[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6203433,"mediaKeyId","3783043-e3260d48e2e7bef45a642d17f7e27d0f","parentId",3783043,"title","County launches Center of Government web page and multilingual survey; town halls scheduled","audioSeconds",331,"startMs",5645000,"endMs",5976000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783043-e3260d48e2e7bef45a642d17f7e27d0f&start=5645&end=5976","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783043-e3260d48e2e7bef45a642d17f7e27d0f/thumbnail_5645000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6203433/Tompkins-County/New-York/County-launches-Center-of-Government-web-page-and-multilingual-survey-town-halls-scheduled","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203433-0ab59e4abfca89ce60addc36004ee83c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922362&Signature=cS3W~Uri-Fskn3hkik482vFo~x7DCoUkbVkvxtoLCRU08hV0MpJbZuqwoQ7Q~BoYnPYzycrtFWwFDTbfKx4jj-ncAorq01qwc89-Dex8GbT~k9YSB2NPr3s~B8zQTl6dgpxdtsvyGsDQVbktq1AesGEc9gRqeZRbtDAUQiVGeEUNA5DGNM5fAjVLUegtNC47YrWZIem7qicexeUzVmfO5vXGCEPrgCujfG1s5yZR4RvhuBIZUEYhj2lb9SRk~btpC08ZDOVN9xLK8eQ6zxfF7DlJaReEVV6hX9t5BnpOjIjG5RePjPQUfVcqVlQPeYesC-qu7jCXW3UVQBIzhwIsbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tompkins County, NY","date","2025-06-06T00:00:00Z","article","Tompkins County’s communications director told the Government Operations Committee on June 5 that the county has launched a project web page and community survey for the Center of Government initiative and scheduled four town halls across the county.

Monika Salvage, the county’s communications director, said the web page includes meeting information, historical background and a community feedback survey intended to capture how residents currently access county services and what they want in a new center of government. The county will distribute postcard‑sized handouts and make printed surveys available at community meetings and public‑facing county offices.

Salvage said she is translating the survey into Chinese, Spanish and Russian and expects the translations early the following week; translated printouts will be available at meetings. She said the county included rural locations for town halls so that residents outside Ithaca have accessible options to provide feedback.

Committee members asked that printed postcards and handouts be placed in legislators’ office mailboxes to support distribution. Salvage said she will also post historical materials and meeting summaries on the project page as the process proceeds.

The communications director said the survey will remain open beyond the initial meetings and that she will provide regular updates. The county’s outreach and translation efforts are intended to broaden participation and ensure the planning process captures a range of community experiences.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tompkins County Government Operations Committee - June 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Tompkins County communications staff posted a Center of Government project page, organized town halls in rural locations, and translated the project survey into Chinese, Spanish and Russian to broaden public input.","taxTitle","Tompkins County, New York","taxId",52737,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6203438,"Committee begins charter update process; odd‑number legislature and election alignment under discussion",365,4551000,4916000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783043-e3260d48e2e7bef45a642d17f7e27d0f&start=4551&end=4916","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783043-e3260d48e2e7bef45a642d17f7e27d0f/thumbnail_4551000.jpg","/articles/6203438/Tompkins-County/New-York/Committee-begins-charter-update-process-oddnumber-legislature-and-election-alignment-under-discussion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203438-692886cb39515461bc2713a2929255d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922362&Signature=a3GRK2VgxJSkxklSjYLsjEQbK-mnMQyQYs340lFpBsYlfIJHOc-980Wp1wO77HXzkFORThwHF~YYKTm9DCRxEel~zO06fOszt5uHoQNdBPoGwfus7n6XfqzgQXlNy7ZypegLYiT1TQBGTvkzYRh8Cy4mcNnagYB8~wpiXnvOaPm94MKw0~bSAqk~kD4GEH6SPpr8pzAu1JoQMRytvtnHa63gzqC7ldf2ftVsqLT3MGmROLdHyIHZi9WI5-X3kzIIF28isSwRD1UmTWsJU0HOQWaZE3i6hs7144oCUZ7ePYkor9fUGLPNbygPNSeJy7mwJgTLNnzZVQAnmlaLP-XxAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tompkins County Government Operations Committee on June 5 reviewed several proposed updates to the county charter, including a recommendation to set the legislature to an odd number of members and to align certain election timing provisions with New York State law.

