Last updated on May 14, 2012

NYCOM's 103rd Annual Meeting Concludes

(Above l to r): Mayor Donald Kasprzak, City of Plattsburgh, NYCOM Second Vice President; Mayor Richard Donovan, Village of Minoa, NYCOM First Vice President; and Mayor William Nelson, City of Ogdensburg, NYCOM President, being sworn in by Mayor Nelson's daughter Alaina Davis. Former Mayor Diana Smith of Seneca Falls is seen here holding the Nelson Family Bible.

NYCOM's 103rd Annual Meeting & Training School was recently held in Saratoga Springs.  This event provided a variety of sessions covering both the essential information and skills that every local official needs, as well as some of the more timely and innovative topics to help local officials discover new and more efficient ways of doing what they do.

This meeting also featured the presentation to the 25th Annual Local Government Achievement Award Winners: Public Safety - City of Cohoes (first place) and Village of Laurel Hollow (Second Place); Economic Development - Village of Saranac Lake (First Place) and City of Norwich (Second Place); and Public Works (Village of Greenwood Lake (First Place), Village of Marcellus (Second Place) and Village of Mamaroneck (Third Place).

ETHICS TRAINING WORKSHOP

presented by John Mancini, NYCOM Counsel

$25 PER PERSON

Rochester Region
Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Monroe Community College

Watertown Region
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Adams Fire Hall

Oneonta
Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Stella Luna Restaurant Oneonta

In January 2012, village and city officials across the State received a letter from the Attorney General’s Office requesting information about your local code of ethics. As a result, NYCOM has received many inquiries related to municipal ethics. To assist members in complying with the requirements of New York’s ethics laws, NYCOM is presenting a series of regional workshops on municipal ethics. Topics that will be covered in the ethics workshop include: Article 18 of the General Municipal Law; Updating Your Local Code of Ethics; Establishing a Local Ethics Board; Financial Disclosure Statements; Use of Municipal Resources; Nepotism; Compatibility of Office; and Gifts.

*** This workshop has been submitted for approval of two (2) Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits. Approval from the state’s CLE Accreditation Board is pending. For a copy of NYCOM’s CLE Financial Hardship Policy, contact the NYCOM Office at 518.463.1185. ***

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION MATERIALS.

A Common Agenda for the Common Good

NYCOM has been working with a coalition of groups united in the pursuit of significant mandate relief - Let New York Work: A Common Agenda for the Common Good. Our historic coalition of eleven prominent business, local government and educational organizations has launched a new, comprehensive initiative to advance significant mandate relief.  We have already been successful in achieving long-term pension reform and will now continue to pursue our other five agenda items.  For additional information on the coalition and our agenda, please click here.

Tax Cap Guidance

The Office of the State Comptroller has information on its website about the newly enacted Property Tax Cap. This information includes: the formula for determining the tax levy limit; an on-line tax limit reporting form and user guide; as well as a list of FAQs:

• Click here to view this and other important information on the Tax Cap.
• Click here to view the Tax Base Growth Factors for cities and villages.
• Click here to view tax cap guidance from the Department of Taxation and Finance and the Department of State.
• Click here to view a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

• Click here for a “Sample Local Law to Override the Tax Cap”.

As cities and villages struggle with funding the provision of essential municipal services under the new property tax cap, the need for significant mandate relief becomes more apparent with every passing day. NYCOM continues to advocate for legislative enactment of the types of mandate relief that will allow local governments to manage their costs in a way that truly benefits property taxpayers.

• To learn more about NYCOM’s mandate relief priorities, please review our report, “You Can’t Cap What You Can’t Control.”
  
• Click here to view the column, "Tax Caps Alone - No Matter How Many - Are Not the Answer," from NYCOM's Executive Director Peter Baynes in the September-October 2011 issue of the NYCOM Municipal Bulletin.

MUNICIPAL MARKETPLACE ADVERTISING

Municipal Bulletin :: Directory of City & Village Officials

The municipal officials you want to reach who make the purchasing decisions about municipal products and services read the Municipal Bulletin and use the essential information only published in NYCOM's Directory of City & Village Officials (and Cyber Pages – virtual Directory).

NYCOM is pleased to announce that our Municipal Marketplace contracts are now available online for your convenience. This one-stop-shop provides an opportunity for your company to reach this select audience of over 7,000 municipal officials. If you are looking to save some advertising dollars this year, look into the excellent discounts for BUNDLING your Directory advertising with the Municipal Bulletin. NEW ADVERTISERS – SAVE UP TO 20%.

View our 2012 online advertising/insertion order information and contracts. If you have any questions regarding advertising, please contact NYCOM's Publication's Editor Jennifer Purcell.

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