ГлавнаяMy WebLinkО нас2003-12 C4DIJI%1TY 4 %ewsletter fur [irrrwluvees and I elirees of Tc >rrrr)kirrs C(lu(IIN CC 11)CIS Volume 16 No. 12 December 2003 Thank You ,As", MaryPatDolan • DSS Commissioner August 1984 — November 2003 Mary Pat Dolan was finally allowed to retire from serving the residents and employees of the Tompkins County 11 Department of Social Services as their Commissioner. • Mary Pat was the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services for 18 - -- I mean -- 19 years. She received the Commissioner appointment on August 18, 1984 and Mary Pat's service to and accomplishment for the served officially in that capacity until her retirement on Department of Social Services and Tompkins November 16, 2002 - -- I mean - -- November 21, 2003. It County is extensive. She first came to the appears that, because she was valued and respected so Department when it was located downtown in the much, when she submitted her retirement date for City of Ithaca in four different buildings (City Hall November of 2002, she was asked to stay on for another on the top floor, the Ivy Building and two others). year which accounts for the two aforementioned dates and As a DSS Commissioner, Mary Pat was also accumulated years served. responsible for overseeing the County/Public Mary Pat Dolan brought an invaluable mix of personal Home. (The Administrator of the County Home qualities that made her tenure at the Department of Social was Shirley Brennan; however, by law DSS Services one that will be remembered. First and foremost, Commissioners had the final oversight Mary Pat was a leader. She worked hard for the rights of responsibility.) Mary Pat has a myriad of stories her clients and employees and did not back down when that correspond with the work that was involved in others may have. When she believed in the cause; right the running of the Home. She told a story about the was right and there was no other option. Along with Mary wonderful man that was a genius at repairing things Pat's incredible strength and determination was the quality that were unfixable so when he was unable to keep that tempered all else. She had an incredible sense of the old furnace going, it was a sign that; inevitably, empathy for those who didn't seem to have adequate the Home would not maintain its current status. representation. When she spoke from her heart, all could In or around 1988, the Department of Social feel it and it wasn't uncommon to see the evidence of her Services moved to the Bigg's "A" Building that was depth of emotion "welling" up from within her. She was, formerly the old hospital. When it became apparent in the best sense of the word, an "advocate" for the clients to Mary Pat that the building's location was a and employees within her responsibility. (continued on page 3) REPORT FROM +� __.: �• THE COUNTY a,' k y z ADMINISTRATOR — / By Stephen WIh.icher Well, we have weathered another budget storm and the Legislature should be commended for its overall support of our programs. If it were not for the quality of your efforts to maintain exemplary standards, I am sure the Legislators and the public would have found it a great deal more difficult to accept another year with a double -digit tax rate increase. I wish I could look to 2004 and say that I have confidence that we are through the worst. The reality is that it will take a few more year before the New York State economy can absorb the shocks of the recent years, and yet to be seen is how the State Legislature will address their projected $6 billion 2004 shortfall. On the bright side, it is becoming apparent that the State Legislature understands that the counties cannot accept further increases in mandated costs. In addition, the projected growth of the value of real estate and business in Tompkins County is very healthy. The combination may mean that whatever the fate in store for the State in whole, Tompkins County may fare better. With this hope in mind, I ask you to maintain your pride of service and continue to face our challenges with the innovation and excellence for which Tompkins County is known. It is each of your efforts that has allowed us to persevere, and will carry us through the coming year. I truly believe that if we concentrate on maintaining the high quality of our programs and the focus on our goals, we will earn the necessary taxpayer support. On behalf of the Legislature and Administration, I would like to thank you all for the dedication and expertise you have given to ensure the success of the programs that provide the quality of life residents of Tompkins County expect. May you and your families experience all the joy of the holiday season. Happy Holidays! 2 Expansion of Flex Plan Medical Expense Reimbursements Submitted by Jackie Yoder, Benefits Manager A new IRS ruling announces that some nonprescription medications are now reimbursable under health flexible spending accounts if the charges are properly substantiated by the employee. The general rule is that an over - the- counter expense must be for medical care and not simply promote general health. For example: Covered Not Covered Aspirin & other pain relievers Toothpaste and mouthwash Allergy medications Dietary supplements used for Antacids general health purposes Cold remedies Toiletries & cosmetics In order to substantiate a claim for reimbursement of an OTC drug, Flex Plan and VEBA participants must provide an itemized receipt from a third party such as an itemized cash register receipt from Walmart, K Mart, Target, etc. The item for which reimbursement is being requested should be circled. If the receipt is not clear as to what the item is, including a box top of the product or providing additional information in conjunction with the receipt would be helpful. If you are in doubt about whether a particular purchase qualifies for reimbursement, call SIEBA, Ltd. at 1 -800- 252 -4624. (Mary Pat Dolan, coned from page 1) hindrance to her clients, Mary Pat strove and succeeded in championing the cause and eventual approval and completion of the current Human Services Building which is located at 320 West State Street. (The Department was moved to this current location in 1997.) When one stops to think about the initiative and resolve of this Commissioner to bring about a successful County Capital Project, one has to admit that she had tremendous leadership qualities. Mary Pat Dolan has retired from the Commissioner of Social Services appointment but all who know Mary Pat and her incredible strength and desire to make the world a better place are certain that she has just transferred her incredible energies and will be providing a warmer environment for whomever comes in