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Weekend in review
Jan 26, 2015 6:40 am
Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Jan. 23 through Mon., Jan. 26:
Melanie Lekocevic is reporting in The Daily Mail Athens Town Council and Code Enforcement Officer George Holsopple have are developing a way to put pressure on owners of unkempt properties to clean up. At a recent public meeting, Holsopple said the phenomenon is becoming a real problem. "...It is time to nip it in the bud," he said. Neighbors to the offending properties must put their complaints in writing to the Code Enforcement Officer; a phone call is no longer sufficient, Holsopple said. Determining what is going on at a specific property could become an issue in rural areas. The code enforcement officer is prohibited from stepping foot on private properties without the consent of the homeowner. Asked by a council member if using satellite imagery to observe a property was outside the boundaries of the law, town attorney Virginia Benedict said she would have to look further at the issue before rendering an opinion.
Matthew Hamilton reported at Capitol Confidential the Senate Republican majority made committee assignments last week, and George Amedore the new Republican Senator for the 46th District, will chair the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee. Amedore will also serve on the Banks, Consumer Protection, Elections, and Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs committees. “Everyone knows someone who has struggled with addiction, especially with the heroin problem that has overtaken so many communities throughout the state. We need to work on solutions to increase awareness, and also make sure that good treatment programs are available and properly funded. I look forward to working with my colleagues on solutions to help minimize the alcohol and drug abuse problems that so many New Yorkers are facing,” Amedore said in a press release.
The event served as an educational opportunity to learn about various mitigation projects, relocation precedents, and mitigation and economic recovery. The keynote address was delivered by Nicholas Pinter, a professor at Southern Illinois University on flood mitigation solutions. The chairman of the Prattsville Local Development Corporation Kevin Piccoli provided an update on community reconstruction since the severe damage caused by the storms Irene and Sandy. He said growth in Prattsville is happening slowly, but the town is moving forward, and it intends to be more proactive in terms of flood mitigation. Michelle Yost, Coordinator of the Greene County Watershed Assistance Program said the overall objective is “not just dealing with the impacts of flooding to structures, but it is getting people out of harm's way and investing in the community.”
Melanie Lekocevic is reporting in The Daily Mail Athens Town Council and Code Enforcement Officer George Holsopple have are developing a way to put pressure on owners of unkempt properties to clean up. At a recent public meeting, Holsopple said the phenomenon is becoming a real problem. "...It is time to nip it in the bud," he said. Neighbors to the offending properties must put their complaints in writing to the Code Enforcement Officer; a phone call is no longer sufficient, Holsopple said. Determining what is going on at a specific property could become an issue in rural areas. The code enforcement officer is prohibited from stepping foot on private properties without the consent of the homeowner. Asked by a council member if using satellite imagery to observe a property was outside the boundaries of the law, town attorney Virginia Benedict said she would have to look further at the issue before rendering an opinion.
Matthew Hamilton reported at Capitol Confidential the Senate Republican majority made committee assignments last week, and George Amedore the new Republican Senator for the 46th District, will chair the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee. Amedore will also serve on the Banks, Consumer Protection, Elections, and Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs committees. “Everyone knows someone who has struggled with addiction, especially with the heroin problem that has overtaken so many communities throughout the state. We need to work on solutions to increase awareness, and also make sure that good treatment programs are available and properly funded. I look forward to working with my colleagues on solutions to help minimize the alcohol and drug abuse problems that so many New Yorkers are facing,” Amedore said in a press release.
The event served as an educational opportunity to learn about various mitigation projects, relocation precedents, and mitigation and economic recovery. The keynote address was delivered by Nicholas Pinter, a professor at Southern Illinois University on flood mitigation solutions. The chairman of the Prattsville Local Development Corporation Kevin Piccoli provided an update on community reconstruction since the severe damage caused by the storms Irene and Sandy. He said growth in Prattsville is happening slowly, but the town is moving forward, and it intends to be more proactive in terms of flood mitigation. Michelle Yost, Coordinator of the Greene County Watershed Assistance Program said the overall objective is “not just dealing with the impacts of flooding to structures, but it is getting people out of harm's way and investing in the community.”