, will cover nearly $700,000 of the total project’s estimated $867,332 cost. Highway Department in-kind services would fund the balance.

Redmond urged fast-track bidding for the culvert upon advice that delay could prevent its installation this summer. A majority of Town Board members, relying upon a legal opinion, waved off a call for a special meeting to authorize the bidding.

“Why is everyone, except me, so reluctant to have a 10-minute public meeting, off cycle, to make a routine authorization?” Councilperson Robert Lynch wrote Board members December 22. “I just do not understand this. What, on Earth, do the taxpayers pay us for?”

Redmond’s documents require bid submission by January 12.

Getting BOFC instructions; Braman, Sutton

(Dec. 22): Their appointments won’t become official until January. But the Enfield Board of Fire Commissioners Monday signaled it will name not one, but two people to assume Fire District Treasurer duties in the New Year.

Tompkins County Deputy Director of Finance Andrew Braman and Andrea Sutton, a local resident proficient in bookkeeping, will share responsibilities upon the departure of Jenna Oplinger, who’s served as the Fire District’s Treasurer only since May.

The Braman and Sutton appointments will mark the third change in Treasurer assignments during the past nine months.

The legality of naming two people as co-Treasurer remains murky. Commissioners’ Chair Greg Stevenson said he’d check with legal counsel, but admitted Monday he hadn’t done so yet.

Braman said he and Sutton haven’t yet decided how to divide financial duties. At the close of the December 22 meeting, both conferred with Oplinger about the transition, an odd moment since neither had yet been appointed.

During a 90-minute, multi-topic closed session, the Fire Board interviewed both candidates. Commissioners have reserved $7,500—a 50 percent increase from 2025—to divide between the two.

(Dec. 22): The Enfield Board of Fire Commissioners December 22 revealed for the first time that an unnamed complainant has lodged a harassment complaint against the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company (EVFC), and Commissioners launched an investigation into the complaint’s validity.

In a four-paragraph Resolution, adopted after a lengthy executive session that addressed multiple topics, Commissioners engaged attorney Melissa Fingar to conduct the investigation and directed the Enfield Fire District’s own legal counsel to notify Fingar “regarding the details and process of the investigation….”

As would be expected, Commissioners declined Monday to reveal the complainant’s identity or the nature of the alleged harassment, including its time, place, or manner.

The complaint and its circumstances received no discussion in public session, aside from a reading of the resolution and the board’s subsequent vote.

All four board members attending the meeting supported the action. (Commissioner Robyn Wishna was excused.)

Commissioners offered no estimate meeting night of how much Fingar’s investigation may cost.

Cong. Elise Stefanik (AP)

(Dec. 20): North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s surprise withdrawal Friday from next year’s New York gubernatorial contest may only improve Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul’s reelection prospects.

In a late-afternoon tweet December 19, Stefanik announced not only is she exiting the Republican contest for Governor, but that she’ll also leave Congress at the end of next year.

The decision clears the field for another Republican, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, to secure the GOP gubernatorial nod.

“As we have seen in past elections, while we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York,” Stefanik tweeted on X.

Republican leaders have rallied around Blakeman. But the Long Island leader is little known upstate. Stefanik, although a lightning rod because of her strong ties to President Trump, is well-known to the upstate GOP base, essential to any uphill overthrow of Hochul.

Recent polls have shown Democrat Hochul leading Stefanik and Blakeman, each by wide margins.

Stefanik’s planned retirement from Congress gives Hochul’s party another boost. It could make the Adirondack-anchored 21^st District easier for Democrats to capture.

(Dec 16): Six people, a near majority, served their last meeting as Tompkins County legislators Tuesday night. Ulysses-Enfield’s Anne Koreman was one of them.

Taking turns, each member bid farewell to his or her now-ending term. Koreman’s served eight years, first elected in 2017. This year she chose to retire.

