Renovation, Repair & Painting Rule (RRP)
Effective: April 22,2010
ANOTHER REGULATION.... as if it wasn't expensive enough to take care of your home or rental properties, another regulation has been added. Beginning April 22, homeowners, property managers, landlords, realtors and contractors will be required by federal law to be legally trained and certified, in regards to lead dust exposure, when repairing, renovating and painting child care facilities, homes and schools built prior to 1978, but only if they’re receiving compensation for the renovation. The Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP), required by the EPA, is intended to protect residents and workers of all ages from the dangers of lead-based paint. See the EVENING SUN http://www.evesun.com/news/stories/2010-03-31/9293/Federal-legislation-will-require-lead-certification/
Monday, April 19, 2010
LOCAL HEALTHCARE - Cancer Screening Programs Available
CANCER SCREENING SERVICES PROGRAM
For MADISON, HERKIMER & ONEIDA COUNTIES
Phone (315) 798-7248 or 1-800-541-0151 ext 5248
This program is for uninsured and underinsured men and women ages 40 to 64. The program offers eligible men and women no-cost access to services like clinical breast exams, mammograms, Pap tests, and colorectal cancer screenings. Funding is also available through a specialized Medicaid program for follow-up treatments when necessary. The Program partners with many medical professionals and facilities across the central New York area, including Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton, the Oneida Healthcare Center and St. Elizabeth’s and Faxton-St. Luke’s Medical Centers in Utica. Enlisting the services of the program is a simple process; and usually takes about 10 minutes over the telephone. For more information, call (315) 798-5248 or 1-800-541-0151, extension 5248. (See Full Article from ONEIDA DISPATCH http://www.oneidadispatch.com/articles/2010/04/13/business/doc4bc3d1a7209ca976067488.txt )
For MADISON, HERKIMER & ONEIDA COUNTIES
Phone (315) 798-7248 or 1-800-541-0151 ext 5248
This program is for uninsured and underinsured men and women ages 40 to 64. The program offers eligible men and women no-cost access to services like clinical breast exams, mammograms, Pap tests, and colorectal cancer screenings. Funding is also available through a specialized Medicaid program for follow-up treatments when necessary. The Program partners with many medical professionals and facilities across the central New York area, including Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton, the Oneida Healthcare Center and St. Elizabeth’s and Faxton-St. Luke’s Medical Centers in Utica. Enlisting the services of the program is a simple process; and usually takes about 10 minutes over the telephone. For more information, call (315) 798-5248 or 1-800-541-0151, extension 5248. (See Full Article from ONEIDA DISPATCH http://www.oneidadispatch.com/articles/2010/04/13/business/doc4bc3d1a7209ca976067488.txt )
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
BROOKFIELD: Sad Evening for us all....
It was a sad evening for Brookfield. The Constitution took TWO good hits this evening…. All dealt by our LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
STRIKE ONE: Taxation WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!. The Board caved as was generally expected. Albany and the Town Assessor call the shots in Brookfield. The Town Board has no authority. It’s the Assessor’s decision whether or not to postpone the revaluation and she refuses to change it. It’s up to us, the TAXPAYERS to “use the system”. Frankly, it’s the system USING US and our Town Board is standing back to let it happen. What ever happened to NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION?
STRIKE TWO: There goes “FREE SPEECH" Say GOOD-BY to the Town website's “GUEST BOOK”. Councilman Dewitt Head complained that he was hearing negative things about recent comments made on the site and passed a resolution to shut down the GUEST BOOK. Now, all comments must go to “YOUR VOICE” and will be monitored by Aaron Boise.
It was a very sad evening, indeed.
STRIKE ONE: Taxation WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!. The Board caved as was generally expected. Albany and the Town Assessor call the shots in Brookfield. The Town Board has no authority. It’s the Assessor’s decision whether or not to postpone the revaluation and she refuses to change it. It’s up to us, the TAXPAYERS to “use the system”. Frankly, it’s the system USING US and our Town Board is standing back to let it happen. What ever happened to NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION?
STRIKE TWO: There goes “FREE SPEECH" Say GOOD-BY to the Town website's “GUEST BOOK”. Councilman Dewitt Head complained that he was hearing negative things about recent comments made on the site and passed a resolution to shut down the GUEST BOOK. Now, all comments must go to “YOUR VOICE” and will be monitored by Aaron Boise.
It was a very sad evening, indeed.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
TAXES - Brookfield Tax Protest - SPECIAL MEETING - Saturday, April 3 Summary
Below is a summary of the SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING held on Saturday, April 3 - held to take action on the 2010 Property Tax Revaluation.
