It has been a very busy start for Chemung County’s new Executive and Legislature. With votes on numerous department-head positions and committees set to take place this Monday, there are many important issues facing our community. In addition, an unfortunate situation is unfolding in West Elmira involving its Fire Department, discussed in detail below.
The Appointments
The Agenda for Monday night’s Full Legislature meeting has not been published yet, but should appear here by the end of the day. The meeting will be held at 7:00 pm on the Hazlett Building’s 5th Floor. Members of the public are permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes on any matter at the start of the meeting. Prior notice does not need to be given to the Legislature in order to speak. I will again livestream the meeting to the Chemung County Matters Facebook page.
The resolutions addressed at last Monday’s Committee Meetings will all presumably be included on the Agenda for the Full Legislature Meeting. This includes appointments to numerous department-head positions (and their salaries) as well as many committees.
As I set forth in a blog post earlier this week found here, Chemung County’s Charter gives the Legislature the power to confirm most appointments made by the Chemung County Executive as well as set salaries for county employees:
The power to confirm County Executive appointments is found in Section 309:
The power to fix salaries is found in Section 203(h):
The Legislature will likely vote on the following appointments Monday night unless the body feels it needs more information before rendering a decision.
Committees and Boards
The name in parentheses indicates where the appointment originated, i.e the Legislature (Chairperson Manchester) or the Executive (County Executive Moss):
- Leg. Drake and Leg. Strange to the Chemung County Transit Committee (Manchester)
- Leg. Strange to the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chemung County Board of Directors (Manchester)
- Leg. Sweet to the Chemung County Property Development Corporation Board of Directors (Manchester)
- Leg. Burin to Chemung County Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee (Manchester)
- Leg. Burin to the Chemung County Compliance Committee
(Manchester) - Leg. Brennan to the Chemung County Board of Health
(Manchester) - Chairperson Manchester to the Chemung County Jury Board
(Manchester) - Leg. Woodard to the Chemung County Water Quality Strategy Executive Committee (Manchester)
- Leg. Pastrick and Mark Watts to the Chemung County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (Manchester)
- Joe Valaent to the Catskill Regional Off-track Betting Corporation (Manchester)
- David Boor, Joel Klose, Thomas Rhodes and Richard Gunderman to the Chemung County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors (Moss)
- Michael Collins, Ernest Hartman, Randy Reid and G. Thomas Tranter, Jr. to the Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board (Moss)
- Joe Colletta to the Chemung County Planning Board (Moss)
- Ronald Panosian, Henry M. Dalyrmple, Mary Jo Yunis, Robert L. Lewis to the Chemung County Planning Board (Moss)
- Donald W. Zeigler to the Chemung County Sewer District No. 1 Administrative Board (Moss)
Department-heads and salaries
All appointments were made by County Executive Moss:
- David Sheen as Deputy County Executive; salary reduction of $145,188 to $123,332 (10%)
- Mohammed Hussain as County Attorney; salary of $74,973 with no change
- Steve Hoover as Director of Budget and Research; salary reduction of $127,728 to $114,623 (10%)
- Tom Freeman as Interim Director of Aviation; salary reduction of $127,728 to $114,623 (10%)
- Steve Wilbur as Director of Information Systems; salary reduction of $102,620 to $92,358 (10%)
- Andrew Avery as Commissioner of Public Works; salary
reduction of $130,382 to $117,344 (10%) - Vincent Azzarelli as Director of Public Information; salary increase of $56,586 from $72,925 (29%)
There are several additional positions that will be likely voted upon Monday night involving positions within the Sheriff’s Department and Treasurer’s Office. Information about them can be found here.
Request for additional information
At last week’s Committee meetings I moved to table all appointments aside from those involving Legislators as I felt we did not have enough information about the appointees or the salary changes. Although the motions were not entertained, Leg. Marty Chalk, Chairperson of the Personnel Committee, requested Chairperson Manchester and County Executive Moss provide additional information ahead of this Monday’s meeting.
As of 2:30 pm on Friday (the time this post is being published) the legislators have received some of it, though none of the information has been made public yet. Specifically, we have received:
- Background information about the department-head appointees. This has been provided to the Legislature. The Chemung County Legislative Attorney is reviewing the submissions to see if they are suitable for public disclosure.
- Background information about people appointed to Committees and boards by County Executive Moss. This has been provided to the Legislature. It is my understanding that the information will be included with the Agenda for Monday and therefore be made public.
- A copy of the 2018 County Salary Survey and Benefits compendium by the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC). This is available to the Legislature and public for review on the Hazlett Buildings’s 5th Floor. It is a list of the salaries earned by all county employees in New York State.
- A packet of information with annotated resolutions. This has been provided to the Legislature. It will also likely be included with the Agenda and therefore be made public.