“This experience has been for me one of the hardest, one of the least paid… but one of the most rewarding things that I’ve ever done,” Koreman told colleagues when her turn to speak arrived.

Other December 16 departures included Dryden’s Mike Lane, the current Legislature’s longest-serving member. Assemblymember Anna Kelles, a former Tompkins legislator herself,” presented Lane an award for his 44 years of Tompkins County and municipal service. Legislature Chair Dan Klein is also leaving.

For the successes she’s seen, Anne Koreman credited department heads, clerks, and Tompkins County’s workforce. “We did this together,” she said.

“These are really hard jobs,” Koreman observed. “We feel a lot of the issues in the community, and we’re trying to do things that are trying to make things a little bit better for people and more fair and lift people up,” she said.

“So thank you for giving me this privilege,” Koreman closed her message. “It’s been an honor, and I’ll see ‘ya.”

EVFC’s Larry Stilwell.

(Dec. 15): Six decades and still answering the bell.

Longtime Enfield firefighter Larry Stilwell received special recognition for his 60 years of service to the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company (EVFC) at the company’s annual banquet and installation dinner Saturday.

Far from sitting back, Stilwell was also recognized December 13 for his donating to the EVFC the year’s third highest number of volunteer hours (367) and answering the fifth largest number of fire calls.

Larry’s wife, Linda Stilwell, donated the fourth largest number of hours.

Also recognized was EVFC President Dennis Hubbell for his 50 years of service to the company. Hubbell remarked of the fire company, “It’s almost my second home.”

“Keeping up morale is the most difficult thing to do,” Hubbell told the gathering. “When members walk away, we as an organization fail.”

The Enfield Fire Company installed its new line officers Saturday, subject to Board of Fire Commissioners’ approval. Jamie Stevens will continue as Fire Chief, Bailey Stevens as Deputy Chief.

(Dec.11): For the second time in three weeks, concerned residents visited the Newfield Town Board Thursday night questioning the “FLAIR” project, the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) plan to replace a 90-year old wooden-pole transmission line that crosses the town’s northern edge with much-taller metal monopoles.

This time, unlike when the Town Board last heard complaints November 20, NYSEG officials attended Thursday’s session and answered questions. Neighbor concerns ranged from visual impact and electromagnetic radiation to the greater risk that taller poles might fall and damage homes.

After hearing more than an hour of back-and forth, the Newfield Board followed an earlier action in Enfield and became a party of interest in FLAIR’s regulatory case before the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC).

Joining as a party works to “keep you in the loop,” Newfield leaders were told. The December 11 action does not entail legal pleadings or put the Town on record opposed to the project. Town Supervisor Michael Allinger said he found party engagement a good thing to do.

Newfield’s Town Board signaled at its late-November meeting that it would likely offer a comment to the PSC before the agency’s January 29 deadline.

(Dec. 10): A Town Board buying a dump truck would normally land in the “nobody cares” pile. But this is different.

Wednesday night, the Enfield Town Board executed final approvals that allow the Highway Department to buy a 10-wheel dump truck and plow. What makes this $270,000 purchase newsworthy is that the truck’s effectively been on order for four-and-a-half years, since July 2021.

Yes, supply chain shortages got that bad. Only now has Highway Superintendent Barry Rollins been able to secure an available machine and make good on the Town’s long-standing authorization. (Make no mistake, he wasn’t to blame; America was.)

The Board’s December 10 action merely finalized financing; a $135,000 down payment and a three-year Installment Purchase agreement to cover the remainder.

The 2025 Western Star Tandem Axle unit will replace a 2009 10-wheeler that’s simply wearing out. Coincidentally, the Board Wednesday paid a separate invoice to cover more than $6,000 the older truck had incurred in two recent trips to the repair shop.

Enfield winters are hard on equipment. Rollins said he reserves the right to keep the old vehicle as a standby, given all he’s invested in it while awaiting the Western Star’s delivery.