It was a win for grassroots democracy today!
At Saturday’s Town of Brookfield Special Meeting, the Board was pushed to take a stand on behalf of the residents of Brookfield and postpone the controversial 2010 valuation until 2011. Over 80 residents turned out at the Special Meeting called in response to last week’s protest march against the 2010 property tax revaluation.
After several hours of heated discussion, in a standing room only meeting hall, residents convinced their Town Board to vote 4-1 in favor of postponing the 2010 property tax revaluation until 2011. Board members voting to postpone the revaluation were: John Salka, Dewitt Head, Rachel Owen and Jeff Mayne. George Cowen was the sole, no vote.
The object of the vote is to postpone implementation of the 2010 revaluation until 201l, and use the 2009 valuations again this year. This will give the Assessor sufficient time to address the many inequities raised, and which they did not feel could be adequately addressed under the current grievance system. If necessary, the Town of Brookfield will take the other CAP Townships to arbitration in order to postpone the revaluation or drop out of the CAP.
A persistent theme among the crowd was the demand for action and accountability of public officials, to start action now, at the local level. The Town Board’s vote was hailed as a grassroots act by local elected officials to stand up on behalf of their residents against Albany. Resident Kevin Marsh agreed with protest leader, Steve Walker. “Citizens need to keep the momentum of today’s victory. We made a statement today and I am sure it will be heard for miles and miles…. Together we can make a difference. Today's events prove it.. …We will escalate this thing as far as the people want to take it! Brookfield, Wampsville, Albany, Washington???”
The next stop for the protesters will be the Brookfield Central School board meeting on Monday evening. Property owners face a 45% tax increase unless dramatic cuts are made to this year’s budget.
The revaluation was performed under a, multi-town agreement with Fenner, Nelson & Smithfield. Under the Coordinated Assessment Program (CAP’s) Agreement the towns receive financial incentives from the State to share the costs of one assessor.
Several residents questioned the assessor’s excessive work load. The lone assessor, Rhonda Weigand, is responsible for fully revaluing the four CAP towns in the same year, in addition to her responsibilities to towns outside of the program.
Brookfield received approximately $12,000 (or $1,200 per year credit) from the State to remain in the program for ten years. Failure to participate will result in a pro-rated portion of the funds being returned to the State.
In 2009, a majority of the four towns agreed to perform a 2010 revaluation to raise the equalization rate from 80 to 100%. In late February, revaluation notices were mailed to taxpayers, raising a firestorm of controversy and leading to last week’s demonstration.
The last Town revaluation was completed in 2005, at the top of the real estate market, leading some to question how property values could have increased 20-50%, in 2010, as we now sit at the bottom of the real estate market and have few services, other than highway.
Farmers were particularly hard hit this year, not only from the artificially depressed milk prices, but the inherent unfairness of property taxes. A farmer and board member, Dewitt Head pointed out that farmers need the land to make a living versus speculators and land developers that artificially inflate the price of land. Several farmers objected to their farm lands being valued as possible “road frontage” for residential development.
Residents were upset by the steep rise in valuations and comparables, e.g., double-wide being comparable to ranch homes; inability to mortgage homes at these same values, among other concerns.
Supervisor John Salka read Town Assessor Rhonda Weigand’s letter to the Board, defending her valuations and procedures. (A full copy is available on the Town website.) Salka also acknowledged the Town had received a letter from Wiegand’s personal attorney, warning against comments posted on the Town website. This year the assessor will receive a regular salary of $21,000, of which $ 7,000 is being paid for the Town’s 2010 revaluation. Each of the four towns pays a relatively similar amount, in addition to providing the assessor with NYS Retirement, social security, workman’s compensation and health benefits in addition to cost reimbursements.
It was a win for grassroots democracy today!
At Saturday’s Town of Brookfield Special Meeting, the Board was pushed to take a stand on behalf of the residents of Brookfield and postpone the controversial 2010 valuation until 2011. Over 80 residents turned out at the Special Meeting called in response to last week’s protest march against the 2010 property tax revaluation.
After several hours of heated discussion, in a standing room only meeting hall, residents convinced their Town Board to vote 4-1 in favor of postponing the 2010 property tax revaluation until 2011. Board members voting to postpone the revaluation were: John Salka, Dewitt Head, Rachel Owen and Jeff Mayne. George Cowen was the sole, no vote.
