It is imperative that you contact your legislators now and let them know your position on those State Budget issues of greatest importance to you. We encourage you to review NYCOM’s Briefing on the 2020-21 Executive Budget.

While there was a need to reform New York’s criminal justice statutes during the 2019 state legislative session, it is widely recognized that several of the changes in the laws pertaining to discovery are broad and vague and are having unintended consequences at the municipal level.

VIEW RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS

Budget Update: Discovery Reform, AIM & Infrastructure Funding, Cannabis, Small Cells

It is imperative that you contact your legislators now and let them know your position on those State Budget issues of greatest importance to you. We encourage you to review NYCOM’s Briefing on the 2020-21 Executive Budget. In addition, there are four policy issues that we ask you to bring to the attention of your legislators and make sure they are aware of NYCOM’s position.

VIEW ADVOCACY UPDATE (2/12/20) 

NYCOM strongly believes each community must have a voice in whether the adult-use cannabis industry operates within its boundaries, as the impacts of the cannabis industry will be most directly felt at the local level.

UPDATED FEBRUARY 2020

Sample Resolution Regarding Criminal Justice Reforms

We have put together a sample resolution outlining what we believe are a series of reasonable amendments that are consistent with
the overall intent of the reforms, but which will allow for more effective and affordable implementation.

ADVOCACY UPDATE (Inc. Sample Resolution) (1/30/20) 

VIEW AND DOWNLOAD PROGRAM

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES:
• Increase Unrestricted State Aid
• Enhance Funding for Water and Sewer Infrastructure
• Expand Highway Funding
• Amend the Newly Enacted Criminal Justice Reforms
• Limit the Application and Cost of the Prevailing Wage Mandate

Watch news conference from NYCOM's Legislative Priorities Meeting

NYCOM is inviting all eighth-grade students currently enrolled in a school located in a city or village in New York State to participate in NYCOM's fourth annual essay contest addressing the topic, “If I Were Mayor, I Would ...."

CONTEST IS NOW OPEN | DEADLINE: MARCH 9TH

Sneak Peak of NYCOM's Municipal Matters quarterly magazine (Vol. 3, No. 2):

• Keep Rolling! Attracting Film Productions to Your Community
• How to SPOT Five Tricky SPAM Emails
• Door-to-Door Peddlers and Solicitors: Is Your Local Regulation Constitutional?

This POLICY PAPER provides a summary of the 2019 criminal justice reforms, identifies the critical changes the legislation will have on the criminal justice system, and discusses the potential impacts the changes will have on cities and villages.

2020-21 Executive Budget Released

The most recent update highlights some of the proposals of the greatest importance to our members.

ADVOCACY UPDATE (1/22/20) 

Chapter 6 of the laws of 2019 enacted early voting in New York State. The first period of early voting will be ahead of the November 5, 2019 General Election.

VIEW FAQS

The federal Voting Rights Act (VRA) requires that language assistance be provided to voters in political subdivisions in which 5% of the voting population speak the same language and do not also speak English proficiently well to effectively participate in the election process.
Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties are covered by this requirement, and consequently, all villages in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties must provide Spanish language assistance as well.

VIEW NOTICE REQUIREMENTS

2020 Legislation Session Began Last Week

The Governor delivered his State of the State address on Wednesday. As is typically the case, the speech was heavy on headlines and light on detail but there were a few topics of interest including escooters, the legalization of recreational cannabis, the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, funding for upstate airports, and small cell deployment.

VIEW ADVOCACY UPDATE (1/14/20) 

The National Civic League is now accepting applications for the 2020 All-America City Award, focused on enhancing health and well-being through civic engagement. We are looking for applicants with community-driven projects that reflect the concept that good health for the entire community requires a focus on mental, physical, spiritual, cultural and economic well-being.

Applications due by February 19, 2020

• Thursday, February 6 (9:00 - 10:30 a.m.) | Village of Ravena (Village Municipal Building, 15 Mountian Road, Ravena, NY 12143)

Topics of Discussion: Article 18 of the General Municipal Law, Gifts, Nepotism, Use of Municipal Equipment, Local Ethics Codes and Ethics Boards.

Presented by: John A. Manini, NYCOM Counsel

Cost: There is no charge for this workshop, but we do ask that you confirm your attendance with Kris Biernacki, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer (518) 756-8233 or by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

* NYCOM Elected Officials Academy (EOA) - The session qualifies for 1.5 elective credit hours.

Sponsored by: NYS Municipal Workers' Compensation Alliance

• White Plains • Thursday, January 9 (City Hall)
• Geneva • Wednesday, January 15 (Ramada Geneva Lakefront)
• Albany • Thursday, January 16 (Hilton Garden Inn-ALBANY/SUNY)

WORKSHOP REGISTRATION AND DETAILS

The village election material contained in this publication was compiled by the New York State Conference of Mayors. The dates and material are based upon current statutory provisions, including amendments through the 2019 session of the State Legislature.