(Dec. 9): The Enfield Board of Fire Commissioners will look the same next year as it has for the year now ending.

In a two-way election for a new five-year Commissioner’s term, the results Tuesday weren’t even close.

By an almost exact two-to-one margin, two-year incumbent Alan Teeter beat former Board member Marcus Gingerich. The results: Teeter, 115 votes (66.9%); Gingerich, 57 votes (33.1%)

Neither winner nor loser had much to say as both waited out the counting of paper ballots for about a half-hour at the Enfield Fire Station.

The December 9 results assure that Enfield volunteer firefighters will hold a narrow one-person majority on the Fire District’s five-person board.

Alan Teeter came in fourth two years ago in a 10-way race in the newly-formed Fire District’s inaugural election. As such, he only secured a two-year term then. It’ll lengthen by a half-decade now.

Unlike Teeter, Marcus Gingerich is not a firefighter. But he has been active in fire district affairs, having been the only person to enter statements at the district’s last two budget hearings.

This year’s Enfield turnout, 172 voters, was just about the same as last year (170). But last year, non-firefighter Donald Gunning beat out fire volunteer Chris Willis in an election where a double-digit budget increase dominated. This year’s increase was much less, perhaps partly explaining the different results.

Needs work; Holt’s blinking first attempt.

(Dec. 8): Someone’s gotta’ ask: Could anyone have designed an uglier building?

Holt Architects’ design team unveiled to local legislators and the public Monday night its first sketches for the Tompkins County Center of Government. One wonders if any architect ever sat back and realized that the third floor window shades at the Buffalo and Tioga street corner weirdly resemble eye lashes.

Holt’s 90-minute presentation seldom drew criticism. And no one ever faulted the design team’s pitiful lack of creativity. We’re asked to accept another flat-roofed rectangular box with a little brick to one side, a touch of stone (or its synthetic stand-in) on the corner.

County Administration began the evening—clearly speaking only for itself— by summarily discarding alternative locations; places like Harold’s Square on the Commons, the Cornell Business Park, or the Shops at Ithaca Mall.

And in a most embarrassing moment revealing undone homework, a designer first conceded that the new building would reduce parking in the courthouse-adjacent employee lot, but then couldn’t say how many spaces would be lost.

For some, the $50 Million Downtown Center of Government project is a runaway train without brakes Maybe not quite.

Someone emailed in: “It’s obviously a done deal?”

Legislature Chair Dan Klein answered: “So we have authorized the project to continue,” Klein acknowledged. “But we have not put the money on the table, yet.”

(Dec. 7): It would be so comfortable that once a homeless person moved in, they might not want to move out. Just don’t plan on bringing the kids.

A design consultant shared sketch plans of Tompkins County’s proposed, heavily state-subsidized homeless shelter to a legislative committee December 3^rd. Plans call for a three-story, all new building with a commercial kitchen on the ground floor, open-space sleeping quarters on the second level, and individual rooms with private baths on the top.

But it took Republican Mike Sigler to ask if there’d be places for families. There won’t.

“Families aren’t housed,” Housing Committee Chair Greg Mezey informed Sigler. “This is an adult facility,” Mezey made clear.

Despite Tompkins County’s major investment—likely $1 Million or more—those with children would still need to be quartered in hotels. Even childless couples might need to be there too. Shelter plans call for gender separation.

“You know, I appreciate what you’re trying to do here,” legislator Deborah Dawson told the shelter’s designers and prime cheerleaders, “but I hope that we’re not planning on meeting every person’s every need, because we don’t have the resources necessarily to do that.”

Consultants couldn’t be pinned down on cost-sharing between Tompkins County and the state. “There’s no fixed match,” advisor Monica McCullough cautioned legislators. Yet New York State caps its grants at $15 Million. McCullough would have the County file its funding application by May.

Three on Council affirming the departure, Dec. 3

(Dec. 4): Running the City of Ithaca is no fun these days. Just ask Deb Mohlenhoff.