The object of the vote is to postpone implementation of the 2010 revaluation until 201l, and use the 2009 valuations again this year. This will give the Assessor sufficient time to address the many inequities raised, and which they did not feel could be adequately addressed under the current grievance system. If necessary, the Town of Brookfield will take the other CAP Townships to arbitration in order to postpone the revaluation or drop out of the CAP.
A persistent theme among the crowd was the demand for action and accountability of public officials, to start action now, at the local level. The Town Board’s vote was hailed as a grassroots act by local elected officials to stand up on behalf of their residents against Albany. Resident Kevin Marsh agreed with protest leader, Steve Walker. “Citizens need to keep the momentum of today’s victory. We made a statement today and I am sure it will be heard for miles and miles…. Together we can make a difference. Today's events prove it.. …We will escalate this thing as far as the people want to take it! Brookfield, Wampsville, Albany, Washington???”
The next stop for the protesters will be the Brookfield Central School board meeting on Monday evening. Property owners face a 45% tax increase unless dramatic cuts are made to this year’s budget.
The revaluation was performed under a, multi-town agreement with Fenner, Nelson & Smithfield. Under the Coordinated Assessment Program (CAP’s) Agreement the towns receive financial incentives from the State to share the costs of one assessor.
Several residents questioned the assessor’s excessive work load. The lone assessor, Rhonda Weigand, is responsible for fully revaluing the four CAP towns in the same year, in addition to her responsibilities to towns outside of the program.
Brookfield received approximately $12,000 (or $1,200 per year credit) from the State to remain in the program for ten years. Failure to participate will result in a pro-rated portion of the funds being returned to the State.
In 2009, a majority of the four towns agreed to perform a 2010 revaluation to raise the equalization rate from 80 to 100%. In late February, revaluation notices were mailed to taxpayers, raising a firestorm of controversy and leading to last week’s demonstration.
The last Town revaluation was completed in 2005, at the top of the real estate market, leading some to question how property values could have increased 20-50%, in 2010, as we now sit at the bottom of the real estate market and have few services, other than highway.
Farmers were particularly hard hit this year, not only from the artificially depressed milk prices, but the inherent unfairness of property taxes. A farmer and board member, Dewitt Head pointed out that farmers need the land to make a living versus speculators and land developers that artificially inflate the price of land. Several farmers objected to their farm lands being valued as possible “road frontage” for residential development.
Residents were upset by the steep rise in valuations and comparables, e.g., double-wide being comparable to ranch homes; inability to mortgage homes at these same values, among other concerns.
Supervisor John Salka read Town Assessor Rhonda Weigand’s letter to the Board, defending her valuations and procedures. (A full copy is available on the Town website.) Salka also acknowledged the Town had received a letter from Wiegand’s personal attorney, warning against comments posted on the Town website. This year the assessor will receive a regular salary of $21,000, of which $ 7,000 is being paid for the Town’s 2010 revaluation. Each of the four towns pays a relatively similar amount, in addition to providing the assessor with NYS Retirement, social security, workman’s compensation and health benefits in addition to cost reimbursements.
Monday, March 22, 2010
PROPERTY TAXES: Brookfield Protest - SAT. March 27
TAXED TO DEATH?
Join the ......
BROOKFIELD PROPERTY TAX PROTEST
Saturday, March 27
9:00 AM -in front of the Brookfield Town Hall
Petition Available:
Requesting Cancellation of the
Recent Property Tax Revaluation
Join the ......
BROOKFIELD PROPERTY TAX PROTEST
Saturday, March 27
9:00 AM -in front of the Brookfield Town Hall
Petition Available:
Requesting Cancellation of the
Recent Property Tax Revaluation
GAS DRILLING: Chenango Co. Denies Seismic Testing
The Chenango County Agriculture, Buildings and Grounds Committee has denied a request made by Norse Energy Inc. to conduct seismic testing on county-owned land in Preston. County is looking for compensation from the testing. The County's Natural Gas Advisory Committee that pointed out that other energy companies pay for the rights to test and share the collected data. http://www.evesun.com/news/stories/2010-03-18/9204/Seismic-testing-denied
GAS DRILLING: EPA Study Pending
The Post Standard reported the EPA - Environmental Protection Agency will study the health and environmental impacts of "fracking" a technique gas drillers will be using in our local, Marcellus Shale. The technique injects massive amounts of water, sand and chemicals underground to force the natural gas out of the shale. Concerns have mounted that unregulated fracking will taint drinking water, siphon off too much surface, deplete aquifers and produce briny wastewater that can kill fish. The $1.9 million study, expected to be done by 2012. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/epa
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