May 25, 2023 Legislative Session

[00:00:09]

EVERYONE I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO ORDER.

THIS IS MEETING NUMBER.

THIS IS MEETING NUMBER 11 OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE MAY 25TH, 2023.

[ ROLL CALL]

AMEN. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING IF YOU ARE ABLE TO BE LED IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

THERE ARE NONE ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

THERE ARE NONE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - Meeting No. 10]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM MEETING NUMBER TEN.

SECOND PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING.

MINUTES FOR MEETING NUMBER TEN MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY THE MEETING MINUTES ARE APPROVED PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THERE ARE NONE. MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE AND CONTINUED ON TO PAGE THREE.

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO CONSIDER.

SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE AT ALL SPONSORSHIPS.

IT'S BEEN A MOTION TO AMEND TO MAKE IT ALL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR AYE.

ANY OPPOSED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED.

WE NOW WILL PAUSE IN OUR AGENDA FOR TWO PRESENTATIONS THIS AFTERNOON, THE FIRST BEING THE CITIZENS OF THE MONTH AND THE SECOND WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON FOR MENTAL HEALTH MONTH.

BEFORE WE TRANSITION, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE JOINING US HERE TODAY.

WE ARE JOINED BY OUR COMPTROLLER LEGISLATOR HARDWICK.

WE ARE ALSO IN THE PRESENCE OF AMHERST SUPERVISOR BRIAN KULPA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY.

SUPERVISOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER FROM AMHERST, SHAUN LAVIN WAS HERE WITH US EARLIER.

HE HAS SINCE LEFT AND WE ALSO ARE HERE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ZUCCALA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

LEGISLATOR VINAL.

IT IS.

OUR GUESTS COME UP HERE.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE PRESENTATION OF CITIZEN OF THE MONTH.

IN AMHERST, WHERE I REPRESENT.

I THINK THE THREE BIGGEST PRIORITIES OF PEOPLE IN AMHERST ARE FAMILY AND FAIRNESS, BOTH IN JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND ALSO EDUCATION.

AND THE PEOPLE IN AMHERST VALUE PROFESSIONALISM.

THEY VALUE KNOWLEDGE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT OUR I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE THAT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT IS I HONESTLY BELIEVE THE AMHERST IS THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE REGION BECAUSE OF THE AND I KNOW PEOPLE THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF AND I DO THINK IT'S A FACT NOT JUST AN OPINION BUT I THINK IT'S BECAUSE NOT TO DISPARAGE ANY OTHER BUT BECAUSE OF THE THOSE THINGS FAMILY FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND EDUCATION AND VALUING PROFESSIONALISM.

THE AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE FOUR YEAR DEGREES, MOST OF THEM ALSO IN FIELDS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T JUST WHAT SHOULD I DO? I'LL BE A POLICE OFFICER.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO SET OUT TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER AND WORK FOR THAT.

AND THEY TAKE OPPORTUNITIES AT TRAINING.

THEY TAKE OPPORTUNITIES TO BETTER THEIR SKILLS TO BE, YOU KNOW, TO DO THEIR JOB IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THERE'S A LOT OF SATISFACTION AMONGST THE AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THE CULTURE IS PASSED DOWN WITH FAMILY WHERE THEY'RE ALL RESIDENTS OF AMHERST AND THE PRIOR CHIEF, HIS FATHER WAS A CHIEF.

THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND ABOUT FAMILY FEELINGS AND LOVE.

[00:05:02]

YOU KNOW, I THINK ALTOGETHER IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT ALSO IN THE TOP FIVE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

TOP 15 IS, I THINK, THE LOWEST IT EVER GOT.

AND THAT'S IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.

AND THAT'S NOT WITH AS MANY POLICE OFFICERS PER PERSON AS OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, BY FAR NOT ANYWHERE NEAR.

I DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS ANYONE, BUT IT'S LIKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT.

AND IT'S NOT JUST IN POLICING, IT'S IN DOING ENGAGEMENT.