County staff presented four charter‑related changes the committee has discussed over the past year and said they will return with draft resolution language. Committee members asked for effective dates to be shown in the charter text so future readers can see when amendments became effective.

Members discussed the proposal to change the number of legislators to an odd number; several legislators said that change affects future redistricting and should be considered alongside scenarios for representation. Legislator Greg said he is concerned the change could constrain redistricting choices, and said he would not support an automatic move to an odd number without more analysis.

Committee members noted pending state‑level litigation and legislative activity regarding the timing of local elections. County Attorney Maury Mori said the issue is affected by state law and pending litigation, and that state association guidance suggests counties may move to even‑year elections pending final court determinations. County staff said the committee will bring specific resolution language back in July for formal consideration.

There was no committee vote on a charter change at the meeting; staff said the four items will return with proposed language and timing for the committee to review and forward to the full legislature if approved.","The Government Operations Committee reviewed proposed charter edits on June 5 including a change to an odd number of legislators and aligning election timing with state law; members asked for timelines and said proposed changes will return as resolutions in July.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6203442,"County reports equity‑indicator trends and rolls out allyship training for staff",484,3529000,4013000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783043-e3260d48e2e7bef45a642d17f7e27d0f&start=3529&end=4013","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783043-e3260d48e2e7bef45a642d17f7e27d0f/thumbnail_3529000.jpg","/articles/6203442/Tompkins-County/New-York/County-reports-equityindicator-trends-and-rolls-out-allyship-training-for-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203442-6fccd3595ce4838e140bfdbdddac49e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922362&Signature=g9fgBA3ofk~9p6remy77108hSXvBc6JQJmDvqb0UrL5yISpCvfc~ao~DSAQ7H642gnxAtY~-UDcsDhqsSraSZqrHgNDcrpdD8h2gLMqGDxPafbS0bGq4VN6kXwqpwejbRj7BueBlOmGBbiBN65J0wuRG~psv5OqV9AKhCyE9q-mUAbzn2zImONgwlvu7BN0k4zHMEeAWn-gQFGJFFUBSAWTPNDowG-cgcRfMKvkl0lzh3LCEvZyTWR-691IGCfMpBS0guECh-HnIQll~kjvz-Jtkn5SUjxfR6Ah9kw1etSAXjnrvjviQFJ2qjhROFGKAjlAPiWnZ34229Mah4hwA3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tompkins County officials briefed the Government Operations Committee on June 5 about early trends in the county’s equity indicator initiative and announced upcoming allyship training for staff.

Charlene, the county’s chief equity and diversity officer, said departments selected 34 equity indicators in total. \"We have 8 departments who chose 1 indicator, 13 departments who chose 2, and 1 department who chose 3,\" she said, and described the most common themes: service and access delivery (selected by seven departments), community engagement (six departments), workforce equity, training and capacity building, data collection and use, procurement equity, and leadership accountability.

The Department of Social Services has emphasized internal equity trainings and internal groups, Facilities is tracking minority/women‑owned business (MWB) contract participation tied to large capital projects, and Recycling and Materials Management is prioritizing equitable community engagement for environmental services, Charlene said. She told the committee that departments are staggering reporting periods — one, two and three years — to match program timelines.

Charlene also announced an allyship training for county staff on June 23, facilitated by Rise to Equity Excellence and Paula Ioanidi. Sessions will be 9–11 a.m. and 3–5 p.m.; each session is capped at 40 participants. The county will run a customized session for blue‑collar staff (sheriff, airport, highway, facilities) to make training accessible across shift schedules.

Committee members asked about expanding language access and whether indicators should include recruitment and job‑marketing strategies to diversify county hiring. Charlene said the county is translating the center‑of‑government survey into Chinese, Spanish and Russian and is coordinating with communications to develop a unified approach to community outreach. \"When we have this data, what do we do with it?\" she asked; the goal is disaggregated data across service lines to inform policy.

