Highlights of the October 1, 2024 meeting of the Tompkins County Legislature

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Cayuga Health Receives Contract to Manage Withdrawal and Stabilization Services

The Tompkins County Legislature unanimously approved a resolution (14-0) awarding Cayuga Health System with a contract to operate withdrawal and stabilization services through it's Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (CARS) affiliate. The program will help clients detox and receive medically supervised substance use withdrawal stabilization services in what's referred to as an "Open Access Center." New York State's Office of Addiction Services and Supports will provide approximately $600,000 in annual funding passed through the Tompkins County Whole Health Department to operate these services for the duration of the five-year contract.

Legislator Rich John (D-Ithaca) said that this was one of the most significant things that the Legislature will do this year, speaking about how the Alcohol and Drug Council was unable to pursue this as it closed and how he is glad that Cayuga Health Systems is able to "pull this off" through its affiliation with Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (CARS).

Greg Mezey (D-Dryden) asked Cayuga Health leadership who attended the meeting about whether there'd be the staffing available to operate the program. Dott Donnelly, Chief of Staff for Cayuga Health System relayed that the organization is ready to prioritize and operate the facility.

Cayuga Health System is separately the recipient of a Tompkins County Community Recovery Fund grant of $1.5 million to support an intensive stabilization services program. This program would offer mental health stabilization services and may be located in the same facility as the withdrawal and stabilization services pending New York state licensure.

Legislature Approves Resolution to Close Airport Customs Facility, Seeks to Repurpose Building for Revenue Generation and Community Benefit

By a vote of 13-1 (Legislator Mike Lane (D-Dryden) opposed) the Legislature agreed to suspend or cancel the County's contract with Customs and Border Protection and work with the NYS Department of Transportation to potentially repurpose the customs facility to generate revenue and provide community benefit.

Mike Lane (D-Dryden) questioned the "attacks" made against the airport as an enterprise unit of the County, comparing it to the Recycling and Materials Management department and how the County has had to fund that unit in times of fiscal stress and changing outside economic factors. Lane defended airport operations, saying that they are continuing to recover from the pandemic.

Legislator Veronica Pillar (D-Ithaca) responded that many more residents recycle, which has a "generally" positive environmental impact, than use the airport which has a less positive environmental impact. Pillar also spoke about their confidence in the staff and operations of the airport.

Legislator Greg Mezey (D-Dryden) shared his support of the airport's general operations, "I think that the airport serves as an economic engine and a tourism engine… I'm not in favor of massive cuts or changes to the airport as a whole…" adding that he does support closing the customs facility, saying that this is a data-informed decision with less than 30 flights having cleared customs locally. "It doesn't have as significant an impact in our community as many hoped it would have…"

Legislator Mike Sigler (R-Lansing) said that he hopes the community doesn't see this vote as "a vote of no confidence in the airport." He argued that this is more of a refocus than a closure, with future strategies pointed toward getting more and less expensive flights from the airport.

The customs facility's operating budget has been supported by the airport's fund balance.

The customs facility could be recreated or reopened in the future if there was a market for it and the County were to reapply and meet the criteria set by the federal government. This may require space reconfiguration and additional costs.

Legislator Deborah Dawson (D-Lansing) spoke earlier in the meeting about the County's need to keep the airport in operation. Dawson detailed the facilities maintenance obligations of the County required by the use of grant funds from the State and federal governments - ultimately arguing that closing the airport would cost the County more because there would be no revenues to cover costs.

Legislator Lee Shurtleff reported that enplanements are up 23% year-over-year from 2023.

Among Other Business

Chair Dan Klein extended the operations of the Downtown Facilities Committee for three additional months, it will continue meeting to move the Center of Government project forward through the start of 2025.