Family Court E-Filing service expands to Schuyler, Seneca and Yates Counties

More family courts in the Finger Lakes now offer electronic filing (e-filing) for new custody/visitation, guardianship, parentage, paternity and support matters.

According to Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman, as of Tuesday (January 21) Schuyler, Seneca and Yates counties join sixteen other counties across New York State in offering the service, known as NYS Courts Electronic Filing (“NYSCEF”).

“NYSCEF service permits the filing of legal papers by electronic means with the courts in certain case types,” Getman said. “In an e-filed case, the court and all parties to the action are provided with the same documents as they would receive in a non e-filed case. The difference is that the documents are provided electronically. This avoids the costs and time associated with printing, copying and mailing documents.”

“Expanded e-filing helps lawyers provide better service to their clients. Using technology to submit paperwork saves time, energy and taxpayer dollars,” Getman said. “This is especially helpful for rural communities, such as those in the Finger Lakes, where litigants may find travel difficult or costly and where there may not be enough lawyers,” Getman said.

New York State courts were already using e-filing statewide for many other types of cases, Getman noted. Courts having already instituted e-filing include Supreme Court, Surrogate’s Court and the New York State appellate courts. The federal courts also have their own electronic filing system, available to lawyers and the public, he said.

The court system offers training on how to use the e-filing system for people who do not have an attorney and are representing themselves, Getman said. Training also is available to attorneys and their staff members, he noted.

The New York State Bar Association studied the impact and benefits of e-filing for more than a decade with the most recent report adopted in 2023, which detailed the benefits of an expanded, statewide e-filing system.

As County Attorney, Getman is the chief legal advisor for county government and responsible for the prosecution and defense of civil actions brought by and against the county. In that role, his office represents the Department of Social Services and Probation Department in various family court prosecutions, including child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency and child support enforcement.

For more information on New York State family court e-filing, including a complete list of counties participating, click here.

Local leaders call on Gov. Hochul to crack down on ‘sticker stores’

Finger Lakes Daily News

State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning), and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C-Big Flats) on (January 12) joined regional law enforcement representatives and other local leaders to call on Governor Kathy Hochul and the Democrat leaders of the State Legislature to approve legislation and crack down on the proliferation of businesses, commonly known as “sticker stores,” illegally dispensing and selling marijuana throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and statewide.

O’Mara, Palmesano, and Friend currently sponsor legislation (S9365/A9815, Note: This legislation is being reintroduced and will receive new bill numbers for the 2023 legislative session) that, if enacted, would strengthen existing law, outlaw sticker stores, and establish criminal and civil penalties for violators. Any civil penalties collected by the state would be remitted to the county of the violating establishment.

They called on Hochul and the Democrat leaders of the Senate and Assembly to immediately enact the legislation.

In a joint statement, O’Mara, Palmesano, and Friend said, “New York State needs to stop the proliferation of illegal marijuana ‘sticker stores’ throughout the region we represent and statewide. These illegal operations diminish the quality of life and risk the safety of the communities and neighborhoods where they operate. New York State is establishing a legal and appropriately regulated network of adult-use recreational marijuana dispensaries, with all the necessary safeguards. While we opposed the legalization of marijuana from the outset, if it’s going to go forward, it needs to take place under a legally established system with the appropriate oversight. We need to make it clear that these illegal sticker stores cannot operate and that there are criminal and civil consequences for any owners who continue to do so.”

Calling on Hochul to step up state efforts to shut down the illegal operations, including the enactment of the legislation they sponsor, the area state legislators were joined in Watkins Glen today by the following regional law enforcement representatives and local leaders: Schuyler County Sheriff Kevin Rumsey; Schuyler County Administrator Fonda Chronis; Schuyler County District Attorney Joe Fazzary; Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman; Schuyler County Legislator Phil Barnes; Chemung County Sheriff William Schrom; Chemung County Executive Assistant District Attorney Wayne Witherwax; Chemung County Legislator Bill McCarthy; Steuben County Sheriff James Allard; Steuben County Legislator Hilda Lando; Tioga County Sheriff Gary Howard; Tioga County District Attorney Kirk Martin; Penn Yan Police Chief Thomas Dunham; and Yates County District Attorney Todd Casella.

Schuyler County officials want landowners to know their rights when eying cash offers

© Copyright 2021, WSKG:

The housing market in Schuyler County is hot. County clerk Theresa Philbin has seen a significant increase in deeds filed with her office this year, as well as a jump in property values.

