Winter Legislative Meeting Agenda

• 2:00 p.m.

  NYCOM Registration Desk Opens

• 4:30 p.m.

  NYCOM POLICY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
  NYCOM’s four policy committees will convene to hold substantive policy discussions on timely topics. All attendees are encouraged to participate.
  

  • Community Revitalization
    Policy Committee Co-Chairs: Mayor Paul Pontieri, Patchogue and Mayor Rob Rolison, Poughkeepsie
    
  • Energy and Environment
    Policy Committee Co-Chairs: Mayor Scott Burto, West Carthage and Mayor Tim Rogers, New Paltz
    
  • Employee Relations
    Policy Committee Co-Chairs: Mayor William Aiello, Olean and Mayor Paul Whorrall, Manlius
    
  • Finance
    Policy Committee Chair: Mayor John Burrell, Ellicottville
    
• 6:00 p.m.

  DINNER RECEPTION AND SUPER BOWL LVI
  Sponsored by NYMIR and Comp Alliance

  Stop by the Comp Alliance or NYMIR booth to get your Superbowl square. Comp Alliance/NYMIR members will be automatically entered, and all other officials will be given squares on a first-come, first-serve basis. Prizes will be awarded for each quarter.

• 7:00 a.m.

  Breakfast

• 7:30 a.m.

  NYCOM Registration Desk Opens

• 8:00 a.m.

  EARLY RISER ROUNDTABLES 

  • Challenges and Solutions: An Open Forum 
    Municipal leaders are at the center of the most important issues facing New Yorkers, including public health and safety, quality-of-life, housing and neighborhood stability, and many more. As a new group of local officials have recently taken office, this open forum offers an opportunity for a relaxed and frank discussion about challenges faced and solutions found.
    Facilitators: Mayor Francis X. Murray, Village of Rockville Centre, NYCOM President; Mayor William Aiello, City of Olean, NYCOM Treasurer; and Peter Baynes, NYCOM Executive Director 
    
  • NYS Homes and Community Renewal: Proposed 5-Year Housing Plan and Programs Update
    In the 2022-23 Executive Budget, Governor Hochul has advanced a bold new Five-Year, $25 billion Comprehensive Housing Plan. Representatives from HCR will discuss the successful completion of the first Housing Plan and statewide outreach and planning efforts that contributed to the creation of the new Housing Plan. Further discussion will include the Legacy City Access Program and program updates from HCR’s Office of Community Renewal.
    Facilitators: Madeline Fletcher, Director of Distressed Asset Preservation, Darren J. Scott, AICP, Upstate East Director of Development, and Crystal Loffler, President, Office of Community Renewal
    
• 9:00 a.m.

  PLENARY SESSION

  • Briefing on Governor Hochul's Proposed State Budget
    Speakers: Mayor Francis X. Murray, Village of Rockville Centre, NYCOM President; Peter A. Baynes, NYCOM Executive Director; and Barbara J. Van Epps, NYCOM Deputy Executive Director 
    
• 10:15 a.m.

  STATE COMPTROLLER THOMAS DINAPOLI

  
  

• 11:00 a.m.

  NYS GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL

  
  

• 11:30 a.m.

  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

  • Implementation of Cannabis Legalization in New York
    Chapter 92 of the Laws of 2021, known as “the marihuana regulation and taxation act” (MRTA), was enacted with the stated purpose of creating a regulated and taxed
    cannabis industry in New York and providing for social and economic justice related to the sale and use of cannabis. While the MRTA legalized the possession and use of cannabis immediately, the actual sale of adult-use cannabis is not expected to begin until 2023. New York’s Cannabis Control Board (CCB) must still promulgate regulations addressing myriad issues, including the licensing of cannabis businesses. Representatives will provide an update on the implementation of the MRTA.
    Speaker: Philip Rumsey, Manager of Intergovernmental Outreach, Office of Cannabis Management
    Facilitator: Wade Beltramo, NYCOM General Counsel
    
