[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6070477,"mediaKeyId","3050356-b0e688b2ff2aecf32c3d40088825bfc7","parentId",3050356,"title","Tompkins County Legislature approves library board expansion, grants and funded staffing; votes at a glance","audioSeconds",490,"startMs",7760000,"endMs",8250000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3050356-b0e688b2ff2aecf32c3d40088825bfc7&start=7760&end=8250","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3050356-b0e688b2ff2aecf32c3d40088825bfc7/thumbnail_7760000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6070477/Tompkins-County/New-York/Tompkins-County-Legislature-approves-library-board-expansion-grants-and-funded-staffing-votes-at-a-glance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070477-645588d6533dca590b8aee80f3a7d341/orig.mp4?Expires=1771084102&Signature=HvqRSHlN50wK2BRvbLi-Jo3FN0BJpe02PR98GVcKGxH657NLEiLfbCLpQTjQf0tPgPKuTwuusOX3ejTdHw4uwWjdPkF28ZLJ2g-A-VgaYFAzLcXna8b~KORpntY-ui7H~JoNRXvX0EEZX8V2dhdD-9Eqd59~dVUNlboqUYU5lN~hU5dQkh6uVRFwVc4x122Lo4~VuQuHjkHXSVdLbO1A8dgVKgAtUzLUZ-4SiMojGF0DWlv-~lB4LM7RDJqhWyuiLIHmpLcopy9hrdV25IHWm3wtYcfhEED8PVZjFzQlXsH-7tOEbz8~C87yfTan4Jb6ldHFi1XOkN2sMSNjKv1q6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tompkins County, NY","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Tompkins County Legislature on April 15 approved a set of resolutions spanning board governance, grant awards and staffing. The body recorded votes on a package of measures that included expansion of the county library board’s membership, creation of a grant-funded court-based mental health navigation position, and multiple small grant awards for tourism and community events.

Why it matters: The votes create or authorize county-supported actions that affect local nonprofits, grant recipients and county staffing. Several awards also earmark funds intended to attract visitors and support community events; the staffing action creates a position tied to state funding for court-based mental health navigation.

Votes at a glance (each item includes the legislature document ID and outcome)
- Resolution A — Support for amended Tompkins County Public Library Board of Trustees bylaws to increase the number of members (Doc ID 13229). Outcome: Passed unanimously (Yes: Ian Corman; Mike Lane; Greg Mezey; Veronica Pillar; Lee Shortliffe; Mike Sigler; Travis Brooks; Randy Brown; Amanda Champion; Deborah Dawson; Rich John; Dan Klein). Notes: Committee sponsor Amanda Champion explained the change follows a public application campaign; the legislature voted to support a forthcoming board decision on exact new membership.

- Resolution B — Authorization to accept funds, create position, and complete a budget adjustment (court-based mental health navigation, Health Department) (Doc ID 13170). Outcome: Passed unanimously. Notes: Committee discussion and the Health & Human Services committee reported the position is fully funded by the grant; legislators asked about long-term implications if grant funding ended and were told the position’s billing streams (Medicaid-billable services) mitigate the county fiscal risk.

- Resolution C — Award of 2025 Tompkins Outdoor Grants (Doc ID 13175). Outcome: Passed (recusal: Mike Sigler). Tally reported as 11 yes, 0 no, 1 recused. Notes: Three awards recommended to promote outdoor tourism and recreation.

- Resolution D — Award of spring 2025 Community Celebration Grants (Doc ID 13199). Outcome: Passed (recusal: Mike Sigler). Tally reported as 11 yes, 0 no, 1 recused. Notes: Awards support local community events; remaining program funds held for a second round in the fall.

- Resolution E — Award of spring 2025 Tourism Advancement Grants (Doc ID 13200). Outcome: Passed (recusal: Mike Sigler). Tally reported as 11 yes, 0 no, 1 recused. Notes: Awards target events and marketing to attract overnight visitors; first round distributed with funds held for a second round.

- Resolution F — Contingent fund appropriation for law enforcement recruitment campaign (County Administration / Community Justice Center) (Doc ID 13189). Outcome: Passed unanimously. Notes: The legislature approved a contingent appropriation to support a recruitment campaign; members discussed vendor selection and future media options.