“People are paying well over the assessed value for their homes at this point, and sales are happening in a matter of days,” Philbin said. “Houses go on the market and they’re sold within days.”

The county clerk said she gets why people would want to move to or vacation in Schuyler County—it’s in the Finger Lakes, near state parks and a national forest.

Land investment firms are interested in the area for all the same reasons. Many of these companies pay cash for land in mostly rural places.

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Schuyler County attorney Steven Getman is worried residents could be taken advantage of. The purchase does not include a space to be notarized, which would make it challenging to prove the signatures of either party in the event of litigation.

“Many of these buyers are basically throwing out nets to see if they can find an owner who doesn’t understand the real value of their property, or an owner that wants to sell quickly at almost any cost,” Getman said.

He added that cash offers for land are typically 15% to 25% under the assessed value, which could cost landowners thousands.

Terms of the agreement also require the landowner to clear all liens before selling. Getman said that may put people already strapped for cash into debt.

While unsolicited offers like this are legal, Getman warned they shouldn’t be signed without consulting a lawyer.

“The goal here is to understand your rights,” he said. “Talk to an attorney before you sign anything.”

New summaries on aging and disability law released

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School has released two new publications in its "explainer" series on Aging and Disability Law for state and local policy makers:

• “Adult Protective Services – Autonomy Versus Protection”
• “Guardianship for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in New York.”

A news release from the center explains:

“These explainers provide accessible information about the legal protections for vulnerable older adults and individuals with disabilities, two groups making up a significant part of our communities. It’s something that touches us all, because it’s very likely someone we are close to falls into one of these groups….Throughout its history, the Government Law Center has focused on providing law and policy makers with options for reforming existing laws and designing new ones. Our Aging and Disability Law explainer series is our latest contribution to helping meet the needs of this growing and diverse population.”

Prior summaries released were:

• “Healthcare Proxies: Appointing People with the Power to Make Healthcare Decisions for Others."
• “‘Act Now’ Healthcare Proxies.”
• “Hospital Ethics Committees.“
• “The New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.”

For more on these publications and the Government Law Center, click here.

Schuyler County announces rabies clinic for cats and ferrets

Please see attached the flyer for our next rabies clinic being held September 1st from 6-7 pm at the Shared Services Building in Watkins Glen. The clinic is for cats and ferrets only. Registration is required by August 28th.

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Martin Luther King Day

Ronald Reagan:

"Each year on Martin Luther King Day, let us not only recall Dr. King, but rededicate ourselves to the Commandments he believed in and sought to live every day: Thou shall love thy God with all thy heart, and thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. And I just have to believe that all of us -- if all of us, young and old, Republicans and Democrats, do all we can to live up to those Commandments, then we will see the day when Dr. King's dream comes true, and in his words, "All of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning. . . land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

(President Reagan, Coretta Scott King, Bob Dole and others at the signing ceremony for HR 3706 making the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. a national holiday. 11/2/1983)

New laws for New York in 2020

Gannett News reports on a number of the new laws enacted by the New York State Legislature and scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2020. They include:

• Adoptees can access birth certificates;
• Farmworkers get overtime pay, mandatory rest;
• Cash bail, discovery reforms;
• Safety course requirement for motorboats;
• Teens can 'pre-register' to vote;

For more on these new laws, click here.

Schuyler and Yates Counties to Share Public Health Director, Expand Shared Services

In a move towards continued cost savings and increased efficiency, Schuyler and Yates counties have adopted resolutions authorizing the sharing of a Public Health Director between the two counties.

At their respective meetings on Monday, August 13, county legislators voted to authorize an Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) permitting the consolidation of this position within the two counties.

The aim of the project is to work collaboratively while maintaining two distinctive health departments with shared leadership and integrated service delivery. Both departments will be governed by their respective legislatures and/or boards of health.

Yates Chairman Doug Paddock commented “As we continue to seek efficiencies for our residents and taxpayers, this most recent move exemplifies the commitment of both counties towards improving service delivery while lowering costs.”

Schuyler Chairman Dennis Fagan added, “While we continue to struggle with unfunded mandates and their associated escalating costs, it is great to be able to partner with our neighbors to the north, to achieve real savings for our residents.” 

