BY RIKKI CASON
Two residents approached the board of the Orleans County Legislature with concerns about the newly created ethics board. Mark Taylor and Paul Lauricella of Lyndonville expressed their concerns at an ethics board meeting last week. The committee, established earlier this year, has met twice and has begun updating the county’s code of ethics and procedures.
“I watched what was going on, and one of my concerns were they don’t have any teeth,” Taylor said. “They don’t have any power. What I saw was five people who dedicated their time. They’re working very hard, but I guess the way it is set up, they have absolutely no power at all.”
Lauricella agreed with Taylor that if an ethics committee was going to be created, it should have power. He also had concerns about only county employees being able to address the ethics board.
“In other words, if I had a problem with somebody within the county, as a member of the public, I couldn’t go to the ethics committee, only county employees,” Lauricella said.
Legislator Gary Kent said he felt that if a resident had a question regarding ethics, he could come to a legislator, who would then present the issue to the ethics board. He said another purpose of the ethics board is to give county employees and lawmakers an impartial opinion on whether something is ethical.
Ethic board Chairman Jeff Schwartz said he felt that residents’ concerns were premature, due to the recent formation of the board.
“We have not yet had the opportunities to submit to the Legislature all the issues we discussed and what the rules are going to be,” Schwartz said.
Ethics board members gave the county Legislature their version of the code of ethics procedure for them to review and discuss further on the board’s role.
In other news, the county Legislature passed a resolution calling on New York state congressional delegation to support the temporary increase in Federal Medical Assistance Percentages, providing New York counties with property tax relief.
This resolution is offered in conjunction with Gov. David Paterson and the New York State Association of Counties.
During the meeting, Legislator David Callard quoted NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario as saying that Medicaid currently represents the largest single program expense in every county’s budget.
New York is among only a few states that receive the lowest FMAP, at 50 percent. This leaves New York state and its counties to fund the other 50 percent.
A temporary increase is hoped for before the close of the congressional session in the next few weeks.
Also, three public hearings were set for the next county Legislature meeting Oct. 8. The first is a second public hearing on Local Law No. 4, which would give a property tax exemption to Cold War veterans. If approved, Cold War veterans could see up to a 10 percent discount on their property taxes, not to exceed $4,000.
The second public hearing is on Local Law No. 5, which would give a property tax exemption on capital Improvements to residential buildings. The final public hearing will address property tax exemptions for historical property and is a part of Local Law No. 6. The public hearings are scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.
Local News
September 25, 2008
COUNTY: Residents question power of newly formed committee
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Market on Main will offer fresh produce, baked goods
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Lyndonville BoE approves budget propositions
The Lyndonville Board of Education approved the four propositions district residents will vote on May 15, including the school’s $12,964,687 budget.The 2012-13 budget decreases spending by 1.28 percent, but the property tax levy will rise by 1.95 percent to $4,620,374. The estimated property tax rate is $18.40, an increase of 1.38 percent and a bump of a quarter for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
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Medina BoE OK's budgets for May 15 vote
Medina Central School District residents will have the option this May to vote for a budget that does not raise the property tax levy next year, but does increase the district’s budget by 1.74 percent.
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Ridgeway sets public hearings
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Hoag will host STEM summer camp
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Growing like a weed
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Village budget talks continue
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Hoag Library era nears in Albion
The transition of Albion's long-time library to a modern South Main Street facility is quickly approaching, which had the Swan Library Board of Trustees discussing the closing of the current library in early June, a month of movement and plans to resume service at the new Hoag Library on the day after the facility's July 7 grand opening at their Wednesday meeting.
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Pillars hosting Titanic evening
The extravagant experience that the high-class passengers enjoyed on the first and final voyage of the RMS Titanic will be replicated in a dinner at The Pillars Estate’s new ballroom this weekend.The Pillars echoes the luxury liner’s grand staircase and chandelier, with historic touches throughout the restored County House Road mansion’s ballroom.
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Shelby formalizes reserve funds
The Town of Shelby has had a highway equipment reserve fund for as long as Supervisor Skip Draper can remember, but to be safe the town board formally created the fund and other others Tuesday.Draper said the origins of the town’s long-standing funds, used to prepare for large expenses and avoid a yo-yo-ing budget, were questioned in an audit of the town’s finances.
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