What legislators asked and staff clarified
Legislators asked whether grant-funded positions would be absorbed into the county budget if grants ended. County staff said many services tied to the new court-based navigation position are billable to Medicaid and that hiring would follow grant contingencies; the legislature discussed whether to codify county policy on absorbing formerly grant-funded positions.

Ending
Clerk-confirmed roll-call votes were recorded in the meeting and committee chairs summarized committee deliberations for each resolution. The legislature adjourned after passing the listed measures; members said they will continue oversight of implementation and follow-up for grant-funded programs and recruitment work.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tompkins County Legislature - April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Tompkins County Legislature on April 15 approved a set of resolutions spanning board governance, grant awards and staffing.","taxTitle","Tompkins County, New York","taxId",52737,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6070482,"State OTDA details how New York funds permanent supportive housing as Tompkins lawmakers weigh local projects",3030,3600000,6630000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3050356-b0e688b2ff2aecf32c3d40088825bfc7&start=3600&end=6630","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3050356-b0e688b2ff2aecf32c3d40088825bfc7/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6070482/Tompkins-County/New-York/State-OTDA-details-how-New-York-funds-permanent-supportive-housing-as-Tompkins-lawmakers-weigh-local-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070482-c341db00568f48abcdac645faab71c01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771084102&Signature=SkcEbKDgYfLQaQiQC-V9fDBRhmFiFbSbI07y1seOXVHTcWL~xpAqjGAX6y4aobT~TDz9gk0cVN~3I09Fphv1tZs0dz0ZbLZBvkCbuzW8t5cmqRo5AqhGV0HJ-W28ozytv9S2ltIFyLPYhePjvkkoIZMgtzAZd8obbDh8MsScBq4rofXBUKMH53BmvgMlsfFHgD3KOYvQ9dBoq19am1NLsofEiUeoJrA1jTnt6a4MHc69HYaqP~PfpUo0hyauQJnTJF3kiMY4PXiQzYXTm1f8MtYD3AvLrwF3MuSF9DMx1ef4Psj80uKk3XxoH2kkN1Moe-kSVbCGAkQ2JRdnPQeeqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On April 15 the Tompkins County Legislature heard a detailed briefing from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance on state funding streams and models for addressing homelessness with permanent and supportive housing.

State OTDA housing bureau officials Sarah Watson and Linda Kamoyne told legislators that New York’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP) and the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESHI) are the principal state resources for creating and operating housing targeted to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Watson said HHAP provides competitive capital grants and loans to acquire, construct or rehab housing; she told the legislature that the HHAP appropriation has been $128,000,000 annually and that demand has recently outstripped supply.

The presentation outlined three broad responses to homelessness: emergency shelter (short-term placements often paid by counties), transitional housing (shorter-term stays up to 24 months, limited state capital funding), and permanent housing (affordable or supportive). Watson and Kamoyne emphasized that “permanent supportive housing” pairs long-term affordable units with on-site or coordinated case management and services and is a proven path to ending homelessness for many households.

Why it matters: Tompkins County currently places dozens of people in hotels and motels on any given night and the county is planning local shelter and navigation hub efforts. State funding decisions and timing will shape whether local developers and nonprofits can move quickly to build permanent options and secure operating subsidies required to keep units affordable and staffed.

Most notable program details described to the legislature
- HHAP: competitive capital awards for acquisition, rehab, or new construction. Watson said the fund has been fully allocated earlier and that the program closed after the available funds were committed in recent cycles.
- ESHI: described as the primary operational funding stream for supportive housing; the program currently provides roughly $25,000 per unit per year for rental subsidy, services, operating costs and staff. That rental subsidy component is intended to ensure tenants never pay more than 30% of income toward rent.

Speakers and examples cited
- Watson and Kamoyne reviewed recent project examples around the state (hotel conversions, small scattered-site houses, and larger mixed tax-credit/HHAP projects). They highlighted projects where nonprofit partners paired HHAP capital with tax credit financing and ESHI operating subsidies to create mixed affordable/supportive developments.
- County administration and legislators asked about local project pipelines and state-region caps on awards; state staff said some funding components are regionally allocated and HHAP has project caps (e.g., per-project cap), and they encouraged early applications and coordination with the local Continuum of Care and municipal partners.