Letter requesting additional information
I wrote a letter yesterday to Personnel Chairperson Chalk requesting additional information. It appears most if not all of the background data has now been provided, but still leaves significant questions unanswered pertaining to Tom Freeman, the appointee for Airport Director, as well as the salary changes.
My dealings with Tom Freeman have always been very positive and he been successful in many business endeavors. However, Tom Freeman’s deep and varied connections to many aspects of the private aviation industry as well the Elmira and Binghamton airports raise a lot of questions related to potential conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety that must be answered before we take a vote.
Additionally, there are many unanswered questions related to the requested salary changes. Simply looking at what people holding similarly titled positions in other counties does not necessarily provide an accurate salary comparison, particularly where multiple shared services agreements and additional duties are involved. I suspect everyone on the Legislature recognizes the critical need to save money and protect taxpayer dollars, but we also need to make sure the process is fair to all of our employees.
I will do my best to share additional information as it becomes available.
The Industrial Development Agency (IDA)
On Wednesday County Executive Moss announced his appointments to the Chemung County IDA. As with other appointments, these will need to be approved by the Legislature.
We met this morning for our first public meeting for organizational purposes where we selected officers:
- Chairperson: David Sheen
- Vice-Chairperson: Dawn Burlew
- Secretary: Christina Sonsire
- Treasurer: vacant
There is one unfulfilled seat on the IDA board that will ideally be held by someone from Chemung County with ample experience in banking, accounting or finance. Please let me know if you are interested, or if you know someone with a good skill set for this role.
I am very excited about the opportunity to serve on the IDA, a body that has the power to help generate the kind of economic development our area needs. For too long this part of our local government has operated outside of the public view, but I am certain things are about to change. If today’s meeting is any indication, we are headed in a really good direction.
City-County Relations
On Wednesday Leg. Burin wrote a letter to County Executive Moss, Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell and Elmira Manager Mike Collins addressing many pressing issues in an attempt to forge an improved relationship between the two entities:
The West Elmira Fire Department
Finally, a disturbing story is developing concerning the West Elmira Fire Department. According to a WETM article found here as well as several postings on social media, at least 12 firefighters, most of whom are volunteers, resigned last night.
The details of what is happening remain somewhat unclear as they involve a personnel matter. The personnel matter was decided by West Elmira’s Fire Department’s Board of Directors, a wholly separate entity from the Town of Elmira Board.
Members of the public can be assured that West Elmira residents still have amble fire and emergency coverage. Along with West Elmira’s paid staff, municipal aide agreements with the City of Elmira, Golden Glow, Elmira Heights, Chemung County and others exists to insure that public safety remains intact.
More to come on all of these issues soon!
–Christina Sonsire
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Loading...[…] described the information regarding salary changes in a previous post, found here, and set it forth below for anyone who is interested but may have missed […]
Loading...On to another topic.
The issue of tax exempt properties is a very serious problem in the City of Elmira. There is an urgent need to review all tax exempt buildings in the city. The permissive category needs to be reviewed in terms of community benefit. The same applies to some 420 a buildings. Placing a cross above a building does not make it a church. The new low income housing projects are indeed needed, but only if they will replace the hideous slum rentals all over town. Otherwise we will continue to take care of the housing problem for all of upstate NY. I reviewed 990’s for some of these entities and I can see no significant community benefit.
That is why it is important to get details relating to any further addition of properties to the EC tax exempt campus. The problem is compounded by the redevelopment projects under way in downtown Elmira. The new buildings were given tax deferred status and will not be paying full taxes for years to come. All of these factors, if not corrected, will continue to reduce tax revenue for the city. Eventually city and county taxes will need to go up.
Yesterday’s WETM webcast relating to the new medical college, did not provide any details to assess the pros and cons of the project. It would be a great topic for a separate blog!
Loading...On another subject, there is a need to review tax exempt properties in the city. The permissive class includes more organizations that the ones named in the letter. The city can’t afford to keep a large number of properties under the permissive umbrella. At the same time the new downtown projects will not be paying full taxes for years after completion. It is a bad deal for folks living in the city and county, eventually their taxes will have to go up again.
Loading...The county and city should make a complete list of all these properties and asses each one individually in terms of community benefit. Some do great work in the city while others are simply taking advantage of average taxpayers. There is an urgent need to rescind the tax exempt status for many properties in the city even if it is controversial. I had a look at tax related documents of several organizations in town and I am yet to find any significant community benefit from many of them.
(This is a year. For some reason your comment did not appear on the blog when you posted it yesterday. I am testing to see if a reply triggers it to appear.)
Loading...My interest is simply trying to save a historic neighborhood and improve the local economy. I agree that with new people at a county level there is a chance for change.
Loading...However, it is disturbing to see the same faces in many county committees and the addition of city administrators that are part of the problem.
