Sara Bollinger – Manlius Town Councilor
Budget Time
Resident interest in the Manlius Town Budget was notably absent this year. I know many of us were busy campaigning for County, State and Federal candidates, but the lack of participation at the Town level was obvious.
Public Hearings were held on the Fire Protection District Budgets on October 10th. If you live in a Village, this tax is included in the Village tax you pay in June. If you live in the Town but not a Village, this tax appears as a line item on your Town and County bill in January. Pull out your tax bill – the Fire District amount is pretty high! No one showed up for the Public Hearings.
Over the summer I have served on an Ad Hoc Committee with John Loeffler, Rich Rossetti and Allison Weber to develop recommendations to improve transparency, consistency and constituent convenience particularly around Planning and Zoning issues. The Preliminary Budget includes funds for Map Link and General Code. The Highway Department Budget includes increased costs for salt and asphalt.
On October 10th the Board adopted the 2019 Preliminary Budget and set the Public Hearing for October 24th. The Budget is on the Town Website:
Only Tom Schepp showed up for the Budget Public Hearing.
Other Issues
- A new Alzheimer’s Memory Care facility is being planned by JEA Senior Living to be located on Medical Center Drive behind AmeriCU.
- Several government and emergency management entities participated in a “Table Top” emergency simulation exercise. Sergeant Chris Cushman and Highway Superintendent Rob Cushing contributed greatly to the success of this exercise.
- The Town voted to join with the Village of Fayetteville to implement a Deer Management program. Karen Green has been diligent in moving this process along.
- Frank Mento has been appointed to the Planning Board.
- At the request of several residents, the Board approved stop signs at the intersection of Bentbrook Drive and Drinkwater Lane in Manlius.