CALENDAR OF DATES

Sneak Peak of NYCOM's Municipal Matters quarterly magazine (Vol. 3, No. 1):

• Mobile App Impact on Citizen Satisfaction and Municipal Management
• Investing in Today's Youth Will Prepare Municipalities for Tomorrow's Leaders
• Lost and Abandoned and Donated Properties: Dealing With Property No One Seems to Want

• January 9, 2020 (12:00 - 4:00 p.m.) | Radison Hotel Hauppauge

COST: $50 per person ($100 per person for non-members)

The Village Elections Workshop is a four-hour seminar that will cover the four critical components of the election process: (1) getting on the ballot, (2) preparing the ballot, (3) conducting the election, and (4) post-canvass procedures. This workshop will discuss the laws, obligations, and dates associated with conducting the village elections. Speaker: Rebecca Ruscito, NYCOM Counsel

The workshop is eligible for 4 hours of CLE credit in the Area of Professional Practice. Attorneys wishing to obtain CLE credit for participating in either or both of these webinars MUST PRE-REGISTER. This CLE Course is appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys and is a permissible format for newly admitted attorneys. For a copy of NYCOM's CLE Financial Hardship Policy, contact Wade Beltramo at (518) 463-1185. *CLE Credits will be distributed upon completion of the workshop.

WORKSHOP REGISTRATION AND DETAILS

Whether you are a new or a seasoned municipal official, these webinars will provide you with the most up-to-date information in planning and zoning law. These one-hour webinars will cover the following topics:

• November 21st | Group Homes, Local Government-Owned, and Religious and Educational Property: Understanding Exemptions to Local Land Use Regulation

WEBINAR DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

City and village officials across New York are calling for increased State investment in their communities and changes to recent criminal justice reforms.

November 18, 2019

This policy paper outlines the various enactments that amended the Election Law during the 2019 legislative session and discuss how these changes may affect the operations of local governments.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

Recycling Coordination, Education, Planning and Promotion Projects Grants Gateway Application Guidelines and Request for Applications

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 31, 2019

The Cyber Analysis Unit of the New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC) has recently issued a report on a cyber campaign that has affected several local governments in New York. This campaign involves customized and convincing-looking phishing emails that were used to capture user login names and passwords.

ADVISORY DETAILS

The most recent update highlights the final status of general key issues impacting local governments.

ADVOCACY UPDATE 

NYCOM's Fall Training School went off without a hitch in Saratoga Springs this September:

• Over 60+ Sessions
• 100+ First-Time Attendees
• Finance Officers and Clerks Association Annual Meetings
• Endless Networking Opportunites for ALL

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATIONS/HANDOUTS
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY

The most recent update highlights the final status of general key issues impacting local governments.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 

April 1, 2020 is Census Day for the next decennial census; the nation's once-per-decade, constitutionally-mandated count of every American, regardless of their citizenship status. The decennial census is one of the nation's most important programs.  New Yorkers' fair share of federal funds for programs essential to health care, education, housing, economic development and transportation, as well as our political representation in Washington, all depends on an accurate and fully-counted census response.

NYS CENSUS RESOURCES
US CENSUS BUREAU RESEARCH, OPERATIONAL PLANS AND OVERSIGHT

The Elected Officials Academy (EOA) is NYCOM’s two-tiered program that facilitates and recognizes the educational and leadership accomplishments of elected city and village officials. Any NYCOM class that you take, conference that you attend, or committee that you serve on will earn you Elected Officials Academy credits.

It doesn't cost you anything to activate your membership, you simply have to SIGN-UP HERE.

NYCOM's Municipal Matters quarterly magazine.

LATEST ISSUES

NYCOM's Legislative Program outlines our legislative priorities for the year. While NYCOM advocates for and against hundreds of bills each legislative session, our Legislative Program represents our membership's position on key issues of interest to city and village officials.

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

At its 110th Annual Meeting, the membership of the New York State Conference of Mayors elected Mayor Robert T. Kennedy of the Village of Freeport, to serve as NYCOM President for the next year.

MAY 7, 2019

Village of Ellicottville MAY 2, 2019
Village of Rockville Centre MAY 2, 2019
Village of Bergen MAY 2, 2019
City of Syracuse MAY 2, 2019
City of Corning MAY 2, 2019
City of Poughkeepsie MAY 2, 2019

NYCOM is relieved that all of our member villages and cities who have historically been part of the AIM program will continue to receive this funding under the state budget adopted earlier today.

APRIL 2, 2019

Municipal Associations Strongly Oppose Expansion of Prevailing Wage: Historic Preservation, Affordable Housing, Brownfield Redevelopment, and Economic Revitalization at Risk.

MARCH 27, 2019

Testimony on a critical aspect of a workable transit system in Upstate New York: safe and reliable local transportation infrastructure. 

MARCH 22, 2019

City mayors from across the state are calling on both houses of the New York State Legislature to include $12.7 million in additional funding for an inflationary increase in "arterial maintenance reimbursement."

MARCH 6, 2019