TOWN ANNOUNCEMENTS

From The Supervisors Office:

     POLICE CONSOLIDATION ANNOUNCEMENT

After months of financial analysis, legal research and negotiations with Onondaga County, I am announcing today a major restructuring of the police function within the Town of Clay. Specifically the Town of Clay plans to enact a local law pursuant to Section 150(4) of NYS Town Law to abolish the current Clay police force and commence a transfer of function or consolidation of the Clay Police Department with the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department under procedures set forth in Civil Service law section 70.2.  It is the intention of the Town Board to enter into a contract with Onondaga County to provide a dedicated patrol service for the Town of Clay that would maintain the present patrol coverage provided by our existing police force – 2 cars per shift 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.  All of what I just described will be subject to public referendum.  It should be noted that these actions are subject to permissive referendum, but the Town Board wants to ensure the highest public participation in this process and will be calling for a public vote regarding this proposal on its own initiative. 

The case for consolidation is clear.  Under this proposal there will be NO reduction in existing patrol coverage as currently provided by the Clay Police Department.  The proposed contract with Onondaga County provides for a dedicated police patrol by the OCSD, exclusive to the Town of Clay, over and above what is already provided by the Sheriff's Department. This proposal also provides for a substantial permanent tax cut to those residents in Clay residing outside the Village of North Syracuse amounting to 20% - or $10.02 per thousand of assessed value.  This means that a house whose assessment is $112K full value will see a 2009 tax cut of approximately $50.  A house whose assessment is $202K full value will see a 2009 tax cut of approximately $100.  To reiterate and be very clear on why this proposal is being put forward – there will be NO reduction in existing service and there will be a substantial tax cut in 2009!  

I believe there is no better time than the present to put forth this proposal to the voters of Clay.  Gasoline, energy and food prices are at record levels, our economy is in recession, and people simply cannot afford more taxes.  This proposal provides the best of both worlds to our taxpayers – no reduction in existing services and a substantial tax cut.  It has been said many times there is too much government in NYS and I agree.  This proposal is a significant contribution towards lessening the load for taxpayers in Clay. 

Within the next few days I hope to call a special meeting of the Town Board to begin the process of consolidation and the setting up of a referendum vote on this proposal.  There are a number of steps along the way and a tight time frame to maintain, but it is my hope, pending voter approval, to consolidate the police departments by July 1 of this year.  In the weeks ahead I, along with assistance from Sheriff Walsh, will be making the case more succinctly to our taxpayers.  This is an important proposal and one which I truly believe, is the right thing to do.  I want to thank County Executive Mahoney, Sheriff Walsh, the Clay Town Board and Town Attorney Robert Germain for getting us to this point.  Soon it will be up to the taxpayers in Clay to decide.  Thank you.
                                     JAMES J. ROWLEY, SUPERVISOR

If you have had problems with flooding from the LAST MAJOR STORM, please print, fill out Flood Report and mail to the Supervisor. Click Here

The HIGHWAY Department:

                            

    WINTER STREET PARKING
              NO PARKING HOURS ARE:

         november 1st - april 1st
      
         12:00 A.M. UNTIL 8:00 A.M.

If your mailbox is damaged during the winter season and you have reason to believe that it was caused by the snowplow, please  click here  before you notify the highway department.

                   

THE SPRING PICK-UP SCHEDULE IS AVAILABLE.  Please click here

Due to the Memorial Day holiday Clairmont/Four Seasons and the Good Neighbors Homeowners Assoc. has been delayed by one day.  If the highway department completes the north area early, which is the scheduled third week, they will begin picking up the debris that is at curbside in the above two mentioned areas toward the end of the third week (21st/22nd).  The highway department will also return on the scheduled days of May 27th and 28th for those areas.                                

PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP OUR ROADS AND GUTTERS FREE OF LEAF AND LAWN DEBRIS.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

General Disaster Preparedness
If disaster strikes, are you and your family prepared??
Please follow these American Red Cross helpful links: 
    Be Prepared Brochure:     click here
    Preparing your family:     

    Hazard Mitigation Plan

The Town of Clay has developed a Hazard Mitigation Plan to prepare and reduce the potential impact of natural hazards.  The town has received the final approval from FEMA and the plan was formally adopted on August 21, 2006. 
To review the plan please click each section
Appendices A to E 
Appendices F and G
Clay HMP Final Cover to Section 3
Clay HMP Final Section 4_1
Clay HMP Final Section 4_2
Clay HMP Final Section 4_3
Clay HMP Final Section 4_4
Clay HMP Final Section 5
Clay HMP Final Section 6

The residents are encouraged to review and comment on.  
Please forward comments to:
      planning@townofclay.org