Gloria Bacon Recongized for 40 Years of Service Page 7 VOLUME 135 — WHOLE 7149
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Feds Fund Food Stamps Amidst Shut Down DelCo Food Pantries Preparing for Increased Needs By Lillian Browne DELHI - As the partial federal government shut-down stretches into week four - the longest in history - Delaware County leaders are readying for the possibility of cuts to social service, welfare and health programs. Though there is no formalized plan in place to offset potential delays in nutrition programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program also known as food stamps) and WIC (Women Infants Children), temporary stop-gap measures continue to be approved by the federal government so the country’s most vulnerable population relying on food supplementation programs do not go hungry. Funding was released to carry the food stamp program through the end of February. Local officials hope that the partial federal shut-down will either be over by then, or another stop-gap spending bill will be approved to provide additional funds for food stamps. Delaware County Department of Social Services Commissioner Dana Scuderi-Hunter reported
a decrease in the number of Delaware County residents who receive SNAP benefits - or food stamps - over the past five years. In December 2014, 6,491 people were receiving SNAP benefits; that number decreased to 4,395 in 2018. No correlative data was used to account for the decrease. “I remain hopeful that our leaders will collaborate and ensure that our disadvantaged neighbors; particularly our children and elderly, continue to be able to purchase the food needed for good health,” Scuderi-Hunter said of the potential threat to the SNAP program. Newly elected Congressman Antonio Delgado issued a press release last week criticizing the shut-down. “The irresponsible government shutdown is now putting at risk families’ ability to put food on the table. From kids to seniors across the district, the SNAP program provides essential benefits,” Delgado said in the press release. “While I’m glad that the Department of Agriculture will at least continue benefits through next month, the agency needs to lay See Food Stamps page 9
Pool Committee Turns Over Records To Delhi Town Clerk YouTube Channel for Council Meeting Videos Discussed By Lillian Browne DELHI - Delhi Supervisor Mark Tuthill announced on Jan. 8 that all community pool records - including bank records and grant applications - from 2010 forward will be turned over by the pool committee to the Delhi Town Clerk as the designated record keeper for the municipality. Councilman Al Perkins stated that most of the records have already been transferred to the clerk at the town hall. A partial payment was unanimously approved for $4,711.90 to A. Treffeisen & Sons, Inc. for plumbing completed on the pool and $93.83 to Aisle8, Inc. for pool website development. Tuthill also announced that an extension was requested for the New York State Parks and Recreation Grant, because pool and council members agreed to advertise the pool director position under the title of recreation director, in accordance with county personnel department direction. Once a director has been selected, the town will advertise for the hire of life guards. Tom Leo was announced as the new chairman of the Pool Advisory Committee (PAC). Perkins announced that he met with the Bovina Recreation Committee on Jan. 8 and Bovina is considering a partnership with Delhi on the pool project to allocate funds for operation expenses in exchange for pool use by Bovina residents. Meredith has previously committed PAC membership, Perkins said. He went on to say pool fundraising efforts are ongoing, which includes an update for the playground adjacent to the pool. It is anticipated that the pool will open in summer of this year. Council member Matt Krzyston announced that the town’s technology committee wants videos of monthly council meetings uploaded See Delhi Town Council page 6
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Area Schools Top The List For Worst Child Poverty Rates
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Downsville Central School (pictured) is number seven on the list for Upstate New York schools with the highest poverty percentage among school-age children (5-17). By Rosie Cunningham It’s certainly a list that you don’t want to be on, but it’s the sad truth. Area districts are among the top 50 Upstate New York schools with the highest poverty percentage among school-age children (5-17). In some cases, more than 30 percent of students are impoverished and in one extreme case it rises above 50 percent. This data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 five-year poverty estimate for every school district in the country, not local school districts. It is reflective of the population living within the bounds of each school district. It does not necessarily reflect the poverty rates of students who attend public schools in each district. Some children may at-
tend private schools, be homeschooled, or have alternative educational experiences. The Sidney Central School District is number 50 on the list with a school-age poverty rate of 30.2 percent and a total poverty rate of 19.9 percent. With 1,215 total school-age children, 367 are classified “in poverty.” Number 48 on the list is South Kortright Central School District (Delaware County): School-age poverty rate: 30.7 percent, total poverty rate: 16.9 percent, school-age children in poverty: 70 and total school-age children: 228. Livingston Manor Central School District (Sullivan County) is number 29: school-age poverty rate: 34.8 percent; total poverty rate: 19.7 percent. There are 509 school-age children and 177 who qualify as “in poverty.”
