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Ebola

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1. What is Ebola?

Ebola virus is the cause of a viral hemorrhagic fever disease. Symptoms include: 

• Abnormal bleeding
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Headache
• Joint and muscle aches
• Lack of appetite
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Weakness

Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to the Ebola virus, although 8 to 10 days is most common.

2. Where is the current outbreak occurring?

The current Ebola virus outbreak is centered on three countries in West Africa: Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone; although there is the potential for further spread to neighboring African countries. Ebola does not pose a significant risk to the U.S. public. The standard and rigorous infection control procedures used in major hospitals in the U.S. will prevent the spread of Ebola here. In addition, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) will work with local health departments on contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine.

3. How is Ebola transmitted?

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected symptomatic person or through exposure to objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with infected secretions.

4. Can Ebola be transmitted through the air?

No. Ebola is not a respiratory disease like the flu, so it is not transmitted through the air.

5. Can I get Ebola from contaminated food or water?

No. Ebola is not a food-borne illness. It is not a water-borne illness.

6. Can I get Ebola from a person who is infected but doesn’t have any symptoms?

No. Individuals who are not symptomatic are not contagious. In order for the virus to be transmitted, an individual would have to have direct contact with an individual who is experiencing symptoms.

7. Is New York State ready to treat an Ebola patient?

New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is working with the health care system to ensure that New York's providers are prepared to care for a patient with the Ebola virus. NYSDOH is working with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local health departments, hospitals, and physician organizations statewide. Past emergencies, including September 11, 2001; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS); Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak have demonstrated the need for hospitals to run practice drills and prepare for the unexpected.

8. How is Ebola transmitted?

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected symptomatic person or through exposure to objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with infected secretions.

9. Can Ebola be transmitted through the air?

No. Ebola is not a respiratory disease like the flu, so it is not transmitted through the air.

10. Can I get Ebola from contaminated food or water?

No. Ebola is not a food-borne illness. It is not a water-borne illness.

11. Can I get Ebola from a person who is infected but doesn’t have any symptoms?

No. Individuals who are not symptomatic are not contagious. In order for the virus to be transmitted, an individual would have to have direct contact with an individual who is experiencing symptoms.

12. Is New York State ready to treat an Ebola patient?

New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is working with the health care system to ensure that New York’s providers are prepared to care for a patient with the Ebola virus. NYSDOH is working with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local health departments, hospitals, and physician organizations statewide. Past emergencies, including September 11, 2001; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS); Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak have demonstrated the need for hospitals to run practice drills and prepare for the unexpected.

13. What is the state doing to prepare?

New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has purchased supplies to supplement hospitals' stockpiles; conducted drills with hospitals on their ability to quickly identify, isolate, and evaluate a suspect Ebola patient; and developed detailed guidance on lab testing, waste disposal, and other areas of concern. NYSDOH has a department-wide Ebola planning workgroup that meets daily and discusses infection control, laboratory issues, medical waste, emergency transport, personal protective equipment, and hospital planning. The workgroup has issued several advisories and guidance to hospitals and other health care providers. This is in addition to the Ebola planning hospitals have already done. NYSDOH has activated its Incident Management System (IMS), which it uses in emergencies to ensure coordination and communication.

The Department of Health has identified eight hospitals statewide to handle all patients diagnosed with Ebola, with plans to designate additional hospitals going forward. The following eight hospitals have agreed to the designation and are creating isolation units to accept patients:

• Bellevue in Manhattan
• Montefiore in the Bronx
• Mt. Sinai in Manhattan
• New York Presbyterian in Manhattan
• North Shore/LIJ Health System in Nassau County
• Stony Brook University Hospital in Suffolk County
• University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester
• Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse

14. What are health care providers doing to prepare?

Acting State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker has issued a Commissioner's order to all hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centers and ambulances in New York State, requiring that they follow protocols for identification, isolation and medical evaluation of patients requiring care. The order mandates that all staff receive in-person training in putting on and removing personal protective equipment (PPE). The protocols ensure that New York's hospitals can safely treat patients with Ebola. DOH is also providing guidance to other health professionals and facilities on the proper management of people with potential exposure to Ebola.

Hospitals have established workgroups, identified what type and which rooms would be used for a patient with the Ebola virus; decided what kind of PPE to use; practiced putting PPE on and removing it safely; provided additional staff training; planned for laboratory evaluation of specimens; planned for infection control; coordinated with emergency medical services (EMS), medical waste disposal, and established protocols. New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is working with the Health Association of New York State (HANYS) and the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) to ensure that all hospitals in the state are conducting drills with mock patients to test emergency department capacity to quickly identify and isolate suspected Ebola patients.

