***VILLAGE NEWSLETTER***

NEWSLETTER OF THE VILLAGE OF NEWARK VALLEY

JANUARY 2011

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR: for bond cost is very close to what was Greetings to everyone, anticipated. Our appreciation goes to Your Newark Valley Village C.P.A. Public Works staff: Bill, Scot and Steve Audit is complete and will soon be on our and to the Rate Committee: Bob, Tom website: and Merle. www.villageofnewarkvalley.com . During the fiscal year ending February We are petitioning USDA funding 2010, we converted to accrual accounting resources toward Municipal Building and moved away from the less accurate brick exterior renovation and drainage cash basis process utilized by many correction. The cost of this will not municipalities. This change incorporates impact your tax dollars or future tax the most recent Government Accounting rates. If our funding request is Standards Board updates. These successful, we will extend the useful life accounting revisions include post of this brick building known as the retirement actuarial reporting and cost “Jewel of the Village”. It is visually set-asides, depreciation of fixed assets apparent the building needs renovation, and other matters assuring taxpayers of while a recent study by Crawford & complete data. Our appreciation goes to Stearns points out those needed areas of office staff: Mertie, Tracey and Kathy. concern. The funding resources are tougher to find as you will see below, so Your water project is progressing on we will report as the facts become schedule and will continue in the spring known. of 2011. Our streets, sidewalks and driveways have been ripped apart and The Arts Council of the Southern Finger partially put back together, the dust has Lakes is announcing funding cuts for settled and has been replaced by snow, a next summer’s Education and Music new reservoir is functioning wonderfully Programs. This impacts the Village and potable water is flowing into our new initiation Saturday Trout Pond Concerts hydrants and our faucets. That and the Newark Valley Historical Society understanding does not make it easier to initiation Depot Friday Nights pay the higher rates, but the federal gatherings. funding certainly helped. Your Village Budget beginning March 1st, 2011 will The first pass for budget year beginning include paving of streets, concentrating March 1st, 2011 is submitted to your on those roads most adversely impacted Village Board for their review. Last year by the water project. We are thirteen we had a no tax increase. This months into the new water fees and we preliminary data for the general budget is find the Water Committee rate a tax rate increase of 2.70%. The calculations and recommendations to our General Budget does not include the community were right on. Our collection Water System or Solid Waste

1 Departments. Many residents may who have tenants and they are required to wonder, but do not ask the annual salaries read the meters, please pass the cards on for your elected officials, so please see to them to avoid a $25.00 “no meter below: read” penalty. If you did not receive your card, you may come to the village office Mayor: $3750 to request one. They are due into the Deputy Mayor: $1488 village office by February 15th. Bills will Three Trustees: $ 988 go out March 1st. You will have 30 days to pay without a penalty. We are often Your elected officials did not accept asked to reduce, or remove, a part of the salary increases for this current fiscal billing. We cannot remove any amount year and we do not expect, nor will we from the billing, including penalties, budget for any increases for elected without board authorization unless it was officials in the next year. Public Hearing erroneously placed on the bill. The new will be held Tuesday evening, January electronic meters are here. The public 25th, at 7:00PM in the Noble Room. works employees; Bill Foster, Scot Coombs, and Steve Pado will be putting Our Trout Pond improvements have been these meters in the homes in between the many, but most recently signage and snow storms and other issues that arise, painting improvements have been and they will be put in as soon as apparent due to Girl Scout volunteerism. possible. If no-one is home, they will I received a letter from ‘Girl Scouts of hang a doorknob hanger on your door to NYPENN Pathways’ announcing Scout ask you to call to make an appointment. Kelly Perkins and Lindsey Diego as For these new electronic meters, we recipients of the Bronze Award. This will continue to ask you to read your award is the highest honor a Junior Girl electronic meter for this billing, and Scout can earn. This Council covers maybe the next billing. We want to twenty-six counties, and Kelly and compare and be sure that everything is Lindsey will receive recognition at a running properly. Young Women of Distinction Event. The Village will communicate our recognition ******NEW UTILITY BILLS****** to the Council honoring their These new bills are coded by numbers achievement. and are listed on the back of the bills. 100 series; 100, 102, 103....…= Water Holiday Magic continues to light up our 200 series = Solid Waste (SW) lives. There are so many volunteers; we 300 = SW cap charge wish to thank you all. 301/302 = Water cap charge 400/401 = Debt service charge Our best for the New Year! 500 = Misc. charges, ie: services, meter replacement due to freezing, etc. Jim Tornatore Mayor Tax Collections - Taxes go out on March 1st, 2011. We will be collecting them CLERK’S REPORT : from March 1st through October 31st. On You will receive your water meter card November 1st, any unpaid taxes are with this newsletter. For those of you returned to the county and will be placed

