Second Amendment Legal Update, July 2025

A monthly update, prepared for the Schuyler County Chapter of S.C.O.P.E. NY, a statewide 501(c)4 organization dedicated to preserving the 2nd Amendment rights for the residents of New York State. For a complete copy of this month’s report, click here.

New York State Legislature End-of-Session Update

During the week of June 15, the New York State Legislature completed its regular session, having given final two-house passage to a total of 856 bills.

The New York State Conference of Mayors has prepared a comprehensive municipal law summary, which includes bills that passed both houses and have an impact on local governments, as well as an update on the final status of several other bills of interest to municipalities that did not receive final passage.

For a complete copy of the summary, click here.

Schuyler County to host free boat safety inspection clinics June 27 and 28

Press release:

The Schuyler County Sheriff's Office Navigation Unit will be hosting two separate FREE boat safety inspection clinics to kick off the 2025 boating season.

The Boat Safety Inspections will be held at the public boat launch south of Glen Harbor Marina across from the Community Center in the Village of Watkins Glen on Friday, June 27th from 5pm to 8pm and Saturday, June 28th from 9am-12pm.

This is a free opportunity to have a boat of any kind inspected to ensure it meets all legal requirements for the upcoming boating season. A safety inspection form will be completed and given to the owner. No penalties for boats that do not pass inspection!

This is a great way to ensure boaters have all of the required safety equipment, learn about lifejacket safety or boating laws or the implementation of boater safety licenses for all NYS boaters and to ask any boating related questions of Marine Deputies.

The inspection process will include checking for:

-Approved life jackets
-Working fire extinguishers
-Approved floatation devices
-Approved sound producing devices
-Working engine blower fans (if required)
-Assist with proper placement of NYS registration numbers and registration stickers
-Battery and electrical connections
-Engine fuel and ventilation systems
-Registration and documentation

Marine Deputies can also answer questions about non-motorized boats and the requirements pertaining to them.

For more information, click on the link above.

Ovid votes to establish a local development corporation

The Finger Lakes Times:

The Ovid Town Board unanimously — and enthusiastically — created the Ovid Local Development Corp., with the goal of supporting efforts to rebuild the community’s downtown.

Town Supervisor Joe Borst said the LDC, and the group that has been meeting to create it, are positive signs that “good things are going to come” to Ovid in the future, even if it’s not clear quite yet what that means.

“They just don’t know at this point,” Borst said about the property and business owners who were affected by the Jan. 21 fire that started in an apartment over the Ovid Big M. “I think some of them are still working with their insurance companies. They could decide to rebuild and the (LDC) could help, or they could deed the property and the (LDC) could take over.”

The measure adopted Wednesday establishes a temporary board of directors that includes Ellen Smith, Bruce Murray, and Erik Holmberg. Borst said applications are still being accepted for a full board of directors and asked that anyone interested submit letters of intent.

The letters will be reviewed by two members each from the Ovid village and town boards. Preference will be given to Ovid residents and business owners.

Borst said there have been several meetings since the fire with those interested in helping recovery efforts, but things had gone as far as they could go without an entity like the agency being established. He said he was grateful that a group stepped up to the plate to do it.

Schuyler County officials recognize June 15, 2025 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The Schuyler County Legislature, the County Department of Social Services and the Office for the Aging have each announced their support for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, and was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2012.

County officials have noted that elder abuse is a global, social, health and human rights issue that affects millions of older persons around the world and deserves the attention of the international community.

“It is our collective responsibility to provide for safe and secure communities and living environments for our seniors, and to encourage reporting of any suspected abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation to the Schuyler County Adult Protective Services, as well as law enforcement agencies, for investigation, and intervention,” states a resolution of the Schuyler County Legislature.

In order to promote awareness of elder abuse, the Schuyler County Office for the Aging asks all county residents to wear something purple on Sunday, June 15.

Elder abuse is a significant public health problem. Survivors suffer higher levels of psychological distress, are twice as likely to be hospitalized and face greater risk of an early death than other seniors.

A copy of the Schuyler County Legislature’s proclamation, “Declare June 15, 2025 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day,” appears below.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Resolution-Schuyler County, New York by Steven Getman

Second Amendment Legal Update, June 2025

A monthly update, prepared for the Schuyler County Chapter of S.C.O.P.E. NY, a statewide 501(c)4 organization dedicated to preserving the 2nd Amendment rights for the residents of New York State. For a complete copy of this month’s report, click here.

Ovid seeks applicants for new local development board

© 2025 Fingerlakes1.com, Inc.

The Ovid Town Board is calling on local leaders and business owners to help shape the area’s future by joining the board of a proposed Local Development Corporation (LDC).

The new not-for-profit corporation would focus on boosting economic development and revitalizing neighborhoods within the Town and Village of Ovid. The Town Board will appoint seven members to serve on the board of directors once the LDC is incorporated.

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In addition to appointed members, the board will include the Ovid Village Mayor and the Ovid Town Supervisor as ex-officio members or through designated representatives.

Those interested in applying must submit a letter detailing their residence and qualifications to the Ovid Town Board by 5:00 p.m. on June 30. Applications can be sent to 2136 Brown St, Ovid, NY 14521 or by email to ovidtowndeputyclerk@townofovid.net.

For more information, click the link above.

Briefing on the 2025-26 Adopted State Budget

On May 8, the Governor and the State Legislature finally reached an agreement on a $254 billion spending plan for the 2025-26 fiscal year which began on April 1.

The New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) has published its summary of key initiatives included in the Adopted State Budget.

The document, which is regularly updated, is available on the NYCOM website.

NYCOM reports that the Adopted State Budget continues to fund the $50 million in Temporary Municipal Assistance from last year and includes a $50 million increase in CHIPS funding. In addition, the budget contains a number of provisions related to public safety and municipal government, including:

• Revised Involuntary Commitment and Assisted Outpatient Treatment
• Streamlining and Clarifing Criminal Case Discovery Requirements
• Virtual Appearances in Certain Criminal Proceedings
• Unlicensed Sale of Cannabis Enforcement
• Volunteer Fire Infrastructure and Response Equipment
• Water and Sewer Infrastructure Funding

A copy of the update, current as of May 13, 2025 appears below.

NYCOM Briefing on the 2025-26 Adopted State Budget by Steven Getman on Scribd

Schuyler County hosts Rabies Clinic May 17th

The next Schuyler County Rabies clinic will be: Saturday, May 17, 2025 10:00 am – 11:00 am, at the Reading Town Barn, Reading Center, New York.

Clinics are free, but donations are accepted.

It is New York State law that all dogs, cats, and domestic ferrets be vaccinated against rabies after they reach the age of 4 months. Animals must remain up to date on rabies vaccination at all times.

Rabies is a serious virus of all mammals with no known cure. It causes neurological degeneration that ultimately leads to the death of the infected person or animal. Luckily, Rabies can be prevented with vaccination.

For more information, click here.

Second Amendment Legal Update, May 2025

A monthly update, prepared for the Schuyler County Chapter of S.C.O.P.E. NY, a statewide 501(c)4 organization dedicated to preserving the 2nd Amendment rights for the residents of New York State. For a complete copy of this month’s report, click here.