Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril Newsletter TOWN OF ITHACA April 2025 Newsletter Clerk’s Corner My name is Paulette Rosa, and I am the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca. I, along with my deputies Ashley Colbert and Monica Moll, are the first faces you will probably see when you enter the Town Hall Offices and we produce the monthly newsletter. Starting with my department, we will begin highlighting a different town department each month to give you a sense of what each does in delivering the various services our residents enjoy and depend on. I started with the Town of Ithaca in 2006 as a Deputy Town Clerk, moved to Administrative Assistant to the Codes department and was then appointed as Town Clerk in 2010. Originally from the Boston area, I lived in nearby Spencer for almost 25 years before moving to the Town of Ithaca to satisfy the residency requirement of the position of Town Clerk. I have a strong background in the hospitality business. I bring this experience to the Town Clerk in my strong commitment and prioritization of customer service and communication with residents, contractors and visitors to the Town. What I love about my position is the ability to help people get the information and services they need from the Town or being able to direct them to other departments or entities to resolve their requests. Under the NYS statutory duties of a Town Clerk, my office issues marriage licenses, dog licenses and accessible parking permits. I am also the Records Management Officer of the Town. My office is responsible for managing retentions periods, filing, and archiving of all official Town records and facilitating and fulfilling requests for records under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL.) A request can be a simple search for existing building permits on a property to information on proposed or adopted legislation or planning and building projects that are being proposed, underway or completed. As an appointed Town Clerk, I have other administrative duties as well. I am the “clerk of the board” for both the Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals and produce the minutes for them and assist all other Town departments as needed. Ashley came to us from the Town of Lansing in 2023. Ashley handles most of the dog licensing, accessible parking permits and accounting duties of the office. Monica started about a year ago and is heading up the new online digital records library. She is working closely with the IT department to create a publicly searchable archive of Town records. Left to Right: Monica, Paulette & Ashley What’s up with that tree in the Lobby? A few years ago, in the dreary winter doldrums, we decided that everyone still needed a smile now and again. Since taking the tree down was quite the job, we began decorating the tree each month for a seasonal event. When early voting started in the lobby, a reporter noticed and we made the Ithaca Voice. Also in the lobby are two display cases showcasing Town history and current events. Stop by and check them out! 2025 Spring Brush and Leaf Pickup The Town of Ithaca Public Works Department will be picking up yard waste (brush, leaves, pine needles, dead flowers, garden waste, and grass clippings) starting Monday, April 21, and will continue throughout the Town that week until finished. All yard waste must be at the roadside by 7 a.m. on the first day of collection. THERE WILL BE NO SECOND COLLECTION AND NO CALL BACKS. The intention of the Town’s roadside collection service is for Town residents outside the Village of Cayuga Heights and the City of Ithaca to put a reasonable amount of yard waste (as is generated during a normal year) out at the roadside for pick up by the Town’s crews. Clearing of building lots and hedgerows is beyond a normal amount of material. Roadside collection crews reserve the right to not pick up excessively large volumes of brush and improperly piled materials. Please note that crews do not use leaf vacuum machines for spring leaf pickup; no loose leaf piles or plastic bags will be picked up. Brush you collect before the first day of the pickup needs to remain out of the rights-of-way until a couple of days before the pickup; this will ensure your safety and that of your neighbors. Errant brush piles can wreak havoc on the storm water systems and can create a hazard for walkers and cyclists. WHAT TO DO • Bag leaves, garden, and other yard waste in biodegradable paper bags. Fill bags and place on road shoulder. Fold over openings of bags to close. Do not staple or tape. 30-gallon bags are available at Agway, Home Depot, Lowes, Wal-Mart, and Wegman’s along with other stores in the area. • Brush should be placed in neat piles going with the flow of traffic so that the chipping trucks can feed the cut ends first. • Brush piles should be no larger than a pickup truck load (approximately 2’ H x 4’ W x 8’ L in size). It is not necessary to cut limbs into small pieces. • Put out limbs no larger than 8 inches in diameter. • Place