New York Association of Towns - NYAOT

Part 2 - NYAOT is excited to introduce our newest hire, Nick Benton. Welcome to NYAOT, Nick!

NYAOT is excited to welcome our newest hire, Emily Kurtzner. Welcome to NYAOT, Emily!

?????????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????? Yesterday, a delegation of elected officials from the North Country traveled to the Capital for the New York Association of Towns / New York State Conference of Mayors Lobby Day, joining representatives from across New York State. It was an honor to stand alongside my colleagues in local government from Clinton County: Thomas Trombley, Supervisor of the Town of Champlain; Julie Baughn, Mayor Pro Tem/Councilperson; Wendell Hughes, Mayor of the City of Plattsburgh; and Janet McFetridge, Mayor of Champlain. The day was about bipartisan advocacy—leaders from different backgrounds and political affiliations coming together to push for policies that strengthen our communities. We engaged in discussions on key issues impacting our region, including AIM funding, CHIPS funding, home rule protections, and critical support for water and wastewater infrastructure. Additionally, we emphasized the importance of energy policy, electric infrastructure, and the impact of U.S.-Canada trade and tariffs on our regional economy. Overall our delegation held productive meetings with Assemblyman Billy Jones and Senator Dan Stec, reinforcing common ground issues for the interests of the North Country. As one of the Vice Presidents of the Association of Towns of the State of New York (NYAOT), I know firsthand the invaluable work the Association does to support local governments across the state. Their efforts ensure that towns have a strong voice in Albany and the resources needed to provide essential services to our residents. At the press conference, I underscored the importance of local government leadership in shaping state policy: "From Plattsburgh to Hempstead, from Brighton to Bridgewater, from Hamburg to Huntington—across the Empire State, towns are calling for increased AIM funding, greater investment in CHIPS, the protection of home rule, and critical support for water and wastewater infrastructure. From rural communities to urban centers, local government is the closest to the people, delivering essential services. It’s time for Albany to act—because strong towns build a stronger New York!" Our commitment to the North Country remains steadfast, and we will continue working with our state and local partners to ensure that our communities receive the investment and support they deserve. #LocalGovernment #NewYorkState #Towns #Cities #Villages

ICYMI Our Procurement team attended the New York State Association of Towns Annual Meeting & Training School last month in New York City.? ? We had a productive day at the booth:? ? ?? Speaking with over 140 authorized users, including several who thanked us for the hard work that we have recently been doing to handle the road salt shortage? ?? Answering many general questions regarding what we do and how we can help municipalities? ? AND Contract Management Specialist James Jasiewicz did a presentation called “Why Buy Thru NY: Benefits of Using OGS Centralized Contracts.”? ? Have a procurement question of your own? Get your questions answered ??? on.ny.gov/OGSprocurement?

Today, we joined with New York State Conference of Mayors in Albany for our 2nd Annual Local Government Lobby Day. Of particular focus in our meetings today is the establishment of a dedicated funding source for sewer and water infrastructure - to function much like the CHIPS program functions for local roads and highways. Between the years of 2011 and 2023, towns experienced a 79 percent increase in water costs, for a total of $670 million. In that same timeframe, towns experienced a 15 percent increase in sewer spending. More than one-quarter of our state's 600-plus wastewater treatment facilities are operating beyond their 30-year life expectancies. Currently, municipalities rely on competitive grants for water and sewer funding. With our aging infrastructure and skyrocketing costs for repair and maintenance, the New York Association of Towns believes that the only way to truly address this public health and environmental crisis, is by providing our municipalities with a stable, reliable funding source. No one should have to compete for clean water.

?? Big news ?? National League of Cities National Association of Counties National Association of County Administrators American Association of Municipal Executives PSHRA ICMA - International City/County Management Association SHRM NFBPA - National Forum for Black Public Administrators Local Government Hispanic Network ELGL: Engaging Local Government Leaders I-NAPA - International Network of Asian Public Administrators United States Conference of Mayors National Civic League Pracademic Partners

Whether it's elevator size, single-stair reform, mandatory parking minimums, or a host of other requirements, "Pressure is mounting on U.S. building codes from all sides." Several facets of US building codes and their impacts are examined in this article. Town code enforcement officers, zoning officers, planning board members, zoning board of appeals members, and even town board members should consider this information. https://lnkd.in/g6cYTQB8

We are extremely excited about our new microcredential program with State University of New York College at Potsdam and New York State Conference of Mayors. This is an innovative step toward providing all municipalities with practical workforce development solutions. Stay tuned for more information!

Many thanks to the New York Association of Towns for allowing me to convene and moderate a panel on "How Taking Climate Action Can Also Save Your Town Money." Kudos to the "dream team" of panelists who shared their wisdom: Dazzle Ekblad from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Office of Climate Change; Town of North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas; Town of North East Supervisor Christopher Kennan; Town of New Lebanon Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Bruce Shenker; and New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund Federal Policy Manager Matt Salton. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/em_YYmgQ (Photo Credit: NYLCV Climate Smart Communities Fellow Raquel Mack

This past week, New Wave Energy was proud to participate in Association of Towns’s Annual Meeting & Training School at Marriott Marquis in New York City. We had a great time connecting with hundreds of officials from across New York State and sharing how our Municipal Energy Management Program (MEMP) can benefit your local municipality. Congratulations to Irene from Town Of Palmyra and Susan from Town Of Eden who won our giveaway items signed by New Wave Energy brand ambassador and QB1, Josh Allen!