U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., came to Delaware County on Friday to find out what issues most concerned a roundtable of community leaders.
A variety of topics, including health care, a proposed gas pipeline and agriculture, were discussed during an hour-long session at the county E-Center in Delhi. The trip was part of his pledge to visit each of the state's 62 counties annually. This was his 14th trip to Delaware County.
"It's an opportunity to learn how I can help you," he told those seated around the conference room table.
They included Dan Ayres, CEO of O'Connor Hospital in Delhi and Tri-Town Regional Medical hospital in Sidney, who talked of the need for regulatory reform in his industry. The hospitals are part of the Bassett Healthcare Network. Schumer said his staff will look into providing help with payment reimbursements.
Berco van Pel, operations director for FrieslandCampina Domo, a Delhi plant of a multinational dairy company, spoke of the need for access to a proposed natural gas pipeline.
Amphenol Co. general manager Richard Aiken said that the cheaper energy such a pipeline could provide was one of the reasons the company is working to stay in Sidney. The company considered leaving the area after two floods in five years, he said, but federal, state and local governments provided incentives for the military and aerospace manufacturer to stay.
Delaware County Economic Development Director Glenn Nealis said the companies seek access to the proposed Constitution Pipeline.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will determine a route for the project and decide whether to issue a permit. If approved, it would carry natural gas from Pennsylvania through several counties before ending in Schoharie County. Schumer said such energy is important to area businesses, and he will see what he can do to help.
Other topics he discussed included expansion of a SUNY Delhi nursing program, helping area dairy farmers, providing access to broadband and flood mitigation.
After the session, Ayres said Schumer was "right on the mark" with his comments. But he said he wasn't surprised because Schumer has been "a good friend of Bassett Healthcare."
Wayne Oliver, president of Sportsfield Specialties in Delhi, a manufacturer of athletic field equipment, said he was impressed by what Schumer had to say on a variety of topics.
Aiken said Amphenol appreciated Schumer's involvement in helping the company deal with the floods.
"I wanted to come down and thank him," Aiken said.
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