Pike to offer free voting machines

MILFORD, PA ¾ Pike County’s 41 lever voting machines, which have been replaced by electronic machines, are being offered free to schools, community associations and other groups that hold elections.

“We are giving them away on a first-come-first-served basis to public and semi-public groups,” said Pike County Commissioner Chair Harry Forbes.

Those interested should contact the Pike County Election Office at 570/296-7744.

Supplemental budget includes $1 million for performing arts center

BETHEL, NY — The supplemental budget bill recently approved by the state senate includes $1 million for the Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center. The funding was secured by Senator John Bonacic.

“Bethel Woods will be one of the most significant tourist attractions in all of New York State, and will help revolutionize tourism in the Catskills,” said Bonacic.

Visit www.bethelwoodslive.org for more information.

Swinging Bridge remediation plan approved

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has released correspondence between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Mirant NY-GEN, owners of the Swinging Bridge Dam in Mongaup Valley, confirming the federal agency’s approval of Mirant’s remediation plans for the dam, and FERC’s concurrence with the results of a flood study conducted for Mirant that indicates that downstream communities would be safe in the event of a dam failure. According to the documents provided to him by FERC, necessary construction can begin immediately, with the expectation that the reservoir will be returned to historic water levels by the end of the year.

Prior to May, 2005, the water in the Swinging Bridge Reservoir stretched some nine miles and covered more than 850 acres. The reservoir’s footprint has shrunk dramatically since then as the reservoir level has been maintained well below capacity.

FERC expects that all work will be completed by November.

School funding bill passed

ALBANY, NY — The New York State senate has passed a bill (S.8360) that would permanently change the way schools are financed. The legislation would allow voters in each school district to vote to phase out the property tax on homeowners for the operating costs of local school districts. The phase-out would take place at a rate of 20 percent a year for the next five years.

The legislation was developed jointly by State Senators John Bonacic and Stephen Saland, who respectively chair the Senate committees on Housing and Education. “Voters should not have to choose between the cost of home ownership and a quality education for their children. It is an untenable choice and one which Senate Republicans have chosen to end,” Bonacic said.

The bill would still have to pass the assembly before becoming law.

Pike County commissioners honored for conservation

PIKE COUNTY, PA — Pike County Commissioners were recognized with an honorable mention in the County Leadership in Conservation Awards, presented jointly by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) at NACo’s National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in March. The annual awards recognize leadership, innovation and excellence in local land conservation and park creation by county leaders across America.

Pike County, the most rapidly growing county in Pennsylvania, boasts a wealth of publicly and privately owned intact forests and other open spaces that contribute to the excellent water quality, abundant wildlife, rural character and quality of life in its communities. Of primary concern are increasing fragmentation of open spaces, deforestation of watershed lands and increasing levels of non-point source pollution associated with widespread earth disturbance activities and increasing levels of impervious surfaces.

Legislators back IDA reforms

MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Legislature passed a resolution Thursday to support state legislation containing a five-part reform of the state’s Industrial Development Agencies (IDA).

The reform would mandate basic wage rates and benefits, community and environmental standards for businesses that receive IDA benefits, and enforcement of penalties against companies that fail to meet job creation and retention goals. The legislation would also give the public greater input into IDA projects, and access to IDA documents.

Legislator Sam Wohl, who also serves as chairman of the Sullivan County IDA, said “This is an important piece of legislation because it allows the public greater access to speak and be heard about IDA issues that concern them. Also, because the legislation calls for individual municipalities to approve IDA projects in their communities, it ensures that the IDA will continue to work with the best interests of our communities in mind.”

Hinchey backs global warming bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), together with Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and other Democratic House members, has introduced legislation that would require a dramatic cut in the emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The Safe Climate Act of 2006 is a comprehensive measure that would require an 80-percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050.

“The consequences of global warming are far too serious and profound for this Congress and White House to continue to bury their heads in the sand and ignore this growing problem,” Hinchey said.

Scientists have already observed serious global warming impacts around the world, including increases in heat waves and droughts as well as the growing intensity and frequency of serious storm events. The proposed legislation would set targets for greenhouse gas reductions, with an ultimate goal of reducing emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050.