Hospitals are training and conducting drills. At the request of NYSDOH acting commissioner Zucker, GNYHA, and HANYS, hospitals are drilling their emergency departments on their ability to quickly detect and isolate a patient with suspected Ebola virus. The drills help hospitals evaluate their readiness, identify areas for improvement, execute improvements, and conduct corrective training.

NYSDOH is assessing tertiary care hospitals to determine their level of preparedness to handle Ebola cases and to assess their levels of critical resources, such as isolation rooms, staff identified on all shifts, equipment, supplies, and PPE.

NYSDOH and hospitals have been having regular calls to plan for Ebola. NYSDOH regional offices have met with providers and are addressing hospital questions, providing guidance on issues such as planning, policy, and conducting drills, and planning for and ordering necessary PPE.

NYSDOH has utilized its Health Commerce System to distribute its own CDC, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH), New York City Office of Emergency Management (NYCOEM), and other federal guidance regarding Ebola. NYSDOH has distributed signage; created an Ebola section on its website; provided collaborative guidance between the state, NYCDOHMH, and FDNY on EMS protocols between hospitals and EMS providers; discussed laboratory procedures for hospital testing; and is preparing guidance regarding handling of human remains.

15. How is Ebola transmitted?

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected symptomatic person or through exposure to objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with infected secretions.

16. Can Ebola be transmitted through the air?

No. Ebola is not a respiratory disease like the flu, so it is not transmitted through the air.

17. Can I get Ebola from contaminated food or water?

No. Ebola is not a food-borne illness. It is not a water-borne illness.

18. Can I get Ebola from a person who is infected but doesn’t have any symptoms?

No. Individuals who are not symptomatic are not contagious. In order for the virus to be transmitted, an individual would have to have direct contact with an individual who is experiencing symptoms.

19. How likely is it that New York State will have an Ebola patient?

New York State is a hub for international flights and travelers, and is therefore at risk for having such a patient. Hospitals must be in a constant state of readiness. New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) acting commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker is working with the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Port Authority regarding communication of any concerns at points or ports of entry.

20. What is being done to prevent ill passengers in West Africa from getting on a plane?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is assisting with active screening and education efforts on the ground in West Africa to prevent sick travelers from getting on planes. In addition, airports in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, are screening all outbound passengers for Ebola symptoms, including fever, and passengers are required to respond to a health care questionnaire. CDC is also increasing support to the region by deploying 50 additional workers to help build capacity on the ground.

21. What is the CDC doing in the U.S.?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) this week will begin new layers of entry screening at five U.S. airports.

The enhanced entry screening is being performed at JFK International Airport in New York and at Washington-Dulles, Newark, Chicago-O'Hare, and Atlanta international airports nationwide.

CDC is sending additional staff to each of the five airports. After passport review:

• Travelers from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be escorted by CBP to an area of the airport set aside for screening.
• Trained CBP staff will observe them for signs of illness, ask them a series of health and exposure questions and provide health information for Ebola and reminders to monitor themselves for symptoms. Trained medical staff will take their temperature with a non-contact thermometer.
• If the travelers have fever, symptoms or the health questionnaire reveals possible Ebola exposure, they will be evaluated by a CDC quarantine station public health officer. The public health officer will again take a temperature reading and make a public health assessment. Travelers, who after this assessment, are determined to require further evaluation or monitoring will be referred to the appropriate public health authority.
• Travelers from these countries who have neither symptoms/fever nor a known history of exposure will receive health information for self-monitoring.

Entry screening is part of a layered process that includes exit screening and standard public health practices such as patient isolation and contact tracing in countries with Ebola outbreaks. Successful containment of the recent Ebola outbreak in Nigeria demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach.

If an ill passenger does enter the U.S., CDC has protocols to protect against further spread of the disease. These include notification to CDC, local transportation authorities and local health authorities if there is an ill passenger on a plane before arrival, investigation of ill travelers, and, if necessary, isolation. CDC has also provided guidance to airlines for managing ill passengers and crew and for disinfecting aircraft. CDC has issued a health alert notice reminding U.S. health care workers of the importance of taking steps to prevent the spread of this virus, how to test and isolate suspected patients, and how they can protect themselves from infection.