So far I have not seen a single proposal at a city level to improve things in spite of the county reaching out for a fresh start. We shall see.
Many of us have tried to reach out to our new county legislators without luck. Not a very promising start.
Rick, Thanks for sharing and your opinions do matter. We just need to have a little patience with each other, and I expect we’ll get there as a community. Many issues and problems, as you know well. You might want to start a conversation with your county legislator. Go here to see which district you are in: https://www.chemungcountyny.gov/departments/a_-_f_departments/county_legislature/find_my_legislator.php
Loading...Rick, your opinions and views are very important, as we as a community need to know and share with each other in order to succeed. It will take some time and patience with each other but I think we’ll get there as a community. I suggest starting a conversation with your county legislator. Go here to see which district you are in: https://www.chemungcountyny.gov/departments/a_-_f_departments/county_legislature/find_my_legislator.php
Loading...Andy, I am willing to see. I am hoping for Change. I believe it can if other people are allowed to be involved and be a part of things happening. There are 3 types of people in this world 1. People who hope things happen. 2. People who make things happen. 3. People who wonder how things happen. I am personally a person who likes to make things happen. I have been told by a peeson who used to be on City Coincil, “Rick, Did you know there are people working real hard to keep you small and out?” I just laughed, It has been like that for 18 yrs. I guess I am too stupid to quit.
Loading...I want to see change. I desire to see change. I will do my best to help bring change. I believe Chemung County has alot to offer. We are the HUB OF THE NORTHEAST! We can be better than we are. Let’s make our County desirable to be here for Businesses.
When the Gas Industry was here, it proved we are a Key Location but we need to grab that handle for other Companies and ride.
To Rick, Wouldn’t you say that with so many new voices and people, now involved in county government, new ideas and collaborations will arise? Let’s give all the new folks a chance to set the agenda and proceed.
Loading...Rick Sarli,
Loading...We started a Chemung County, NY Landlord Assoc. It is open to any Landlords in the County and our desire is to bring Training, Eduction and possibly Community Envolvement. We have met with Local Politicians in the past 3 years but again seems to fall on deaf ears. This is not being negative but it is a fact. The calling out facts as an negative attitude is getting old, Andy Patros.
We need everyone that influences the activity of our future to have open minds. Doing the same ole thing with the same ole attitude is a definition of insanity.
Joe, I’m trying to understand why your initial post to this thread is so pointed and leans to the negative? We have new people in many elected positions across the county, and maybe we let them set the agenda and we support them. Nobody can dispute we need a new course to navigate.
Loading...I agree with your take on rentals and the City of Elmira becoming a refugee camp.Housing laws and rules are bypassed on a daily basis, nobody cares. The official policy in the city is to use taxpayer’s money/grants to rehabilitate, not restore, houses only to divide each as much as possible into small units to maximize profit, turning them into low income section 8 rentals. The entire system is run by a few as a private club. Of course, this is the crowd that always gets grant money for their projects
As a private investor who has invested by now seven figures (my money, not grants) in true restorations in the Near West Historic neighborhood I fully agree with you sentiments about the City. In my experience, they will not move a finger to help in any way. In fact, they are rather nasty. They do not take any constructive criticism and they blacklist you in a second. The two council members that should be involved in my projects are busy elsewhere. I met with city officials and never heard again.
.
The only solution for this problem is to start all over:
1- Follow and update codes and laws and remove long time administrators are not doing their job.
2- Stop slamlords from dividing houses into multiple units. The city needs to reduce density and focus on single family homes, not renters.
3- Market rate housing only. With several big low income housing projects under construction, this is the time to move low income renters to adequate housing while rezoning entire city blocks to attract private capital, not grants.
4- There is an urgent need to have a real SINGLE Historic Districts committee. There are now several loosely affiliated groups in town that do very little in spite of receiving a large amount of taxpayers dollars to uphold historic standards and restore houses.
As for Mr Burin’s medical school proposal I am not sure what his it entails. I posted my questions above. In any case, as I predicted in several blogs, I am not surprised that medical students and faculty might end up living, eating and studying on campus, just like the rest of EC. So much for economic impact and community benefit. The proposed new housing complex would be joining EC main campus. I assume the complex would be tax exempt if indeed EC is part of the equation. Yes, I am aware that EC purchased many properties is the area in the past several years.In any case like I said I am not sure I understand the proposal. The only way this would help the city to increase tax related revenue would be if the housing complex in fully funded by private investors without grant money without EC in the mix.
Loading...As for the area around the new Medical School. Elmira College has been buying up properties in this area for the past 10-15 years or longer. They make these partials of properties Tax Exempt. Removing them from the taxable money collected.
Loading...There are people who own properties in the neighborhood. Offer them some help in Rehabilitation. The other issues and it is not just in this area of the City and County, it is every corner. Start making the PEOPLE who live in these buildings Personally Accountable for the way they live and act. I have Managed Properties in ALL areas of Elmira. This is what has to change.
