March 2009 Monthly Announcements

1. Tug Hill Commission's Local Government Conference -  Just a reminder that the Tug Hill Commission's Local Government conference is scheduled for Thursday, March 26th at Jefferson Community College. Please note that Friday, March 6th is the absolute deadline for the $50 registration fee, and the following Friday, March 13th is the absolute deadline for the $75 registration fee. Attendees that are "walk ins" the day of the conference will be charged $100 at the door.  Please let us know if you need a registration form. Certificates of attendance will be available the day of the conference.

2.  Wish List Memo to Supervisor and Mayors -   NOCCOG is asking each of our member communities to put together a wish list of two or three projects that you would like to undertake if you had the financial means to do so. Letters have been sent out to mayors and supervisors requesting them to outline those projects in writing in a couple of sentences and to send them to Gerry Ritter, either by email or letter. NOCCOG and the Tug Hill Commission will then be positioned to do two things with this information.   First, we will want to discuss the projects with you to see if there are some initial, low cost steps you can take to put yourselves in a better position to receive available funding. Secondly, the Tug Hill Commission is always on the lookout for available grant opportunities from many different sources.  If your "wish list" project is on file with us, we'll be able to quickly match it to a particular grant opportunity when one arises

3.    American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -The recently approved $787 billion federal stimulus package was developed in part to enable infrastructure projects that promote economic growth.   An estimated $26 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will go to projects and programs within New York State.   Much of that funding will be directed to long delayed infrastructure projects that include money dedicated to the following: the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Highway Funding and Mass Transit Funding. State officials and congressional representatives are presently working to identify local  "shovel- ready" projects in the area that will spur the economy.  It is believed that once announced those projects could begin in less than a month. In the meantime, if your community has a specific project you feel is eligible for NYS Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Stimulus Funding you may want to check out the following links:

New York State Funding Breakdown    http://www.economicrecovery.ny.gov/DirectAid/aidnewyork.htm

Link to Submit Proposals http://www.economicrecovery.ny.gov/system/proposal.cfm

Please note that completing the on-line "Submit Proposals" form is not an official application for funding.  It is an avenue for interested applicants to provide The New York State Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet with introductory information regarding their projects  .

4.  Assistance to Firefighter's Grants - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will host a Fire Grant Workshop on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 7:00 at Rome City Hall, 198 North Washington Street, Rome. The workshop will help local fire departments apply for grants through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program awards grants to firefighters, emergency response personnel and first responders throughout the nation to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of first responders and the citizens in their communities. AFG program grants provide resources for training, first responder health and safety programs, and response equipment and vehicles.  No pre registration is required and the workshops are offered free of charge.   Please contact Kathy Stockbridge, 315-838-1713 for more information. The grant application for 2009 have not been released at this time but they traditionally available  in early spring Once the grant is announced, there is a 30 day turn around time to submit the grant applications. For more information regarding the AFG program and other federal first responder programs, please visit: http://www.house.gov/htbin/leave_site?ln_url=http://www.firegrantsupport.com/&ln_desc=Fire+Grant+Support

5. Spring NYS Archives Workshops -  The  New York State Archives Region 5 RAO, Kent Stuetz, has announced the following schedule of spring workshops : 

Managing E-Mail Effectively,  03/19/2009, 9:00 - 1:00 at the Baldwinsville Village Hall, 16 West Genesee Street, Baldwinsville;

Microfilming and Imaging: Using Both Effectively , 04/14/09,  9:00AM - 1:00PM  ,  Jefferson County Public Health Facility, 531 Meade Street, Main Conference Room , Watertown; and

Disaster Planning & Response,  04/21/09, 9:00 -1:00, Marcy Town Hall, 8801 Paul Becker Road, Marcy, NY 13403.  

You may register by calling Denise Russo at the regional office in Utica at (315-793-2780) or register online at: register online at: http://iarchives.nysed.gov/WorkShops/workshopsDetailServlet?owner=LG&cat=season&subject=Spring    

6. Tug Hill Indicators Surveys and Community Forums - The Tug Hill Commission has contracted with the Center for Community Studies at JCC to implement a Tug Hill region-wide community survey to collect residents' and landowners' opinions about a variety of quality of life issues. An objective, scientific method that will be statically valid will be used. This phone survey will be conducted in March and the results of the survey will be shared at community forums hosted by the Tug Hill Commission and the councils of government in late spring at 7 different locations around the region.   The purpose of the survey is to provide an analysis of the perceptions of Tug Hill residents on a variety of issues.  It will also enable the commission to use the information gathered from the surveys and at the community forums for its 2009 Strategic Planning process and  will be used by NOCCOG  and the other councils of governments to evaluate their own programs and priorities.  

7.  Oneida County Association of Towns - The Oneida County Association of Towns will be holding its March meeting on Tuesday, March 24at Orchard Hall, Sauquoit.  The speaker will be a representative from the NYS Association of Towns on What are the Benefits of Membership to You and Your Town.  The social hour starts at 5:30 and dinner is at 6:30.  The cost is $18, checks payable to Orchard Hall. Reservations by March 20 by contacting Betsy Mack at 896-2664 or betsymack@town.trenton.ny.us       

8.  NOCCOG Monthly Announcements - We are posting the monthly announcements on the NOCCOG website - NOCCOG.org .  We will be developing a distribution list for these announcements that will be available to our member communities.  We are working with Digital Towpath on the distribution list and more information will be available soon.  The circuit riders will continue to pass out a hard copy at the monthly municipal meetings.

Email addresses:Gjriiter01@aol.com or gerryritternoccog@frontiernet.net

hmoonen@twcny.rr.com  &  smartin47@roadrunner.com