New York State: Voting Key Dates, Resources & Hotline Information

A list of Voting Key Dates, Resources and Hotline Information is available here.

Schuyler County Legislature to Take Up Resolution Opposing the Issuance of a Permit to Operate A Waste Management Facility in The Town of Cayuta, County of Schuyler.

The Schuyler County Legislature will vote at its October meeting on a resolution opposing a proposed solid waste materials recovery facility in the county.

The resolution passed the legislature’s Community Development and Natural ResourcesCommittee in draft form on Tuesday (September 29, 2020).  It calls upon the Department of Environmental Conservation to reject the proposal of Alternative Waste Services Inc. for a facility in the Town of Cayuta, pending a revised application, additional public comment and “a full, fair and exhaustive environmental review of this project.” 

According to the draft resolution, Alternative Waste Services has proposed building a 10,575 square foot materials recovery facility off NYS Route 13 that would accept municipal solid waste, construction and demolition debris and source-separated recyclables.   The proposal is awaiting final DEC approval.  Earlier in September,  DEC waived a full environmental impact statement after finding that the project would result in no significant adverse impacts on the environment.

Schuyler County Legislature

However, in response to public concern, county officials reviewed the documents submitted to DEC and noted areas of concern with the current application, “which appear to be unaddressed or insufficiently addressed by the DEC review,” the draft resolution notes.  Among the public concerns cited in the draft resolution are that the facility could have potential negative impacts on tourism, agriculture and human health due to truck traffic and water pollution, as well as worries about possible expansion.  Therefore, the draft resolution requests that Alternative Waste Services submit a revised application to address legitimate areas of concern prior to any DEC decision on the project.

 Prior to passing the draft resolution, the committee heard from members of the public who spoke for and against the proposed facility, including a member of the Cayuta Town Board, a representative of Alternative Waste Services and a speaker from Seneca Lake Guardian, a nonprofit advocacy group.

The draft resolution was submitted to the committee by County Planning Director Kristin VanHorn, with input from County Administrator Tim O’Hearn, CountyAttorney Steven Getman and Committee Chairman Mark Rondinaro.

 The full legislature will consider the resolution at its meeting Tuesday October 13, at 6:30 pm at the Schuyler County Human Services Complex in Montour Falls. The public is invited to attend.  COVID-19 social distancing, crowd sizes and other safety measures will be in place.

 A copy of the draft resolution is available here.

Second Amendment Legal Update: October 2020

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.

Voters warned about election crimes ahead of the November 2020 election

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning to educate voters about federal election crimes and how to avoid them, and to encourage voters to report suspected violations.

According to the warning, election crimes fall into four broad categories:

• Ballot fraud
• Campaign finance violations
• Patronage offenses
• Civil rights violations, such as voter suppression or voter intimidation

“While individual states and localities have the constitutional authority and responsibility to manage elections and have their own election laws,” the FBI notes, “an election crime becomes a federal crime when one or more of the following occurs”:

• A ballot includes one or more federal candidates
• Election or polling place officials abuse their office
• The conduct involves false voter registration
• The crime is motivated by hostility toward minority protected classes
• The activity violates federal campaign finance law

The release also notes that individual states and localities have the constitutional authority and responsibility to manage elections and have their own election laws. Voters are urged to know the law, know their rights and report any suspected election crimes to the appropriate law enforcement or elections authorities. For more information, click here.

Schuyler County SCOPE To Make Free Gun Locks Available In Schuyler County Through Partnership With County Attorney

The Schuyler County Chapter of Shooters Committee on Political Education (SCOPE) in conjunction with the Office of Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman, is giving away free cable-style gun locks to Schuyler County families.

The locks can be obtained from the County Attorney’s Office by calling 607.535.8121 during normal business hours and scheduling a pickup time. One lock will be available per household and will be provided on a “first come, first serve” basis. Supplies are limited.

“We are pleased to have the Schuyler County Attorney’s Office as a partner in this educational program” said Daniel Phillips, Schuyler County SCOPE Secretary. “The mission of SCOPE is to educate the public on the importance of our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms, as well as to make every effort to educate anti-gun politicians. We can help accomplish this by promoting responsible voluntary gun safety measures for gun owners that do not conflict with the Second Amendment.”

“Partnering with County Attorney Getman allows SCOPE to participate in a countywide effort to promote firearms safety education and increase awareness of just one of Governor Cuomo’s many gun laws. We are 100% membership funded and made up of concerned gun owners and conservation clubs across New York State.”

According to Getman, the giveaway will also help ensure that gun owners are in compliance with New York’s strict firearms storage laws, which require them to lock up their firearms while living in a home with someone under the age of 16.

“We encourage county residents to pick up a free lock so that they can securely store their firearm,” said Getman. “The locks fit on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns. The cable is threaded through the weapon and blocks the barrel or the use of ammunition. It’s secured by a padlock and key.”

“The goal is to prevent a young child or other unauthorized person from accessing a firearm in the home.”

Phillips and Getman noted that the locks have been donated by SCOPE and, therefore, there is no county charge to the taxpayers for this service.

SCOPE is a non-partisan statewide 501(c)4 organization dedicated to educating the public about firearm ownership, Second Amendment rights and legislation. The Schuyler County chapter’s meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm in January, March, May, October and as necessary at the Montour Falls Moose Lodge, 2096 Co Rd 14, Montour Falls, NY 14865.

The Schuyler County Attorney is the legal advisor to the county legislature, county administrator and other county officials. In addition, the county attorney prosecutes family court cases of child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency and other civil matters on behalf of county officials.

Schuyler County Honors Sept. 17 as Constitution and Citizenship Day

The Schuyler County Legislature is recognizing Thursday (Sept 17) as Constitution and Citizenship Day.

The legislature’s resolution, drafted by County Attorney Steven Getman, urges civil and educational authorities of states, counties, cities and towns to make plans for the proper observance of the day and “for the complete instruction of citizens in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States, and of the state and locality in which they reside.”

The resolution was approved at the legislature’s Sept. 14 meeting.

Sept. 17 is the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution, which, the county resolution notes, "is the supreme law of the land and the document by which the people of this country self-govern."

In remembrance of the signing of the Constitution and in recognition of the Americans who strive to uphold the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the Congress, by joint resolution on Feb. 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106), designated Sept.17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

SCHUYLER COUNTY LEGISLATURE... by Steven Getman

New law gives New York Judges authority to waive surcharges and fees for people under 21

New York courts now have broad discretion to waive surcharges and fees where the judge finds that the person being sentenced was under the age of 21 at the time of the offense and that:

· the waiver is in the interests of justice;
· the imposition of the surcharge or fee would work an unreasonable hardship on the defendant, the defendant’s immediate family, or any other person dependent on the defendant for support; or
· after considering the goal of promoting successful and productive reentry and reintegration), the imposition of the surcharge or fee would adversely impact the defendant’s reintegration into society.

The new law was effective August 24, 2020 and the full text is available here.

Second Amendment Legal Update: September 2020

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.

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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