(Binghamton, NY). The Broome County Legislature held its fourth Regular Session of 2010 on Thursday, April 22, 2010 in the Broome County Office Building in Downtown Binghamton.

 

The Legislature considered resolutions concerning improving Broome County’s emergency response radio frequency infrastructure, modification of agriculture districts, an area wide hospital immediate response plan, green jobs funding and a local law establishing a partial property tax exemption for county property tax payers among numerous other items.

 

The meeting began with the swearing in of Joseph A. Merrill by City of Binghamton Judge MaryAnn Lehman. Mr. Merrill will represent the Second Legislative District in a seat that was vacated by former legislator Tim Cleary. The Second District is comprised on the City of Binghamton’s First Ward and part of the West Side.

 

Chairman Reynolds announced the 2010 recipients of the legislature’s 3^rd Annual Green Initiative Recognition Program. In honor of Earth Day, the legislature recognized 12 organizations that have displayed exemplary leadership and innovative practices to improve our environment.

 

After considering the comments made at a public hearing last month, the legislature voted on a matter pertaining to the inclusion of certain parcels in Agricultural Districts No. 4 & 5. After several residents voiced concerns over two properties in the Town of Kirkwood being included, the legislature voted to remove those two parcels from the accepted list of properties.

 

In an effort to offer property tax relief to homeowners who improve their homes, the legislature considered a local law establishing a partial county property tax exemption on the increased assessment resulting from home improvement projects ranging between $3,000 and $80,000 and completed between March 1, 2011 and March 1, 2012. More information on this tax exemption can be found on the county’s website. A vote on this proposal was deferred to the Legislature’s Session on May 18^th.

 

The legislature approved a series of resolutions to improve emergency services dispatch efficiency and firefighter safety throughout the county and to also assist the county in coming into compliance with a Federal narrowbanding mandate which takes effect in 2013. In addition, an agreement was approved between various county agencies and local health care providers to provide an area wide hospital immediate response plan for Broome County in the event that a facility can no longer serve patients or must be evacuated as was the case during the floods of 2006.

 

A $175,000 grant from the Veterans Administration was accepted that will be used by the county’s Office for Aging to provide a wide range of services to veterans in Broome County. A grant for the Office of Employment & Training in the amount of $237,548 was also accepted to provide occupational skills training in construction and energy efficiency trades and on the job training for eligible residents.

 

One item held over during committee week was a Local Law creating a requirement for a special hauling permit for use of county roads by certain vehicles that exceed the weight or dimensional limits in State Vehicle and Traffic Law. After much public discussion about this Local Law in numerous committees, it was deferred to a special County Administration committee which will be scheduled in order to review the concerns that have been raised by the business community. A draft of this proposed Local Law is available online at: www.gobroomecounty.com/legis/local-laws

 

Once adopted by the Legislature, resolutions are then forward by the Clerk of the Legislature to the County Executive for her approval.

 

Draft resolutions, meeting notices, agendas, minutes and all other legislative business are available on the County Legislature’s website under the Legislative Business tab at: www.gobroomecounty.com/legis  For more information, please feel free to visit the site or contact the legislative staff by phone at 778-2131 or on Facebook.

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