Burin announces restructuring of City Hall operations, new deputy
02/28/2008

City Manager John Burin announced a series of organizational changes that will continue to improve and streamline City Hall operations, including naming a new deputy city manager who is a member of a new generation of city government leaders.

The changes come as long-time Director of Community Development, Cheryl Box, prepares to retire, the outsourcing of tax collection through a recent shared service with Chemung County has streamlined the Chamberlain’s office, and expanding citywide economic development responsibilities has increased the workload for the City Manager, Burin said Thursday.

“I’m realigning our personnel to not only provide adequate service delivery, but also to look to the future and place many of our young professionals in decision-making positions,” he said.

Burin will re-establish the position of Deputy City Manager for Operations, and appoint Kimberlee Balok Middaugh to the role. Middaugh previously served as the City’s personnel director…

An unusually divided Elmira City Council has approved a two-year contract with the golf pro and manager of the city-owned Mark Twain Golf Course.

So, we as a city have decided that paying a golfer $50.000 a year is a benefit to the city. Ok, I can see the reasoning, as if there was no golf pro, no one would ever, ever use the golf course. So this is just a form of maintaing profit, right?

Amazing. Or am I just so dumb in business, I can’t see the obvious benefit to throwing $50k a year away?

The minutes from the last City Council Meeting are now available.

Included on the agenda of the February School Board Meeting ( 2/6/08, 7 PM @ EFA) will be the presentation of the final report of the committee charged with the investigation of the procedures regarding the much maligned and discussed 2007 School Board elections.

Originally scheduled for the January SB meeting, presentation of the report was postponed until the February meeting, possibly because of the questions and general discontent surrounding the appointment by City Manager John Burin of former School District Attorney John Ryan to Elmira Corporate Counsel (announced 2/4/08).

The draft of the report, given to SB President Dan Hurley in December, is presented below and makes for interesting (albeit tedious) reading given the facts that the local SB operates on a million + budget and that included in the report is a recommendation that Attorney John Ryan’s conduct in this matter be reported to the State Bar.

Of course, how the…

Tonight approximately 70-85 area residents gathered in the Auditorium of Southside High School to hear the final draft of the Chemung River Master Plan.

Given by the primary architects of the plan, a Mr. Haas and another individual whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch, the presentation included lectures, many computer enhanced and composed pictures, actual photographs, posters and slides as well as hand out materials. Although audience participation was sparse, overall the meeting was informative and optimistic.
It appears that the final draft of the Chemung River improvement master plan is for the seasonal use of the Chemung River as it flows from the western most Horseheads line all the way downriver past Elmira to the City of Chemung. There was also some mention that upriver Steuben County and Corning have expressed an interest in improving that part of the Chemung River as well.

Overall, the plans include areas for ‘rough’ camping;…

Major Sewer Project Funding Could Get Hung Up in Washington

At a city budget workshop Thursday, Elmira City Manager John Burin announced that city leaders may have to jump through many more hoops than originally anticipated in order to get the grant money.

Burin Sticks With City Attorney Appointment, Despite Threat From Councilmember

Elmira City Manager John Burin says he is confident John Ryan, Jr. is the most qualified for the position, despite Republican Councilwoman Sue Skidmore’s opposition. I mean, she was elected to represent, well, just the people. Who is she to question Mr. Burin?

Yeah, just what we need, another master plan. I have to insist though, any politican involved in this is required to wear red tights and a blue cape, that way their do-goodery will be out there for all to know. These politicians will talk and talk and talk, and then when they are done talking, they will dig deep and find the courage to, wait foor it people, yeah, talk some more. Finally, years from now, a master plan will be hammered out, like the one true ring of Frodo, formed from the very sweat of our elected leaders. Of course it will not be useful for anything, Elmira will still be a ghost town (By that time the arena will have passed on), Chemung County will have hemorrhaged it’s last person, and the politicians will then take up the debate of who should…

Governor’s Vision For Upstate Will Benefit Elmira, Mayor Tonello Says

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plans to pump more than $1 billion into the Upstate economy, commit 200 state troopers to help local police fight crime, cut taxes, reduce state mandates for municipalities, and make New York a stronger draw for business and young people will benefit the City of Elmira in 2008 and beyond, Mayor John Tonello said today. “The governor’s vision is clear and his aim is true,” Tonello said. “He recognizes the problems upstate cities face, and his solutions provide relief and assistance where we need it most.” The mayor’s comments came after the governor delivered his State of the State address Wednesday afternoon in Albany. Click for the full release…

Clear vision? Aim is true? Sigh. Politicians sure do speak purty. How come there never is…

City Council Minutes: 01/07/08

The minutes from the last City Council Meeting are now available.