22. What about ill Americans with Ebola who are being brought to the U.S. for treatment? How is CDC protecting the American public?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has very well-established protocols in place to ensure the care of patients with infectious diseases and their safe transport back to the U.S. These procedures cover the entire process - from patients leaving their bed in a foreign country to their transport to an airport and boarding a non-commercial airplane equipped with a special transport isolation unit, to their arrival at a medical facility in the U.S. that is appropriately equipped and staffed to handle such cases. CDC's role is to ensure that travel and hospitalization is done to minimize risk of spread of infection and to ensure that the American public is protected. Patients were evacuated in similar ways during SARS.

23. What does the CDC’s Travel Alert Level 3 mean to U.S. travelers?

On July 31, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) elevated its warning to U.S. citizens, encouraging them to defer unnecessary travel to, Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone over concerns that travelers may not have access to health care facilities and personnel should they need them in those countries.

24. If an individual with a travel history and any Ebola symptoms is identified at the airport, where are they taken and who is alerted?

Individuals from affected countries are identified through their passports and then screened by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at the airport. All passengers from Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone have their temperatures taken upon arrival. If a passenger is ill, the individual will be transported to a hospital. If they are at risk, they will be quarantined and the local health department will check in with them twice daily and monitor their temperature. If they are found to have Ebola, they would be transferred to one of the hospitals designated to treat Ebola patients.

New York is the first state to receive a list of travelers from the three affected countries. Working with the CDC, New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is receiving reports of travelers arriving at JFK International Airport whose destinations are somewhere in New York State. NYSDOH will work with local health departments to contact all incoming travelers to:

• Ensure that they have no risk exposure to Ebola
• Are taking their temperatures for 21 days
• Have a plan if they get sick
• Have contact information at NYSDOH

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Elections

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1. Who can be an Election Inspector?

Qualifications:

• Certified by the Wayne County Board of Elections as an Election Inspector after attending an official NYS Inspector Certification Program and passing a written test
• Have means of transportation
• May not hold any public elected office or be a candidate for public office, or be the spouse, parent, or child of the candidate
• Must be a registered voter and live in Wayne County
• Must be able to clearly speak, read, and write the English language

Please call 315-946-7400 the Board of Elections to express your interest.

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Home - FAQs

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1. How do I pay my city water bill?

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2. How do I get a new trash can lid?

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3. How do I apply for a job with the City?

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4. My trash didn't get picked up, what should I do now?

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5. How do I get a garage sale permit?

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6. How can I see the agenda for an upcoming City Council or Board meeting?

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NY Connects

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1. What are long-term services and supports?

Long-term services and supports (also known as long-term care) include a range of services and supports that can help people of all ages remain independent in their daily lives. Long-term services and supports are both medical and non-medical services that help to maintain or improve daily functioning and health. Services can be provided at home, in community-based settings such as a senior center, community center, or daycare, or residential settings such as Assisted Living Residences, or in nursing homes.

2. What kind of help can I get from NY Connects?

NY Connects helps you make informed choices about what services and supports will meet your needs and preferences. NY Connects staff can also help link you to available long-term services and supports. Get information about:

• Care coordination
• Caregiver supports
• Health insurance information
• Help with linking to care
• Home care
• Home delivered meals
• Options counseling
• Respite care
• Transportation
• And more

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Planning - Agricultural District

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1. Does the agricultural district impact taxes?

No. The agricultural districts do not affect your taxes. Agricultural lands may qualify for a tax break through the agricultural value assessments program. Though agricultural value assessments and agricultural districts are governed by the same law, the process is completely independent. Your taxes are based on the current land use and are determined by your assessor independent of the agricultural district. Your taxes will not automatically increase if your property is removed from the district nor will your taxes decrease for being in the district.

2. Is the agricultural district part of zoning?

No. The agricultural district is not the same as zoning. The agricultural district does not affect your property class.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets website has several guidance documents that offer including:

• Application to Request a Review Pursuant to Section 305-a of the AML (PDF)
• Start-up Farm Operations Must Also Complete and Submit this Questionnaire (PDF)
• Brochure entitled Local Laws and Agricultural Districts: How Do They Relate (PDF)
• Guideline for Definition of Farm Operation (PDF)
• Guideline for Start-Up Farm Operations (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting Farm Worker Housing (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting Nutrient Management Practices (PDF) (i.e. Land Application of Animal Waste, Recognizable and Non-recognizable Food Waste, Sewage Sludge and Septage, Animal Waste Storage/Management)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting the Control of Farm Animals
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting Farm Operations' Use of Wetlands (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting Direct Farm Marketing Activities (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting On-Farm Composting Facilities (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting Temporary Greenhouses (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Zoning and Planning Laws
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting Commercial Horse Boarding Operations and Commercial Equine Operations (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting Junk and Junkyards (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting Small Wind Energy Production Facilities and Solar Devices (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting Nursery Operation (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting On-Farm Open Burning (PDF)
• Guideline for Review of Local Laws Affecting Farm Distilleries, Breweries, and Wineries (PDF)

