Vote YES On Proposition One

Written by Todd J. Tranum, President & CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce & Executive Director of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier

This Tuesday, Chautauqua County voters have a chance to send a strong message that business as usual for our County Legislature is no longer an option.  Proposition One on the ballot will ask voters to approve a local law amending the County Charter – which will require that all future redistricting plans reduce the size of the County Legislature to no greater than 19 members.

This reduction is long overdue.  For over a decade, several separate bi-partisan commissions have recommended reducing the size of the County Legislature.  In addition, a number of county lawmakers have sponsored resolutions on this issue – only to have them voted down.  Now it is left in the hands of the voters.

For all voters who want to streamline government and reduce expenses, this is a step in the right direction.  With a population that has declined dramatically over the past forty years, our county can no longer afford the luxury of a 25-member Legislature.  It is time to tell these politicians that they must begin reform by cleaning their own house.

The $75,000 savings which would result from this change is, admittedly, just a drop in the bucket in terms of real savings to the taxpayers.  But it is a savings.  And even more importantly, it will demonstrate that the voters of this county are no longer satisfied with allowing government to languish in the status quo.  We need to make changes at all levels of government, and we need to send a clear message that downsizing begins at the top.

People will still have representation in Mayville.  Lines of communication are always open with elected officials – and with the ever growing presence of the Internet, email, and social networking sites, it is even easier to maintain communication between constituents and representatives. We will also note that the Legislature, itself, chose to reduce its own workload just a few years ago, cutting in half the number of monthly meetings it holds.  The work still gets done and voters are adequately represented.

The taxpayers of Chautauqua County can no longer afford over-representation.  We are driving businesses and homeowners out of our region by allowing the expenses of government to grow.  This is one way to make a direct change.  When you vote this Tuesday, make it count.  Vote YES on Proposition One to reduce the size of the County Legislature.

Have Lunch with Congressman Brian Higgins

The annual Chamber Federal Congressional Lunch with Representative Brian Higgins will be held Thursday, November 10 at Shorewood Country Club, Dunkirk.  This event provides an opportunity for local people to hear from the Congressman and ask questions.

Brian Higgins represents New York’s 27th Congressional District, which includes all of Chautauqua County as well as parts of Buffalo and southern and eastern Erie County.  He is a member of the House Committees on Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs.  He also sits on the Subcommittees on Border and Maritime Security and Counterterrorism and Intelligence.  He previously served on the Ways & Means Committee, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Government & Oversight Committee.

Representative Higgins was formerly a New York State Assemblyman and member of the Buffalo Common Council.  He was an instructor in the History and Economics Departments at Buffalo State College.  He has a degree in Political Science from Buffalo State College and an advanced degree in Public Policy and Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Sponsors for the luncheon are:  Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua Integrated Delivery System, Jamestown Mattress, Lake Erie Regional Health System, Media One, NRG Dunkirk Power, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Serta Mattress, and SellingHive.  The cost is $15 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members.  To register, call the Chamber at 716-366-6200 or 716-484-1101, or visit the web site at www.chautauquachamber.org.

Business Over Bagels to focus on leadership

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and Jamestown Community College are proud to present Business Over Bagels:  Developing Your Organization’s Untapped Talent on November 18th at JCC’s Jamestown Campus in the Carnahan Center.  The focus of this session will be developing leadership within your organization, including the traits of an effective leader, how to motivate and develop high performers, how to identify untapped talent within your organization, and how to reward and recognize emerging leaders.  The instructor is Elizabeth Cipolla, who brings experience from various industries including marketing, mass media, education, manufacturing, and insurance.

Business Over Bagels will be held from 8:30-10:30am, with registration beginning at 8:00.  The cost is $30 for Chamber members and $40 for non-members.  To register call JCC’s Center for Continuing Education at 716-338-1005 in Jamestown or 716-363-6500 in Dunkirk.

Save the Date for Chamber Annual Meeting

Brian Sampson, Executive Director of Unshackle Upstate, will be the Keynote Speaker for the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, to be held December 2nd at Moon Brook Country Club.  Unshackle Upstate is a bipartisan coalition focused on fixing state government and making it more accountable to New York’s taxpayers.  The lunch meeting will be sponsored by DFT Communications, Media One, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal.  The lunch meeting will begin at 12:15, with registration starting at noon.  To register, call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101, or visit our web site.