When topic arise that are of concern to many Tug Hill municipalities, commission staff develops issue or technical papers to provide information and background in a concise, organized manner. Issue papers explore more complicated topics important to the region, where technical papers describe how to do something or provide data-driven information. Below is a listing of our current papers, as well as links to other websites with useful information.
ISSUE PAPERS
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COMPLETE ISSUE PAPER
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TWO-PAGE SUMMARY (IF AVAILABLE)
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| Ambulance Service in Rural NYS, August 2024 |
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| ATV Recreation: Considerations for Municipalities, September 2025 |
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| Black River Initiative Progress Report: 2010-2020, December 2020 |
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| Conservation Easements, February 2022 |
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| Historic Preservation, April 2022 |
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| How Winter is Changing in the Tug Hill Region, March 2025 |
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| Justice Court Consolidation Solutions, July 2021 |
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| Municipal Cybersecurity: Quick Q&A Guide for Local Officials, December 2025, NEW!! |
Cybersecurity for Municipal Governments: Managing Risk Across Critical Services, December 2025, NEW!! |
| NYS Climate Policy Implications: A Tug Hill Housing Analysis, April 2024 |
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| Planning for Solar Energy Projects, August 2025 |
Planning for Solar Energy Projects, December 2025, NEW!! |
| Protected Lands in the Tug Hill Region, September 2025 |
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| Protecting Town Roads From Snow Plowing Demands: A Checklist, January 2019 |
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| Short-Term Rentals, June 2025 |
Short-Term Rentals, December 2025, NEW!! |
| The Forest Tax Exemption and Impacts on Municipal Budgets, November 2024 |
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| The Montague Doppler Radar, An Overview, February 2023 |
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| The Next Generation of Wind Farms on Tug Hill, July 2022 |
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| The Roads Less Traveled: Minimum Maintenance Roads, July 2022 |
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| Town Roads and Tug Hill’s Working Landscape, February 2022 |
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| Tug Hill Aquifer 101, December 2022 |
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| Understanding the New Regulatory Standards for Animal Shelters, June 2025 |
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| Use and Regulation of Drones for Municipalities, June 2023 |
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| COMPLETE TECHNICAL PAPER |
TWO-PAGE SUMMARY (IF AVAILABLE) |
| A Municipal Guide for Writing Requests for Proposals for Professional Services, June 2025 |
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| Abandoned Cemeteries and Municipal Responsibilities, February 2023 |
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| Adopting and Amending Zoning by Local Law, 2010, reviewed 2022 |
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| Documents Policies and Records to Have on File at the Clerk’s Office, November 2020 |
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| Forming A Not-For-Profit Corporation in New York State, April 2022 |
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| GIS Resources for Local Governments, June 2023 |
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| How to Appropriate Unanticipated Revenues, March 2022 |
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| How to Write a ZBA Decision, June 2023 |
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| Introduction to Municipal Websites, July 2025 |
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| Making a Successful Grant Application Checklist, January 2024 |
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| Municipal Fundraising & Gifting, March 2022 |
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| Municipal Insurance Coverage Annual Review, June 2023 |
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| Open Burning Regulations in NYS, 2010, reviewed 2022 |
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| Prior Written Notice, July 2019, reviewed February 2024 |
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| Questions and Answers About Low-Volume Road Designation, 2003, reviewed 2019 |
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| Regulating Home-Based Businesses, June 2023 |
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| Special District Brochure, November 2023, best printed on 11×17 paper |
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| Town Budget Process Overview, August 2021 |
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| Why Prepare A Comprehensive Plan?, April 2024 |
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| Zoning Board of Appeals Guide For Towns & Villages, December 2020 |
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| 2020 Tug Hill Census Analysis (low resolution), (7.5 MB), March 2023 |
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| 2020 Tug Hill Census Analysis (full resolution), (11.7 MB), March 2023 |
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These papers may still be of interest, but please note they are not being reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Information may be dated.
NYS Department of State maintains additional publications related to local government. Visit the website at DOS to view those publications.
NYS Office of the State Comptroller maintains additional publications related to local government. Visit the website at OSC to view those publications.
NYS Archives maintains additional publications related to local government. Visit the website at Archives to view those publications.