  • Bail Reform: What's the Problem? What's the Fix?
    In 2019, New York enacted bail reform measures which eliminated cash bail for most offenses. Since then, there has been a growing debate as to the impact these reforms have had on public safety and whether judges should be given the authority to consider “dangerousness” as a factor in making bail determinations. This session will offer an informed discussion on this important issue.
    Speakers: J. Anthony Jordan, District Attorney, Washington County and President, District Attorneys Association of the State of New York and Eugene P. Devine, Commissioner of Public Safety, City of Schenectady
    Facilitator: John Mancini, NYCOM Counsel
    
  • Accessing Federal and State Water, Sewer and Transportation Funding
    Along with historic increases in state and federal infrastructure funding comes uncertainty among local officials as to what funding they are eligible for, from which agencies they access the funds, and the timing and process for securing such critically important resources. With the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation and Department of Transportation playing a central role in ensuring the distribution of many of these funds to New York municipalities, representatives of these agencies will outline the process and opportunities in 2022 and beyond.
    Speakers: Ron Epstein, Executive Deputy Commissioner/CFO, NYS Department of Transportation; Liz Ricci, P.E., Manager, Western Projects Section; and Rob Armitage, Financial Analyst III, New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation
    
    
• 12:30 p.m.

  Lunch

• 1:45 p.m.

  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

  • ARPA Progress Report: Eligible Uses and Reporting 
    The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently adopted its Final Rule governing the eligible uses of ARPA funds -- and the April 30 deadline for NEU’s to file their first annual Project and Expenditure Report is rapidly approaching. This session will provide an overview of the important changes to the Final Rule, particularly focusing on the additional flexibility local governments have been given when spending their ARPA funds. In addition, there will be a discussion on how to prepare for and comply with the ARPA reporting requirements.
    Speakers: Barbara Van Epps, NYCOM Deputy Executive Director and David Bissember, NYCOM Legislative and Research Analyst
    
  • Housing Potpourri: Accessory Dwelling Units, Short-term Rentals, and Good Cause Eviction
    Housing issues are a persistent challenge for
    communities. Whether it be the lack of affordable housing or maintenance issues, communities and interest groups have been working for decades to foster quality residential development. Recent trends have exacerbated long-standing housing challenges, however. This session will provide an overview of some of the current trends in addressing housing affordability.
    Speakers: Mayor Art Devlin, Village of Lake Placid; Rob Magee, Deputy Corporation Counsel, City of Albany; and Wade Beltramo, NYCOM General Counsel
    
  • Stop the World and Let Me Off: Hot Topics in Labor Relations
    The pandemic continues to stress the municipal workforce with high numbers of employees being forced to quarantine/isolate and miss work due to Covid. This session will cover the relevant provisions of law associated with Covid leave time. Specific topics of discussion will include NYS Covid paid sick leave, mandatory employee vaccination leave, flexible work schedules and an employer’s obligation to provide a safe work environment.
    Speaker: John Mancini, NYCOM Counsel
• 3:15 p.m.

  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

  • Running Effective Meetings During Divisive Times
    Running an effective meeting is a learned skill and more challenging than ever before. There is some “law” involved, but most is learned through experience. This session will include a panel of “seasoned” mayors who will share their experience and best practices to help make your meetings run more smoothly.
    Speakers: Mayor RuthAnn S. Loveless, Village of Hamilton and Mayor Thomas Roach, City of White Plains, NYCOM Past President
    Facilitator: John Mancini, NYCOM Counsel
    
  • Vacant and Abandoned Properties: The Struggle is Real
    New York has made significant strides in addressing distressed, vacant, and abandoned properties in recent years. Formation of the land bank program and enactment of the zombie properties law are perhaps the most significant laws enacted over the last two decades. This session will highlight some of the successes of those programs and discuss what still needs to be done to empower local officials to fully and effectively address vacancy, neglect, and abandonment in their communities.
    Speakers: Adam Zaranko, Executive Director, Albany County Land Bank and Wade Beltramo, NYCOM General Counsel
    
• 4:30 p.m.

  NETWORKING RECEPTION
  Sponsored by FirstNet Built with AT&T

• Evening

  Dinner on your own