Local officials often find the steps in the SEQRA process challenging and have requested training to help them with this process.   Northern Oneida County Council of Governments is sponsoring SEQRA training for local officials on Thursday, March 13, 7:00pm -9:00pm at the Trenton Municipal Center, 8520 Old Poland Road, Barneveld.   Topics to be covered include:

• SEQR Act short form and long form.
• When should a municipality act as the lead agent in the SEQR process
• What are the responsibilities and steps to follow as the lead agent
• What other agencies need to  be contacted as part of the process
• The role of SEQR in site plan review, special use permits, variances, ZBA actions, subdivision review, conditional use permits, comprehensive plans and local laws.

The presenter will be Betty Ann Hughes, Chief/SEQR & Training from the NYS Department of State. This course is eligible for 2 hours of the required annual training for Planning Board and ZBA members

 Please register for this training by calling Gerry Ritter, circuit rider, Northern Oneida County Council of Governments at 315-392-2260 by March 7, 2008

NOCCOG is pleased to be a co-sponsor for two workshops designed to assist village officials in preparing their annual budgets.  The presentation will be by the Office of the State Comptroller, Syracuse Regional Office. Topics to be covered include an overview of the budgetary responsibilities of village officials, how to develop a structurally balanced budget, key elements of the annual budget, tools available for assisting village officials in the budget process and monitoring and amending the annual budget.

The sessions will be held:

      Tuesday, February 26, 2008  7:00 -9:00 p.m. Village of Central Square Municipal Office, 3125 E. Avenue, Central Square

      Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:00-9:00  p.m. Village of Boonville Municipal Office, 13149 State Route 12, Boonville

  There is no fee for this training program. Please pre-register by calling the Tug Hill Commission office toll free at 1-888-785-2380.

Topics will include: conflicts of interest; code of ethics, boards of ethics and financial disclosure statements; dual office holding and compatibility  of office; appearance of impropriety; defense and indemnification; liability for acts in office; appointments; holding over in office; removal from office; vacancy in office; resignations and other topics.

The workshop is being offered free of charge and is sponsored by the Tug Hill Commission, Northern Oneida County Council of Governments, Cooperative Tug  Hill Council, River Area of Governments, Salmon River Council of Governments,  and North Shore Council of Governments.  Registration is requested one week in advance and can be arranged by calling the Tug Hill Commission at 1-888-785-2380 by Tuesday December 18th.

An additional opportunity for new officials is a teleconference - "Just Elected - What Do You Do Now" - Thursday, December 13, 2007 at Kunsela Hall, SUNYIT, Marcy, NY. This Department of the State Comptroller teleconference is sponsored  locally by the Local Government Education Committee of Herkimer and Oneida Counties (LGEC) . The program is specifically designed for newly elected and appointed town officials and will cover a wide array of responsibilities for said officials. Mark Scheidelman, Town of Trenton Supervisor and NOCCOG Fiscal Officer, will be a panelist during this teleconference.

Check-in for the teleconference is at 6:15pm and the presentation will run from 6:30-8:45pm. There is a $15.00 charge per person and the registration deadline is one week prior to the teleconference. Registration forms and additional details can be found on the LGEG web site at http://www.lgec.com/.
All newly elected officials are strongly urged to attend both of these training/information sessions.  Although the presentations are geared toward the newly elected officials, many second term and seasoned officials would benefit from also attending one or both of these sessions.

• Planning Board Basics
• Site Plan Review and Special Use Permits.

The training will be offered on Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 6:30-8:30 at the Boonville Town and Village Offices, 12149 State Route 12, Boonville.  Please contact the Tug Hill Commission at 1-888-785-2380 by Friday, November 30 to register for this training session.  This training is a great opportunity for local officials to meet the annual training requirement.

LUCA, the Local Update of Census Addresses, is the only opportunity for local governments to review and update the Census Bureau address lists. By participating in the 2010 Census LUCA Program, you can help improve the Census 2010 count for your jurisdiction. When you participate in the program you will have the opportunity to review and update the Census Bureau's address list or submit your own local address list to the Census Bureau; and review and update the legal boundaries and features on the Census Bureau maps for your area.

The Herkimer- Oneida County Comprehensive Planning Program and has scheduled a training session to be held on Thursday, October 18, 2007 6:30- 8:30 at the Trenton Municipal Center, 8520 Old Poland Road, Barneveld, NY.  You will need to register by October 15 to ensure there will be enough materials and handouts.  You can register by either: Emailing Dale Miller at dmiller@ocgov.net (please place LUCA TRAINING in the subject line) or calling the HOCCPP office at 315-798-5710 to register the names of attendees. 

