Staff Reporter
LAKE PLEASANT—The Hamilton County Board of Supervisors agrees with Solid Waste Coordinator Tracy Eldridge that it is time to update its Solid Waste Management Plan. It was last updated in 1993.
Eldridge was authorized Monday, Aug. 23, to advertise for requests for proposals to update the plan. Once completed and approved by the board, the updated plan will be submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as required by law.
Eldridge asked supervisors for their help as he attempts to determine the quantity of recyclables (glass, plastics, paper, cardboard, metal, etc.) now being removed from the waste stream. These estimates would become part of the updated plan.
The county’s financial advisor, Mark Crawford of Burnham Financial, Lake Placid, says MVP, the current health insurance provider, is currently estimating rates will increase by 11 percent Jan. 1. “But this rate increase first needs to be approved by the state,” he said.
Of immediate interest for some employees, the federal requirement extending dependent coverage to age 26 is now in effect. Crawford said this applies even if the dependent is no longer in school, even if married; the only exception is if the child dependent is employed and has health insurance offered at his or her job.
Also soon to be of interest to county employees, Burnham Financial will create an “Employees Benefit / Total Compensation Statement.” This will provide employees with a detailed outline of all their benefits and their cost - both what the county pays and what the employee contributes.
The supervisors believe the statement will make clear to county employees their total compensation includes more than just their pay.
Burnham will also create an “Employee Benefits Self-Service Website / Kiosk” where employees would be able to see where they stand with benefits, print out forms and even obtain health care news and information.
Personnel Director Kimberly Parslow reported numerous applications have been received for the position of director of the county’s Real Property Tax Service department. The supervisors will begin interviewing applicants next week.
The current director, William Hotaling, will be retiring at the end of this year.
Emergency Manager Don Purdy reported a large number of local emergency medical services first responders recently completed a chemical suicide class.
Fulton County plans to increase the per phone surcharge for the Enhanced-911 service it will soon be providing the towns of Benson and Hope and the lower portion of Arietta.
Benson Supervisor Ermina Pincombe said she has been advised the surcharge will increase from $0.35 to $1 per phone per year.
Benson is currently paying about $800 per year for the service. The new charge would rise to about $2,500 per year.