Manlius · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Manlius public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Trash and brush collection bid extension
A resident asked why brush drop-off was cut from five days to one during highway construction. The town says DEC rules limit what it can accept, and it will revisit expanded hours in the spring.
Maxwell facility study and police department review
A $6,750 contract will produce two five-minute videos showing town hall and police department deficiencies ahead of November 12 public forums. Two councilors voted no over narrative control and public-money concerns; scripts will be pre-approved before filming.
Town Clerk compensation
The board debated whether the Town Clerk should get a 6% or 5% raise, noting most town employees earning over $60,000 are getting only about 3.1%. They landed on 5%, citing comparable towns and her extra website and social media duties.
B-Fund Budget Deficit
The B-Fund is short because the Twin Ponds project hasn't started construction, so expected building permit fees haven't come in. Budget adjustments are coming.
Highway department project costs
The highway department replaced a 2016 wheel loader and a 2017 plow truck, saving roughly $12,500 on the truck through a package deal and getting $45,000 on the loader trade-in.
Property Assessments and Taxes
A new state law offering a full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans is being rewritten because its eligibility rules currently exclude nearly everyone. A veterans advocate praised the town's existing alternative veterans exemption as among the most generous locally.
IT services rebid for budget savings
The board wants to rebid its IT services contract this spring — one of the town's pricier services — to find savings before next year's budget.
2026 Fee Schedule Increases
The board approved 2026 code, professional and Town Clerk fee schedules with proposed increases. Residents and businesses using town permits and clerk services will pay more this year.