Both Chairs expressed their appreciation to County Attorneys Steven Getman (Schuyler) and Scott Falvey (Yates) for their efforts in crafting an IMA that both Legislatures agreed upon.

The agreement, which now goes to the NYS Department of Health for approval, is in response to the announced retirement of Schuyler Public Health Director Marcia Kasprzyk, and the desire to further collaboration between each county. 

According to Schuyler County Administrator Tim O’Hearn while the combined savings approach $100,000 annually, the move will actually provide increased levels of service as each county shares departmental resources. 

By combining some resources, functions, and staff in their health departments, the two counties provide services that enhance their role as public health facilitators and educators in their respective communities, including:

• ·        Public health education
• ·        Emergency preparedness
• ·        Childhood Early Intervention Programs
• ·        Residential sanitary inspections
• ·        Flu clinics
• ·        Rabies clinics

O’Hearn stated “I commend both Marcia and Deb for their initiative in bringing this recommendation to their respective Legislatures. It is not often in government that such a collaborative and non-parochial approach to administration is achieved and this is a testament to their professionalism and dedication to public health!”

This is the latest shared service initiative between Yates and Schuyler, who currently share a Director of Weights and Measures and Code Enforcement responsibilities.

Both Counties have long recognized that inter-municipal cooperation can help local governments increase effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of services and is encouraged by the New York State legislature via broad statutory authority.  Here, the counties are taking advantage of legislation passed in 2011 that allows up to three county public health offices in counties with a combined population of less than 150,000 to share staff and services under the management of one public health director.

A County Health Department's mission is to protect and promote the health of its residents through prevention, science and the assurance of quality health care delivery.

Schuyler County Household Hazardous Waste, Electronics, and Tire Collection Day

Household Hazardous Waste, Electronics, and Tire Collection Day: Saturday, September 16th, 2017

REGISTRATION PERIOD: August 7 - September 13

WHERE: Schuyler County Highway Department, 901 S. Decatur Street, Watkins Glen

HOW TO REGISTER: Complete registration form and return to kvanhorn@co.schuyler.ny.us or mail to 105 Ninth Street, Unit 39, Watkins Glen, NY 14891.

CAN I REQUEST A DROP OFF TIME?: Yes! The drop-off times are assigned in 30 minutes increments starting at 9:00am. If you would like to come at a certain time please write that on your registration form and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Schuyler County and Yates County Residents Only (sorry, no businesses)

For more information, click here.

Finger Lakes election results to be available online

Typically, many of the local boards of election will post their unofficial results online.

The websites for some local boards of election can be found below:

• Cayuga County
• Chemung County
• Ontario County
• Seneca County
• Schuyler County
• Steuben County
• Tompkins County
• Wayne County
• Yates County

Results usually start coming in shortly after the polls close at 9:00 pm and they are updated as new totals are calculated.

These sites are often a good way to keep track of local election results (village, town, county) that otherwise might not be available in the media until the next day.

Beware of Scammers Posing as National Grid

Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York has issued a warning about a utility scam:

National Grid reports that scammers are targeting its customers, demanding payment over the phone and telling people that they will shut off service if they do not comply.

Because utility companies do sometimes contact their customers by phone, it can be difficult to tell a scammer from a real employee. BBB offers the following tips: Prepaid debit cards are a red flag. If a caller specifically asks you to pay by prepaid debit card or wire transfer, this is a huge warning sign. Your utility company will accept a check or credit card and will usually direct you to one of their payment locations.

The BBB cautions the people should never give their credit card, debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or savings account numbers to anyone who comes to your home, calls or sends an email requesting information.

More here.

Citizenship in the 21st Century: a free online course

Whether you're with her or planning to make America great again, we hope to see you at the polls on November 8th. Before that though, exercise your passion for politics by joining Citizenship in the 21st Century, an online course offered by Keuka College this fall.

This course is open to community members, alumni, and friends of Keuka College at no cost.

Throughout the class, you will:

• Engage in discussions with Keuka College professors and students, as well as academic and political guests.
• Explore themes including the relationship between citizens and government, voting behavior, and current issues such as race, gender, and immigration.
• Debate with students for an intergenerational look at political discourse.
• Examine how candidates connect with voters through social media.
• Analyze the influence of money on elections and politics.
• Understand how campaigns are built and adapt throughout the election cycle.

As the 2016 presidential election nears, take this opportunity to share your perspective. For more information, click here or email community@keuka.edu.