Village of East Syracuse (Winner)
County: Onondaga County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
Village Hall (315) 437-3541

According the U.S. Census, over 50% of the properties in the Village of East Syracuse are rental. Given that many of the properties in the Village are in close proximity to their neighbor, something had to be done to ensure that rental properties were maintained and that stable and responsible tenants were both attractable and retainable.

City of Albany (Winner)
County: Albany County
Population: 50,000 +
City Hall: (518) 434-5100

A comprehensive study released by the U.S. Fire Administration found the leading cause of death for firefighters to be heart attacks, which account for roughly 44% of all deaths. With these statistics in mind, the City of Albany created the Firefighter Wellness Program, designed to help significantly decrease firefighter morbidity, injury and mortality resulting from cardiovascular issues caused by an unhealthy lifestyle.

Village of West Carthage (Winner)
County: Jefferson County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: ( 315) 493-2552

The hydrant mapping project is the result of a partnership with Carthage Central School District, the Village of West Carthage and the West Carthage volunteer fire department. Envisioned in the fall of 2005 and completed in the summer of 2006, this project recognizes the value of knowing the exact location of fire hydrants during an emergency.

City of Cortland (Winner)
County: Cortland County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (607) 753-0872

The City of Cortland developed a unique strategy to strengthen the ties between the local police force and the community it serves. The Police Outreach Program, or POP, places officers and youths together in a recreational setting.  This joint effort between the Cortland Youth Department and Police Department serves primarily as a mentoring program for youth in the community, and has the effect of creating positive relations between young individuals and local law enforcement.

Village of Manlius (Winner)
County: Onondaga County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 682-9171

The purpose of the Heart Safe Initiative is to educate and train the Rhinebeck community about CPR and AED use. The program was the first community-wide effort in Dutchess County to address heart safety, and first to be recognized as doing so.

City of Hornell (Winner)
County: Steuben County
Population: 5,000 to 10,000
City Hall: (607) 324-7421

Unlike many municipalities, the City of Hornell requires property owners to maintain the sidewalks adjacent to their lots. Even when meticulously cared for, the average sidewalk needs replacing every 20 years. The City of Hornell has developed a cost-sharing program to alleviate the high price of private labor and sidewalk replacement costs, without reclaiming full maintenance responsibility of these areas.  The city performs the replacement work at or very near to 50-60% of the cost of a private contractor.

City of New Rochelle (Winner)
County: Westchester County
Population: 50,000 +
City Hall: (914) 654-2000

The City of New Rochelle's Fire Department, combined with the assistance of the Office for the Aging and the Police Department, developed the Patient Assist Assessment Program to provide a referral system for calls needing follow-up services. The majority of calls for help required no additional assistance after the Fire Department's response.

Village of Lake George (Winner)
County: Warren County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (518) 668-5771

Faced with rising costs for its Police Department, the Village Board voted to merge with the Warren County Sheriff's Department in 1988. A decline in problems during the past decade, the installation of traffic lights, and innovative training of the Sheriffs, led to a reduction in summer staffing.