2/6/08 - Sandy Price LEGISLATOR'S MONTHLY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2008

LEGISLATOR'S MONTHLY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2008

The regular session agenda included a number of appointments,
re-appointments, and routine resolutions authorizing agreements and
purchases that were in the 2008 approved budget.

Authorization to bond for $405,000 of highway equipment was
unanimously approved.

Authorization was given to hire outside legal counsel to represent the
county and its employees for up to $10,000 in law suits over the
creation of the Conflict Attorney Office. This was done because the
County Attorney was conflicted.

Committee assignments were received and filed. In addition to being
the Majority Leader, my assignments for the coming term are: member of
the Personnel Committee, member of the Budget & Finance Committee,
member and vice-chair of the Health Committee, member and chair of the
Human Services Committee. Larry Cornell and I will continue as
co-chairs of the CCTVS [County, City, Towns, Villages and Schools]
Committee. 

I will continue to represent the county in contract
negotiations at TC3 for the Professional Administrators and the
Faculty. I am also the legislative representative on the Older
Americans Advisory Board, RSVP Advisory Board, and the Nutrition Task
Force, and the Employees Wellness Day Committee. Additionally I  serve
on the Family Counseling Board of Directors, the Salvation Army
Advisory Board, the TC3 Foundation Board, as a Director of the
Cortland County Farm Bureau, the Virgil Youth Commission as the
Program Director, and the Harford Building Committee. From time to
time I also serve as a parent representative on the Cortland Schools
Committee on Special Education. At the Virgil Methodist Church  I
serve as the Religious Education Director, Youth & Family Group Leader
and on the board.

Additionally I am serving on the newly formed Cortland County Transit
Needs Assessment Transportation Advisory Committee.  The first meeting
was very well attended. Surveys and discussion will happen to improve services. I
believe that public transportation is very important. I reported that
one of number one priorities identified in my recent survey was
?transportation for youth employees from the city to Greek Peak?.
Additionally I reported that other unmet needs were: bus shelters at
high volume areas, once a week shopping trips for the senior
apartments in Harford, and a fixed route through Virgil for workers on
the day shift specifically to the Cortlandville Mall area. The TC3
route is appreciated. Finally that coordination with Tompkins County
should be expanded. Any thoughts?

Workers Compensation Insurance was the topic of  the first of what
will hopefully will be a number of meetings with all interested
parties. The Town of Harford suffered a great loss of a fireman. The
community was devastated needless to say. Survivors are rightfully
getting money each month to make up the tremendous loss this husband
and father. This money has to come from somewhere and the way it is
set up now the town picks up that full cost over a three year period.
The payment hike this year resulted in a 20% tax hike for the
landowners in Harford. That was a cost of $27,000 in '07 and will be
$38,000 in '08, $53,000 in '09, and $66,000 in '10. For a small town
like Harford with much of its best land belonging to the state and
with a bare bones budget to start with this is leading to financial
crisis. It is my hope that the local law can be amended to help the
Town of Harford and protect all municipalities from ever being in this
situation. All support is welcome.

Is there anything I should be aware or doing?