Pursuant to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.1, On Tuesday, April 28 at 7 pm the Caroline Town Board will hold a public hearing by teleconference to hear comments regarding the proposed local law for a moratorium on review of applications subject to subdivision and site plan review by the Town; the Town Board will not be voting on the proposed moratorium local law at this meeting. Comments can also be emailed (clerk@townofcaroline.org) or mailed (P.O. Box 136, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881). In-person attendance will not be permitted; the videoconference will be recorded and a transcript of the meeting will be made available at a later date. Minutes will be posted on the Town's website.

INSTRUCTIONS TO ATTEND THE ZOOM MEETING (https://zoom.us)  
You do not need to have a Zoom account to join. Options 2 and 3 are easiest without an account. You may need the meeting ID for any of these methods. 
1. Direct Link (if you have Zoom on your device this gives you the most options): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84907075462
2. Without a Zoom account: https://zoom.us/join; enter Meeting ID: 849 0707 5462
3. Phone dial-in: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) 
    Find your local number (if not NY): https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fmNjGEmu4 
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To view the proposed law, information, and public comments received to date, please see www.townofcaroline.org, in Moratorium Folder under Current Topics tab.

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The Board of Elections has asked us to help spread the word about voting by absentee ballot in the June 23 Primary Election.  Please reach out to your friends, family and others in your personal networks to apply for their absentee ballot as soon as possible so that we can protect our poll workers and make sure the Board of Elections can incorporate sound social distancing measures for those voters that choose to vote in person.  Application for absentee ballot must be postmarked not later than June 22.

How To Request an Absentee Ballot

Visit votetompkins.com to download the application form and instructions. The form is now available as a fillable PDF form making it very easy for folks without a printer at home to download their form, add a digital signature, and email it to the BOE. 

• English ballot application (fillable PDF)
• Spanish ballot application (fillable PDF)

Governor Cuomo has decreed that the potential of contracting the COVID-19 virus qualifies as a “Temporary Illness or Disability” and one can check that box on an absentee ballot application as an excuse for needing to vote by absentee ballot. 

The physical signature requirement for the Absentee Ballot has been temporarily suspended if submitted by email. This applies only to Absentee Ballot applications for the June 23 Primary. 

Mail or email your application to the Tompkins County Board of Elections:

• 128 East Buffalo St., Ithaca, NY 14850
• elections@tompkins-co.org

Your Absentee Ballot will be mailed to you on or around May 22. You ballot will look just like the paper ballot you would receive at the polls. Be sure to follow the instructions:

• Mark your ballot clearly in pen and do not make any other marks on it. 
• Sign your ballot and seal it in the provided envelope. 
• Sign the envelope and return it to the Board of Elections
• Mail your ballot to the Board of Elections. It must be postmarked no later than June 22, 2020.

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 Town of Caroline 
Public Hearing on Proposed Moratorium
​Pursuant to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.1, On Tuesday, April 28 at 7 pm the Caroline Town Board will hold a public hearing by teleconference to hear comments regarding the proposed local law for a moratorium on review of applications subject to subdivision and site plan review by the Town. Comments can also be emailed (clerk@townofcaroline.org) or mailed (P.O. Box 136, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881). In-person attendance will not be permitted; the videoconference will be recorded and a transcript of the meeting will be made available at a later date. Minutes will be posted on the Town's website.
 INSTRUCTIONS TO ATTEND THE ZOOM MEETING (https://zoom.us)  
You do not need to have a Zoom account to join. Options 2 and 3 are easiest without an account. You may need the meeting ID for any of these methods. 
1. Direct Link (if you have Zoom on your device this gives you the most options): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84907075462
2. Without a Zoom account: https://zoom.us/join; enter Meeting ID: 849 0707 5462
3. Phone dial-in: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) 
 Find your local number (if not NY): https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fmNjGEmu4 
 To view the proposed law, please see www.townofcaroline.org, in Moratorium folder under Current Topics tab.
 
 

Subject:  Clarifying Agenda of Planning Board Meeting
 
To help the public decide which meeting(s) to attend, I am clarifying that the Planning Board will be having the very briefest of overviews of the proposed project on Rt. 79.  Anyone wishing to learn any details of the project or to express an opinion about that project should attend the Review Board meeting, not the Planning Board meeting.  The purpose of the Planning Board's overview is only to ensure that all Planning Board members are aware of the general location so they can provide accurate information if approached by the public.
 
As discussed in a previous town announcement, the Planning Board is responsible for advising and supporting the Town Board on planning issues and initiatives.  The Planning Board has no role in (and therefore will not be) reviewing this project.
 The agenda for the Planning Board meeting is repeated below.
 Thank you,
Bill Podulka, Chair, Town of Caroline Planning Board
 
Agenda (times are approximate):
 5:00 pm Privilege of the Floor (duration as needed)
5:10 Overview of Proposed Retail Development on Rt. 79
5:20 Summary of Current Comprehensive Plan language regarding business and development
5:30 If, When and How to gather Community Input on Commercial Development
5:50 Discussion of revised Comprehensive Plan drafts
    (a) Environmental Protection and Natural Resources
    (b) Rural Character
    (c) Livability in Caroline
6:35 Summary of Preliminary Data for "Snapshot of Growth" Section (if time)
 
Meeting will conclude by 6:50 to allow time to switch over to the Review Board meeting.
 