The focus of the training will include: Assistance in understanding the best LUCA option for your community, an in depth presentation of Option 1, which allows you full access to Census Files, training on how to complete all phases of Option 1, information on the assistance HOCCPP will be providing for Herkimer and Oneida Counties, including mapping of census blocks, use of aerial photography to count units, block count data, identification of potential "at risk" units in your municipality, database management tips and assistance.

In order to assist your community in the upcoming LUCA process, you will need to have a representative, preferably the point person from your community that will serve as the contact source for all LUCA activities, at this important training. Local officials from other counties are also invited to attend.

The NOCCOG Executive Board is pleased to announce the selection of Susan Martin as the newest associate rider for the Northern Oneida Council of Governments.  Susan, a Barneveld resident, is joining fellow associate Harlan Moonen and full time circuit rider/municipal management consultant Gerry Ritter in serving NOCCOG member municipalities.

Susan will primarily be covering the towns of Floyd and Steuben and the villages of Barneveld, Holland Patent and Prospect and began  attending some of the monthly municipal board meetings in January for these communities. Over the next few weeks Gerry Ritter and Harlan Moonen will be taking Susan around to introduce her to town and village boards.

The NOCCOG Executive Board interviewed several qualified candidates for this position and it was a difficult decision.  The position became vacant when Gerry Ritter was appointed to the full time municipal management consultant position in March 2006.  We are sure NOCCOG communities will continue to welcome this newest NOCCOG circuit rider.

Close to 100 local officials attended Northern Oneida County Council of Governments yearly meeting and dinner at the Franklin Hotel, Rome on October 26^th.   Ronald C. Brach, the executive director of the New York State Legislative Commission on Rural Resources was the guest speaker for the evening and shared with those present information this commission learned from listening sessions held around the state in rural areas this past year.   Copies of the Executive Summary by the Commission on Rural Resources which contains more detailed information was unveiled at the meeting and made available to NOCCOG town and villages for review. Mr. Brach stressed that the report is not cast in stone and the commission is encouraging feed back from the report.  Mr. Brach stated that rural communities need to work on an action agenda to address their present and future needs and need to make state agencies and officials aware of this agenda.

Floyd Supervisor, John Buczek, presented a gift and a resolution on behalf of NOCCOG and the communities it represents in recognition of Kevin J. Smith, the director of infrastructure and natural resources for the Tug Hill Commission, who will be retiring in November.  Kevin has worked closely with NOCCOG and the circuit riders in the past, as well as working directly with many NOCCOG communities on numerous projects during his tenure with the Tug Hill Commission.

 A business meeting followed with NOCCOG chairman, Robert Sauer, presenting the chairman’s report regarding NOCCOG projects during the past year. Fiscal officer, Mark Scheidelman, presented his report and noted that all NOCCOG communities paid their membership support in full for 2006 and dues for 2007 will remain at $550.  The proposed budget for 2007 was presented and approved. The business meeting included approval of the minutes of the 2006 annual meeting and the election of officers for the NOCCOG executive board for 2007 which will remain the same with Robert Sauer Chairman, Arnie Talgo vice-chairman and Mark Scheidelman Fiscal Officer. 

NOCCOG COMMUNITY’S FALL FESTS

The crisp air and beautiful fall foliage has arrived.  The NOCCOG area is celebrating the arrival of autumn by hosting a variety of community celebrations and events to mark the changing of the seasons.        

