FROM THE SUPERVISOR
Because of New York State's fiscal crisis, Richford has seen a reduction in state aid; there has also been a
significant reduction in county sales tax revenue. There will probably be an increase in the bill from the state retirement
system and the contract with the highway employees is up for negotiation this year. This means that 2011 could be difficult
year for the Town as far as the budget is concerned.
ASSESSMENT
ROLL BOOK
Assessor
Frances Butler has announced that the 2010 Assessment book is now available at the Town Clerk's Office and can now be
viewed during office hours (Tues, Wed, Thurs, 7 - 9 p.m.). The book can also be reviewed at the Real Property Tax
Office, 16 Court St., Owego, NY.
TOWN BOARD NEWS
May 11, 2010
– Highway Superintendent, Mike Holt, reports that the used truck, purchased from the Town of Triangle, has been received.
Work will start on the roads as soon as they dry out. The crew are working at the gravel pit,
and also ditching roads. The Town Board authorized Superintendent Holt to sell the 1993 Volvo for $5000.
The Code Enforcement and Dog Control reports for April were presented. The Justice Court report was given and $6459
was collected in fines. The Planning Board continues work on the Comprehensive Plan and house numbering. The
Planning Board is also looking into getting a Bulk Mail permit for the mailing of the Town Newsletter. Ron
Dougherty was present and gave a report on TING (Tioga Interested in Natural Gas), which is trying to prepare Tioga County
for gas drilling. There was lengthy discussion about Michaud Road but no decision made yet.
The Town Hall will be the location for the Tioga County Board of Elections polling place for 2010 elections.
Beginning June 1st, garbage fees will be raised to $.10 a pound.
May 25, 2010 – This was a special, emergency meeting of the Richford Town Board, and was called due to the resignation of Garbage
Truck Attendant, Kenneth Gordinier. The Board will place an advertisement to fill the position in the
next Town and County Pennysaver. Douglas Wandall was appointed temporary Garbage Truck Attendant until
such time as a permanent replacement could be appointed.
June 8, 2010 - Highway Superintendent, Mike Holt reported that
ditching and changing of pipe continues to be done. Gravel work has been done on Tubbs Hill and Rockefeller
Roads. The crew is starting to haul in sand for winter. Rawley Park Pavilion is now
open. The Code Enforcement and Dog Control reports were
presented. The Justice Court report was presented and $4840 collected in fines. The
Planning Board continues its work on house numbering and is researching getting a bulk mail permit. The
Town Clerk, Judy Thurston, is the designated person to be notified concerning applications for gas drilling permits.
The Public Service Commission asks all residents to conserve energy. There were three resumes
received for the Garbage Truck Attendant position. The Board went into executive session and returned
with the decision to appoint Jesse Keener to the position subject to a probation period of 30 days. Richard
Harrington gave a report on REAP funded activities, which include the Newark Valley water system, Berkshire Library and the
Candor Highway Garage. The Richford Summer Youth program starts on July 5th.
July 13, 2010 - Jesse
Keener was appointed as permanent Garbage Truck Attendant. The Town Board is beginning the process that
will result in Machaud Road being dedicated a Town Road. Fran Butler reported that sales of vacant lands
increased in value more then land with buildings. There was much discussion. The Highway
Department needs a new road sweeper broom. Mike Holt found one for sale for $4000, and asked approval
to purchase it. The Highway Crew contract for shared services needs to be renewed for insurance purposes.
Scholarship Winners
This year’s recipients of the
Richford Scholarship Fund were Bryant Kraft and Devon Crispell. Bryant plans on attending TC-3 to study criminal justice.
Devon plans to attend BCC for a year and then transfer to Suny Brockport to study journalism.
Besides being a resident of Richford, the qualifying students must have a course average of 80 or better and must plan on attending college in the following fall.
Each will receive $200.00 from the fund,
after enrolling at their respective schools. Our congratulations to Bryant and Devon and to all the 2010 Richford
graduates.
CLOTHES
CLOSET
The Clothes Closet, located in the Hubbard Center,
has women and children's clothing in good repair available free of charge. In another month parents
will be coming to the Closet for school clothing for their children. If you have children's clothing in good condition,
please consider donating them to the Closet. Items can be brought during open hours (6 to 8 p.m.) on the first and
third Thursdays of each month. There is also a large storage container between the Health Center
and the Hubbard building where items can be dropped off. Further
information can be obtained by calling 657-8254 or 657-8521 GAS
DRILLING - BOOM OR BUST?
Drilling for natural gas may produce great benefits, and great problems, for the Town and
for individual residents. This is part of a Town Newsletter series on gas drilling and how it will affect the Town
of Richford.
Drilling for natural gas is often identified as an economic boost. For individual landowners, this
anticipated boost is based on signing bonuses and royalty payments. Signing bonuses in New York have recently been as high
as several thousand dollars an acre, though most bonuses have been much less. Some landowners receive thousands
of dollars, and others receive little. After production begins there should be royalty payments of 12.5% to about 20%.
