News

A request by the Sheriff’s Office to approve a $290,000 transfer for the purchase of 10 new vehicles turned into a mini debate regarding the county’s proposed budget. County residents will have their chance to weigh in on the proposed 2015 spending plan at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 in the Oswego County Legislature Chambers, 46 E. Bridge St., Oswego.

Oswego Mayor Tom Gillen presented his annual budget message at this week’s Common Council meeting.

Integrated Community Planning of Oswego County, Inc., has been awarded a five-year grant at annual funding of $400,000 to engage community stakeholders and youth to change policies and norms about tobacco and tobacco use.

This grant builds on previous grant-funded tobacco control work by the organization to better support Central New York’s tobacco control efforts as well as contribute to comprehensive programming across the state.

Oswego County’s Treatment Court Program has been in existence since August 1999. The program is structured to give non-violent offenders who have a history of substance abuse the opportunity to rebuild their lives. This week, 12 more men and women successfully completed the rigorous program.

Mayor Tom Gillen reported that the city has received an opinion from its counsel, Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC, that the lawsuit commenced by Thomas Millar (regarding the former Cahill / Coleman building) has no merit or legal basis. While the litigation is pending, the city is working with expert structural engineers, who have recommended a course of action to arrest further deterioration of the building.

In February 2008, Oswego County and ProAct implemented a free prescription drug discount card program for all county residents. Over the course of six years, Oswego County residents have combined to save over $7.5 million on nearly 214,000 prescriptions. Oswego County is one of more than 50 counties in New York who have endorsed the ProAct administered program to provide lower costing prescriptions for their residents.