The Peru Gazette

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Source: In historic decision, court rules for trees over snowmobile trails | Sun Community News ALBANY | On a 4-2 vote announced Tuesday, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that 27 miles of state-planned snowmobile trails intended to connect towns in the Central

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Source: Clinton County paves the way towards summer  | Sun Community News PLATTSBURGH | As summer is fast approaching, road construction is about to be underway. 

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More Than $850M Paid Out, Overtime Hours Up Almost 40 Percent Over Last Decade

The total cost of overtime in 2020 at state agencies reached an all-time high at more than $850 million, continuing an upward trend over the last decade and spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Total overtime hours of 19 million increased 3.9 percent and total overtime earnings increased 5.5 percent from 2019. Overtime earnings comprised 4.8 percent of total payroll spending in 2020, an increase from the 4.2 percent average from 2011 through 2019.

“State agency overtime reached a record level last year,” DiNapoli said. “The COVID-19 pandemic required state workers across New York to work long, grueling hours to deal with a crisis never before seen during our lifetime. The pandemic touched nearly every aspect of our lives and the men and women in public employment stepped up to help keep the public safe and get critical benefits.”

Three agencies performed most of the overtime in 2020: The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (Corrections) and the Office of Mental Health (Mental Health) made up 25 percent of the workforce but accounted for 62.9 percent of overtime hours and 59.9 percent of the overtime earnings in 2020. While these three agencies typically lead all others in overtime usage, overtime hours and earnings at Mental Health and OPWDD increased at a slower rate than state agencies overall in 2020.

In contrast, overtime increased dramatically at agencies that don’t typically incur it, because their staff served essential roles in addressing issues related to the pandemic. Hours soared at the Department of Labor (+17,908 percent), Department of Health (+288 percent), Department of Taxation and Finance (+243 percent) and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (+70 percent).

Across all state agencies, employees working overtime worked 16.3 more hours per a two-week pay period on average, an increase of 8.9 percent in 2020. The statewide average of overtime earnings per pay period went up 10.7 percent to $727.

Since 2011, the average annual number of state employees, not including SUNY and CUNY, has declined by 6.1 percent to just below 154,000. They include full-time, part-time and temporary staff per pay period throughout the year. With limited exceptions, a hiring freeze has been in effect for all Executive Branch departments and agencies since April 28, 2020. Due to staffing constraints, some agencies may be relying increasingly on overtime to accomplish objectives.

Report

New York State Agency Use of Overtime – 2020

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Find out how your government money is spent at Open Book New York. Track municipal spending, the state’s 180,000 contracts, billions in state payments and public authority data. Visit the Reading Room for contract FOIL requests, bid protest decisions and commonly requested data.

Source: Hemlock woolly adelgid war: A bug-sized fight for hemlock trees

Source: Educators could reap early retirement benefits | News | pressrepublican.com

More details here. Source: Governor Cuomo, Governor Murphy and Governor Lamont Announce Significant Easing Of COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions on Businesses, Gatherings and Venues

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Source: New York ends Covid capacity limits for businesses; what it means to you now – syracuse.com

The good news comes with a big caveat: Businesses must continue to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet between patrons.

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A bill in the state Legislature sponsored by Assembly Member Amy Paulin of Westchester and state Sen. Leroy Comrie of Queens, both Democrats, would legalize a process by which human remains would go through “natural organic reduction.” The process takes about four weeks from start to finish and essentially just speeds up the natural decomposition process. The body is placed in a special chamber along with wood chips, alfalfa and other materials, and for 30 days the chamber rotates to encourage decomposition

Source: Dust to dust | City & State NY

Senator Dan Stec today voted against legislation (S6362A) that would extend emergency tenant eviction protections for another four months. The measure passed the State Senate today and a vote is expected in the Assembly.

“Early in the pandemic, when so many people lost their jobs and there was tremendous uncertainty, this law made sense,” said Stec.  “But, we’ve reached the point when we should be focusing on getting back on track.  Some landlords haven’t been paid rent in well over a year and another moratorium is going to make matters worse.”
 
Stec said the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program enacted in this year’s budget includes $2.3 billion in federal aid for tenants having difficulty paying rent.  During debate today, a Senate Democrat acknowledged that this funding being administered by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance has not yet been distributed.

“Instead of another moratorium, the focus should be on getting that financial assistance into the hands of tenants suffering a hardship,” said Stec.

New York — Nearly all of New York’s Covid-19 capacity limits on businesses will end May 19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today. Starting that date, bars and restaurants, museums, theaters, retail stores, gyms and fitness centers, amusement parks and family entertainment centers, hair salons, barber shops and offices and more will no longer be subject to any limits on the number of people they can welcome inside, Cuomo said. But the businesses must continue to maintain social distancing of 6 feet between patr

Source: Nearly all Covid-19 capacity limits ending May 19 in New York, Cuomo says – syracuse.com