I hope you are enjoying your summer. I wanted to take a moment to share an update on what we have been up to on the county legislature.
At our August 4th session, we unanimously passed the following items through broad bipartisan votes:
- Took a step forward on the Loop the Lake trail project by authorizing Onondaga County to act as lead agency and submitting the SEQR designation for review. Learn More
- Appointed Madeline Nyblade, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Ph.D. hydrogeologist to OCWA’s board. Learn More
- Established a County Accessibility Council to ensure county services, information and programs are accessible to all residents.
- Adopted a resolution calling on Governor Hochul to sign the Good Food NY bill which gives local governments more flexibility to buy food from local farmers instead of just the lowest bid. “Combating food insecurity and strengthening the local economy can go hand‑in‑hand. We can ensure that children have access to healthy meals and support area farmers by locally reinvesting public dollars,” said Leg. Elaine Denton (District 10), Chair of the Planning and Economic Development Committee. Learn More
You can learn more about additional items at our August session here. If you have any questions about these items or any additional issues, please let me know.
Thank you.
~ Elaine
P.S. The November election is approaching fast. We are knocking on doors, calling, writing to voters and delivering lawns signs soon. Sign up to help us reach as many voters as we can. Thanks!
Term Limits Update
One thing I want to make clear is the difference between amending our County Charter and passing a local law. If the legislature wants to change the county charter, it has to be voted on and approved by you, the voters. A local law needs a majority vote by the legislature, then the county executive is required to hold a public hearing and signs the law to adopt it. It does not go to the voters for approval. If we implement term limits by local law it could be changed on a whim by future legislature. However if voters pass term limits by amending our county charter, Legislators would not be able to reverse term limits without the voters having a say. Stay tuned for more updates.
Share Your Thoughts
Help shape the future of Onondaga County’s Greenways + Blueways!Tuesday, August 11th 5:00pm – 6:00pmTown of Salina Town Building, 201 School Road, LiverpoolOur Planning Department invites you to join an upcoming focus group and share your knowledge, ideas, and experiences. Your input will help guide strategies and projects that create a more connected network of trails, waterways, parks, and open spaces across the county. Virtual sessions are also available. Visit the Project Website
Safe Streets Onondaga Action PlanOnondaga County is developing a Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan to identify ways to make travel safer and reduce serious crashes, injuries, and fatalities throughout the County. Your input is an important part of this process. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey and share your experiences, concerns, and ideas for improving transportation safety in Onondaga County. Take Safety Action Plan Survey