Worcester Central School District (Otsego County): schoolage poverty rate: 36.9 percent; total poverty rate: 16.1 percent; school-age children in poverty: 129 out of 350. Number eight - Walton Central School District (Delaware County): school-age poverty rate: 46.8 percent; total poverty rate: 24.1 percent; school-age children in poverty: 523 out 1,118. Number seven - Downsville Central School District (Delaware County): school-age poverty rate: 46.9 percent; total poverty rate: 16.5 percent; school-age children in poverty: 83 out of 177. According to John Evans, superintendent at both Livingston Manor and Downsville central schools, these figures are not surprising. See Child Poverty page 2
Meredith Forms Steering Committee For New Site Plan By Jesse Hilson The groundwork was laid on Tuesday, Jan. 8 for the creation of a steering committee to move forward with a community land use and development project in Meredith. Before the regular monthly meeting of the Meredith Town Board, a special public workshop was held where some preliminary ideas were raised for the steering committee. Some members from both the public and the town board volunteered to serve on the committee. The property, which is comprised of 14 acres on Honest Brook Road in Meredith, was a subdivision donated to the town by Meridale Farms. Before the workshop, Supervisor Jim Ellis discussed that a component of the property would need to be given to an already-planned solar power array, to be funded by grant money from the Clean Energy Community Program by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The award for the solar power array that the Town of Meredith won from NYSERDA is $50,000. According to Ellis, there will be 16.9 kilowatts of solar energy installed on the public use property intended to offset the town’s share of electric use and consumption. In conjunction with
the solar power array, the Town of Meredith wants to contemplate possible additional uses for the Honest Brook Road property. The Steering Committee was formed to create a site plan. According to comments from Councilman Wayne Oliver at a previous meeting, the composition of a steering committee should be five to nine individuals, with two town council members, one or two planning board members, and three to four members of the community. Sean Leddy of Delaware County Planning was present at the meeting to offer guidance and experience to the proposed steering committee. Councilman Oliver mentioned that another function of the steering committee should be to continue to pursue funds for projects on Honest Brook Road. He spoke about how the town had recently been turned down for funding by the O’Connor Foundation, but that they would likely try again. Councilman Floyd Vogt said the ultimate goal of any project contemplated by the steering committee should be to move the town hall and its clerical functions, including the town court, office space, and record storage, to a new site on Honest Brook Road. “This community has grown out of our 20’ by 20’ walls,” said Ellis, referring to the lack of space
to accommodate things such as town court. Michele Lechanteur, the court clerk for the Town of Meredith, suggested they seek additional funds through the Justice Court Assistance Program (JCAP). According to NYCourts.gov, JCAP was “established by the [New York State] Legislature to provide a means by which towns and villages may obtain limited state funding to improve operation of their Justice Courts.” Lechanteur said that the JCAP might help a project to move the town court to a new building. Another aspect of the steering committee project is to hire a consultant to help with the site plan. The town would use $2,500 that it received with its Unified Solar Permit, a permit that helped them qualify for Clean Energy Community status. Several people volunteered for the steering committee during this first discussion, including Supervisor Jim Ellis, Councilman Floyd Vogt, and resident Melissa Wakin. The next meeting of the steering committee is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Meredith Town Hall. During the official town board meeting that took place after the workshop, the board talked with Highway Superintendent Jason Noble about acquiring new equipment, and discussed a See Steering Committee page 4