主页My WebLink关于1993-11/12 7 F 3 \---- fl Newsletter for Cif 7 Employees and Retirees �._. ,,.. of Tompkins Count __AL,0,41- ., , ,...... . _ P Y n ‘ N , . _ r K 7 . ; (S ,,..,, _ t r ----- 11•11111) rll 1... NOVEMBER / DECEMBER, 1993 Volume 6 Number 11 Z New Yor 6 i' - IP . . , . B c ,,,._ ii_ „,, _ ._..„._, l' Il 'SS 111111111 Ilir el iiiii ,, County Name ,,, " - .2 REGIONAL" License Plates by Aurora Valenti, County Clerk , ' ' ,:. , ,j ,' tt ilt New custom "regional" plates are now k " available at the Tompkins County Motor � �� - Vehicle Office at Hancock a nd Th ird Streets. Tompkins County is in the "Finger Lakes Region," and the plates ' ' AA contain a likeness of Taughannock Falls, Keuka Lake, and Grapes of our area's wine country. The charge for the plates is an additional $25 per annum, plus a one -time fee of $9.50. A personalized "HAPPY HALLOWEEN" 1993 from the Planning Department regional plate may be ordered through the office locally at a cost of $63.00. Custom plates for other regions of New York, as well as "Sports Plates" may also be ordered throught the local DMV office. .. re r Information may be obtained by stopping c.' + ° ' -4 by the local office or calling 273 -7187. 4$ ' 1 1 ,1 '# ' i • r 2 eoeo ve.oe boeoe eob.x votoc NNve do &N 4 • , ,z: ..,_, . �p�, , S �ason s s 1 A. • OV11 111 1„, 41 Grettngs GOOD WORK noxs 10, \ ; � 1 e d, The Corridors Staff salutes DONALD \ \ FRANKLIN, Director of Assessment, on his one year anniversary of NOT .. `∎ »ti∎∎NoTxx cvlozo.xtxvoi. w���oo� ■ix• SMOKING, as of November 5, 1993. Don rel , , •,. r 1 r 1 had been a smoker for 40 years! He ' .; + � ° :r t � ir deserves our applause for quitting and all c40 ' P ' NI of his staff at the Assessment Dept. want to say CONGRATULATIONS to the boss. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT by Scott Heyman BUDGET UPDATE No time of year is busier than when the County Budget and Capital Program are being wrapped up, so this month's Corridors report is brief. The budget proposed by the County Board's Budget and Administration Committee calls for an 11.2% increase in property taxes, nearly all of this attributable to increases in costs for Social Services ($1 million +), Education of Preschool Handicapped Children ($549 thousand), and the Jail ($287 thousand). The increase in taxes would have been even higher if the Committee had not backed away from the Board's decades -long commitment to prudent reserves; the target "fund balance" (just like a savings account) was dropped from 5% to 4.1% of expenditures. TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT/EMPLOYEE EDUCATION AND TRAINING The County Board is scheduled to act on November 16 on a Resolution committing County government to full implementation of Total Quality Management. Funds for significantly increased employee education opportunities - -both for their own sake and in connection with the change to TQM - -are included in the proposed budget at the recommendation of County Department Heads. The makeup of the Leadership Council that will facilitate and guide the TQM effort is not yet set, but will take shape as the new County Board organizes itself. TQM cannot be successfully implemented without a Countywide opening up of lines of communication; funds for this purpose are also included in the proposed budget. Data Processing Director Dean Ekstrom has begun to promote ideas for a capital project in 1994 that would be implemented in 1995 and would greatly improve County employees' ability to "talk" to each other by networked personal computers. This column has been detailing for several months an array of change initiatives that will begin to happen early in 1994; they all appear to be on track. • ti { a. •t . `• ti t J •• .'.,. `: •f ; .:•. TQM CONSULTANT GIVES PRESENTATION by Cheryl Nelson On Tuesday, October 5th Mr. Richard J. Thomas, Senior Program Director of Rochester Institute of Technology Training and Professional Development College of Continuing Education, gave a presentation and overview of Total Quality Management. Twenty one people from Tompkins County and Challenge Industries attended this presentation in the Mental Health Conference Room. Mr. Thomas' 21/2 hour presentation served as an effective overview of the principles of Total Quality Management. Special thanks go to Jim Wilson, Cleaner, and Tony Denmark, Plumber /Steamfitter, for suggesting that Mr. Thomas be invited to Tompkins County to give his presentation. ATTENTION ALL 25 YEAR