brush and filled bags of yard waste along road shoulder or at the end of the driveway if no shoulder exists. WHAT NOT TO DO Do not tie bundles of brush. Do not place any materials in a ditch. Do not put out metal, rocks, glass, roots, stumps, or lumber scraps. Do not put brush and leaf bags out until the week before collection. For more information, please call 273-1656 between 6:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You may also drop your yard waste off at the Public Works Facility at 114 Seven Mile Drive, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. year-round. Please sign in at the office. Getting Married? As wedding season approaches here are some FAQs about getting married in New York State. • You can get your marriage license in any Town or City in New York State and get married anywhere in New York State. Both parties must be present and sign the license in front of the municipal Clerk. • You need to bring your birth certificate and government identification that has a photo (such as driver’s license or passport) and any divorce or death decrees, when applicable. • Marriage licenses are valid 24 hours after it is issued, and it is then good for 60 days. • A marriage license costs $40. • You can now have a friend or family member marry you as a One Day Officiant. They need to apply for the officiant license at the same municipal office where you got your marriage license. • You will need at least one witness to sign the marriage license, but there is space for two. • The Town of Ithaca Clerk’s office issues marriage licenses Monday through Friday, between 8am and 3:30 pm with no appointment necessary. • For more information, visit the New York State website https://www.health.ny.gov/ publications/4210/index • The Town of Ithaca Clerk’s Department also issues Domestic Partnerships and can produce Certified Transcripts of your marriage record if it was issued from our office. FUN FACT: The first marriage license recorded in the Town of Ithaca was on March 31,1908, between Allen J. Emery, a 19 year old farmer and Bertha F. Hutchings a 17 year old housekeeper . March Food Drive was a Success! In honor of National Nutrition Month, the Town of Ithaca supported a food drive at both Town Hall and the Public Works Facility. Many food and personal care items were donated by Town staff and will be delivered to a local food pantry to support communities in and around the Town. Thank you to all who participated in the drive. It was really appreciated. Left to Right: Ashley Colbert, Deputy Town Clerk ; CJ Randall, Director of Planning; Rod Howe, Town Supervisor; Paulette Rosa, Town Clerk; Marty Moseley, Director of Code Enforcement Left to Right: Joe Talbut, Parks Maintenance Supervisor; Joe Slater, Director of Public Works 2026 Tourism Program Funding Tompkins County is accepting funding requests for the 2026 Tourism Program budget. Approximately $415,000-$455,000 will be distributed to eligible organizations (nonprofits, municipalities, and County departments). Available funding categories include Annual Programs, Grant Administration, and General Operating Support. All projects must align with the Strategic Tourism Plan. Key Details: Funded by hotel room occupancy tax Proposals evaluated based on criteria in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Application Deadline: April 18, 2025 To Apply: 1. Download the NOFA from the Tourism Program website. 2. Review eligibility criteria and instructions.. 3. Submit all required documents by the deadline. Questions? Contact Tourism Program staff for assistance. Safe Streets Tompkins Safe Streets Tompkins will hold a virtual public meeting to discuss and get input on the countywide priority locations with potential for safety improvement, particularly vulnerable road user high risk areas, on Wednesday, April 30th from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Join the virtual meeting at microsoft.com/Microsoft-teams/ join-a-meeting Meeting ID: 287 262 862 096 Passcode: Bj2bK7n9 Join by phone: 1 857-410-1629 Phone Conference ID: 904 679 980# Consultants Cambridge Systematics will present recommendations for proven safety countermeasures at priority intersections and segments; these will be included in the forthcoming Tompkins County Joint Safety Action Plan. Since fall 2023, the Town has actively participated in the Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) data-driven initiative with the City, Tompkins County, and NYS Department of Transportation – as well as the towns of Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Lansing and Newfield and the Villages of Cayuga Heights, Dryden and Lansing – to prepare the Joint Safety Action Plan. The Plan will help determine policy and process changes and prioritize strategies and projects to address safety concerns. More information at safestreetstompkins.com or contact Director of Planning C.J. Randall at cjrandall@townithacany.gov or 607-273-1721 ext 120. NYS Burn Ban In Effect Until May 14th The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reminds