Highlights of the 5/6/25 Tompkins County Legislature Meeting
Published on May 09, 2025
County Green Initiatives Updates
Legislators discussed green initiatives in the County and proposals to address climate change at the State level.
Tompkins County Chief Sustainability Officer Terry Carroll presented statistics regarding the County’s energy use and expenses. As a result of the County’s Green Facilities initiatives, energy usage across County facilities has significantly decreased. In 2024, electricity use dropped by 1.96% while natural gas use reduced by 31.14% compared to 2023. Carroll reported that this reduction is not reflected in the County’s energy costs during the same timeframe, which have increased by $166,000, largely due to energy supply increases and energy delivery rate hikes.
Carroll also highlighted the County’s green fleet has nearly doubled since 2021, with 30% of the fleet being electrified. Phase I of the Green Facilities project has been completed, encompassing work on virtually every County building, including updating the Mental Health HVAC system, installing geothermal heating and cooling at Public Works, and energy management control systems. The County is awaiting approximately $1.8 million in Federal IRS clean energy tax credit returns, which will help fund Phase II of this project, including a solar installation at the Whole Health department and replacement boilers at the Human Services Building.
State Climate Change Bills
Legislator Anne Koreman (D-Ulysses, Enfield, Ithaca), Chair of the Planning, Energy, and Environmental Quality Committee, and Legislator Veronica Pillar (D-Ithaca) introduced a resolution to support New York State’s legislative and policy proposals to address climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. The Tompkins County Climate and Sustainable Energy (CaSE) Advisory Board recommended supporting the four bills listed in the resolution, and board representatives spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. After a robust discussion, the resolution passed 10:3, opposed by Legislators Sigler (R-Lansing), Brown (R-Newfield, Enfield), and Shurtleff (R-Groton, Dryden, Lansing).
Legislator Pillar introduced the resolution as “core sustainability initiatives on the State level that are aligned with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.”
Legislator Koreman credited the CaSE Advisory Board with “paying attention to what’s happening on the State level and spending time packaging this resolution.”
Legislator Mike Sigler contended that “constituents are concerned with the cost of electricity and natural gas, and some of these resolutions will necessarily raise these costs.”
Local Cannabis Enforcement Against Unlicensed Dispensaries
Tompkins County Attorney Maury Josephson reported that the Public Safety Committee, in partnership with the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, City of Ithaca Police Department, and City Attorney’s Office, is working on a framework for local cannabis enforcement against unlicensed dispensaries. He noted, “It is an equity issue. Some folks went to great lengths to go through the licensing process and are being undercut by the bootleggers.” The first step will be identifying the scope of the problem and the property owners.
Legislator Greg Mezey (D-Dryden) voiced concern that this plan does not involve law enforcement engagement with the unlawful dispensary and confiscation of the illegally sold products. Legislator Shawna Black (D-Ithaca) supports “a system to shut down rogue stores, because this is not fair to others who abide by the hard guidelines that were set forth.”
Public Protest Guidance
Legislator Rich John (D-Ithaca), Chair of the Public Safety Committee, introduced a resolution to support the existing guidelines of the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, City of Ithaca, and Cornell University related to public protests. The resolution was amended by Legislator Mezey to exclude the Cornell policy and ultimately defeated 5:7 (opposed by Legislators Pillar, Black, Brooks, Brown, Champion, Koreman, and Klein).
In support of the resolution, Legislator John offered, “We want people to protest and pay attention to these guidelines on how to protest responsibly. We don’t want acts of violence, vandalism, or intentional obstruction of traffic. If you violate the law, you should expect consequences.”
Opposing comments invoked historic quotes by Martin Luther King Jr., “a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (Champion, D-Ithaca) and Frederick Douglass, “power concedes nothing without a demand” (Pillar). Legislators Mezey and Klein (D-Danby, Caroline, Ithaca) noted these existing policies are already being enforced by the respective entities and don’t need to be weighed in on by the Legislature.
Other Business
Tompkins County Attorney Maury Josephson informed the Legislature about Federal communications, litigations, and executive orders demanding from various jurisdictions to stop diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and comply with immigration enforcement or jeopardize federal funding. His office is closely monitoring these developments.
Downtown Facilities Special Committee Chair Randy Brown and Tompkins County Administrator Korsah Akumfi discussed plans for departments that will move into the to-be-built Center of Government. Holt Architects provided preliminary floor plans and strategies for determining parking needs and community engagement. Some departments will have to be temporarily relocated while buildings are being deconstructed.
Tompkins County Finance Director Lorrie Scarrott reported that sales tax revenue is 13.3% higher than in March of last year. Auditors are on the premises to conduct their annual audit. The third-party review of the Tompkins County Public Library is underway.
Budget, Capital, and Personnel Committee Chair Mike Lane (D-Dryden) outlined the 2026 budget process that started with a retreat last month and will continue with department meetings and another retreat in July.
Government Operations Committee Chair Amanda Champion (D-Ithaca) added two resolutions to the agenda related to the Tompkins County Public Library. The Legislature unanimously approved the library board’s amended bylaws, increasing membership from 12 to 15 members, and appointed seven new trustees.
Facilities and Infrastructure Committee Chair Lee Shurtleff outlined the roadwork the Highway Department will be undertaking this year, including full paving of 24.71 miles and chip-sealed paving of 58.35 miles. The Highway Department maintains 106 bridges and centerline miles of roads in Tompkins County. Challenges include significant cost increases – from $125,000 per mile to $200,000 for full paving and from $10,000 per mile to $15,000 for chip-sealing. Shurtleff announced the retirement of the Director of the Highway Department, Jeff Smith, later this year and complimented his work. “If anyone in county government exemplifies intergovernmental and intermunicipal cooperation, Jeff is one of these people.”
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