Letter to Governor Cuomo ...Tug Hill

Town Of West Monroe

COUNTY OF OSWEGO

46 COUNTY ROUTE 11

WEST MONROE, NEW YORK 13167

Phone 315-668-8314 John Messere

Fax 315-676-3520 Est. March 12, 1839 Supervisor

E-mail: westmonroesupervisor@windstream.net

Town Board Debra Phillips Michael Hickey Randall Seaman

Friday, February 04, 2011

• Honorable Andrew M Cuomo
• Governor of New York State
• New York State Capitol Building
• Albany, New York 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo:

• We applaud you on your necessary endeavor to alter and reinvent the government of New YorkState. Many of your ideas have been discussed throughout the years among local governments. You have hit the nail on the head with your stance on reducing and consolidating agencies. Governments, small and large, are created to supply services to multiple people, unattainable on an individual basis. The services are rendered to the populous by the organization that sets policy and monitors the services to ensure they are constantly maintained, monitored and efficiently deliverable.

• Smaller governments, such as ours in the upstate area do not have the time, knowledge, experience, or substantial financial backing needed to support all of the mandates from the overgrown State government. Tug hill is our link to the State level and aids our compliance with these regulations. They not only communicate with the larger government, but they also educate us and monitor many of the functions of our municipalities. Coincidentally, they have a unifying presence in the remote North Country municipalities, through their Councils of government where community leaders congregate and discuss issues in common.

• Tug Hill has supplied technical knowledge and guidance to the North Country municipalities with comprehensive plan development, land use design and implementation for over three decades. It has helped us with State mandated storm water drainage development, GIS mapping, local government training for ZBA and planning boards and even government administrative issues. They function as the link between smaller remote communities and the larger government of the State of New York. Many of their functions are beneficial in the development and maintenance of administrative services for our local governments.

• Tug Hill fills in the gap between enormous state government and the smaller, unfunded, time strapped municipality. They have developed into an almost indispensable entity. Efficiently producing and coordinating the essential services overlooked by the larger state government. These 61 municipalities, spread over 2,100 square miles, cannot afford to hire the supporting services furnished by Tug Hill Commission. The support of this commission is money very well spent. It continuously furnishes needed services to local governments. Abandonment of The Tug Hill commission will not only make life more difficult for us, but also liken us to returning the horse and buggy days. Please Governor Cuomo, no rear view mirror; Tug Hill Commission is a great asset to the Upstate Region and an efficient exemplary agency of the State of New York

• John Messere
• West Monroe Town Supervisor

CC: Senator Patty Ritchie

        Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney