ITHACA, NY Big changes could be coming to the structure of Ithaca city government. At the April 28 City Administration Committee meeting, a subcommittee charged by the mayor at the beginning of the year, proposed moving from a mayor-council government to a council-manager government.
A mayor-council government, the closest to the way Ithaca operates, has a mayor elected separately from the council who is often full-time and paid with significant administrative and budgetary authority. The council is elected and maintains legislative powers, and some cities with this type of government appoint a professional manager who maintains limited administrative authority, which would be similar to Ithacaâs chief of staff Dan Cogan (who is stepping down this month). Itâs the second most common form of municipal government and is most commonly found in larger, older cities or in very small cities.
Photo: Saga Communications
ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – The Tompkins County Legislature met Tuesday evening for its regular monthly meeting. Here’s some of the highlights:
County Administrator Jason Molino and Public Health Director Frank Kruppa gave an update on the Covid-19 pandemic, including the ongoing rollout of vaccines in the community. They noted pop-up clinics are being planned in Dryden, Enfield, Trumansburg, and other municipalities.
The Health Department is also now offering a form that any community business, organization, or group can fill out to request a small vaccination pop-up clinic at their location. In other business, a proclamation was read recognizing Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
7 hours ago in Local, Politics Photo: Saga Communications
ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – At its most recent meeting, the Tompkins County Legislature named its interim County Administrator.
In a unanimous vote, Lisa Holmes has been named as the interim Administrator as current Administrator Jason Molino recently announced he would be stepping down from the post.
Holmes is currently a Deputy County Administrator and will start in her new role May 17th. This provides overlap time with Molino for proper onboarding before his exit later in the month.
The Legislature notes that a comprehensive search for a permanent replacement Administrator is planned for later in 2021.
4 weeks ago in Environment, Local
Photo provided courtesy of Tompkins County Photo: Saga Communications
ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – Tompkins County is requesting public review and comment on the current draft of its Harmful Algal Bloom Strategy.
In 2018, the state released a Harmful Algal Bloom Action Plan for Cayuga Lake, which lacked specificity for local agencies to take action.
Tompkins County’s HAB Strategy looks to identify actions that can be taken locally over the next several years.
It’s not meant to be an exhaustive list, instead focusing on four priority areas: agriculture, ditch management, stream buffers, and collaborations.
The draft can be found on the Tompkins County website.
ITHACA, NY As we all know, the 2020–21 concert season has been more than challenging — and mostly nonexistent — for musical organizations worldwide. Here in Ithaca, our local