2 on your next Town & County tax bill. about 6 psi since the start of the Please be aware that not only will unpaid project back in 2009; many new taxes be placed on Town & County Tax services that had leaks are now bills, so will any unpaid water rents that replaced, and a number of leaks in are more than 90 days past due. All of pipes have been found and repaired; this can add up to be astronomical. Taxes the run time on both wells has can be accepted in the correct amount decreased, and the amount of water only. We cannot accept any amount for being pumped has dropped taxes unless it is the full amount. If you noticeably; the new hydrants and new are not sure how much you owe, please main water lines that have been call the office at 642-8686 to get the installed has increased the fire amount. This may prevent further protection throughout the village. penalties for you. Office hours are With winter here, please remember to Monday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and keep the hydrants clear and sidewalks Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, shoveled, and keep a clear area by the 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Don’t forget, we street to put your trashcans, not on have a drop box if these hours are the backside of the sidewalk. Also, inconvenient. please be aware that water and ice build-up in your garbage cans add to Board Meetings are held on the second their weight, and if they are over the Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the weight limit, your garbage will not be Noble Room. Public Hearing for the picked up. The DPW is out early in budget will be held January 25th, 7 PM. the morning and sometimes late at night to keep the streets clean. I Have a Happy New Year! always get a small amount of Mertie Pozzi complaints about this, but it is important to keep ahead of storms PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: and not try to catch up after the Now that winter has set in, we finally problem. I know that it is hard to have a small break in the water believe that weathermen make project. At this time, we are about mistakes and we may be out early 95% complete with Contract #2, one morning or late one night to plow which was the new pipe and services. only to find out that the storm never What is left on this contract is some showed up, but it does happen. Please of the new hydrants have to be remember that there is no overnight installed, the generator for Well #4 parking on village streets or parking has to be hooked up and fenced in, lots during the winter months. and a few other small details, and a Christmas trees will be picked up on LOT of spring cleaning. Contract # 3 Tuesday morning, January 11th, and has started, which are the new meters again the 18th. The trees need to be by for the village residents. As soon as the edge of road by 6 AM. they arrive, the DPW will start to From all of us at the Village of install them. Some of the benefits of Newark Valley DPW, have a safe and the happy holiday and New Year. water improvements are already William Foster starting to be noticed: The water pressure in the village has increased

3 CODE ENFORCEMENT: HOLIDAY MAGIC: It’s wintertime again, so please keep On a beautiful Upstate NY winter day, your sidewalks shoveled, and help out residents enjoyed 2010 Holiday Magic in our senior citizens with their shoveling. the Village of Newark Valley. Any trace of snow or ice that can be hazardous to pedestrians, thus Santa started off the festival by arriving considered a safety hazard, must be at the Train Depot by fire truck. He removed from the sidewalks within a 24 greeted the many children who were hour period. There is no set amount of gathered to watch him. snowfall stated in the code book, as any amount can be dangerous to walkers. There were views of Victorian Christmas Village Code #140-27 states, “All all over the village with beautiful wooden owners of Village real property which figures of nutcrackers, toy soldiers, and abuts upon or is contiguous to a public old fashioned skaters designed and sidewalk shall be responsible for the painted by Alex Torra, Bonnie Giesenhof maintenance of said sidewalk and shall and the High School Art Club. We thank be required to keep such sidewalk these two ladies for their efforts! reasonably clear of snow and ice and Thanks to all of the residents and shall not permit the same to businesses who decorated their homes accumulate.” and buildings so beautifully. It added to the magical feel of the night as the It is imperative that property clopping horse’s hooves echoed on the maintenance of snow and ice removal be streets. maintained throughout the winter season, and this office will be keeping a careful Guests were entertained at the Village eye on this issue. If you are away from Hall all night with non-stop music, both your property for any given time and not choral and instrumental, inside and out. able to do the clean-up yourself, you are There were yummy soups from the obligated to find someone who will take Methodist Church as well as other treats care of this for you. provided by the Kindness Counts Kitchen, NV 5th grade, the PTS, and the If we realize that proper maintenance of Eastern Star ladies. snow and ice removal is not being done, The Train Depot was also hopping with we will be forced to send the Department Dan Drewey and Tom Quigley who of Public Works to clear the snow and ice entertained visitors while they enjoyed from your sidewalks, and you will be warm chili, sloppy Joe’s and other treats. billed accordingly. I hope I have helped Santa was kept busy at the Depot to clarify this question. listening to the Christmas wishes of the children, and each child was able to bring For those of you who have a wood stove, home their own stuffed animal thanks to please remember to clean your chimney the generosity of the Community Thrift on a regular basis to prevent chimney Store in Newark Valley. fires, and do not store hot ashes on your porch or near your house. Have a safe Guests were treated to the sight of many and happy new year! Gingerbread creations displayed at both William Swagler locations. They were all so creative; it’s

