ГлавнаяMy WebLinkО нас2001-01 R Newsletter fo r 0 i E and m to aas Retirees of Tompkins County h - 1 ?�, \ i j .\, .. �/ . January 2001 rrrrrI� Volume 14 Number 1 iri Contract Passes by a 173 to 142 Vote or 55 % to 45 Submitted by Iretta Ellis This year's contract for the White Collar Tompkins Another major issue was the change in the insurance County Employees has three major changes as well as premium payment. Previously, county employees many minor ones. The turn out for voting this year paid 15% of the premium cost while the county indicates that many employees were very interested picked up 85 %. Now white collar employees will be in these changes. paying 20% of the premium. That premium increase though will be off -set by a new program known as I think the one change that drew the most VEBA or Voluntary Employee Benefit Association. In attention was the switch over to the Alternative this program, the County deposits the same amount Disability Plan. This plan replaces the disability as the premium increases into the employee's VEBA payment of $170.00 per week to full pay while on account. This account can be used to pay uncovered disability up to a predetermined limit, based on medical expenses. In addition it can be used to pay years of service with the county. While this is a for eye glasses, contacts, dental needs and premiums major increase in coverage for employees who paid. For example, if you were to make copies of become disabled, the plan does not allow for the your pay stubs showing what you have paid in accumulation of "sick days ". As we can tell by the insurance premiums, you can submit them for vote that many people were split on this issue. reimbursement. By doing that you can get your VEBA The pros and cons could be discussed on this issue money back tax free without having to submit a until the cows come home! Many of you may not medical /dental bill. Also keep in mind that unlike a SIEBA account, this money can roll over from year to know that the negotiation team did try to make the year. If there is money left in the account when you joining up of this plan optional, but the county retire then you can also use these funds to pay for would not agree to that in conjunction with the your insurance premiums after you retire. raise that we received. All of the changes /issues agreed to in this contract were part of a "package The third and final issue is of course the percentage deal ". That means that each component of the raise increase that the employees are receiving. contract had some affect on other parts of the White Collar employees will be receiving 4.25% wage contract i.e. wage increases go up or down increase for the next four years. That is a total of depending on the value of the rest of the 17% over the life of the contract. Considering that "package ". Keep in mind that due to the necessary we have only been averaging approximately 3% per program changes, the disability change will not year in our last couple of contracts, I believe this to take affect until March 1, 2001 which means that be a substantial gain. you will still earn a sick day for January and February. If you would like further clarification on the new contract then please submit your questions in writing to our White Collar Union President, David Chase. COUNTY COPS, KIDS, AND TOYS PROGRAM A SUCCESS!! 46. ADMINISTRATOR'S Submitted by the CSCN Holiday Program Committee REPORT • The Tompkins County Health Department Collected toys for the Cops, Kids, and Toys Campaign and the (No report on who will Immaculate Conceptions' Community Food Pantry. take this seat as of this date!) We set a goal of 200 items (food or toys), and set up a Holiday Giving Tree. For every five items collected, one ornament was added to the tree. It was a huge success! Tompkins County Health How to make a lasting commitment.... Department employees donated 80 toys and 122 Submitted by Theresa Lyzcko, Health Dept . food items. We were able to decorate our tree The new year and new year's resolutions (or thoughts of complete with a star on the top! Thanks to all them, anyway) go hand in hand. If you've made a those who contributed and made the holidays a resolution to lose weight, get more exercise, quit little brighter for those in need during the holiday smoking or any other lifestyle change, here are some suggestions to keep in mind: sensors. 1• Whatever your goal, commitment is the key to success. Take the following steps to enhance your commitment to the change you've decided to make in 2001: 1. Do it for yourself, not others - You must be motivated to .lose weight, for example, because its "°""" what you want to do. 2. Draw support from others - Let friends and family • ti priV r, members know your goals and talk with them when ' •� pie F you're having trouble reaching those goals. _ 3. Get your priorities straight - Don't set yourself up ,, for failure by trying to improve your lifestyle when 11111r fi. i _- you're distracted by other major problems. It takes ' } ti a lot of mental and physical energy to change habits. 4. Set realistic goals - Slow and steady wins the race. - Keep this in mind when setting goals and make them both for the short term and the long term. 5. Choose a start date - Let nothing postpone that Budget and Finance Office also start date. 6. Plan ahead for circumstances - Think of effective collects for the Cops, Kids, and strategies for keeping your commitment while at Toys Program work, on vacation, and during holidays. Adapted from the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, January By Michelle Pottorff, Corridors Board 2001. The Budget and Finance Office also collected a huge amount of toys to benefit the Cops, Kids, and Toys If you woke up breathing, congratulations!!! Program. Unfortunately, the batteries died in the camera and the toys were picked up while I was in the You have another chance!! process of getting new ones! I can vouch for the * * * * * * * great job they did collecting gifts that were Don't forget Valentine's Day - displayed on their counter! c7 February 14th!!! TAKE PART IN THE witnessed; you may want to register a compliment COMMUNITY DIARY or a complaint. You might write about a committee meeting, an article in the local papers, a personal By Carol Kammen, TC Historian triumph, an idea you had or heard, the sighting of blue herons at a local pond, the emergence of the Most of us haven't the determination to continue a first spring flower. diary for an entire year but in good faith many of us begin them on January first. All entries will be put on a computer disc and they will become the property of the office of the What if, instead of individual accounts, we compile a Tompkins County Historian. What we will have is a Community