The committee encouraged moving from aspirational language to measurable outcomes, with Greg (legislator) asking for specific action plans and accountability so progress can be measurable over time.","Tompkins County staff presented early trends from an equity‑indicator initiative — 34 indicators tracked across departments — and announced staff allyship training and plans to expand language access and community engagement strategies.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6203447,"Tompkins County committee adopts updated DEI policy after amendment to clarify non‑preference",3321,194000,3515000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3783043-e3260d48e2e7bef45a642d17f7e27d0f&start=194&end=3515","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3783043-e3260d48e2e7bef45a642d17f7e27d0f/thumbnail_194000.jpg","/articles/6203447/Tompkins-County/New-York/Tompkins-County-committee-adopts-updated-DEI-policy-after-amendment-to-clarify-nonpreference","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203447-95c62a3e22bcc64ca093f6bbb7966632/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922362&Signature=kGdAv4NlgZmGsD9FgJoJVP-LEQ8DCHiwOvbYhEERCg1~JtJApoRtrSZbUDOsoXp2ptFxqOxhcX70HSMXomsjSsFytDTrsDueCtmI4P~YEP-RAre8Om3YIT6y~GnC36L2ftDpZePiwMqe1~xisc1hyAO2KcJJN4zLI4yrFMU8RoI8Gdv8qOt01AKnjjTV4jU9emEvZ57XPrUPEz74LX-RBpPZL73jd94~IBcRQzD5WRCTV4fqPFIhu0AFAKeIEffQ~r1I0yIEZemDe-FGsPiSwHgCrvXlUGJ1dSPtAp23HOlLp7QO0i9elwVDQRvRgoGmZx49jtnBSWWXrc3gnvHa5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tompkins County’s Government Operations Committee on June 5 approved an update to Administrative Policy 01‑43, the county’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policy, adding an explicit clause saying the policy does not authorize preferential treatment based on protected characteristics unless permitted by law.

The update, which the committee moved forward with a 3–1 vote, revises a 20‑year‑old statement of organizational aspiration to make the county’s equity commitments more operational and to align them with the strategic plan and the county’s institutionalizing equity report.

Charlene (Chief Equity and Diversity Officer) told the committee the revision “enhances our embedding of equity and continues our effort to centralize equity across our organizational practices,” and described a multi‑day staff retreat and a review process that intersected the draft policy with 14 other county policies. She said staff and department leaders “went through a rigorous equity lens” while drafting the update.

County Attorney Maury Mori described the legal review the county performed before advancing the policy. “We reviewed this policy carefully, to make sure that it is not within those categories” of what the administration at the federal level has labeled impermissible, he said, and added that executive orders that attempted to restrict DEI have often been challenged as vague. Mori said he believes the revised policy is defensible and consistent with legal obligations such as reasonable accommodations for disabilities.

Several legislators raised procedural and political concerns during the debate. Legislator Rich said he supported the core principles but urged more inclusive language, arguing “a broad swath of the people who live in Tompkins County despise this language,” and said he preferred to postpone and reword the policy so it would reach more residents. Legislator Annie and Legislator Mike both opposed watering down the policy. Annie said the update contains concrete, operational items such as sustaining the workforce diversity and inclusion committee and establishing equitable professional development access; she said, “This is just an update to it. I think formalizing what the chief equity and diversity officer has been doing, putting it in this policy.”

To address concerns, County Attorney Mori proposed additional preamble language clarifying that “nothing contained in this policy shall be deemed, directly or indirectly, to encourage or implement terms or conditions that favor individuals based on protected characteristics unless specifically allowed by law (e.g., reasonable accommodation of individuals with disabilities).” Legislator Mike moved to add the language; the amendment passed by voice vote with three in favor and one opposed. The full updated policy, including that amendment, was then approved by the committee, again by a 3–1 margin.

Committee members emphasized that the policy is intended to guide internal organizational practice rather than impose political positions. Charlene said the policy is “about our organizational practices” and asked the committee not to let national politics drive changes to language intended to improve service delivery, staff retention and inclusion.

The committee will forward the amended policy to the full legislature for consideration. Committee members noted the institutionalizing equity report and the county strategic plan as companion documents that should guide implementation.

The committee discussion included requests from legislators for follow‑up on measurable deliverables — such as equity indicators, timelines and accountability measures — so that policy language translates into concrete operational change.","The Tompkins County Government Operations Committee voted 3–1 June 5 to update Administrative Policy 01‑43 on diversity, equity and inclusion, adding language that the policy should not be read to favor individuals based on protected characteristics unless allowed by law.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County launches Center of Government web page and multilingual survey; town halls scheduled

Committee begins charter update process; odd‑number legislature and election alignment under discussion

County reports equity‑indicator trends and rolls out allyship training for staff

Tompkins County committee adopts updated DEI policy after amendment to clarify non‑preference