4 hard to believe they were all made of · Promote your new or existing edible treats! business through highly visible Main St. Banners. Consumers will see your Congratulations to Derek Kalpokas who business name, which has potential won the boy’s bike and Alana Scanlon for far-reaching exposure. Banners who won the girl’s bike in our free are up from April until October each drawing. year. Thank you to Hollenbeck’s, Fortunato’s, Rite Aid, George's Florist, Frost Klossner · Discounts. The opportunity to enjoy and Swan, the Cooley Family, NBT discounts from other Chamber Bank, and Valley Hair Visions for business members generous donations. Also to Wal-Mart for donating the bikes for our raffle If you know of a new business, please let them know about us or contact a member Thank you to the Newark Valley Village of the Chamber about them. Department of Public Works for help setting up and taking down. It wasn’t Don’t miss out on the potential to turn easy to fit it all in between snowstorms! your business dream into reality! To And finally, a HUGE thank you to the register for any of the opportunities listed wonderfully supportive community and above, or for more information on joining volunteers who are too many to name. the Chamber, call 642-8176. Without you, Holiday Magic wouldn’t happen. Shop locally and be sure to look at our website. Happy Holidays! NVCC website: http://newarkvalley.org

NV CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: TAPPAN SPAULDING LIBRARY: As we round the corner to the winter This is the time to curl up with a good season, business owners should take note book under an afghan and keep warm of the numerous benefits and while it snows outside. February is opportunities the Newark “Library Lover’s” month, so come in and Valley/Northern Tioga Chamber of let us help you find a book. The winter is Commerce can provide. Members enjoy a good time to look at gardening books to discounts on advertisements, media plan out gardens so you can start ordering publicity, from other members and ready- seeds for starting Craft & hobby books made networking forums. Membership are also good for the winter, especially also provides local businesses the chance the crafts you do inside and the ones for to: kids. Cold wintry evenings are a good time to show and teach your children · Feature your business at the Chamber how to do different crafts like knitting, web site, NewarkValley.org. Thanks wood carving, candy making and many to all residents for continuing to more. Come in and check out what we support local businesses! If you have have. Starting January 12th, we will be a need, check out the Chamber web starting Story Hour again. We are going site first. Suppliers may be right here to try 10:00 a.m. to see how that goes. If in your home town! there is a better time or day, please let me

5 know. We will be offering FREE classes directions are written for the Do-It- on “Nutrition for the Whole Family” at Yourselfer’s. The database includes the same time so that the parents can sit repair procedures, service bulletins, in on the classes while the children are at recalls, wiring diagrams, and a Story Hour. Everyone is welcome to calculator to estimate costs of repair. attend. The classes will be given by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga 2. Home Improvement Reference Center County. To sign up for the nutrition provides assistance with popular class, please call them at 607-687-4020. repair projects for home and garden. There is no sign-up for the story hour. It includes maintenance, remodeling, Every winter, we get a few days at least electrical work, plumbing, wood where the roads projects, outdoor projects and are questionable. On these days we may decorating. It even has videos to be closed, so please call ahead to see if help. we are open. Also, if you just need to return a book or renew one, please call 3. Hobbies and Crafts Reference Center and let us do it for you, or go on line and provides full-text and understandable renew it from the warmth and safety of how-to instructions for many popular your own home. If you don’t get an hobbies and crafts. It includes answer, magazines, books, and videos to help with a variety of projects. There are please leave a message on the answering also over 3,000 Recipes. machine. If you have internet at home, you can renew almost anything online. Let us know if we can help you. If we are closed because of the weather, there To access these databases, log onto will be no over-due charges for that day, www.flls.org and click on where it says and any item due on that day will then be Electronic Databases, then go to the self due the next day that we are open. The help. You will need an active library database I would like to cover this time is card for the barcode, and the password is another new one that was just added on the last 4 digits of your phone #. If you November 1st. You will find it under have any problems with this or any other “Self Help”. This database has three database, please stop in or call us at 607- different sections: 1. Auto Repair; 2. 742-9960. Home Improvement, and 3. Hobbies and Crafts. Thanks to all who have helped with the library this year, and see you in the coming new year.

1. Auto Repair Reference Center LuAnn Whirl, Director provides info on most major manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles. There is repair information for most vintage makes FROM THE MAYOR, VILLAGE starting back in1945. Step-by-step TRUSTEES, CLERK’S OFFICE AND

6 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS: Have a safe and happy winter.

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