ONEONTA – NYSEG is scheduled to perform emergency transformer repairs this afternoon on Market Street, shutting off power to the south side of Main Street from Grand Street to the Otsego County Office Building, and the entirety of South Main Street, according to a message sent by City Hall.
ONEONTA – City Hall is planning a swearing-in ceremony for the six newly elected Common Council members, plus two incumbents, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, in Common Council Chambers at 258 Main St. Mayor Gary Herzig will preside.
New council members are Luke Murphy (Ward 1), Mark Davies (2), Kati Lipari Shue (4), Len Carson (5), Scott Harrington (6) and Mark Drnek (8).
The first of two informational meetings on creating a county manager for Otsego County is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at Oneonta City Hall.
County Rep. Meg Kennedy, C-Hartwick, who chairs the county board’s Administration Committee, announced the second will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Otsego County Courthouse in Cooperstown.
A public hearing on the creation of a county manager position was set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, the county Board of Representatives next meeting.
After that hearing, the county reps could vote that same day on the position.
By JENNIFER HILL • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – The public hearing on the City of Oneonta’s proposed 2019 budget is at 6 p.m. this evening in Council Chambers,and Mayor Gary Herzig promises some good news.
“I am very pleased there will be no increase property taxes,” he said, “despite increasing costs in other areas, such as personnel.”
ONEONTA – In anticipation of the predicted snowfall, the City of Oneonta is lifting parking regulations in the parking garage and other municipal lots.
Drivers are reminded that anytime there is more than 2 1/2″ of snowfall, vehicles must be removed from city streets or they are subject to ticketing and/or towing at the vehicle owners expense.
ONEONTA – In anticipation of up to perhaps 15 inches of snowfall, predicted to begin this evening, City Hall has lifted restrictions of municipal lots as of 7 p.m. today so drivers can park there overnight. Cars parked on the street are towed after 2 ½ inches of snow falls.
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – For Katie Böttger, joining City Hall as personnel director will be something of a homecoming.
“I’m actually going to be a ‘returning’ resident,” she said, “as I attended and graduated from Hartwick College.
A Canajoharie resident, Böttger, who is due to be appointed Tuesday by Common Council, said not only is she village clerk in Ames, she also serves at tax collector and registrar of vital statistics for the village.
ONEONTA – Kenneth R Stiefel, 93, who retired from the maintenance department at Oneonta City Hall, passed away Monday, July 18, 2016, at Albany Medical Center.
Kenneth was born in Oneonta on Oct. 9, 1922, to Mabel (Moon) and Frederick Stiefel.
He married Esther Coats on Oct. 31, 1953. They raised a family of four children and shared 47 years together before her passing in 2010.
ONEONTA – Former city chamberlain David Martindale has been named to the Charter Review Commission, Mayor Gary Herzig announced.
ONEONTA – Kathy Wolverton, personnel director, has become the third top executive to leave City Hall in recent months.
Mayor Gary Herzig and Common Council accepted Wolverton’s resignation yesterday afternoon.
“While we are sad to have Ms. Wolverton leave City Hall, we expect that her decision to pursue new challenges will prove rewarding,” Herzig and Common Council member Larry Malone, Human Resources Committee chair, said in a statement released a few minutes ago.
Wolverton’s decision comes three months after the forced resignation of City Manager Martin Murphy, and two months since City Clerk Douglas Kendall resigned to become director of Hartwick College’s Yager Museum.
Finance Director Meg Hungerford, who is acting city manager, may now have to shoulder personnel responsibilities as well.
By JIM KEVLIN • for allotsego.com
ONEONTA – While Dick Miller was mayor, discussions were initiated with the City of Norwich about the possibility of sharing the services of Oneonta Finance Director Meg Hungerford, three days here, two days in the Chenango County seat, according to former city manager Martin Murphy.
Murphy said today, recapping a conversation in July, that he was surprised to learn of the idea – after Mayor Miller’s passing and he was three months into the job – at a meeting in January with Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano.
“I was very surprised to learn the discussions had gotten to that point without me being aware of what was going on,” he said. “It all came as a surprise to me.”
The idea was that the finance director would receive an additional stipend of $15,000-20,000, Murphy recalled. “We never really got to that point,” he added.
ONEONTA – Please be aware that the telephones at City Hall are currently out of service. The city is awaiting service from its telephone contractor.
Both emergency phones and non-emergency numbers at the Oneonta Police Department and Oneonta Fire Department ARE working. Phone service to Oneonta City Court is working normally.
The Oneonta Police Department non-emergency number is (607)432-1113
The Oneonta Fire Department non-emergency number is (607)433-3480
The Oneonta City Court number is (607)432-4480
For a Police, Fire or Medical Emergency, please dial 911.