3. Does the agricultural district restrict me from doing certain things on my land?

No. The agricultural district does put any restrictions on what you can do to the land. They do not prevent you from developing your land into residential or commercial uses in the future. Their main goal is to provide protections for current and potential agricultural lands and to encourage agriculture to continue. You may build new structures on land in the agricultural district, following the same process as lands outside of the agricultural district.

4. If my property is not in an agricultural district, what district am I in?

Think of agricultural districts as a layer, overlaid on zoning and other planning tools. If your property is not in an agricultural district, then it is simply just not part of the district. It is not added to another layer.

5. Do agricultural districts prohibit selling land?

No. Being in an agricultural district does not prohibit the selling of land. The ADL does not restrict the transfer of real property. The ADL does provide for a real estate transfer disclosure by the seller to the prospective purchaser. The disclosure states that the property is located within an agricultural district and that farming activities including noise, dust, and odors occur within the district. Prospective residents are also informed that the location of the property within an agricultural district may impact the ability to access water and/or sewer services.

6. If my land is in an agricultural district, do I automatically receive its benefits?

No. Only land considered by the State to be a "Farm Operation" receives the benefits.

Farm Operation Definition:  "Farm operation" means the land and on-farm buildings, equipment, manure processing, and handling facilities, and practices which contribute to the production, preparation, and marketing of crops, livestock, and livestock products as a commercial enterprise, including a "commercial horse boarding operation" as defined in subdivision thirteen of this section, a "timber operation" as defined in subdivision fourteen of this section and "compost, mulch or other biomass crops" as defined in subdivision sixteen of this section and "commercial equine operation" as defined in subdivision seventeen of this section. Such farm operation may consist of one or more parcels of owned or rented land, which parcels may be contiguous or noncontiguous to each other.

7. Where can I find out if my property is in an agricultural district?

You may call Wayne County Department of Economic Development and Planning at (315) 946-5919 to determine if you are in an agricultural district - please have your parcel ID number available or you may visit the NYS Agriculture and Markets website to see a general agricultural district map.

8. What is an agricultural district?

A geographic area that consists predominantly of viable agricultural land. Agricultural operations within the district are the priority land use and afforded benefits and protections to promote the continuation of farming and the preservation of agricultural land. In practice, districts may include land that is actively farmed, idle, forested, as well as residential and commercial.

9. What is an agricultural district review?

Districts are usually reviewed, or renewed, every 8 years. The County Board of Supervisors, after receiving the County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board report and recommendations and after a public hearing, determines whether the district shall be continued, terminated, or modified. During the review process, land may be added or deleted from the district.

Counties are also required to designate an annual 30-day period when landowners may petition the County for the inclusion of viable agricultural lands in an existing agricultural district. In Wayne County, the annual review takes place from January 1st to January 31st each year. Fill out the District 1 Eight-Year Review, Modification, and Open Enrollment Application (PDF). In 2016 the open enrollment is being run in conjunction with the 8-year review process.

10. Do non-farming residents benefit from agricultural districts?

Everyone benefits. Besides its value for the production of food, agricultural land provides many environmental benefits including groundwater recharge, open space, and scenic viewsheds. Agriculture benefits local economies too, by providing on-farm jobs and supporting agribusinesses. Agricultural land requires less public services than developed land and results in cost savings for local communities.

11. Does an agricultural district guarantee a farmer’s “right to farm”?

The ADL protects farm operations within an agricultural district from the enactment and administration of unreasonably restrictive local regulations unless it can be shown that public health or safety is threatened. The Department evaluates the reasonableness of a specific requirement or process imposed on a farm operation on a case-by-case basis. The Commissioner may institute an action or compel a municipality to comply with this provision of the ADL.

12. Do agricultural districts consist entirely of farmland?

Districts must consist predominantly of viable agricultural land. Predominance has been interpreted as more than 50% of land in farms, but most districts have a higher percentage. The benefits and protections under the ADL, however, apply only to farm operations and land used in agricultural production.