residents of the annual statewide ban on residential brush burning that is in effect through May 14th. Since 2009, the DEC has enforced the annual brush burning ban to help prevent wildfires. Center for Community Transportation Wins Grant to Study Multimodal Micromobility Hubs The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced on March 11, 2025 that $2.9 million has been awarded to 29 community -led projects to enhance planning for shared electric transportation solutions in New York. Ithaca Carshare, in collaboration with parent organization the Center for Community Transportation, Inc., has been awarded one of these planning grants to study the feasibility of multimodal micromobility hubs in Tompkins County. What are multimodal micromobility hubs? Read more about them (and the grant) here: ithacacarshare.org/ithaca-carshare-the-cct-win-nyserda-planning-grant/ Get involved! The CCT is conducting a super short survey and two public information sessions to help us understand what the community wants and needs in terms of mobility hubs: To take the survey: https://forms.gle/BgKKC54ZVR1zyJi89 To sign up for a community engagement event 3/26 (Zoom) or 4/22 (in -person): https://forms.gle/ mr6i33ap8ueNbUjm7 The Town of Ithaca’s West Hill Community Garden The West Hill Community Garden is off of Conifer Drive on land owned and set aside by the Town Ithaca to support community health and activity. The Garden has approximately 75 plots that are available to anyone in the local community. The garden's location offers beautiful views of the surrounding hillsides, and thanks to its relative isolation from traffic and pollution, there is a variety of wildlife and birds. The Town provides water, communal tools, compost and mulch. There is also a small pavilion for shade and planted fruit trees and berry bushes for everyone to enjoy. A 20’ foot by 20’ foot standard plot is $20 and a 10 foot by 10 foot half plot is $10 for the season. An application and community work commitment is required. Click here to view and print the application or stop by the Town Clerk’s office in person. Applications for the 2025 season are open now. The Town of Ithaca provides no labor or upkeep of the Garden beyond providing compost, tools, and water. Members are responsible for mowing, covering unused plots, maintaining the fence, and all other Garden upkeep. Therefore, all gardeners are required to work a minimum of 2 hours each month during scheduled Community Work Days (posted by mid -April) and you may be asked to do tasks other days as needed. There are jobs for all gardeners regardless of your skill or physical ability. This is a great Town resource to meet fellow gardeners, grow your own produce, and get out into the sunshine this Spring and Summer. YMCA Healthy Kids Day The Ithaca YMCA will celebrate the 33rd annual Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 26th. From 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, bring your family to the YMCA for a variety of fun and healthy activities for all ages. Activities include face painting, bounce house, healthy snacks, health screenings, obstacle course, arts & crafts, family-friendly exercise classes, and many other activities from the participating community organizations below. Healthy Kids Day is a free community event, presented by the generous support of Wegmans and Excellus Lifelong Spring 2025 Catalog The mission of Lifelong is to enhance the lives of older adults in Tompkins County through health& wellness, learning, recreation, travel and volunteer programs. Located at 119 W. Court Street in Ithaca, the new Spring 2025 course catalog is now available. You can click here to see the catalog Introducing Tompkins Transportation Scout Tompkins County is thrilled to announce the official launch of "Tompkins Transportation Scout," a groundbreaking mobility initiative designed to simplify, enhance, and sustain transportation options for all residents. The community is warmly invited to celebrate this exciting milestone at our launch event at The History Center (110 North Tioga St, Ithaca, NY 14850) on April 17, 2025, from 4:00 -6:00 PM. Enjoy an interactive app demonstration at 5:00 PM, refreshments, and lively discussions about the future of mobility in our area. Tompkins Transportation Scout was created to break down barriers and empower all residents—regardless of age, ability, income, or location—to easily access essential services and opportunities. Whether you prefer biking, public transit, carshare, or walking, Scout brings it all together in one convenient and user-friendly platform. Daffodil Dash Presented By: Ithaca Garden Club Dates: April 26, 2025 Time: 9:00 AM Ready, Set, Register now for the Third Annual Daffodil Dash at Cass Park! It’s fun and helps to support the planting of thousands of daffodils this fall. This is a joint project of the Ithaca Garden Club and the Ithaca Children’s Garden. The event is open to all ages and involves a fun one-mile run/walk or 5K races amongst over 180,000 beautiful daffodils.