Oneonta Council Fills Vacant Seat, Advances Veterans Tax Relief
By BRANDON RAUL RAMIREZ
SUNY Institute for Local News
ONEONTA
The Oneonta Common Council filled a vacant Fifth Ward seat and advanced a new property tax exemption for seriously disabled veterans at its September 1 meeting. During a busy session, the council also addressed a number of City of Oneonta Fire Department matters, including approval of funding for replacement fire equipment and recognition for the retirement of longtime captain Don Tubia.
The evening’s most significant action was the appointment of Edward May Jr. to the Fifth Ward seat left vacant by the resignation of Len Carson, who resigned in early August due to family obligations. Mayor Dan Buttermann nominated May to serve through the remainder of the year, and the council approved the appointment under Section C-23 of the city charter.
The resolution passed with councilmembers Elayne Mosher Campoli, Shannon McHugh, Kaytee Lipari Shue, Scott Harrington and Carolyn Marks voting in favor. Cecilia Walsh-Russo abstained. Following the vote, May was immediately sworn into office and signed the city’s official record book before taking part in the remainder of the meeting.
May’s appointment came after the city received four letters of interest from residents seeking the temporary appointment. Two of those applicants, Valarie Cole and Amun Zo, previously completed the requirements necessary to appear on the ballot for the November election that will determine who serves the full 2027 term. Cole will run as the Democratic nominee and Zo as an independent on the Oneonta United line.
Mayor Buttermann praised May’s willingness to accept what will be a relatively short appointment.
“In the position we’re in, having to fill this seat, when he stepped forward to fill this seat, knowing it will be for about four months, or a limited period, I’m certainly appreciative of his willingness to do that,” Buttermann said.
According to the mayor, May brings decades of community involvement and service on local boards and commissions. The appointment also leaves the ultimate decision about long-term representation in the hands of Fifth Ward voters during the upcoming election.
Another major item before the council involved tax relief for disabled veterans. Councilmembers approved a resolution adopting the Seriously Disabled Veterans Real Property Tax Exemption authorized under New York Real Property Tax Law 458-a(11). State lawmakers recently changed the exemption from a statewide mandate to a local option that municipalities must formally adopt.
If fully implemented, the measure will eliminate city property taxes on the primary residences of qualifying seriously disabled veterans beginning October 1, 2026. Supporters described the exemption as a way to recognize veterans who sustained severe service-connected disabilities and to provide meaningful financial relief for those residents and their families.
The council also spent considerable time discussing equipment needs within the Oneonta Fire Department. Members ultimately approved the use of $19,895.69 from the city’s Public Safety Reserve Fund to purchase three replacement thermal imaging cameras. Thermal imaging cameras help firefighters identify heat sources, locate victims and navigate smoke-filled environments during emergency responses.
The department had sought funding for five cameras, and several councilmembers expressed support for purchasing all five units immediately. The department’s 2026 budget included $16,000.00 for three cameras, but the preferred equipment carried a higher price than originally projected, placing the purchase roughly $3,900.00 over budget.
Council discussion focused on balancing operational needs with procurement requirements and financial considerations. City Administrator Greg Mattice noted that purchasing all five cameras at once would increase the total expense to approximately $32,000.00 and would trigger the city’s formal competitive bidding process, which occurs when purchases exceed $20,000.00. That process could delay acquisition by as much as six weeks.
While some councilmembers argued that purchasing all five cameras now could protect the city from future price increases, the Common Council ultimately opted to approve only the three-camera purchase. The remaining two cameras are expected to be considered during the next budget cycle.
In another personnel matter, the council authorized the city administrator to execute a memorandum of agreement with the Oneonta Professional Firefighters Local 2408. The agreement will allow Nicholas Brown, currently a firefighter in the City of Troy, to transfer laterally into the Oneonta Fire Department. City officials described the move as part of ongoing efforts to maintain staffing levels and strengthen recruitment within the department.
The meeting also included recognition of the retirement of Fire Captain Donald Tubia, who concluded a nearly 27-year career with the department. Tubia, a SUNY Oneonta graduate, served approximately four years as captain and was acknowledged for his long commitment to public service and emergency response in the community.
The Common Council meets regularly on the first and third Tuesday of each month at City Hall; the next meeting will be held on September 15.
This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Lab, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News.