contact with her passion and follow - through. From the bottom of our hearts, from those of us who can express it and for those who are unable to, we "thank you," Mary Pat Dolan for your sacrifice through your position as Tompkins County's Social Services Commissioner. { , �: 7 ,, 4,, TO REDUCE HOLIDAY FIRES, THE U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION OFFERS TIPS ON USING CHRISTMAS TREES, CANDLES AND DECORATIONS Submitted by Norma Jayne, Administration WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) urge the nation's families to take steps to make their holidays "fire safe" this year. Statistics show that the incidence of house fires increases during the winter holiday season - fueled in part by holiday decorations, candles and Christmas trees. "We see that fires caused by candles increase fourfold during the holidays, and each year some 200 house fires occur where Christmas trees are the initial source of ignition," said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "Preventing these fires helps keep the holiday season joyful for this nation's families." All told, house fires during the winter holiday season kill about 500 and injure about 2,000 people, and cause more than $500 million in damage. But, R. David Paulison, head of the USFA, which is part of FEMA, said Americans don't have to give up their holiday decorations in the interest of safety. There are some easy, commonsense things people can do to reduce their risk of a fire, he said. The USFA recommends: • Selecting a fresh Christmas tree that is kept in water at all times. Needles on fresh trees should be green and should not fall off easily. Don't put your tree up too early or leave it up longer than two weeks. Dried out Christmas trees can ignite easily and boost a fire by spreading it rapidly to nearby combustible materials! • Placing your Christmas tree in a safe place, away from heat sources such as a fireplace or heat vent. • Maintaining your holiday lights. Inspect your lights before you use them to ensure they don't have frayed wires, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets or excessive wear. Only use lighting that is listed by an approved testing laboratory and don't leave the lights on when you're not home. • Avoiding overloading electrical outlets. Don't link more than three light strands unless the directions indicate it is safe. Periodically check the wires. They should not be warm to the touch. • Using only nonflammable decorations that are placed away from heat vents and if you're using an artificial tree, make sure that it's flame retardant. • Avoiding using candles. If you do use candles, ensure they are in a stable holder and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Do not leave lit candles unattended, never put candles on a Christmas tree and never leave the house with candles burning. "It's also important to know that fires caused by children increase during the holiday season. According to our National Fire Incident Reporting System, children will cause close to 60 house fires a day in mid - December, with another sharp increase on New Year's Day," said Paulison. "Parents should take precautions to prevent such tragedies." More information is available on the FEMA Web site at www.fema.gov and on the USFA Web site at ww.usfa.fema.gov. A video clip of a Christmas tree catching fire, courtesy of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, can be viewed at: http: / /www.usfa.fema.gov /public /factsheets /treefir.shtm On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County employees, retirees and their immediate families. Ads may I I Wanted: be for any purpose, however personal ads will not be accepted. No County addresses or telephone numbers may be listed in your ad, however, we do need your full WANTED: Do you have one or more phones (corded or name and County telephone number submitted with the cordless) that you no longer need? Also, wires that ad in case there are questions. Submit your ad to County connect the phones to the wall outlets along with the Corridors c/o Michelle Pottorff, Tompkins County phones would also be appreciated. Adult Protective Services can use them for their clients. Contact Louise Legislature, Courthouse, Ithaca, NY 14850 via US or Tomei at DSS - 274 - 5275. (No cell phones please). interdepartmental mail or e to: mpottorff@tompkins co. org Services: I NOTE: If you would like to modify your classified or want to Snowblowing: Available anytime day or night, run it again, you must re- submit it! reasonable rates, plenty of references and years of DEADLINE: i TUESDAY OF THE MONTH experience. Call John at 273 -6241. Articles to be considered for the January 22n issue, must Tioga Technical - Don't kill your computer! Let me help be received by noon on Tuesday, January 6 Submit with troubleshooting, training, upgrades - whatever it takes articles via e as an attachment or on disk in any file to get you and your computer working together again. Call format that is readable by Word for Windows '95. Send James Keegan at 273 -7957 evenings or weekends. disk and hard copy to County Corridors c/o Michelle Pottorff, Tompkins County Legislature, Courthouse, Tense? Stressed? Achy? Therapeutic Massage can put Ithaca, NY 14850. Please include a contact number in case relaxation and comfort back into your life. For an questions arise. appointment or information call Richard Reed at 753- 6383. COUNTY CORRIDORS French Tutor — Call Sarah at 257 -3047. Please leave a Articles and opinion pieces for County Corridors are message. selected by the Editorial Board based on their Goosa Arts - See our beautiful and affordable traditional interest to Tompkins County employees and retirees. Russian arts: nesting dolls, eggs, jewelry boxes, amber, They do not necessarily express the opinions of the etc. Alisa Mengel, 277 -2917, hours by appointment, 120 Editorial Board. Material is solicited from current Linn St. employees, retirees and others. The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit submissions, except in the instance of copyright materials. Foster Care /Adoption EDITORIAL BOARD Informational Meetings Michelle Pottorff (Editor) TC Legislature Submitted by Ellie Arnold, DSS Iretta Ellis (Chair) Information Technology Services Liz Croop Department of Mental Health Katy Prince Health Department To anyone who may be considering becoming a foster parent Linnett Warner Solid Waste Division or adoptive parent and wants more information. Geri Lockwood Highway WHERE: I101Idaj,, Human Services Building, Room 142 TO BE HELD FROM NOON TO 1 P.M. ON: January 8, 2004 February 12, 2004 March 11, 2004 For more information, please call Judy Voorheis @ 274 -5266. 5