IT'S ALSO WELCOMING AND DOING BEING A MODEL OF TRAINING.

AMHERST BOASTS THE BEST PUBLIC TRAINING FACILITY IN THE AREA.

IT'S USED ALSO BY TONAWANDA, AND THEY JUST DO A BEAUTIFUL JOB.

AND ALSO THEY'RE SUPPORTED BY OUR SUPERVISOR WHO'S HERE AND OUR TOWN BOARD, MIKE SAKALA AND OUR OTHER BOARD.

IT'S NOT MANY OF PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT THEIR SUPERVISOR OR MAYOR IS AN ARCHITECT WITH A CONCENTRATION DEGREE IN URBAN PLANNING SO THAT THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP WITH URBAN PLANNING AND SAFETY AS WELL. SO I WANTED TO JUST GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEY DID.

THEY UTILIZED SO MANY THINGS AND WELCOME OUR PEOPLE.

ONE WAS RECENTLY AS A IS A 59 YEAR OLD WOMAN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY ON FACEBOOK.

ALL RIGHT. SO I WHEN RORY ALLEN'S FATHER WENT MISSING ON APRIL 29TH, EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WAS, YOU KNOW, WORRIED, HEARTBROKEN AND LOST, YOU KNOW, SOME LOST HOPE.

AND AMHERST POLICE UTILIZED ALL THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND SKILLS.

AND THEY I WAS JUST MAKING A LIST OF THE THINGS I DON'T KNOW IF I PUT IT RIGHT HERE, BUT THE THINGS THAT THEY UTILIZED WAS LIKE MEDIA OUTREACH.

THE MEDIA COVERED IT, FACEBOOK OUTREACH.

THEY UTILIZED PATROLLING, OUTREACH THE COMMUNITY.

THEY USE SPECIALIZED SKILLS TEAM, WHICH IS THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM.

THEY KEPT UP THE OUTREACH.

THE COMMUNITY GOT TIPS.

THEY USE BLOODHOUNDS.

AND THE OFFICER WHO ULTIMATELY WAS, YOU KNOW, KEPT WITH THE FAMILY, ONE OF THEM, AND KEPT IT UP RESULTED IN A REALLY POSITIVE OUTCOME. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, LIKE, AS FAR AS WITH REGARD TO FAMILY, THIS IS WHAT RORY ALLEN DIDN'T ASK IF I COULD USE THIS, BUT HE WROTE WHEN HE I THINK WHEN HE THOUGHT LIKE HOPE MIGHT BE LOST, HE WROTE THE THING ABOUT MY DAD, JOHN ALLEN, IS THAT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME WHEN I WAS EIGHT AND COME AND SING ME TO SLEEP WITH THE GUITAR AND I'M GOING FISHING SONG WHEN I WAS TEN AND HE TOOK ME TO A HUGE BILLS GAME.

HE WANTED ME TO SEE IT FIRST HAND WHEN I WAS IN TROUBLE IN MY TEENS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT 60 MILES FROM HOME.

HE CAME OUT TO HELP ME WHEN I STARTED MY BUSINESS AND PULLED ALL NIGHTERS IN MY OFFICE, FINISHING UP PROJECTS.

HE'D COME AND KEEP ME COMPANY AND BRING ME A BITE TO EAT.

WHEN WE HAD NEWBORN TRIPLETS AND HAD TO STAY UP FEEDING THEM, HE'D SHOW UP AT MIDNIGHT TILL 5 A.M.

JUST SO I COULD GET SOME SLEEP.

HE ALWAYS SHOWED UP.

JUST WANTED TO BE WITH ME SUNDAY NIGHT.

AND IT'S BEEN 30 HOURS SINCE HE DISAPPEARED, AND I'M STILL HOPEFUL THAT HE'S OKAY.

WORRIED BUT HOPEFUL.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP, BUFFALO.

THE SUPPORT IS OVERWHELMING.

