ECS has a plan

ELDRED — A school violence incident closer to home last week in upstate Elmira prompted new questions about the district’s ability to quickly control any violent incidents.

Eldred Central School Board member Andrew Boyar recalled news coverage saying school officials were able to turn the report of a threat into response in only twelve minutes. “Are we drilling?” Boyar asked.

District Superintendent Candace Mazur said ECS has evacuation plans, details of which are not released. The district has drills regularly, including a recent “lockdown” at MacKenzie Elementary School.

Mazur said there will also be another unannounced visit from state police sniffing dogs.

Emerald board will go to nine

MONTICELLO — Minority leader Legislator Rodney Gaebel (RC-5) came out on top of a lengthy internal squabble at the Sullivan Legislature last week when the Legislature agreed to expand the board of directors of a new local development corporation which will manage the Emerald Corporate Park.

Several months ago Legislative chair Rusty Pomeroy had named a seven-member board for the project. Gaebel challenged the decision saying the board lacked sufficient input and oversight from the county government, which is funding the project.

The decision then went against Gaebel, along party lines, but at an Executive Committee session before last Thursday’s monthly meeting the committee reversed that position, expanding the panel to nine, and including the chair of the Public Works Committee, which Gaebel occupies.

Salary increase tabled

MONTICELLO — In a sharply split vote Sullivan County Legislators last week agreed to table a proposed salary increase for Real Property Tax Services Director Paul Burckard.

While legislators almost unanimously affirmed that Burckard, who is often described as one of the most knowledgeable people in the position around the state, certainly deserved the increase, Robert Kunis (D-8) challenged piecemeal increases. “Why can’t we review these and do them together.”

Finance committee chair Kathy LaBuda (D-2) responded quickly, saying Kunis had missed multiple committee sessions where the increase had been discussed.

Legislators met in closed executive session for about 20 minutes before returning to table the measure by a 5-4 vote; which was supported by Kunis, Rusty Pomeroy (D-3), Rodney Gaebel (RC-5), Jodi Goodman (RC-6) and Steven Kurlander (RC-9)

The proposed increase would have brought Burckard’s annual salary to $63,510.

Pomeroy will show new tax plan

MONTICELLO — Sources at the Sullivan County Government Center say that Rusty Pomeroy, Chairman of the Sullivan County Legislature, tonight will unveil plans for a tax payment initiative and an 800 number to be instituted this year, when he delivers his State of the County Address. He is scheduled to deliver his annual remarks tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Legislative Hearing Room at the government center.