February 2010 Monthly Announcements

1. Tug Hill Commission Local Government Conference - Registration information has been mailed to local officials for the Tug Hill Commission's 21st Annual Local Government Conference on Thursday, April 1 at JCC, Watertown.  The keynote speaker will be Robert Freeman, Executive Director, NYS Department of State, Committee on Local Government. When sending in your registration forms, please mark the registration form in the lower left corner for the courses you would like to take.  Also please mark you lunch choice.  This helps in planning for enough seating and adequate handouts available for each session. Early registration fee is $50 & must be postmarked by 3/10/2010, registration is $75 if postmarked by 3/17/2010 and if you pay at the door,  the fee is $100. 

 

2. Municipal Energy Grants -The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is responsible for administering the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  Municipalities receiving electrical service through a municipal commission will be eligible for this program. The RFP will provide up to 100% funding for the implementation of energy conservation measures including (i) energy efficiency, (ii) renewable energy, (iii) efficient transportation systems, (iv) material conservation, and (v) energy conservation personnel.  The deadline for applications to be received is February 17, 2010 .).   

The new NYSERDA PON 1613 grant program deadline is in mid March . Grant funds can be used to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean fleet projects. If you have already had an energy audit this program will provide funds to implement the recommendations.  Applicants may request up to 100% of the project cost, up to $1 million per proposer (cap of $500,000 for clean fleet projects). If communities need help with the RFP please feel free to contact the Commission at 888-785-2380.  For more information, visit the NYSERDA Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant webpage http://www.nyserda.org/economicrecovery/blockgrants.asp

3. Junky Yards/Unkempt Property-   The Training Session will be offered by Local Government  Education Committee of Oneida and Herkimer Counties at SUNYIT Thursday, March 11, 7:00-9:00 PM at Kunsela Hall at SUNYIT, Utica. Flyers will be mailed out next week to local officials with a registration form.  The speakers will include Tom Romanowski, from the NYS Office of Codes, Joe Booth, Codes Enforcement Officer from New Harford and attorney Ray Meier The fee to attend is $15 and pre-registration is required one week prior to the session.  Light refreshments will be served.

 

4. Fiscal Oversight / Red Flags for Fraud -   The Training Session was offered by the NYS Comptroller's Office from Syracuse in Boonville on January 28.  Due to the stormy weather some people were not able to attend.  Please let your circuit rider know if you would like a copy of the handouts that were given out that night.  All the information presented by Laird Petrie was very helpful in conveying the legal fiscal responsibilities for town and village board members, supervisors, mayors, treasures, clerks and essentially anyone that handle money for a municipality. The people who were able to attend in January were given a five year fiscal report summary based on their annual reports to the state.

 

5.Headwaters - The annual Tug Hill Commission newsletter "Headwaters" was mailed out to local officials in January.   It provides a nice update on many projects both locally and regionally. If you would like a copy or did not get one, please let your circuit rider know.

 

6. Land Use Planning - NYS DOP Update: "Projects,   Permits and Procedures "-  This session will be  held on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. ,Jules Center Amphitheater (Room 6-002)

Jefferson Community College, 1240 Coffeen St., Watertown, NY The Jefferson County Department of Planning, NYS Tug Hill Commission, and the Center for Community Studies at JCC are co-sponsoring a training session featuring staff from the NYS Department of Transportation covering topics of interest to land use planning officials.

            Agenda

            6:30 - 6:35 p.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks.

            6:35 - 8:00 p.m. Presentation by New York State Department of Transportation

            Commercial Highway Work Permit Process:

            Overview of Major and Minor Permits, Insurance and Liability Requirements for each,        Engineering Requirements, Inspection Obligations, Time-Lines for Approval and Work- Zone    Safety.

            SAFETEA-LU and Capital Program: Update on SAFETEA-LU and Reauthorization,        Overview of NYS DOT Regional Capital Program.

            New York State Sign Program: Overview of the NYS Sign Program, Laws Governing     the Program,

 

7. Upcoming Grant Deadlines -

            Feb 24:         Local Govt. Efficiency Grants (DOS)   

            March 15:    Energy Conservation Studies (NYSERDA) - first come, first served                         .

            March 22:     RFP 1613 Project Implementation Funding for State Energy Program                                             (NYSERDA)

 

8. NOCCOG Yearly Dues Vouches - The vouchers for the $550 yearly dues were  mailed to supervisor & mayors the first week of January.

 

                                                             Email addresses:

Gjriiter01@aol.com or gerryritternoccog@frontiernet.net

hmoonen@twcny.rr.com  &  smartin47@roadrunner.com