News Briefs:
Herding Common Council’s Cats
(Jan. 30): If the story grows legs, it could pit legislative liberty against deference to administrators and test the strength of the City of Ithaca’s fledgling City Manager form of government.
Credit Jaime Cone Hughes of Tomkins Weekly for latching onto a tidbit that others threw away from Common Council’s January 14 session, a resolution that would rein in “inappropriate political pressure, harassment, or undue interference” by any headstrong alderperson.
Among its provisions, the measure would require the specific written request of at least three Council members to compel City staff to attend a meeting.
Violations could bring miscreants a “written reprimand” or “formal censure” should any step out of line. Transgressions could also bring “temporary suspension of direct staff access privileges, or removal from liaison or external appointments.”
“We recognize we want to just demonstrate our appreciation for our city staff during this critical transition,” Mayor Robert Cantelmo said as he unveiled the 18-paragraph resolution to establish “Professional Conduct and Oversight Protocols.”
“But also we want to deploy some best practices and consistency and code of conduct issues that we don’t presently have on the books,” the mayor added.
The kind of controls Cantelmo proposes could blow the place up if some were to see them as a “shut-up-and-vote” power grab by Cantelmo and City Administration.
Council that night gave the resolution only brief comment. It then handed it to a “working group,” its three members chosen by the mayor. Alderpersons Pat Sewell, Joseph Kirby and Jorge DeFendini will take incoming critiques.
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Tompkins Secrecy Times Three
(Jan. 29): Quite plainly, we don’t know what we don’t know. And the people we’ve elected are sworn not to tell us.
Yet Tuesday afternoon, February 3, and for the third time in as many weeks, the Tompkins County Legislature will convene in Special Session. Tuesday’s special meeting, like the two before it, will be only for a closed “Executive Session.”
When legislators convened in private January 13th and 26th, the “real estate exception” to the New York Open Meetings Law was used to justify their closing the doors and shutting off cameras.
The logical inference one draws is that these meetings have something to do with the planned Center of Government, a now $64 Million downtown venture that has some, like Newfield-Enfield’s Randy Brown talking about alternatives like Harold’s Square or the Cornell Business Park.
Just 90 minutes after the February 3 private huddle begins, the Legislature will reconvene in public for its regularly-scheduled meeting. That later meeting’s agenda is nearly bare; nothing surprising. Of course, matters resolved in private could always be added for public action thereafter.
Stay tuned.
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Ithaca BOE Ratifies Contract
(Jan. 27 updated Jan. 28): The Ithaca Board of Education Tuesday gave final ratification to a new, three-year contract with district teachers, an agreement that grants instructors most of what they’d asked for.
“This is legacy work,” Board President Dr. Sean Eversley Bradwell remarked prior to calling the vote, Eversley Bradwell noted that teacher negotiations last year occurred during public, live-streamed sessions. The Board President said the process was “one of the things I am most proud of.”
Board ratification January 27 came by a show of hands and was overwhelming, 8-1. (The video stream failed to capture all members voting. But a district official Wednesday confirmed that Jacob Shiffrin had cast the lone dissent.)
Ithaca teachers similarly granted the contract lopsided support in mid-December.
Key provisions teachers requested—and got—included average seven percent annual salary increases (reduced to six percent in the contract’s final year) and a “step and lane” compensation plan that rewards teacher experience and professional development.
Teacher talks had been anything but trouble-free. Parties hit impasse last June, but resumed discussions in the fall and reached accord in late-October.
The contract is retroactive to July and continues through June 2028. It runs 115 pages. Board member Todd Fox said he’d considered voting “no” just to clean up some of the legal language. Fox ended up voting “yes” nevertheless.
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ECC Closing Budget Gap
(Jan. 27): Balanced budgets have long eluded the Enfield Community Council. They still do. Yet figures released at the ECC’s January 22 Board meeting suggest the long-sought goal may stand within reach.
Due to a combination of factors—most notably a reduction in planned program costs—a tentative 2026 Budget for the agency predicts only a slightly more than $12,000 shortfall. The 2025 Budget had forecast an over $34,000 funding gap.
“It looks bad, but in reality it’s so much better than the year before,” Vera Howe-Strait, ECC Board member and the budget’s crafter, told attendees.
During the past year, the ECC transferred one of its costliest activities, its annual summer day camp, to Cornell Cooperative Extension. Major financial adjustments followed.
Thursday’s Board discussions brought one disappointment. ECC President Cortney Bailey announced there’d be no springtime event—last known as the “Rhubarb Festival”—for this, the third year.
“We can’t do both the Rhubarb Festival and the Mother’s Day Breakfast,” Bailey stated, as both events would run too close together. Only if others want to be a “guaranteed team,” she said, could a festival happen.
The ECC Board will vote on its budget in late February.
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The War on Snow Blowers
(Jan 26): From the crowd that would block your ability to buy an oil furnace, comes a new Public Enemy #1: Your snow blower.
In an Opinion piece circulated in the (paywall-protected) Gannett press, two New York activists argue New York ought to “ban” the gas-powered snow blower… and the gas lawn mower… and the leaf blower; just about anything that makes noise and bothers them.
“These machines are not only staggeringly loud, but they also produce a shocking amount of air pollution,” Blair Horner and David Masur argue. They’d have you junk your reliable old Briggs and Stratton-powered thing for one that relies on only batteries (and yes, runs down at the most inopportune time).
The Nanny State walks by baby-steps. And what a closer read of their Op-Ed reveals is they want the New York Legislature to adopt a struggling bill—one that State Senator Lea Webb co-sponsored—that would grant commercial and institutional users unspecified rebates for purchasing battery-driven lawn equipment. (By the way, homeowners wouldn’t qualify.)
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A Doctor in the (Fire) House
(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.
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Fixing Cone-Corner & More
(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.
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It is as it is… here
(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
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Trending on TCCOG
(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
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Bostwick Bids Run High
(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.
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Anti-ICE NY Sanctuary Ban Revived
(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.
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Brewing Issue: Schuyler Nuke
(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.
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Center of Government Jitters
(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.
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Rosie on way to Planning Board
(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.
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Black elected T.C. Legislature Chair
(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.
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Enfield BOFC snubs Journal
(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.
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Our Money; Their Choice
(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
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TC Pols to weigh Nurse Unionization
(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.
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