Comments Re-Onondaga Lake Cleanup
Comment on the Community Participation Working Group meeting on February 28, 2012:The CPWG sub-committee, of which I am a member, met at the DEC to submit a list of questions to produce a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) draft for review by DEC for the Onondaga Lake Remediation, Lake Dredging, Transporting of the Dredged Material from the Lake to the Sediment Containment Area Bed 13, the Sediment Containment Area, Capping of the Lake Bottom, Protection of the Community and Emergency Response Plans Status, Boating/ Navigation Impacts during Dredging and Capping, Lake and habitat Enhancements and Future Community Uses around the Lake, Honeywell Industrial Properties and Lake Tributaries.
The next Public meeting will be Tuesday March 6 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Town of Geddes Hall located at 1000 Woods Road, Syracuse, NY 13209. Use the entrance to the left. The main agenda items will be a presentation by the Trustees of Onondaga Lake on the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) process and a follow up on the FAQ project including a discussion on the various means of disseminating this information to the public.
Onondaga Lake Cleanup
The NYS DEC has issued a final construction fact sheet regarding the dredging of Onondaga Lake Sediments, scheduled to begin in 2012.Brush Pickup Schedule
The Highway Department has begun its twice a month brush pickup operation. Pickup will take place during the following weeks: March 4 & 18, April 8 & 22, May 6 & 20, June 3 & 17, July 8 & 22, August 5 & 19, September 9 & 23, October 7 & 21.Referendum to Abolish Tax Receiver
As you may or may not know the Town Board's resolution for a referendum to abolish the office of Receiver of Taxes and transfer the powers and duties of the office to the Town Clerk, effective November 7, 2011, passed. I would like to compliment the Town Clerk, her staff, and the Town's building maintenanc epersonnel for the seamless transition, including renovating facilities to improve efficiency through the consolidation of the Tax Receiver's office with the Town Clerk's department (A JOB WELL DONE).Help Save Modified Sports
Current economic times have resulted in the West Genesee School District reducing the modified sports programs. As a result, 300 student athletes will no longer have a chance to play modified sports. A community group has been formed to try to save modified sports at West Genesee and received your support. I would like to congratulate the organizers and community for raising $75,000 to "SAVE MODIFIED SPORTS" for 2011. The fund raising for 2012 has begun. Please continue to support the youth in our community with your donations. Click here to visit their website to read more about it.Public Safety
The four Fire Departments Camillus, Fairmount, Lakeside and the consolidated Memphis -Warners are doing a great job. WAVES has been meeting all the demands placed upon them. The total annual cost of supporting these five services is $1,874,875. The breakdowns are as follows: Camillus Fire Protection - $494,700, Fairmount Fire Protection - $703,238, Memphis-Warners Fire Protection - $152,899, Lakeside Fire Protection - $46,000 and WAVES Ambulance Protection - $478,038.The Camillus Police Department has also been recognized for outstanding performance in 2011 and have responded to +16,000 calls. Visit their website.
March 2012 - 3rd Ward Update
Dear Neighbors & Friends…
I would like to welcome the many new residents who have moved into the Third Ward over the past few years and I thank all of you for taking pride in your neighborhood. Your inputs have been extremely valuable in helping us make decisions pertaining to local government operations. I also appreciate your trust in re-electing me to represent you for two more years.
We will continue to make every effort to resolve the many pressing decisions and issues the Town Government must deal with. The Rotary FOUR WAY Test to decision making will continue to be my guide as your representative: "Is it The TRUTH?, Is it FAIR to all concerned?, Will it bring GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?, Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"
The County has been laying off staff and they will be unable again to mow the West Genesee Street roadside on a routine basis. The right of way property owners on West Genesee Street may spray grass and weed killer if they wish.
The budget revenue sources were reduced and we used $350,000 dollars of our unrestricted reserves for 2012 to avoid reductions in services. Please feel free to call me or let me know by email your thoughts on how to cut costs. I would be happy to meet with you and the neighborhood to discuss this matter.
Please send me your email address so I can send you other updates about what is happening in our Ward and the Town. These updates will be sent "bcc" to maintain your privacy.
Spring 2012 Update:
Here is an update and reminder on what has been happening in the Ward and Town since my last 2011 report, as well as a review of the present and future Town business:
A) Town 2012 Taxes, Consolidation and Cost Reductions to date:
• The 2012 Total Town Tax rate had to be increased from $7.08 to $7.195 per $1000 property assessed evaluation or a 1.6% increase. This is our third lowest tax rate since the year 2000 when our Town tax rate was reduced by -5% to $6.93. It should be noted that the Trash and Recycle cost per Household was reduced from an annual cost of $178 to $130 for a savings of $48.00 per year. As a Board, we will continue to responsibly control the cost of government. I would appreciate your inputs and concerns for reducing the size of local government.
• Eliminated five full-time staff in four departments via attrition (cost savings includes benefits) over the past three years. The Town presently employees 99 full time personnel and we still have a hiring freeze in place.
• The Highway budget was reduced by ~ $400,000 for 2012 and we are very fortunate that we are having a mild winter.
• Again, we contained the cost of required health insurance for full time employees by continued insurance company negotiations and employees have agreed to an increased contribution towards the premiums.
• After a Cost Analysis by the County Comptroller’s and our Town Clerk's Office with the Referendum approval, we have implemented the consolidation of the Tax Receiver’s office into the Town Clerk’s under the direction of Martha Dickson-McMahon with an approximate initial savings of $50,000 per year.