I'M SORRY YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN BACK TO MANY OF YOU AND WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS I LEARN MORE.

THAT WAS A 10:15 P.M.

AND THEN HE WAS FOUND BY THESE OFFICERS AND AT CLOSE TO 11 AND HE WAS FOUND IN A WOODED AREA.

HEAD'S UP NEIGHBOR AND BERESFORD COURT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE.

SO WE'RE CELEBRATING TODAY THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S THEY EXEMPLIFY AMHERST THE STICKTOITIVENESS KEEPING TO IT AND DOING IT AND WE'RE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WONDERFUL SERVICE AND A WHOLE CULTURE OF PROFESSIONALISM CARE.

AND THERE I DID BRING A SMALL GIFT, BUT I WANTED TO HAVE A PROCLAMATION.

AND I BROUGHT A SMALL GIFT FOR AMHERST, WHICH IS THE MADE IN BUFFALO, AS YOU KNOW, THE BUFFALO, THE BLUE BUFFALO, WHICH THEY AREN'T OFFICIALLY.

I THINK THEY SHOULD BE MORE FOR THE POLICE.

BUT I WANTED TO PRESENT THIS TO THE TOWN OF AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO USE THERE AS THEY WANT [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU AND I WANTED TO PRESENT I WANTED TO WELCOME OUR GROUP.

WE HAVE CHIEF SCOTT CHAMBERLAIN, WHO JUST RECENTLY TOOK OVER.

AND HE'S BEEN DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.

WE HAVE CAPTAIN JOHN MCNAMARA, CAPTAIN TRACY MARTIN, CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER MEYER, LIEUTENANT TOM BROWN, OTHERWISE KNOWN IN OTHER PLACES AS SWAT DETECTIVE SAMANTHA ZUKOWSKI, WHO'S THE ONE WHO HAD FOUND THAT WHEN WORKED SO HARD AND DIDN'T GIVE UP HOPE WHEN OTHERS DID.

AND OFFICER CRAIG JOHNSON.

AND WE ALSO HAVE RORY ALLEN HERE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND THANKS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE SUPERVISOR AND MIKE SIEGEL AND SUPERVISOR.

I WOULD ASK TO HAVE THIS HAVE HIM AS WELL, SAY A FEW WORDS OF CONGRATULATIONS ON 100 YEARS AND ON THE INDIVIDUALS HERE.

SO THIS IS WHERE IS THE BUFFALO POLICE OFFICERS ENDURE DIFFICULTIES AND LIVE UP TO DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ON A DAILY BASIS.

AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS FOUNDED IN 1923 AND HAS GROWN AND EVOLVED OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS TO BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN ERIE COUNTY.

[00:10:01]

AND WHEREAS, THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SACRIFICES MADE BY THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN GREAT, HAVE BEEN OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE IN INVOLVING MANY HIGH PROFILE CASES THROUGHOUT ITS STORIED HISTORY.

WHEREAS THE AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CONTINUED TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE TO ACHIEVE THEIR OBJECTIVES, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AND WHEREAS, OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN THERE HAVE BEEN SIX POLICE CHIEFS, WHICH IS ONLY SIX.

SO ALL THESE YEARS THINK ABOUT THAT.

IT'S A FAMILY ORIENTED PLACE.

AND INCLUDING THE CURRENT AMHERST POLICE SHOT SCOTT CHAMBERLAIN.

AND WHEREAS, SINCE CHIEF CHAMBERLAIN TOOK OVER IN 2021, THE DEPARTMENT HAS INCREASED ITS COMMUNITY POLICING PROGRAM AND THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY CONNECTED WITH THE PUBLIC.

AND WHEREAS, OVER THE YEARS, THE DEPARTMENT EVOLVED TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMANDS AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ADOPTING TO NEW PROGRAMS AND EXPANDING POLICE TRAINING WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY AND INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES.