Diary. Together we will document this unique community diary kept by many people, from new millennium in Tompkins County. different viewpoints, written in a variety of styles This will be a diary or journal of accumulation: that that will reflect the diverse people who live in is, any one can submit an entry, or any number of Tompkins County. Young and old can join in, and entries, at any time throughout the year, and about certainly all those in the middle. any subject (with a couple of reservations that I You may submit an entry by mail to County will spell out below). Historian, 125 East Court Street, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. These will be scanned onto the disc. Or you can submit an entry on e-mail to \P'44P7 X 14 historian(wtompkins co.org. I hope that the Chairman of the Board of Representatives will write, and that she will urge Ar -" members of the Board of Reps to join in; perhaps the Mayor of Ithaca will do the same and This open diary project will allow people with a yen encourage Common Council members to to record a particular day to do so knowing full well contribute. I hope that the pastors of the churches that someone else might submit an entry for the in the county will urge their parishioners to send in next day. Or an individual might send in three or comments, and that the members of the many four entries in a row and then take a bit of a rest. various clubs and committees in the county will Some people will write frequently, others once or write about what they do. Teachers should twice. encourage students to write. Union members and those who belong to committees or clubs might This is as close to a no- pressure diary that there consider writing. I hope to hear from individuals can be. You may write when you feel like it and who work nights, fight fires, keep the peace, work refrain from writing when that mood hits you. at hospitals, and physicians. I hope that homemakers will spend a couple of minutes writing You can address any subject you like, although the for the Community Diary Project and that the County Historian will not enter any submission that members of the Writers Association will contribute. contains offensive language (and the County Poets too, should consider sending in their verse. Historian will be the judge of that) or that attacks another individual or group. Pictures could be added: they should be identified as to subject, place and date. They will become You may submit poems or prose. the property of the Tompkins County Historian. You may write as often as you want and if more If you live in Tompkins County, or if you once lived than one person submits an entry for one day, both here, if you are a student or a visitor — long term or or even many can be entered. There might be short, consider contributing to the Community days when no one submits an entry. We can live Diary. with that. Begin now. You may want to write about the events of your day; you may want to record something you CLASSIFIEDS take work home, and you know? I never have. Well, once - but it was going to be a Tong, holiday weekend, and just that once I thought it would For Sale: be cool to curl up fora couple of hours with a good task rather than the latest novel. For sale: Reese hitch that came off a '94 GMC On to the next couple thousand years! Safari. Used only two months. $75.00. Also, black Hooray for Tompkins County. metal cargo carrier that slides into open hitch. Sincerely, Used only once - $75.00. Call Iretta at 844 -3420. Annie N. Mouse For sale: Echo chain saw, model CS60S, in very CLASSIFIEDS good condition, $135.00 Call 898 - 9992 after 5 p.m. Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County employees, retirees and their immediate families. Ads may For sale: Weslo Easy Stride exercise machine, be for any purpose, however personal ads will not be $60.00; Bollinger Trim Rider exercise machine, accepted. No County addresses or telephone numbers $60.00. Call Iretta at 844 - 3420. may be listed in your ad, however we do need your full name and County telephone number submitted with the For sale: Four wheeler — 250 cc Kawasaki; 2 - wheel ad in case there are questions. Submit your ad to County drive. Asking $1,500. Call after 5 p.m. 607 -589- Corridors c/o Michelle Pottorff, Board of Representatives, 4715. Court House, Ithaca, NY 14850 via U5 or interdepartmental mail or e-mail to: mpottorff@tompkins- co.org Services: NOTE: If you would like to modify your classified or want to Tioga Technical - Don't kill your computer! Let me run it again, you must re submit it! help with troubleshooting, training, upgrades - — --- - - whatever it takes to get you and your computer DEADLINE: 1 TUESDAY OF THE MONTH working together again. Call James Keegan at 273 Articles to be considered for the February 22nd 7957 evenings or weekends. issue, must be received by noon on Tuesday, It's never to early to start thinking about Easter. February 6th. Submit articles via e-mail as an Call Tynyk Originals at 564 -9244 evenings or attachment or on disk in any file format that is weekends for a unique gift or home decor item. readable by Word for Windows '95. Send disk and Expecting a new arrival? Ask about the Fleece hard copy to County Corridors c/o Michelle Pottorff, Cuddle Wrap for babies. Board of Representatives, Court House, Ithaca, NY Tense? Stressed? Achy? Therapeutic Massage can 14850. Please include a contact number in case put relaxation and comfort back into your life. For L questions arise. an appointment or information call Richard Reed at 753 -6383. COUNTY CORRIDORS Articles and opinion pieces for County Corridors are selected by Kinetic Performace - specializing in Motorsports the Editorial Board based on their interest to Tompkins County engines, carboration and general racing fabrication. employees and retirees. They do not necessarily express the Call Dayton Umholtz at 277 -6442 evenings or opinions of the Editorial Board. Material is solicited from current weekends. employees, retirees and others. The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit submissions, except in the instance of copyright materials. Dear County Corridors Staff: EDITORIAL BOARD Michelle Pottorff (Editor) Board of Representatives I LIKE working for Tompkins County! Iretta Ellis (Chair) Information Technology Services This is absolutely the best job I have ever had. Bill Chopp Department of Social Services Sharon Cooper Sheriffs Office I am ,Just exactly busy enough not to be Liz Croop Department of Mental Health overpowered by work or boredom. I wondered Katy Prince Health Deportment when I came here to work if I would have to Vickie Wagner (Artist) Department of Assessment Donna Deputron (Distribution Coordinator) Bldgs. & Grnds