Due to COVID-19 Southern Tier West will be hosting Webinars in February, March, April, and May 2021. The Webinars will be held on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM.

If you are unable to attend a webinar, handouts and copies of the presentations will be posted on STW's website.
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PRINTABLE SCHEDULE (PDF FORMAT)

Target Audience: Mayors, Supervisors, Councilmen, Trustees

February 10, 2021 
2:00 PM / Skills That Make Great Board Members / Duration: 2 Hours
REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6-DdJfMXTuSMGKRYXDIqZA
​ PRESETERS: PAULA GILBERT AND EBONY MAPP, NYS DEPARTMENT OF STATE​

​This course examines some of the necessary skills needed for new members and should serve as a refresher for more seasoned members alike. Topics include board procedures and applicable laws to more practical matters, including conducting site visits, working with consultants, avoiding ex parte communications, and working with the public. How to build your technical knowledge and find assistance when needed, as well as utilizing the comprehensive plan for your decisions, will also be discussed.

February 17, 2021 
2:00 PM / Planning Board Training: Get What Your Community Deserves / Duration: 1 Hour
REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AJtUoZbpSOOw_ghfol9lMA
PRESENTER: JOHN STEINMETZ, BARTON & LOGUIDICE

​What is your motivation for serving on your local planning board? Has your individual and/or the board’s collective impact on your community matched your expectations? As citizen planners, most of us volunteer with the goal of helping improve our communities and quality of life. However, this aim often gets sidetracked through the demands of navigating state law, SEQR requirements, local regulations, and political or applicant pressure. How can we balance the legal and political demands put on us with our desire to enhance the places we care about? This will be an interactive session using real world case studies to answer these questions and provide you with a better understanding of how to get results.

February 24, 2021 
2:00 PM / Planning For A Community Food System / Duration: 1 Hour
REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cb3isPfoQHSUPjdh6K7V2w
​PRESENTER: KIMBERLY LAMENDOLA, SOUTHERN TIER WEST

​When local officials plan for a community’s economic well-being, the food system is often overlooked as a vital asset. Learn the functions that define a food system; how those elements relate to the economic, social, and environmental well-being of a community, and strategies that officials and planners can consider when developing comprehensive plans and other priorities for community and economic development.  

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Target Audience: Code Enforcement Officers, Planning/Zoning Board Members

March 10, 2021
2:00 PM / Administration & Enforcement of Your Zoning To Protect Community Character
REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mV7PlBtCTYSd_cpBEv8k7Q​
PRESENTERS: GARY PALUMBO, AICP AND RICHARD STANTON, ATTORNEY, TOWN/VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE

​This webinar will cover updating codes, relating codes to the comprehensive plan, role of the Town and Village Boards in establishing policy, implementing the code through Site Plan Review, Special Use Permit and ZBA, and enforcement of conditions and violations.

March 17, 2021
2:00 PM / Experiences with Battery Storage with Solar and Stand-Alone / Duration: 1 Hour
REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eYpsWFOeQ4OpSN7JY3nxeA​
​PRESENTER: DREW REILLY, WENDEL COMPANIES

Local Municipalities are seeing an increase in proposals for solar energy systems and battery energy storage systems in their communities. These types of projects may be submitted together under one proposal or a standalone proposal may be submitted for a battery energy storage system. The intent of this presentation is to discuss the different types of proposed projects and the local laws that can be created to regulate them. There will be discussion on the NYS Model Battery Storage law and how other municipalities have utilized this Model law to create their own battery storage law within their Zoning Code, and the inclusion of battery storage requirements under existing solar energy laws.

March 24, 2021
2:00 PM / Tips for Regulating Telecommunications Facilities / Duration: 2 Hours
​REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Caac3Eq1Rqu6Y_vw2IO8_Q​
​PRESENTERS: CHRISTOPHER EASTMAN & PAULA GILBERT, NYS DEPARTMENT OF STATE

​Changes to federal law have placed restrictions on the extent to which local governments can regulate both large telecommunications facilities and the small cell components of a growing 5G network. But that doesn’t mean the abilities of local officials to influence telecommunications towers and small cell systems are entirely pre-empted. This course aims to dispel misperceptions and answer questions about the application process for structures that nearly all of us utilize but few of us wish to have right outside our windows.