These payments only start after the drilling company has gotten their upfront payment, and depends on how much gas the company
extracts from the well.
For the Town, economic benefits will come from landowners spending their bonus and royalty
money locally. There may also be changes in tax revenues. The value of the gas taken is taxable. Depending
on how the lease is written, this tax is paid by either the landowner or the gas company. The town will need to get
legal details on their role in collecting that tax.
The value of the land may also change with leasing and
change again when drilling begins. The FHA and HUD will not support mortgages on recently leased land (1). This will affect
the landowners’ ability to get a second mortgage, may affect their first mortgage and will certainly affect the landowner’s
ability to sell their property. All this could lead to a lower assessment on the property and a drop in local property taxes.
Realtors are finding it hard to secure buyers for land that is leased or has leases nearby. The drilling for and extracting
of gas is a noisy, industrial activity.
Another possible opportunity is job creation. Most of the jobs connected
to drilling are specialized, with 12-hour shifts around the clock. Workers will be ‘on the job’ for weeks at
a time and then off for weeks at a time. Because of the specialized training and work schedule, these jobs are mostly filled
by out of state workers who follow the drilling rigs. However, part of the money paid to these workers
may be spent locally in Richford. Wages from gas drilling spent in Richford businesses may result in more local jobs being
created.
In other NYS counties, the economic benefits widely advertised by gas drilling companies have not been realized.
A study by J.M. Barth & Associates, Inc. (2) of 15 counties in western New York -10 with producing natural gas
wells and 5 without - found that gas drilling did not change the percent of people living below the poverty line, or those
unemployed, nor did it raise average income. A few individuals benefited, but for most residents and for the Town,
there was no benefit.
Another aspect of this issue in the next newsletter:
Berkshire library news
Puppeteer Nancy
Sander is back again on Monday July 26, 2 p.m. with "Puppets with Pizazz,” the story of Rumpelstiltskin.
The puppet show will be held in the community building in back of the library building. After the show the secrets
of bringing the puppets to life will be revealed. The program is free for children and adults.
Autumn Lavine, 4-H, Cornell Cooperative
Extension, will present a science program on August 3, 5, l0 and 12 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the library. A variety
of activities will be a part of the program. Watch for more information.
The annual Pie and Ice Cream Social,
sponsored by the Board of Trustees, will be held Thursday, August 19,
starting at 6 p.m. This is one of the major fundraisers for the library. More publicity will be coming.
Hours:
Tu. 12-5 p.m., Wed. 1:30-7 p.m., Th. 1-5 p.m. Fr. 3-8:30 p.m. Sat: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. bfl@htva.net, phone 657-4418.
Potato Festival
Richford's
18th Potato Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Richford Congregational Church will
have coffee, salt potatoes, potato soup, potato salad, hot dogs and other foods for sale from 11:00 a.m. on.
Music and entertainment will also be available at the church.
The Community Auxiliary will be selling potato doughnuts and
other foods at the Town (Community) Hall.
Vendors and other health agencies will have their displays at the Graded School and at the
Health Center/Town Hall area. For more information contact Flora Karasin (657-2526) or Bill Sherwood (539-6283).
Summer
Youth Program
The six-week summer youth program and lunch program started in
early July and will continue until August 13. Director Becky Randall has planned a full program for the youth including
arts and crafts, exercise, and guest speakers. The youth have already started a composting program (under the direction
of Susanna Reese, Cornell Cooperative Extension) and are recycling paper products. The free lunch program
is available for youth from 18 months to 18 years, from 12 noon to 1 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Two family fun nights
are also planned for this year.
Maintaining an educational and recreational program for approximately 35 youth requires
several resources. Funding for the 2010 summer youth program comes from the town budget, the Charles H. Bassett Youth Foundation,
Owego, and the Tioga County Youth Bureau.
The free lunch program is provided though the auspices of the
School Lunch Program, Owego-Apalachin School District. Books come from the Berkshire Library through a
grant from the BOOKS Program with Senator Thomas Libous in partnership with Morrisville State College. In June the Richford Fire Department hosted
a chicken barbecue under the leadership of Barbara and John Keener to raise additional funds for craft and recreational
activities for youth attending the summer program.
Donations supporting this effort were made by the Fire Department (chicken and other
barbecue items) and by local residents and organizations that contributed charcoal, beans, soda and other needed items.
Members of the Berkshire EMS, Inc. donated the salt potatoes and were present during the day to do blood pressure
readings. The $1,024.50 earned that day will help provide additional craft and recreational materials and will also
help with the expenses for the two Family Fun Nights. Our thanks to all who contributed to make the Summer Youth Program
an educational, fun, and safe program for Richford youth this year.