• We have continued the consolidation of the Van Buren Dog Control Office with our Dog Control Office. This has a positive cash flow to our Town of $25,000 and no required new hires. This will continue in 2012.
• We have continued the consolidation of the Elbridge Assessor with our office which has generated additional revenue for our Town with no additional staff for 2012.
• The County is working with us to determine what, if any, savings will be generated and the benefits to our Town through consolidation of other departments, excluding the Police Department.
• We continue to control costs as a result of the normal quoting process, energy savings implemented by our Buildings & Grounds Supervisor/Staff (~ $100,000), oversight by our Department Heads and consolidation planning. We have successfully completed the 2012 budget with a minimal tax increase of 1.6%. The County tax increase also increased the overall tax bill for 2012. Funding cuts from NYS, increases in the Town’s payroll due to contract negotiations and NYS Local Employees Retirement Plan cost (Mandated by the State) required an additional contribution of ~ $1,000,000 for 2012 from Camillus tax payers, were really hard to overcome at this time. The County also had the same issues. The Retirement Systems benefit cost are still underfunded and REFORM is necessary to reduce the cost to the Taxpayers. This will be challenging. Your inputs would be appreciated - feel free to contact me by email or phone. I am always available to make presentations at local neighborhood meetings, churches, civic groups and schools.
B) Numerous Town residents have asked what the budget is for the five volunteer Fire Departments and WAVES: The total appropriations are $1,874,875 for 2012.. To date, one volunteer Fire Department has reduced the size of their fleet and Memphis-Warners Fire Departments have consolidated. All four Fire Departments and WAVES are working together. We appreciate the cooperation we have received from all Departments holding the line for 2012, that is, Camillus Fire Department, Fairmount Fire Department, Lakeside, Memphis-Warners and WAVES.
C) Latest Status of Developments in the Town of Camillus:
• Here is the latest on the new Township 5 (lifestyle center), located on the 68 acres of land which is at the Exit of 695 West at Hinsdale Road: all the plans for this project have been approved. New York State DOT has approved the interconnector road between Hinsdale Road and Bennett Road. Plans have been approved for the new apartment complex and they plan to begin construction at a later date.. I still do not have the timetable other than "it is still work in progress".
• West Genesee Corridor: The Gillespie Avenue extension to Chapel Drive and the West Genesee Corridor Construction from Shrineview to Beverly Drive have been completed. The Onondaga County DOT West Genesee Street Paving and Improvements for this Four Lane Highway, including additional sidewalks plans, are being finalized and we hope these improvements will begin this summer..Fairmount Fair and Camillus Commons are full. Empower Credit Union has opened at the corner of Onondaga Road and West Genesee Street.
• Third Ward Flood Plain Grant Status: Concerning the FEMA Grant to install the overflow culvert in the Third Ward beneath the railroad, FEMA indicated that priority for grant money would be given to municipalities located within Counties that had approved Hazard Mitigation Plans. Once this plan is approved by FEMA (which I would assume is expected sometime in the next few months) then the Town would be eligible to apply for FEMA future funding for the project. We have ~ 60 homes in the FEMA designated Flood Plain.
D) Camillus Police Department Statistics (www.camilluspolice.com): Many of us chose to reside in the Town of Camillus because of the sense of community that we feel. Local government provides for many services, including the responsibility of providing for the safety and welfare of those in our community. The Camillus Police Department takes great pride in upholding the entrusted responsibility of keeping our community safe. Our local police department provides a full service, community-oriented style of public safety and they are committed to providing the services that our residents have come to expect. In 2009, they were responsible for 15,999 calls for service within the Town and Village of Camillus.
I continue to support the efforts of our local police department and encourage each of you to visit their website. or call (315) 487-0102 to learn more about the services that they provide.
I appreciate all your inputs and I hope you will get involved in our Government.
Sincerely,
Bill Davern Sr.
Background
I was born in Syracuse and have been a Camillus resident since 1967, along with my wife of 51 years, Alice. Together
we have raised three children, William H., Jeffrey, and Maureen, all of whom are graduates of the West Genesee Central School District.
I possess a B.A. in Physics from Syracuse University and retired from General Electric/Lockheed Martin after 34 years. I began a new
career as a part-time Teaching Assistant for students with special needs in 1997 and I am presently a substitute Teacher.
I have a long history of community involvement, including: member of the Camillus Chamber of Commerce, member of the American Legion
Camillus Knife Town Post 1540 and BOYS State interview selection committee, ANG 174th Alumni member, Volunteer presenter for: "What's Going
On in the Town of Camillus" to the Holy Family Seniors Group, Camillus Seniors Group, Rotary Club, Camillus Chamber of Commerce and WGCSD
High School Senior "Participation In Government" classes, volunteer Santa helper for: Town functions, PBAs, Octagon House, VA Hospital and
other local charitable, church and non-profit organizations.
I have always felt that our community's greatest assets continue to be our residents, schools, students, churches, dedicated community
organizations and Volunteers that make this a great place to live.
Local Goverment's Role in the Community...
The role local government plays in the present community, based on the inputs from Town constituents and my views are as
follows:
• Maintain present infrastructures at reasonable cost & advocate to reduce taxes
• Consolidate services which will reduce the operating cost of government
• Rebid Town operation expenses such as heath insurance, etc. to be cost effective and look for alternative options
• Streamline the approval process to bring in new retail businesses, restaurants and housing developments that meet the needs of
our community, but at the same time maintain an improved aesthetic appearance to these developments
• Continue to discuss with the community what they would like us to do and implement those changes to the best of our
capabilities
