HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2026-060 Resolution of Appreciation - HoweMEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
Monday, September 14, 2026
TB Resolution 2026-060: Appreciation of Rod Howe’sDedicated Service to the Town
Whereas Rodney (Rod) Howe will retire as Town Supervisor effective September 19, 2026, concluding more than twenty-four (24) years of dedicated service to the Town of Ithaca, and
Whereas Rod’s service to the Town began with his appointment to the Planning Board on December 13, 1999, where he served consecutively for eleven years through 2010, including three
years as Chair, and
Whereas following a brief break in service, Rod was appointed to the Town Board on December 28, 2012, to fill a vacant seat through December 31, 2013; was subsequently elected to the
Town Board for a term beginning January 1, 2014, and served through December 31, 2019, including the last four years as the Deputy Town Supervisor; and was elected Town Supervisor beginning
January 1, 2020, serving in that position through his retirement; and
Whereas Rod’s tireless efforts to build relationships and collaborate with other government entities, educational institutions, and community organizations have strengthened the Town’s
standing within the larger community and Central New York, and contributed to the Town being one of the inaugural recipients of the NYS Association of Towns 2026 Towns of Excellence
Award, which recognizes towns across the state that exemplify outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to their communities; and
Whereas Rod’s leadership as Supervisor and his service on the Town Board advanced several significant Town initiatives, including Tompkins Green Energy Network, the New Neighborhood
Code, the Ithaca Energy Code, and stronger intermunicipal partnerships; and
Whereas Rod’s love of nature and his understanding of the importance of preserving open space and creating multi-use trails inspired his successful efforts to acquire real property for
conservation and recreation, including the Culver Road Preserve and Sage Preserve, worked with neighboring municipalities and NYSEG on the Coddington Valley Rail Trail project, as well
as with NYS Parks to secure and transfer properties for the future Black Diamond Trail; and
Whereas Rod’s appreciation and knowledge of history, art, and design – including his fondness for miniature historic structures, toys, and chocolate – made his office a uniquely welcoming
and delightful place to meet; and
Whereas Rod’s open and collaborative management style encouraged and elicited the full range of talents of all Town staff, while fostering respectful, collegial, and often humorous interactions-
including beginning Management Team Meetings with “Does anyone have a joke?”, declaring that no Zoom meeting was complete without a pet photobomb, and steadfastly insisting that the
Town of Ithaca is a croissant surrounding the City rather than a donut; and
Whereas Rod’s commitment to the Town has been demonstrated not only through his leadership, but also through his remarkable work ethic and unwavering dedication to Town staff- routinely
arriving early, rarely taking time away, and consistently making himself available to listen, provide guidance, and support staff in carrying out their responsibilities, particularly
during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
Whereas Rod’s ability to connect and communicate with everyone- from Town staff to residents to fellow Board members -has made him an exceptionally effective and respected leader in
our community; and
Whereas the Town of Ithaca has greatly benefited from Rod’s more than twenty-four (24) years of devotion, leadership and desire to serve and from his enduring commitment to making the
community a desirable place where any person can live, work, learn, and play or, as Rod is fond of saying to “Make the Town of Ithaca the Best Town in New York State”; now, therefore,
be it
Resolved that on this 14th day of September 2026, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca, on behalf of the Town and its residents, expresses its sincerest appreciation to Rodney Howe for
his many years of dedicated service and commitment to the Town and its community.
Moved: Pamela Bleiwas Seconded: Eric Levine
Vote: ayes – Pamela Bleiwas, Eric Levine, Rich DePaolo, Dave McCune and Diana Sinton