CLUB MEMBERS SAND THOSE REACHING THEIR 25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH THE COUNTY IN 1993! by Louise McEwen, Benefits Mgr. Due to my time constraints, I have not been able to devote enough time to scheduling a 25 Year Club Dinner in 1993. I know many of you look forward to this event in December of each year, so my deepest apology to you. The year 1993 would mark the induction of eight new County employees into the 25 Year Club -- sincere congratulations -- Emery Guest, Sheriff Manuel Posso, M.D., Public Health Joan Brock, Social Services Linda Thayer, Social Services Roger Vargo, Public Works Steven Bieler, Mental Health Beth Jenkins, Mental Health Richard Stoughton, Public Works Since May is designated as Employee Recognition Month each year, I will strive to have a 25 Year Club Dinner set up for May, 1994, so we may recognize the above new members and enjoy the usual good food and time with these and current members. CHANNEL 53 PERSONNEL PERSONALS Schedule for December CONGRATULATIONS TO: ...from Julie Crowell Brenda Grinnell- Crosby ( formerly Vassalotti) Ilealth Dept., Dec. on her marriage to Joe Crosby on October 16. 1 Noon (Live) Public Works & Construction Comm. 2 Noon (Live) Public Safety Comm. R Manley, retiring from the Sheriff's Dept. in 2 7 p.m. (Repeat) Public Hearing on Budget Y g P 3 7 p.m. (Repeat) Public Works & Construction Comm. December after twenty years of service. 6 7 p.m. (Repeat) Public Safety Comm. Enjoy a long and happy retirement! 7 10 a.m. Human Services Comm. 7 5:30 p.m. (Live) Board of Reps. George LaFave, Assessment, retiring November 24. 8 7 p.m. (Repeat) Human Services Comm. 9 Noon Solid Waste & Resource Management THANK YOU TO: Comm. Shirley Fritts and Mike Armstrong, Sr., for so willingly and 9 7 p.m. (Repeat) Board of Reps. 13 7 p.m. (Repeat) Solid Waste & Resource Management ably handling the distribution of County Corridors. Comm. 14 Noon (Live) Budget & Admin. Comm. SYMPATHY TO: 14 7 p.m. Inside Tompkins County Hugh Hurlbut, Personnel- retired, on the loss of his wife. 15 Noon (Live) Public Works & Construction Comm. 17 7 p.m. (Repeat) Public Works & Construction Comm. Suzanne Phillips, B.& G., on the loss of her brother -in -law. 20 7 p.m. (Repeat) Budget & Adm. 21 5:30 p.m. (Live) Board of Reps. Dawn Lawrence, DSS, on the loss of her father -in -law. 23 Noon (Live) Solid Waste & Resource Management Comm. 23 7 p.m. (Repeat) Board of Reps. Betty Watkins, PW Engineering, on the loss of her. father. 27 7 p.m. (Repeat) Solid Waste & Resource Management Comm. GET WELL WISHES TO: 28 10:30 a.m. (Live) Health & Education Comm. Debbie Horton, DSS. , Illia 29 Noon (Live) Public Works & Construction Comm. 29 7 p.m. (Repeat) Health & Education Comm. 30 7 p.m. (Repeat) Public Works & Construction Comm. WELCOME TO: Sandra Hagin, Real Property Appraiser, a o * 0 * Assessment. at MANY THANKS TO T.C.H.D. THANK YOU TO RETIREES! from Louise McEwen from Jennifer Ilurlbuu, RN Many Thank you's to the Tompkins County Health I want to express thanks to all retirees who responded so Department for granting my leave of absence this summer generously to the recent United Way Campaign. Retirees to work on a mission project in the Federated States of accounted for $1,389 in contributions, nearly 10% of the Micronesia. I was on the island of Pohnpei and our goal total collected throughout the County. Given today's was to see a medical clinic constructed and operating in the economy and the income status of some retirees, for some outback of the island. folks this was a "dig deep in my pocket" effort. I want you I especially thank my fellow public health -Home Care to know your dollars are much appreciated and will make nurses and staff for the extra load they carried during my a big difference. Thank you again, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! absence. As I trekked up jungle paths or inspected local hospital and clinic accommodations, or even as I, on a rare day off, snorkeled a reef, I thought of you all often with :•f. much appreciation. What a grand experience, I am still `' :ti's•• =• overwhelmed. Thank you each very much. W4 appy ew ea sF Dear County Employees: I want to say thanks for the flowers and cards I received while I was at Tompkins Community Hospital. I'm happy to report I'm now back on the job. Jim Wilson, Cleaner. The County Corridors Board extends thank your to all who contributed articles, ideas for articles, pictures and UNCLASSIFIEDS words of