Published: September 25, 2008 11:37 am         

COUNTY: Residents question power of newly formed committee

BY RIKKI CASON



Two residents approached the board of the Orleans County Legislature with concerns about the newly created ethics board. Mark Taylor and Paul Lauricella of Lyndonville expressed their concerns at an ethics board meeting last week. The committee, established earlier this year, has met twice and has begun updating the county’s code of ethics and procedures.

“I watched what was going on, and one of my concerns were they don’t have any teeth,” Taylor said. “They don’t have any power. What I saw was five people who dedicated their time. They’re working very hard, but I guess the way it is set up, they have absolutely no power at all.”

Lauricella agreed with Taylor that if an ethics committee was going to be created, it should have power. He also had concerns about only county employees being able to address the ethics board.

“In other words, if I had a problem with somebody within the county, as a member of the public, I couldn’t go to the ethics committee, only county employees,” Lauricella said.

Legislator Gary Kent said he felt that if a resident had a question regarding ethics, he could come to a legislator, who would then present the issue to the ethics board. He said another purpose of the ethics board is to give county employees and lawmakers an impartial opinion on whether something is ethical.

Ethic board Chairman Jeff Schwartz said he felt that residents’ concerns were premature, due to the recent formation of the board.

“We have not yet had the opportunities to submit to the Legislature all the issues we discussed and what the rules are going to be,” Schwartz said.

Ethics board members gave the county Legislature their version of the code of ethics procedure for them to review and discuss further on the board’s role.

In other news, the county Legislature passed a resolution calling on New York state congressional delegation to support the temporary increase in Federal Medical Assistance Percentages, providing New York counties with property tax relief.

This resolution is offered in conjunction with Gov. David Paterson and the New York State Association of Counties.

During the meeting, Legislator David Callard quoted NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario as saying that Medicaid currently represents the largest single program expense in every county’s budget.

New York is among only a few states that receive the lowest FMAP, at 50 percent. This leaves New York state and its counties to fund the other 50 percent.

A temporary increase is hoped for before the close of the congressional session in the next few weeks.

Also, three public hearings were set for the next county Legislature meeting Oct. 8. The first is a second public hearing on Local Law No. 4, which would give a property tax exemption to Cold War veterans. If approved, Cold War veterans could see up to a 10 percent discount on their property taxes, not to exceed $4,000.

The second public hearing is on Local Law No. 5, which would give a property tax exemption on capital Improvements to residential buildings. The final public hearing will address property tax exemptions for historical property and is a part of Local Law No. 6. The public hearings are scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.