NYS Tug Hill Commission

10/30/2026

NOCCOG PARTICIPATES IN FORESTPORT EXPO

The Northern Oneida County Council of Governments was proud to take part in the 4th annual Forestport Community Expo, held on September 30 at the Forestport municipal offices.

The public event, which is partially sponsored by National Grid, included representatives from federal, state, and county departments, as well as from the Adirondack Central School District. Numerous other civic, health care, and community organizations participated in the annual event, which also included mammogram screenings and flu shots.

10/29/2026

🛣️ ROAD ABANDONMENT NEW ISSUE PAPER PUBLISHED 🛣️

The Tug Hill Commission has released its newest issue paper, Road Abandonment, available for download here: https://tughill.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Road-Abandonment-Final-with-Cover-October-2026.pdf.

The paper provides a detailed overview of road abandonment, qualified or total, which is a tool towns can use in specific situations to reduce the highway mileage under their jurisdiction.

The process can be very complicated and is deeply rooted in case law. Geared toward the layperson but with numerous legal references, it relies heavily on legal memorandums between The Ayers Law Firm and the Tug Hill Commission. It does note, however, that no commission staff are attorneys, and municipalities should confer with legal counsel on specific road issues in their town or village.

After a review of how roads are established in New York and the importance of establishing what method created any road being considered for abandonment, details are provided about both the process and effect of both types of abandonment. Please contact the office or your circuit rider if you would like a hard copy of the paper mailed to you, or with any questions.

10/28/2026

“ATV RECREATION: CONSIDERATIONS FOR MUNICIPALITIES” SUMMARY AVAILABLE

Due to ongoing interest in all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and requests for technical assistance in many Tug Hill municipalities, the commission recently developed a two-page summary (https://tughill.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ATV-Paper-Summary-FINAL.pdf) focused on the legal highlights and key takeaways of the September 2025 ATV Recreation: Considerations for Municipalities issue paper. Please reach out to Taylor McKinney, [email protected], with any questions.

10/27/2026

RACOG MEETING HIGHLIGHTS COUNTY UPDATES AND REGIONAL PRIORITIES

The River Area Council of Governments (RACOG) held its dinner meeting on October 21 at Tug Hill Estates, bringing together municipal officials and regional partners to discuss county developments, regional challenges, and ongoing collaborative initiatives. The evening featured presentations by Lewis County manager Tim Hunt and Jefferson County deputy administrator Dylan Soper, with updates on activities, priorities, and developments within their respective counties.

During social hour, attendees participated in a priority-setting exercise to identify the most pressing issues facing their communities. The top three concerns identified were unfunded mandates, an aging population and youth out-migration, and employment opportunities. This will help guide future RACOG discussions and collaborative efforts.

During the business meeting, RACOG highlighted progress toward implementing its strategic plan adopted in May 2026, which includes an updated monthly reporting system emphasizing municipal needs, issues, and projects, along with a project closeout summary to document accomplishments. RACOG website improvements were also discussed, including a public dashboard to track strategic plan objectives and strengthen information sharing among member municipalities.

RACOG also unveiled its updated Regional Traffic Safety Report, providing information on regional crash patterns and transportation safety concerns to assist communities with future planning. Youth engagement was another highlight, with a local high school student attending who had participated in the Tug Hill Commission's Local Government Conference this past spring and is registered for RACOG's upcoming Civic Service Student Activity Program. Additional business included approval of the formation of an executive committee, discussion of 2027 membership fees and approval of funding lunches for participating students. The meeting emphasized the importance of communication and cooperation among municipalities and county governments in addressing shared challenges and strengthening the region.

10/26/2026

Join us as we go through the most recent edition of Tug Hill Times!

🌟The full newsletter is available here: https://tughill.org/publications/tug-hill-times/

10/26/2026

🔥❕REMINDER❕🚒

The Association of Towns and Office of the State Comptroller will present “How Fire Protection is Provided in New York State” on Tuesday, October 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the West Monroe Fire Department.

This workshop will include a general overview of firefighting, fire protection by municipality type (city, town, village), fire districts, budgeting, and reporting requirements.

Registration for this free training workshop will close at noon on Monday, October 26.

Register at www.tinyurl.com/THfire2026, and please contact the Tug Hill Commission at (315) 785-2380 or email [email protected] with any questions.

10/26/2026

Join us today, Monday, October 26, at noon to hear all about the October 23 edition of Tug Hill Times!

The full newsletter is available here: https://tughill.org/publications/tug-hill-times/

10/23/2026

WORK ZONE EQUIPMENT PACKAGE APPLICATIONS DUE DECEMBER 4

The Nysltap Cornell Local Roads Program is now accepting applications for the 2026–2027 Work Zone Equipment Package Program. Through funding from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), selected New York State Highway and public works departments will receive equipment to help crews set up safer, more effective work zones.

Applications are due December 4.
Apply for a Work Zone Equipment Package athttps://form.jotform.com/262564608801055

10/22/2026

STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN UPDATED

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has finalized and approved the state’s Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) for 2025-2035. The SWAP guides conservation and management actions for species identified as “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” (SGCN). This plan is a prerequisite for NY to participate in the federally funded State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program and must be updated every ten years. The purpose of SWAP is to assess the health of the state’s wildlife and habitats, identify problems facing those resources, and create actions to conserve species and areas of focus. The SGCN lists are developed from these plans and help direct funding over the course of the next decade. Out of 920 native wildlife species assessed, 570 wildlife species are identified as SGCN, 147 of which are considered “high priority,” and 269 plant species.

The final documents can be downloaded from NYSDEC’s website(dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/biodiversity-species-conservation/state-wildlife-action-plan), and questions about the sent to [email protected].

10/21/2026

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR NEW UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM

The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) is updating their current unemployment insurance system starting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2.

The upgraded system will be called “Unemployment Services,” and is designed to be a user-friendly and efficient way for customers and businesses to move through the unemployment insurance process and get needed support. The migration of files will take between 9 and 12 business days. During that period, staff at the local career centers will only be meeting virtually with customers. Benefits will not be accessible during the blackout period, but lagged benefits will be paid.once the customer certifies. For more information on the changeover, go to the DOL’s website -

During the upgrade, all online and phone services for unemployment insurance will be unavailable, and unemployment payments will be delayed.