Local context and next steps
County Administrator Corso Comfy and several legislators referenced ongoing local efforts: the Sherry Street project, an RFP for a service provider for shelter-related services, and work with the city on a navigation hub tied to previously allocated capital dollars. State staff recommended communities engage the Continuum of Care, gather housing need studies, and pursue ESHI awards while simultaneously pursuing capital financing (tax credits, HHAP) because ESHI awards are commonly conditional on later capital funding.

Ending
OTDA officials said they will continue to offer technical assistance and urged local nonprofits and municipalities to apply early for both operating and capital funding. County staff and several legislators said they expect follow-up conversations about specific Tompkins projects and possible use of adaptive reuse of vacant properties for housing.

","Officials from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance told the Tompkins County Legislature on April 15 that state programs including HHAP and ESHI fund construction and operations of permanent supportive housing, and encouraged local partners to apply early for competitive capital and operating rounds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6070472,"Residents urge Tompkins County to sustain newly reopened Office of Human Rights",577,188000,765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3050356-b0e688b2ff2aecf32c3d40088825bfc7&start=188&end=765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3050356-b0e688b2ff2aecf32c3d40088825bfc7/thumbnail_188000.jpg","/articles/6070472/Tompkins-County/New-York/Residents-urge-Tompkins-County-to-sustain-newly-reopened-Office-of-Human-Rights","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070472-46770a11a03e67bf4b55aa316cf24d6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771084102&Signature=fPoHob9LErJ8YKor7O301d~dlx9hUTnfQNQgIjXFY~qdy4-m-edphSjhPTlk2Q69AFQ1BTL-YIu4ChWtWM4r0YKIgLlM~w9CVSJL3qcxdw1ejWICooIpR79sk5BQwLZ5Y-460vJUowgS-iZasqP3T3Fo2pRTOi4PN7Y9pHs8H1iVY-1yAeyI3j6AG4E0gmeTxiUib9XyuZP4CjNCY-dZNWl6ktgBHHtXTS6xxbUui2QyZJAGpnUqZvNTGzbtPPCwg781SKJmjS~XcHaFi~zd~M1aIvVb~49tXTEujuCxF6yfT1vJbpqvUnFonG7fvuuCl7Mj~NUt3kZ728O8pJ-vaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public comment period on April 15 three volunteers and commissioners working at Tompkins County’s Office of Human Rights described a surge in community demand since the office reopened and asked the legislature to sustain funding and staffing.

Peaches Gillette described volunteering at the office “at least once or twice a week” and said in-person hours and a staffed office have made it easier for people facing discrimination to seek help. Gillette said the office helps people with housing and employment discrimination complaints and that volunteer commissioners and interns are supporting intake and outreach.

Pei Sayinka identified recent casework including school-based racial incidents, a housing caller who left repeated messages, and immigrant community outreach. Sayinka said commissioners are meeting at least twice a week and working with staff and student interns to respond to a high volume of inquiries.

Another volunteer who identified difficulty reading their name on the sign-in sheet described helping people with workplace discrimination and with referral to legal services and supports. Multiple speakers asked the legislature to ensure the office continues to operate and to provide additional support.

Why it matters: The Office of Human Rights serves as a local intake, referral and advocacy center for allegations of discrimination. Volunteers told the legislature that demand for rights-based assistance — distinct from basic needs services — has grown and that the office is fielding calls, walk-ins and emails daily.

What the speakers said about services and staffing
- In-person intake: Speakers emphasized the value of face-to-face contact and said the restructured office has regular open hours (twice weekly at minimum) and volunteer commissioners working with a staff lead and interns.
- Range of cases: School discrimination, workplace discrimination, housing and immigrant-related concerns — sometimes urgent situations involving people in crisis.

Ending
Legislators thanked the speakers and several members — including Travis Brooks and others — said they looked forward to a presentation from county administration and staff about the office’s structure and the administration’s plan to maintain services in the coming months.

","Three volunteers with Tompkins County’s Office of Human Rights told the legislature during public comment on April 15 that the office has become a vital hub for people facing discrimination and urged continued legislative support and resources.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tompkins County Legislature approves library board expansion, grants and funded staffing; votes at a glance

State OTDA details how New York funds permanent supportive housing as Tompkins lawmakers weigh local projects

Residents urge Tompkins County to sustain newly reopened Office of Human Rights