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Weekend in review
Feb 11, 2013 1:39 am
Some of the stories that made the news, Feb. 8 to Feb. 10:
Jon Campbell reported at Politics on the Hudson three outside experts assisting New York with a health review of hydraulic fracturing say their work was completed more than a month ago. This detail was not revealed by the state Health Department during lengthy testimony before lawmakers last week. State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens first asked the state Health Commissioner in September to assess the state’s review of fracking. The state Department of Environmental Conservation faces a Feb. 27 deadline to finalize a set of proposed rules for large-scale fracking or allow them to expire. In order to meet that deadline, the agency would have to release a final version of an environmental review by Wednesday. DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens cast doubt on whether the state would be able to make the deadline. He told lawmakers at a budget hearing Monday it would be “difficult” to meet it if the health review recommends installing additional safety measures. The process of high-volume fracking, which is used to help extract gas from shale formations, has been on hold in the state since the DEC first launched its review in 2008. Read the full story at Politics on the Hudson.
PLAY state Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah discuss hydrofracking during the Legislature's Joint Budget Hearing Health and Medicaid, Jan. 30. (15:08)
Barbara Reina reported in the Register Star the $7 million capital improvement project approved by residents of the Ichabod Crane school district in December, will be implemented in two phases. The technology upgrades and a partial roof replacement at the high school will be first and the work is expected to begin this summer. Gymnasium renovations and library improvements are scheduled for the second phase. The Board of Education also recently announced a schedule of community forums on budget development. The next forum will take place Tues., Feb. 12, to discuss expenditures, class size and state aid. In March two forums will present budget revenue projections and the tax levy, and a presentation of the final budget picture. Read the full story in the Register Star.
Michael Ryan reported in The Daily Mail Mountaintop lawmakers are taking steps to share services and cut costs. At a recent meeting of Supervisors and members of the Mayors Association, a plan was put forward to enter into shared services agreements for code enforcement officers. There are currently three separate code enforcement offices in the town of Hunter, the village of Hunter and the village of Tannersville. Hunter town supervisor Daryl Legg said the villages and the town are trying to work something out. The town of Hunter has already absorbed the justice court for the village of Hunter. The highway departments in the town and the two villages currently share manpower and supplies. The town of Hunter is also the early stages of consolidating its fire districts and fire companies. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Jon Campbell reported at Politics on the Hudson three outside experts assisting New York with a health review of hydraulic fracturing say their work was completed more than a month ago. This detail was not revealed by the state Health Department during lengthy testimony before lawmakers last week. State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens first asked the state Health Commissioner in September to assess the state’s review of fracking. The state Department of Environmental Conservation faces a Feb. 27 deadline to finalize a set of proposed rules for large-scale fracking or allow them to expire. In order to meet that deadline, the agency would have to release a final version of an environmental review by Wednesday. DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens cast doubt on whether the state would be able to make the deadline. He told lawmakers at a budget hearing Monday it would be “difficult” to meet it if the health review recommends installing additional safety measures. The process of high-volume fracking, which is used to help extract gas from shale formations, has been on hold in the state since the DEC first launched its review in 2008. Read the full story at Politics on the Hudson.PLAY state Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah discuss hydrofracking during the Legislature's Joint Budget Hearing Health and Medicaid, Jan. 30. (15:08)
Barbara Reina reported in the Register Star the $7 million capital improvement project approved by residents of the Ichabod Crane school district in December, will be implemented in two phases. The technology upgrades and a partial roof replacement at the high school will be first and the work is expected to begin this summer. Gymnasium renovations and library improvements are scheduled for the second phase. The Board of Education also recently announced a schedule of community forums on budget development. The next forum will take place Tues., Feb. 12, to discuss expenditures, class size and state aid. In March two forums will present budget revenue projections and the tax levy, and a presentation of the final budget picture. Read the full story in the Register Star.
Michael Ryan reported in The Daily Mail Mountaintop lawmakers are taking steps to share services and cut costs. At a recent meeting of Supervisors and members of the Mayors Association, a plan was put forward to enter into shared services agreements for code enforcement officers. There are currently three separate code enforcement offices in the town of Hunter, the village of Hunter and the village of Tannersville. Hunter town supervisor Daryl Legg said the villages and the town are trying to work something out. The town of Hunter has already absorbed the justice court for the village of Hunter. The highway departments in the town and the two villages currently share manpower and supplies. The town of Hunter is also the early stages of consolidating its fire districts and fire companies. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.