The other issues are other Communities dumping on Chemung County. Stop allowing people who do not want to be productive coming to our area to get on Welfare and Section 8. These are really big issues Countywide. The City of Elmira has the highest Eviction Rate across NYS per capita of people, even out ranks the 5 borrows of NYC. You want change start dealing with the REAL ISSUES. I was asked 2 years ago to manage a 5 Unit on w. 4th Street, it was a very nice building. Still is. I could not get one tenant in there because of the other people on the Street close by. FACT! 2 Blocks from the Medical School.
Elmira has an Ordinance to deal with bad tenants but will not use it. Overwhelms the Court System. Maybe the County can take over the whole County Tensnt/Landlord issues. John Burin, you could have help fix this but didn’t. Came up with Rental Registration with no teeth and not Legal. Property Managers in NYS are by law, suppose to be NYS LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKERS. FACT! Not happening here. Following the Established laws will help.
In the past 22 years, I have seen many Investors try to Invest in Elmira and Chemung County walk away broke. Help change this and people will invest. Make it a priority of PERSONAL RESPONSIBLITY.
As for Tom Freeman, beware! Only out for self. Proven Track Record in with Greg Terp. Real Estate Agents in the area. Ice Arena and Hockey Team. Check his track record. Personal dealings at the Transit System.
As for West Elmira Fire Dept. Let them take care of thier own business. Chemung County has the BEST MUTUAL AID SYSTEM. It works. Big Flats FD went through thier Political Personel Issues. It works out.
I am not sure if I understand the student housing proposal. The city would pay for the demolition of several old houses to make room for new construction. Thereafter private investors would build and develop housing units for medical students and faculty. I am not sure how EC can get involved. They could pay for the new building and the land but then the new building would be tax exempt. Did I get this right?
Loading...Is that because you were in an elected position, as opposed to a position with a contract?
Loading...Mr. Williams: The amount I received from the county upon retirement was $0.00.
Loading...Mr. Sartori, How much are you receiving for your unused vacation days and sick leave, due to your retirement? As I am also an employee covered by the NYS pension, I know that is common practice upon retirement.
Loading...Moody’s changed it’s approach to rating municipal debt to bring it more in line with how it rated private offerings. Every municipality got a four step upgrade. Most recognized it as a rebasing and did not try to take credit for something they had nothing to do with. Do you remember financing more than $4 million in pension costs when you were city manager? Those are costs the taxpayers are still paying for. Finally, the $105,000 was an annual salary that would be used to compute an hourly rate if I stayed on (WORKING) after year end. It is quite different than the $93,000 you walked out the door with when you suddenly left the City in the middle of 2013.
Loading...Interesting comments from a guy who tried to rip off the taxpayers for $105,000 by staying on the payroll after his retirement. This proposal is part of the guidelines set forth with Generally Accepted Accounting Principals. Also, during my tenure as city manager, Moody’s gave the city of Elmira four bond upgrades, so they must believe in smoke and mirrors.
Loading...Christina: With regard to the county/city tax advance agreement addressed in Mr. Burin’s letter you should be aware that such an agreement was done in 2016. It was cancelled when the city was unable to make timely repayment of advances. They finally made the last payment (three months late) but that left a great deal of concern within county administration. Unless the city has gotten less insolvent in the last three years that seems like a big gamble with county money. With regard to his comment about paying for the unpaid taxes early so the revenue can be recognized in 2018 instead of 2019 that is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. It does not add one dime of additional cash to the city’s financial situation. It is the same thing he did as City Manager to hide the true health of the city through gamesmanship. It is also a significant part of the reason the city is in it’s current condition.
Loading...Thank you Christina for your diligence in providing the public with information on the issues, and in particular for giving us the video of the last committee meeting. Healthy government happens only when both branches are doing the work as outlined in the county charter, striving for a productive system of checks and balances.
Loading...Two quick questions Christina; are the committee appointments all volunteer? I know some members appointed are not legislators and was curious. Secondly, if the MT Golf Course is a break even operation, why not sell it to a private operator and make it a taxable entity? You would get the revenues from the sale and taxes each year of operation.
Loading...Those are both great questions, Mike.
The Committee appointments are largely volunteer, but some involve a small amount of pay. I am trying to get that specific information. I recently suggested to some legislators that we should work hard to open up the appointment process to anyone who is interested. Anyone who has an interest in serving on one of these boards in the future should definitely contact me.
The MT Golf Course question is also very interesting. There are a few small things the City would have to address on its end because the course is considered a “park”, but the much bigger issue is likely identifying a buyer. The Arena situation has shown how hard these transactions can be. However, in my opinion it is definitely an option that should be fully on the table.
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