Highlights of the 6/17/25 Tompkins County Legislature Meeting
Published on June 20, 2025
Legislature recognizes June as 2SLGBTQI+ Pride Month
Legislators Greg Mezey (D-Dryden), Veronica Pillar (D-Ithaca), Shawna Black (D-Ithaca), and Anne Koreman (D-Ulysses, Enfield, Ithaca) read and presented the Tompkins County 2SLGBTQI+ Pride Month Proclamation, which was received by Ithaca Pride Alliance Chair Andrew Scheldorf. Tompkins County stands in solidarity with the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional gender-diverse (2SLGBTQI+) community, celebrating their strength, authenticity, and love in all its forms. The Tompkins County Legislature directs that the Pride/Rainbow Flags shall be flown on County flagpoles throughout June as a visible expression of our commitment to equality, dignity, and inclusion for all.
Legislature designates June 19 as Juneteenth
Legislator Veronica Pillar read and presented the Tompkins County Juneteenth Proclamation to students from the Southside Community Center. The Tompkins County Legislature is honoring the enduring strength, culture, and contributions of African Americans who have fought for freedom, justice, and equality in our county and beyond, and encourages all residents to reflect on the legacy of slavery and racial injustice, to celebrate the achievements and culture of African Americans, and to actively engage in building a community rooted in equity, dignity, and mutual respect.
Legislature appoints Whole Health Commissioner and Director of Finance 
Legislators unanimously appointed Jennie Sutcliffe as the next Whole Health Commissioner and Darrel Tuttle as the next Director of Finance, both effective July 7, 2025.
Ms. Sutcliffe, a Trumansburg native who most recently held leadership positions at the New York City Health Department, stated as priorities “building trust, meeting the political moment, and supporting a resilient workforce.”
Mr. Tuttle, who has worked for Tompkins County for three years and most recently served as a Deputy Director of Finance, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and stated that he is “looking forward to better serving the Legislature and County and working with my staff in this new role.”
Community engagement meetings for the Center of Government are underway
The County Administrator shared information on previous and upcoming town hall meetings to share the status of the Center of Government project and collect feedback and ideas from residents. The next meeting will be held in person at 6 pm on June 23 at the Caroline Town Hall. The final meeting on June 24 will be hybrid and livestreamed at 6 pm from the Legislature Chambers in Ithaca. Residents are encouraged to participate and provide feedback in person, on Zoom (email the Communications Office to receive the Zoom link), or watch the live feed or recording on the County’s YouTube channel. Mr. Akumfi reviewed the project web page and the online community survey. Community feedback from the survey and town hall meetings will inform the building design that residents can later weigh in on.
Code Blue and Emergency Shelter planning moves ahead
County Administrator Korsah Akumfi reported visiting shelter sites of operators who have answered the County’s request for qualifications with the goal of selecting a provider by mid-July. The selected operator will become part of the planning team and a partner in developing the County’s purpose-built emergency shelter on Cherry Street. The County also plans to partner with the City of Ithaca on a location for a joint Navigation Hub and temporary Code Blue Shelter. It is estimated that the identified site will be secured by the end of July, allowing time for renovations and preparation ahead of the 2025-2026 Code Blue season.
Legislators approved funding for staff parking, reuse services, and food systems
Chair of the Budget, Capital, and Personnel Committee Mike Lane (D-Dryden) introduced a resolution to use contingent funds for up to $50,000 to expand parking access, including a paid parking plan for staff located in Downtown Ithaca. County Administrator Akumfi explained that this was prompted by the continuing inequity of parking access for County staff at different buildings and the relocation of departments in preparation for the Center of Government project. The resolution was approved 11:3. Mike Sigler (R-Lansing) was opposed, along with Randy Brown (R-Newfield, Enfield), who voiced concerns about long-term funding.
Chair of the Planning, Energy, and Environmental Quality Committee Anne Koreman (D-Ulysses, Enfield, Ithaca) introduced, and the Legislature unanimously approved a contract for Finger Lakes ReUse, Inc. for a Local Circular Economy for a three-year term at a cost not to exceed $190,000 per year. This initiative facilitates reducing waste, keeping resources local, supporting workforce development, generating revenue from unwanted materials, and making materials available to the community at a lower cost. Legislators Koreman and Rich John (D-Ithaca) favorably mentioned the jobs and sales tax creation that this project provides. In addition, the Legislature unanimously affirmed its support of deconstruction and reuse strategies.
Legislators Randy Brown, Anne Koreman, and Veronica Pillar (D-Ithaca) submitted, and the Legislature unanimously approved, a resolution to appropriate $20,000 in contingency funds in support of the Finding Funds for Farms and Food Access (FFFFA) Program. Legislators Brown and Koreman spoke in support of the “opportunities to research and access grant funding for farmers.”
Other Business
Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) President Amy Kremenek reported enrollment growth of nearly 28% for Fall 2025. Ms. Kremenek highlighted the college’s strategic enrollment plan, the redesign of the enrollment process, and SUNY Reconnect: Free Community College for adult learners in 9 high-demand fields. 55% of TC3 students come from the sponsoring Tompkins and Cortland counties; 25% from contiguous counties. The Legislature authorized a public hearing on the TC3 2025-26 operating budget of $34,134,942 at 5:30 pm on July 17 in the Legislature Chambers.
Chair of the Legislature Dan Klein (D-Danby, Ithaca) reminded of the upcoming primary elections on June 24, 2025. Polls will be open from 6 am to 9 pm. Voters in the Democratic Party residing in the City of Ithaca, Wards 1, 3, and 5, the Town of Caroline, and the Town of Danby, and Republicans residing in the Town of Newfield will vote to choose candidates to appear on the ballot in the November Election. These primaries are taking place where more candidates filed petitions for the office(s) than positions are available on the same party line.
Early voting has started on June 14 and will run through June 22 at the Town of Ithaca Town Hall at 215 North Tioga Street. The special election to fill the seat of former Legislator Susan Currie (District 3 – City of Ithaca), who has resigned her position effective March 31, 2025, coincides with the primary elections on June 24. The successful candidate will fill the seat and committee appointments for the remainder of this year.
The public is invited to submit their vote for their favorite designs in the 2025 Election Sticker Contests until July 4. Over 900 votes have been submitted so far.
In July, there will be only one Legislature meeting on July 15.
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