13. Does an agricultural district preserve farmland?

Agricultural districts do not preserve farmland in the sense that the use of land is restricted to agricultural production forever. Rather, districts provide benefits that help make and keep farming as a viable economic activity, thereby maintaining land in active agricultural use.

14. Do agricultural districts eliminate a municipality’s ability to control growth?

No. To the contrary, an agricultural district can be an effective tool in helping local governments to manage growth. The existence of a district, for example, can help direct development away from traditional farming areas.

15. Can government acquire or condemn farmland within an agricultural district against a landowner’s wishes?

The ADL does not supersede a government's right to acquire land for essential public facilities like roads or landfills. However, the ADL provides a process that requires a full evaluation of the effects of government acquisitions on the retention and enhancement of agriculture and agricultural resources within a district.

16. Who bears the cost of the agricultural assessment benefit?

Property taxes saved by farmers as a result of agricultural assessments must ultimately be made up by all taxpayers in the affected municipality. Farmers, like other homeowners, must bear their fair share of any tax shift since their residences are not subject to an agricultural assessment.

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Rabies

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1. What are the signs of rabies in animals?

Behavioral changes characterize the signs and symptoms of an animal that is infected with rabies. Symptoms at first, can be so subtle they are not recognized as signs of rabies infection, especially because the infected animal may look healthy. Behavioral changes such as the following are all signs you might observe in a sick animal:

• Hind quarters paralysis
• A marked change in voice
• A staggering "drunken" gait 
• Refusing to eat or drink

Wild animals may lose their fear of natural enemies or people and appear friendly. A normally friendly pet may become withdrawn and irritable. As the disease progresses, the animal may become aggressive, snapping at anything in its path, you may witness "frothing" at the mouth and convulsions which lead to death. This disease also mimics many other animal diseases such as the following and can only be diagnosed by a lab:

• Canine distemper
• Concussion
• Feline parvo
• Parasite infestation 
• Poisoning
• Trauma

2. How do people become exposed to rabies?

The normal route of exposure to rabies is through a bite or scratch from an infected animal. Exposure may also occur if saliva from an infected animal enters a bleeding open wound or comes in contact with an individuals eyes, mouth or nose. If you are bitten by any animal, even your own pet, wash the wound thoroughly with lots of soap and warm water, then contact your health care provider and local health agency for further evaluation.

3. How can I protect myself, my family and my pets from rabies?

"If its not your own, leave it alone." is a good rule of thumb. Don't feed, touch, or adopt stray/wild animals. Keep your pets and valuable livestock vaccinated against rabies. Pets too young to be vaccinated, should be kept indoors. Don't allow pets to roam at large without supervision. Don't invite wildlife to your home or yard. Keep your property free of foods that will attract unwanted wild or stray animals. Always feed your pets indoors. Capping your chimney is an easy and inexpensive way to keep out unwanted guests. If a wild animal is found on your property, bring your children and pets inside and let it wander off on its own. This may take a while, but they will leave. If you do not want to wait for them to leave on their own, you can choose to contact a nuisance wildlife trapper who will come and remove the animal for a fee.

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Treasurer

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1. Why are my taxes so high?

Your taxes are calculated using your taxable assessment x the tax rate plus any special assessments.

2. What are special assessments?

• Rural Fire
• Rural Light
• Rural Water/Sewer

3. When are my taxes due?

• Current Taxes: Town and County Taxes (Land) - January 1st
• Village Taxes - June 1stSchool Taxes - September 1st
• Delinquent Taxes: Interest is added each month

4. My taxes are escrowed. Are they being paid on time?

Check the website for the date paid or check with your tax collector to see if any re-levies are shown.

5. When will I lose my property for nonpayment of taxes?

If your taxes remain unpaid for two years the County of Wayne can foreclose.

6. How do you sell the unpaid tax properties?

A public auction is held each year in the Spring, for more information contact the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office.

7. How do I change my address?

Contact your assessor.

8. I just purchased some property in Wayne County when will I receive my tax bill?

If you purchased the property after March 1st, you will not receive a tax bill until the next billing cycle. As a property owner, it is your responsibility to pay taxes in a timely manner. If you have not received a tax bill contact your Tax Collector as soon as possible.

9. Does Wayne County have a tax payment program?

• Yes, for current taxes you may pay in two payments. The first is due on or before the penalty free period ends and the second payment is due in February or March with penalties and interest added.
• Yes, for delinquent taxes after June 1st of each year and if you are eligible candidate, you may set up a payment program for up to 24 months with a down payment of at least 10% (for additional information contact the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office).