​Planning and Review Board Roles and Clarification for Public Comment​Please be advised that comments to the Town's Planning and Review Boards may be provided during Privilege of the Floor at meetings or by email. The prior announcement was intended to clarify the roles of these town boards. Here is the announcement, edited for clarity: 
 Given the interest in the proposed possible retail store on  Rt. 79, members of the public may want to provide comments to the Town of Caroline Planning Board and Review Board. The Planning Board is responsible for advising and supporting the Town Board on planning issues and initiatives. Comments regarding changes in town laws, changes to the town's comprehensive plan, or general thoughts on planning for the Town of Caroline are best directed to the Planning Board. The Review Board reviews development applications subject to the Town's Subdivision and Site Plan Review Laws. Comments regarding specific projects under review are best directed to the Review Board. 
 Thank you,
Craig Modisher, Chair, Town of Caroline Review Board (Review_Board@townofcaroline.org)
Bill Podulka, Chair, Town of Caroline Planning Board (Planning_Board@townofcaroline.org)
 

​TOMPKINS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Your Partner for a Healthy Community
Frank Kruppa – Public Health Director
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
April 18, 2020
 
For media inquiries: Samantha Hillson, 607-274-6600, shillson@tompkins-co.org
Mask-Making Volunteer Inquiries and to sign-up: masks@tompkins-co.org
For general inquiries: Call 2-1-1 or 877-211-8667
 
Tompkins County: Call for Additional Mask-Making Volunteers
(Ithaca, NY – April 18, 2020) – Following the Governor’s Executive Order 202.16, the Tompkins County Health Department is initiating a collaborative effort to produce and distribute cloth masks for essential workers. Essential businesses can request cloth masks for their employees through a process set up by the Tompkins County Emergency Operations Center.
If you are able to volunteer in this mask-making effort, please email masks@tompkins-co.org.
The Health Department is seeking volunteers who:

• Have sewing experience, though we will need additional volunteers for cutting materials and supporting the sewers
• Can provide a sewing machine to the effort for use at the production facility (not required)
• Have not been in close contact with an individual tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days

Volunteers will be contacted by a Tompkins County official and will be invited to assist in mask production efforts.
If someone is unable to volunteer onsite and is interested in volunteering to make masks at home with their own materials, we recommend using this mask sewing technique. Completed masks can be dropped off at the So Sew Many blue boxes around Tompkins County listed below:

• Angelo Dry Cleaners and Laundry at 315 Meadow St., Ithaca
• Alternatives Federal Credit Union at 125 North Fulton St., Ithaca
• Cayuga Heights Village Hall at 836 Hanshaw Rd., Cayuga Heights
• Dryden Town Hall at 93 East Main St., Dryden
• Eddydale Farm Stand at 827 Elmira Rd., Ithaca
• Homespun at 51 East Main St., Trumansburg
• Lansing Town Hall at 29 Auburn Rd., Lansing
• Littlestone Upholstery at 210 West State St., Ithaca
• Tompkins Community Action (patio in back) at 701 Spencer Rd., Ithaca
• Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce at 904 East Shore Dr., Ithaca

Frank Kruppa, Tompkins County Public Health Director stated “We’re inspired by the incredible mask-making efforts proliferating around the community, thank you to all of the volunteers who have stepped up so far, and to those who will answer this call.” Kruppa continued, “While our guidance continues to be that people should be staying home unless absolutely necessary, when people must go out for essential work, medical needs, or groceries wearing a mask is required by New York State when social distance cannot be maintained.”
Efforts will continue to expand mask availability to the general public as supplies become available. Individuals are encouraged to make their own masks, here’s guidance from the Tompkins County Health Department on the use of cloth masks.
The Tompkins County Health Department extends sincere thanks to the following partners involved; Cornell University, Cayuga Health System, The Tompkins Chamber, Finger Lakes ReUse, Angelo’s Dry Cleaners, So Sew Many, Tompkins Mask Makers, Bryant Mask Makers, and other mask making efforts throughout Tompkins County.
Go to the Tompkins County Health Department website for more information and updates.
Find us on Facebook @TompkinsPublicHealth and Twitter@TompkinsHealth.

Town of Caroline Planning Board Meeting
Tuesday, April 21, 5:00 pm
 
Due to COVID-19 and pursuant to Governor Cuomo?s Executive Order 202.1, the Town of Caroline Town Board Planning Board meeting scheduled for April 21, 2020 at 5:00 pm will be held electronically via Zoom teleconference.  Members of the public may listen to and/or view the meeting by following the web and telephone instructions below.  Comments to the Planning Board may be provided at Privilege of the Floor during the Zoom meeting, by email ( Planning_Board@townofcaroline.org), or by mail (P.O. Box 136, Attn: Planning Board, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881). 
 
Agenda (times are approximate):
 
5:00 pm Privilege of the Floor (duration as needed)
5:10 Overview of Proposed Retail Development on Rt. 79
5:20 Summary of Current Comprehensive Plan language regarding business and development
5:30 If, When and How to gather Community Input on Commercial Development
5:50 Discussion of revised Comprehensive Plan drafts
     (a) Environmental Protection and Natural Resources
     (b) Rural Character
     (c) Livability in Caroline
6:35 Summary of Preliminary Data for "Snapshot of Growth" Section (if time)
 
Meeting will conclude by 6:50 to allow time to switch over to the Review Board meeting.
 
INSTRUCTIONS TO ATTEND THE VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETING:
 
You do not need to have a Zoom account to view or listen to the meeting.  If you do not have a Zoom account, use option 2 or 3.  If you don't already have the Zoom application installed, Option 2 will install some software so be aware that there will be a delay while the software installs.  You can avoid that delay by installing the application ahead of time from https://zoom.us/download .

 
1. With a Zoom account: Use Meeting ID 919 1044 2009
 
2. Without a Zoom account: Go to zoom.us/j/91910442009
 
3. Phone dial-in: Call (929) 205-6099 and key in 919 1044 2009# when prompted.
(If you are not in New York, you can look up your local number at zoom.us/u/abhdJ0ZaN9)
 
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