Ask the kids, "What Local Problems Do You Think Your Mayor Should Try to Solve?"

This is the question asked by the New York Times of New York City kids this week.

The Brockporter is asking this same question of Brockport kids. Maybe their parents could help them.

I'll bet there isn't a kid in Brockport who knows who his/her mayor is, let alone what problem(s) he/she would like to see the mayor work on.

But let's pretend that kids in Brockport were more involved in the politics of the Village and ask them what concerns and ideas they have.

Let's not pretend though, let's really ask them.

If you are a parent or a teacher will you ask them and leave the answer in the comments or send the question and answer to davidgmarkham@gmail.com

Who is your mayor? What has he or she done that you admire? What local problems plague your community or city? What might your mayor do to help solve them?

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From Lecture Hall To Village Hall, SUNY Brockport's glossy magazine, Kaleidoscope features, Dr. Margaret Blackman

The Summer 2013 issue of SUNY Brockport's glossy magazine Kaleidoscope has an article entitled "From Lecture Hall To Village Hall", on page 6, about Anthropology professor emeritus, Dr. Margaret Blackman, who is Brockport's new Mayor.

To access the Kaleidoscope, click here.

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Town of Sweden's Star exemption letters arrived this past week

From Suburban News on 08/25/13 in an article by Kristina Gabalski entitled "Register by year’s end to receive Basic STAR:

Town of Sweden assessor Tony Eaffaldano says if you use the Basic Star exemption, be looking for a mailing from the Tax Department. “Homeowners will receive a post card at the end of this month or early next month telling them who to call through the State of New York.”
He says many local residents take advantage of the STAR exemption.

Eaffaldano says the new guidelines do not affect homeowners age 65 or above enrolled in Enhanced STAR.

The New York State Tax Department says the STAR program provides 2.6 million homeowners with savings on their school property tax bills each year, but is only available for an individual’s or family’s primary residence. The Basic STAR Registration follows a Tax Department investigation that showed some homeowners were receiving the exemption on more than one property.

“Local assessors monitor Basic STAR in their communities, but do not have the ability to know if an individual is receiving STAR in any of the other 1,000 localities statewide,” Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Thomas Mattox says. “This is the first registration in the STAR program’s 15-year history, and it will eliminate inappropriate and fraudulent exemptions.”

The State Tax Department recently unveiled a secure online STAR registration platform. The Tax Department’s upcoming mailing will include registration instructions for the online application and also provide a phone number for registration or questions: 518-457-2036. A property owner must register either online or by phone by Dec. 31.

The Basic STAR exemption is available for owner-occupied, primary residences where the combined income of resident owners and their spouses is $500,000 or less. Married couples with multiple residences are only eligible to receive one Basic STAR exemption.

According to the Tax Department, the average homeowner benefit as a result of Basic STAR is $700 annually.

Editor's note: 

Living in the Village of Brockport in the Town of Sweden, I got my Star exemption notice earlier this week. It was a letter not a post card as Town of Sweden assessor Tony Eaffaldano mentions in the letter above. I make less that $500,000.00 per year and so I guess I am eligible. Even though I am over 65 I don't think I am one of the "enhanced" Star recipients so I went on line and applied. It'll save me $700.00 bucks according to the Tax Department according to the article. A lot of people in Brockport like to complain about their taxes, and I have never heard anyone say "thanks" for their Star exemption, so I just want to say thanks to our State legislators who, in their wisdom, have worked to give home owners like me in the Village of Brockport and the Town of Sweden a break.

You have until 12/31/13 to apply for your exemption if you haven't done it already.

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Reading the minutes - appointments to Village committees

Reading the minutes of the Village of Brockport board, 07/15/13:

Trustee Hannan moved, Trustee Andrews seconded, carried 5/0 that the following appointments be made:

Planning Board……………5-year term to 6/30/18 appoint....……………….Kevin J. McCarthy

 Zoning Board of Appeals……complete a term to 6/30/17 appoint………….Douglas R. Wolcott
Zoning Board of Appeals……5-year term to 6/30/18 appoint……………...Laurence C. Vaughan

Historic Preservation Board…complete a term to 6/30/15 appoint…………….…. Sriram Bakshi Historic Preservation Board…3-year term to 6/30/16 reappoint……………Kevin J. McCarthy Historic Preservation Board…3-year term to 6/30/16 reappoint……………Jacqueline Morris

Tree Board....4-year term to 6/30/17 appoint……………………..Chris Collier
Tree Board…4-year term to 6/30/17 appoint………….………Sandra P. Cain
Tree Board…4-year term to 6/30/17 reappoint……………Hannelore G. Heyen

Ethics Board…4-year term to 6/30/17 reappoint……………Katherine Kristansen 

Parks Committee ...complete a term to 6/30/16 appoint………….…..Linda Ketchum
Parks Committee…4-year term to 6/30/17 appoint………………….Lindsay Macmillan
Parks Committee…4-year term to 6/30/17 reappoint………..……Hannelore G. Heyen

Editor's note: At the August 5, 2013 meeting of the Village of Brockport board Tiffany Rawlings, and archeologist was appointed to the Historic Preservation Board for a 3 year term to end 06/30/15. Dr. Rawlings is an assistant professor of Anthropology at SUNY Brockport. You can learn more about her professional activities by clicking here.

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Blackman, Hannan, Ciciotti run on Revitalizing Brockport platform

Click on image to enlarge for easier reading

 

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Blackman, Hannan, Ciciotti running for Village of Brockport office on Revitalize Brockport ticket

Margay Blackman, a Village of Brockport trustee has announced her desire to become Mayor of Brockport.

Carol Hannan, first elected to fill Hal Legg's seat after his resignation, will run again for Village Trustee.

Val Ciciotti, former president of ProBrockport, has announced her intention to run for the seat of Village Trustee Kent Blair who has announced his intention not to run again for Village Trustee.

The Brockport Village election will be held on June 18, 2013.

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New requirements of Open Meetings Law met by Brockport and Sweden and not by Clarkson and Hamlin

Great article in the Democrat and Chronicle on March 14, 2013 about the new requirements of the Open Meetings Law. You can access the article by clicking here. I am very proud to see that the Village of Brockport and the Town of Sweden are in compliance with the law. Kudos to Village Clerk Morelli, and Town Clerk Karen Sweeting in Sweden. Unfortunately, the Brockport Central School District, and the Towns of Clarkson and Hamlin are out of compliance with the law.

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Mayor Castaneda's case drags on and on and on....

From the 02/27/13 issue of the Democrat and Chronicle:

Court proceedings will continue April 19 in the ongoing criminal case against Brockport Mayor Connie Castaneda, who is accused of renting an illegal apartment in her Main Street home in 2010 and 2011.

Editor's note: Brockport Mayor M. Connie Castaneda was arrested on March 9, 2012 for 14 counts of Official Misconduct for being in violation of Brockport's zoning codes. The case was transferred to Judge David Murante's court in the Town of Ogden when the three Brockport Justices, Depferd, Connors, and Coapman recused themselves because of conflicts of interest. The reasons why it has taken over a year to obtain closure on this case is unclear. This legal cloud has hung over Mayor Castaneda's last year of her second term as Brockport's mayor.

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