March 31, 2021
2:00 PM / Innovations & Best Practices For Planning/Zoning Boards / Duration: 1 Hour
​REGISTER: ​https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q1nOy1AGRKe-IBdCFThHsQ​
PRESENTER: LANCE BRABANT, SPESC, MRB GROUP

​At times, Planning and Zoning Board members can have the toughest jobs in the community!  In addition to the challenges of adhering to state guidelines, the “new normal” has complicated proceedings further.  This session will explore new ways to meet old requirements, demonstrate process tracking and organizational tools, and discuss promoting public participation to foster a renewed confidence in community planning. 

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Target Audience: All Municipal Officials

April 14, 2021
2:00 PM / Real Property Revals
​REGISTER: ​https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PAvEIj_qTdWrJ9aEalqT9Q​
PRESENTER: DANIEL MARTONIS, CATTARAUGUS. COUNTY REAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT

​Discussion on equalization rate, what a reval is, how a reval is done, and Q&A.

April 21, 2021
2:00 PM / Project Management: How To Efficiently Complete A Project / Duration: 1 Hour
REGISTER: ​https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M3utd6JESOezmTT4swErTQ​
​PRESENTERS: JANE NICHOLSON AND BROOKE MAYER, MRB GROUP

As municipal leaders, you are ultimately responsible for completing projects on-time and within budget. This presentation will provide a planning framework that municipal leaders can adapt to any project regardless of scope, schedule, or budget. We will equip you with the tools to define project parameters, create a strong communication plan, and build in flexibility to “roll with the punches”.

April 28, 2021
2:00 PM / Board Members Municipal Ethics / Duration: 1 Hour
REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zvSvUHDhTmqmc7_JfGx4VA​
​PRESENTER: SARAH BRANCATELLA, NY TOWNS

​Review of the State ethics laws for local government officials and how to recognize conflicts of interest.  Overview of conflicts of interests in contract and common law (“appearance of impropriety”), nepotism, holding more than one office, gifts and other common issues.

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Target Audience: Municipal Clerks

May 5, 2021
2:00 PM / NYSTCA and IIMC Certification / Duration: 1 Hour
REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w86B4BixRjuKTP3d1DGNhA
​PRESENTER: ALLISON VENTO, TOWN OF POMFRET

​Are you confused with all these acronyms and what they stand for?  Are you thinking of furthering your education but feel overwhelmed with the process and requirements?  This webinar will answer your questions and give you an understanding of all certification opportunities offered to you as a municipal clerk.

May 12, 2021
2:00 PM / Internal Controls & Best Practices for Tax Collection / Duration: 1 Hour
REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XsNrWB6hTvGJZzCIqXmS7Q​
​PRESENTER: LESLIE RICHARD, OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER

​Representatives from the State Comptroller's Office will discuss internal controls over the collecting and depositing of money, the disbursement of money, maintaining adequate accounting records and reporting responsibilities for tax collection in Towns and Villages.

May 19, 2021
2:00 PM / Governmental Accounting Essentials / Duration: 2 Hours
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9mGtqXVqS5WbcGRAqYH5mA​
​PRESENTER: NYSGFOA

Most individuals who work in governmental accounting usually start without any prior bookkeeping, governmental accounting, or governmental finance education or experience. With proper training, local government finance staff and leadership can be more confident that their financial reporting is in compliance with New York State laws and regulations and ensure that their procedures for processing and documenting financial transactions are transparent and sound.
 
This session will introduce individuals to the most basic and essential components of governmental accounting and are designed primarily for those with limited or no governmental accounting or bookkeeping experience.
 
The session will include a high-level overview of the following:
 

• Debits and Credits
• Accounts
• Fund Accounting
• Journals and Ledgers
• The Accounting Process
• Accounting for Capital Projects
• Month End Reconciliations and Analysis
• Year-End Closing Process

 
Time will also be provided to address your questions.

May 26, 2021
2:00 PM / Governmental Accounting Essentials Continued / Duration: 2 Hours
​REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gzq4hn14S5irPtGkzpsHdg​
​PRESENTER: NYSGFOA

This session will be a continuation of the May 19, 2021 Webinar listed above.