support. We look forward to 1994 issues and APARTMENT TO SHARE: once again ask for your help. Looking for female to share bright, sunny, carpeted two We sincerely hope your holiday season is a happy, bedroom apartment. $250 /month includes utilities. healthy and rewarding time for each of you! For more information please call 564 -0082. ARE YOU SSI ELIGIBLE? UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN SUCCEEDS AGAIN On November 1, 1993, the Office for the Aging commenced a by Phil LaPadula grant to do SSI outreach. The grant is from the New York State This year's United Way Campaign has ended on Office for the Aging and is aimed at identifying individuals who are a note of success. The employees and retirees of potentially eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Tompkins County have once again risen to the The COFA outreach efforts will be aimed at identifying occasion. We recognized the need and we met the individuals eligible for SSI and assisting them through the often challenge. difficult application process. The SSI program is run by Social CONGRATULATIONS!!! Security. SSI pays monthly checks to people who are 65 and over, This year, we raised almost $15,000.00 to be or disabled or blind people of any age, who have little or nothing allocated to community organizations and agencies in the way of regular income or valuables that can be turnrd into that provide direct services to people in Tompkins cash. The disabled or blind categories include children as well as County. It's good to know that county employees adults. can be counted upon to help when the call goes The 1993 SSI eligibility limits are: out. 1. Individuals who live alone with monthly unearned incomes 1 want to thank everyone who contributed. under $540.00 (from Social Security, pensions, etc.). The Thank you to the many people who distributed and individual could have somewhat higher income if it is collected the donation cards for their units. And, earned income. Individuals can also have assets of no more I want to especially thank the area coordinators than $2,000; some assets do not count for SSI purposes. (listed below) who made this campaign so successful by pulling it all together: 2. Couples with total unearned monthly incomes under $774.50. Couples could have somewhat higher income if it Barb Mearse, OFA & Downtown Depts. is earned income. Couples can have assets of no more than Trudy McAdams, County Clerk's Office $3,000. David Grosvenor, Assessment Peggy Arcangeli, Probation Individuals who have attempted to get SSI benefits in the past may Sandra Brown, DSS need to see if their situation has changed either because of their age Barbara Karaviotis, Mental Health or medical condition. If you are aware of individuals who may be Nancy Zook, Youth Bureau eligible for SSI, please contact Regina McGriff at 274 -5482. Leighann Baldwin, Solid Waste :lo John McLean, Airport .e� Louise McEwen, Retirees y„, POLISHED MARBLE Salty Ryan, Health Dept. . GETS SPECIAL MENTION Doreen Schrader, B &G •• t= t _:. Daryl Avery, Sheriff's Dept. • by Cathy Covert Larry Krauss, K Highway Dept. The Board of Representatives has recognized Jeff Vandermark, .11 Buildings and Grounds employee, for his diligent work maintaining Lisa Eaton, Purchasing the Courthouse. The entire Board agreed Jeff should be Katie Knapp, Planning commended for the work he has been doing on the railings and v v v marble throughout the Courthouse and for his dedicated service to the County. COUNTY CORRIDORS Articles and opinion pieces for County Corridors are selected by the volunteer editorial board based on their interest to Tompkins County employees and retirees. `�. • Material is solicited from current employees, retirees and others. , Material for publication is selected by the editorial board which reserves the 1.4. Lila right to edit any submissions. The editorial board is made up of Bill Chapp, • : , Social Services; Sharon Cooper, Assessment; Iretta Ellis, Airport; Scott Heyman, County Administrator; Louise McEwen, Personnel; Ruth Pond, Purchasing and f • Central Services; Marilyn Strassberg, Office for the Aging; and Judy Tynyk +� ' `• (Chair), Weights and Measures. *F Tt • • • Correspondence may be sent through County inter - office mail to: County V + +'• Corridors, c/o Purchasing and Central Services: or contact any board member, or via US Mall to: County Corridors, c/o Purchasing and Central Services, 125 E. Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850.