• A community celebration was held in Steuben to mark the 75^th anniversary of the dedication of the Baron Von Steuben Memorial Park on Starr Hill in Steuben. Visitors enjoyed candlelight tours of the recent restoration work on the replica cabin where the Baron lived and an 18^th century desert reception featuring wine made from the Steuben heirloom grapes.
• The 27^th Remsen Barn Festival of the Arts was held September 23^rd and 24^th.   The Barn FOTA features over 300 exhibitors and crafters, farmers’ market and country cooking exhibitions.    A variety of entertainment was also featured including Irish musicians and cloggers, bluegrass bands, a ladies barbershop quartet, a comedy-variety performance and several local bands. In honor of Remsen’s Welsh heritage, a Welsh Festival of Sacred Song was held on Sunday at the historic Stone Meetinghouse.   Even with the rainy weather, the event attracted over 40,000 visitors this year
• Western held its third annual Heritage Weekend on September 23^rd and 24^th. The celebration was kicked of with the lighting of the heritage candle at the Western Town Library. Events included a colonial country brunch, a musket and artillery demonstration by “revolutionary war soldiers”, a quilt show, an 18^th century dance demonstration, and a historical picture presentation of the past and present of the Town of Western.
• Old Forestport Days were held on September 30^th and October 1.  The celebration was built around the opening and dedication of the Boonville- Forestport towpath as a permanent connector segment for the North County Scenic Trail, the longest of the national scenic trails.  The trail starts in North Dakota and will end at Lake Champlain.  Other events included a parade, softball tournament, a chicken barbeque, music, free hayrides and buggy rides.  Michael Doyle, author of “The Forestport Breaks, A Nineteenth Century Conspiracy Along the Black River Canal” wrote a theatrical narration that was performed by local residents to highlight the history of the three Forestport canal brakes.
• The Trenton Fall Scenic Trail will be open to the public for two weekends, October 7^th and 8^th and October 14th and 15^th.  At one time Trenton Fall was world famous, attracting visitors from around the world. It was closed to the public for years due to its value in generating electricity.  Brookfield Power and the Town of Trenton worked together to develop the Trenton Falls Scenic Trail to offer the public an opportunity to experience the local history while enjoying the splendors of nature.  The site also highlights three themes: the geology of the gorge, the history of Trenton Falls as a tourist destination and inspiration for artists and writers as well as the current use of the site to produce electricity.
• The Boonville Fall Arts Festival was held October 6- 8.  The weekend featured a craft show in the little village park, a chili cook off, a pie eating contest, a pet parade, a scarecrow making contest, the fall art exhibition at the Dodge-Pratt- Northam Art and Community Center and a 10K road race..  Music entertainment was offered in the little village park and a community dance was held Saturday evening at the Hulbert House.   The weekend also included the formal dedication of Project Playground at Erwin Park. The project is a $42,000 park improvement project that was funded by an Iroquois Gas LEAF Grant, NYS Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Pratt- Northam Foundation,  the Village of Boonville and local businesses.

The NOCCOG Executive Board is pleased to announce the Gerry Ritter has accepted the position as the full-time Municipal Management Consultant, effective March 23, 2006.  Based upon earlier interviews the Executive Board believes that Gerry is the best candidate and that her appointment will provide seamless transition at this time for NOCCOG communities.  The Executive Board is confident that Gerry's new role will be a great success for NOCCOG communities based upon her proven outstanding service and dedication.

The Executive Board  will be working with Gerry as well as assistant circuit rider Harlan Moonen  to ensure a smooth transfer of duties and responsibilities.  Assistance will be  provided during this transition period by the Tug Hill Commission

NOCCOG is committed to providing exceptional assistance to member communities and will continue to make every effort to meet each community's needs. 

The 22nd annual meeting of NOCCOG was held on October 27, 2005 at the Franklin Hotel in Rome with approximately 100 people in attendance.

Guest speaker for the evening was Charlie Murphy, the director of Local Government Services at the NY Department of State. Ms. Murphy spoke in depth regarding the many funding programs available through the "Quality Communities" program.  Ms. Murphy also presented information regarding the expanded "Shared Municipal Services Incentives" awards program, which fosters grant funding for innovative shared services of two or more municipalites, including school districts.

NOCCOG Vice Chairman Arnie Talgo gave a presentation about the formidable and lengthy career with NOCCOG by recently retired Circuit Rifer, Steve Hunter.  Chairman Robert Sauer spoke about Hunter's many years of dedicated service and presented him with a plaque with a commemorative inscription.  Hunter graciously accepted the  honorarium and spoke of how much he enjoyed his years serving the municipalities and working with the numerous public officials  and community residents.

Chairman Sauer gave his annual report and discussed projects in which NOCCOG is currently involved, as well as recent accomplishments. He thanked the NOCCOG communities for their support and thanked the circuit riders for their hard work and efforts.

NOCCOG Fiscal Officer Mark Scheidelman gave the financial report and noted the expenses for 2005 were staying within budget projections.  All member municipalities paid their  yearly dues for 2005 for the 14th consecutive year.

Scheidelman referenced the proposed 2006 budget approved by the NOCCOG Executive Committee, noting an increase in mileage reimbursement due to higher gasoline costs.  He also noted the anticipated fund balance would offset expenses for 2006, however, in order to keep a balanced budget and remain solvent, the Executive Committee has proposed an increase of dues for member municipalities to $500 per year, as cited in the proposed budget.  A motion was made, seconded and carried to increase dues in 2006 for member municipalities from $500 per year to $550 per year.

A motion was made, seconded and carried to accept the 2006 NOCCOG proposed budget.

Nominating Committee member John Buczek, Supervisor Town of Floyd presented the slate of officers for 2006:

                              Robert Sauer of Camden - Chairman

                              Arnie Talgo of Steuben - Vice Chairman

                              Mark Scheidelman of Trenton- Fiscal Officer

There were no further nominations and the nominating process was closed.  Peter Billard, Mayor of the Village of Remsen and Nominating Committee member, requested that a single ballot  be cast for the slate.  Motion was made , seconded and carried.

There being no further business, the meeting concluded and was adjourned.