Health Center News
Lynn
Verduin, Family Nurse Practitioner at the Northern Tioga Center for Family Health, was nominated by staff at the Center for
the "Nurse of the Year Award", which is part of the Professional Nurse Advancement and Recognition Program
at Lourdes. FNP Verduin was nominated for her "above and beyond the call” care of patients. Among
other responsibilities, Lynn calls patients to review their test results and other issues. Although Lynn
did not receive the award, to many of her patients she is the "Nurse of the Year."
NEW DWI PENALTIES
In November New York implemented a new impaired driving
law which toughen the penalties for driving impaired with children (effective 12/18/2009) and required interlock
devices for those sentenced on or after 8/15/2010.
As of August
15, anyone in New York State convicted of drunken driving (even first-time offenders) will be required to install at their
own expense an ignition interlock device on any vehicle they operate. Courts must sentence all drivers convicted of a misdemeanor
or felony DWI to install and maintain an ignition interlock for at least 6 months, on any vehicle owned and operated by such drive.
The ignition interlock service costs approximately $800 - $1,000
for a six-month period and is paid for by the convicted drunk driver.
For more information,
visit the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee website at www.SafeNY.com/impaired.
Tioga Travels
The Tioga County Tourism Office offers 2010 "Tioga Journeys" schedule
of tours. These tours offer residents the opportunity to experience and to tour interesting and
sometimes unusual places that they might not do on their own. Each tour is led by a knowledgeable tour guide.
Most tours begin at 10 a.m. each Saturday and leave from the front of the Tioga County Tourism Visitor Center, 80 North
Avenue, Owego. Costs: $10 each adult, $5.00 each child and seniors 62+ $8. Tours started in early June and will end on October 23. Walking tours
of the Owego area are also available. Further information about the bus and walking tours can be obtained
by calling 1-800-671-7772 or www.visittioga.com.
Upcoming Election
This year there will be elections for local, state and national candidates. Locally
there is an election for town justice; at the county level an election for coroner. On the state level there
will be an election for governor, comptroller, and attorney general.
Our representatives to the State Senate (52nd District) and State
Assembly (123rd District) will also be elected to two-year terms. At the federal level, both senators’ terms
are up for election, a well as our congressman from the 24th District.
Independent nominating petitions can be filed August 10-17 at the Board of Election, County
Office Building, 56 Main St. Owego. Information about election procedures and dates can be obtained from the Tioga
County Board of Elections, 687-8261 or toll-free (877) 882-8313. Website: tiogacountyny.com/departments/legislature/boe/index.php.
Primary
day is September 14, with polls open from noon until 9 p.m. Election day is Nov. 2, with polls open by 6 a.m. until
9 p.m. In order to vote one must be registered. This can be in person at the Board of Elections, at the Town
Clerk's Office or forms can be obtained at the Post Office, library or on the internet. Last day to register in
person or by mail is October 8. There are some exceptions, check with the Board of Elections.
From the Dog Control Officer
Tioga County rabies clinics have ended but Broome
County will hold several clinics, one of which may be of interest to Richford residents:
Aug 18: Lisle, NY, 6 - 7:30
p.m., Town Garage, 9256 State Route 79.
There is
no cost for the shots, however a donation of $5.00 per animal would be appreciated.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
On February 22, 2010 New York State
implemented Amanda’s Law requiring a carbon monoxide detector in all homes in New York. If the
code enforcement officer is requested or required to do an inspection at any residential or rental property, a working carbon
monoxide detector must be in place to finalize any inspection. Any service work on residential heating
units requires that the vendor check, or install, a working carbon monoxide detector as part of any service work.
TIOGA CO. HISTORICAL SOCIETY:
The museum
currently has two exhibits on display through the end of July: one on memory quilts and another on the Tioga County
Fair. Beginning in August the museum will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the building. The museum building
at 110 Front St. was dedicated on August 20, 1960.
Dates to Remember
Town Board Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Town Planning Board Meetings: 1st Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Town Court: 1st, 3rd, and 4th Mondays, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Town Clerk: Tues, Wed, and Thurs,
7-9 p.m.
CLOSING
NOTE
Due to postal standards, our next publication must be sent to correctly addressed street
numbers or P.O box numbers, i.e. Richford Resident, 123 State Rt. 38, Richford, NY 13835. This will only
affect our residents within the 13835 zip code area. Residents that have Berkshire and Brooktondale addresses already have
street correct address labels. Please bear with us as we make this change. We have
compiled a fairly complete list of addresses, but if you want to check to see if we have your address in our data base,
call 657-8248 or e-mail us at: newsletter@richfordny.com and we can check for you. We don’t need your name, just your street address, as this publication
is sent to the street or P.0. Box of that resident and will not be forwarded to another address.
Remember
to check our website at www.richfordny.com for news and local information that we don’t have space for or items that we receive or update between newsletters.