Mohlenhoff, employed as Ithaca’s first City Manager two years ago, quit December 3, effective at year’s end, the manager under intense pressure by Common Council to step aside. Deputy City Manager Dominick Recckio, formerly Tompkins County’s Communications Director, will manage city affairs until Council finds a replacement.

After a 36-minute executive session Wednesday, Council voted unanimously to accept Mohlenhoff’s resignation.

A reported press statement, issued after the vote, states, “The City is not claiming any wrongdoing; rather Common Council has opted to seek fresh leadership before the new year.”

But arguably Common Council needs to turn the mirror onto itself, not blame third-parties.

This is not Ithaca City Government of old. Many Ithaca Alderpersons are incredibly young, sometimes college students. Turnover is high. Kids earn their diplomas, find better jobs, or just get bored and leave.

And youthful ideological exuberance can overwhelm any attempt at sound judgment.

One incoming Council member, Hannah Shvets, is a card-carrying Communist. One of Common Council’s first acts in 2024 was to purge the Pledge of Allegiance from its meetings.

Ithaca is now steering its ship of state absent a rudder. Deb Mohlenhoff was the last powerful grownup in the room. Now she’s gone. / RL

Meeting Dec. 3rd (Dan Walker at right)

(Dec. 4): Expect incumbent Enfield Planning Board Chair Dan Walker to win appointment to his fourth, five-year term beginning at the start of next year. Why? Because Walker’s the only one interested in serving.

Fellow Planning Board members Wednesday, December 3 unanimously recommended Walker’s continuation after the 15-year Planning Board veteran filed the only application of interest by the Town’s self-set December 2 deadline.

“They won’t let me quit,” Walker quipped as fellow planners attempted some semblance of a job interview.

“I have a knowledge base” and “I can serve the town adequately,” Walker granted, observing that given his engineering background he can “keep the cost down” by Enfield’s not having to employ someone else with his skill set.

The Enfield Town Board will consider Walker’s reappointment December 10. Planning Board members receive a small stipend, but no compensation.

The five-person Planning Board may begin next year with each of its two additional “alternate” member positions left vacant. Alternate Greg Hutnik is leaving Enfield and cannot continue. The second alternate slot’s been open for a year.

At Wednesday’s session, planners encouraged Rosie Carpenter, a close runner-up in this year’s Town Board elections and a frequent meeting attendee, to consider joining. Carpenter initially begged off, but left the option open.

Dawson (l): They called us “Tompkin” County

(Dec. 2): Two weeks ago, Dryden’s Greg Mezey had promised he’d write a blistering letter within days. So far he hasn’t done so.

And with tail-between-legs cowardice firmly on display and pride swallowed, the Tompkins County Legislature Tuesday knuckled under to Albany’s dictates and grudgingly designated The Ithaca Journal as County Government’s “Official Newspaper” for yet another year.

“Friends, we’ve had our opportunity to stand up to higher levels of government and protest,” Mezey, leader of the anti-Journal rebellion only a fortnight ago, said as he reintroduced the paper’s designation and switched his vote. “This has to pass,” Mezey lamented.

Last meeting, the Gannett daily’s designation lost 12-2. This time, December 2, it passed ten-to-four.

One of Tuesday’s brave holdouts, Lansing’s Deborah Dawson, provided the quote (and the prop) of the night, holding up a Journal edition that heralded her recent reelection. The story’s caption had misspelled “Tompkins,” misused “affect” for “effect,” and provided a polling station picture snapped not here, but in Broome County.

We need to tell Albany that ‘The Ithaca Journal sucks,” Dawson proclaimed, urging relaxed legal posting laws that never seem to come. “And we do not want to have to keep voting for putting our stuff and putting our money in such a sucky rag.”

Legislators would prefer placing legal ads in locally-based online news sites that actually report local news. State law says they can’t.

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.