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HEAP staff already past 5,000 applications

Legislators also discuss new charter review member

Dan Hust
Posted 11/23/15

MONTICELLO — The HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) season opened last Monday, and by the next day, county staff and various cooperating nonprofits had completed more than 4,800 applications for …

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HEAP staff already past 5,000 applications

Legislators also discuss new charter review member

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MONTICELLO — The HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) season opened last Monday, and by the next day, county staff and various cooperating nonprofits had completed more than 4,800 applications for home heating aid - that's now past 5,200, as of Friday.

“Kudos to the HEAP team,” Acting Commissioner of Health and Family Services Joe Todora told legislators Thursday. “All their preparation has led to a fairly calm, business-as-usual approach.”

Over 200 people showed up at the Department of Family Services in Liberty that first day, even though county officials had previously urged applicants to go online or head to the nonprofits who serve as alternative sites.

Nevertheless, those who did go to the traditional Liberty site found little waiting, said Todora - sometimes even getting their aid and heating fuel all in the same day.

“I think the best one was the guy who said, ‘I'm done? But I brought my lunch!'” related County Auditor Angela Chevalier.

“It looks like we're off to a very successful start,” affirmed Todora, “so kudos to my staff.”

More room for records

In a long-awaited move, legislators on Thursday unanimously agreed (minus an absent Kitty Vetter) to set aside $150,000 in the existing Capital Plan to put an addition on the records storage building on the county's Social Services campus in Liberty.

“We're essentially doubling the size of the building,” Public Works Commissioner Ed McAndrew told legislators. “And we're doing it in-house [with county workers].”

The existing enclosed pole barn in Liberty, behind the Public Health Services facility, will be expanded from 1,920 square feet to 3,840 square feet, enabling various county offices to unload piles of records boxes that have been cluttering their offices.

County Clerk Dan Briggs, who is the county's Records Retention Officer, has been asking for additional space for years. But when contacted Friday, he could not comment, having not been included in discussions about the addition and only informed about it three days prior to Thursday's vote (for which he was away and could not attend).

New face reviewing Charter

Legislators approved adding Monticello resident Michael Levinson to the county's Charter Review Commission, which is in the midst of research as it prepares to make recommendations for changes to the county's core document.

A former Monticello village trustee, Levinson is replacing Ray Nargizian, who recently resigned due to other commitments.

Levinson was nominated by Legislator Alan Sorensen, who praised his record of community service.

In support of ward voting

Legislators on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution supporting state bills that would allow school districts to implement ward voting systems.

Currently, only city school districts can do such in New York State. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther has introduced a bill in the Assembly (with a companion in the Senate) to allow individual school districts throughout the state to put the question to voters: do they want to have board of education members voted in by (and represent) specific portions of an individual school district?

The County Legislature is supporting the concept as a fairer way of electing school board trustees, akin to the process for state and federal elected representatives.

The Assembly bill is currently in the Education Committee and will not see a vote until next year at the earliest.

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