AND WHEREAS, THE WORK ETHIC, PROFESSIONALISM, COMPASSION AND DEDICATION SHOWN THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN TRULY INSPIRING TO WITNESS AND HAS DEVELOPED INTO ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS, THEY PUT THAT IN FOR POLITICAL REASONS, ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AND HIGHLY REGARDED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN ERIE COUNTY.

AND WHEREAS, THE AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO SERVE AND PROTECT, THIS HONORABLE BODY IS EXTREMELY THANKFUL FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE POLICE AND THE SACRIFICE THEY MAKE TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE. NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND EXTEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS AND SINCERE APPRECIATION TO AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE DOES HEREBY HONOR AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT AS THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATOR CITIZENS OF THE MONTH FOR MAY 2023 FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND UNSELFISH SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF AMHERST AND REPRESENTING OUR COUNTY [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THE LEGISLATOR VINAL FOR THIS WONDERFUL AWARD.

AND IT'S GREAT TO BE RECOGNIZED.

AND SHE'S RIGHT.

NO OFFENSE TO ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BUT WE DO FEEL LIKE WE'RE THE FINEST DEPARTMENT AROUND.

AND IT'S AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE YOU SEE UP HERE, THEY'RE JUST SUCH PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO THEIR JOBS.

WE COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU HERE.

THEY'RE THE LEADERS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

THEY'RE THE INTELLIGENCE UNIT WHO DOES SO MUCH OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE THAT KIND OF REACHES OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND MAKES SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND IT'S 100 YEARS OF OF A LONG TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE.

WE'VE WHAT WE DO IS WE JUST TRY TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US.

IT'S A BIG BURDEN AND WE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

AND OUR GOAL IS WE WANT TO BE THE BEST.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YOU EVER YOU EVER ACHIEVE, I THINK.

PUT SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST STRIVE FOR EVERY DAY.

YOU TRY TO GET BETTER AND BETTER EVERY DAY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE HAVE OUR TRAINING FACILITY THAT WAS BROUGHT ON BOARD BY SUPERVISOR KULPA AND CHIEF ASKEY, AND WE USE THAT AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE TRAINED THE RIGHT WAY AND ARE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC AND HANDLE SITUATIONS THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN'T IMAGINE THEY'D EVER HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

SO IT'S A CHALLENGE AND WE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND IT STARTS WITH AND ENDS WITH THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT WORK FOR US AND WITH US AND COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD. AND IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED AND IT'S AN HONOR TO CARRY ON THIS TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND SPEAKING OF THE EFFORT THAT TO FIND MR. MILLS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS CAPTAIN MARTIN WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE THE EFFORT TO ON THE AFTERNOON SHIFT TO TRY TO THE ORIGINAL TRYING TO FIND HIM AND THEN OFFICER JOHNSON WAS OVER THE WEEKEND HE'S WORKING AT HOME YOU KNOW, BASICALLY 24 HOURS TRYING TO PUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA OUT AND USE HIS RESOURCES THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE UNIT TO TRY TO GATHER WHATEVER INFORMATION WE COULD FIND.

CAPTAIN BROWN OR LIEUTENANT BROWN IS IN CHARGE OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM ULTIMATELY WAS THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY FOUND HIM.

DETECTIVE KOZLOWSKI WAS LITERALLY OUT DRIVING AROUND, TALKING TO PEOPLE, GOING TO BUSINESSES, CHECKING FOR VIDEO.

REALLY PUT A LOT INTO IT.

CAPTAIN MCNAMARA'S IN CHARGE OF OUR DETECTIVE BUREAU.

AND HE HAD OTHER DETECTIVES IN TO TRY TO DO THE WORK TO TRY TO FIND HIM.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE WORST BECAUSE IT'S SO SCARY.

IT'S SCARY FOR THE FAMILY, BUT IT'S SCARY FOR US.

WE'RE WE DON'T WE WANT TO FIND THESE PEOPLE.

IT'S NOTHING WORSE THAN THAN KNOWING SOMEBODY OUT THERE AND WE CAN'T FIND THEM.

[00:15:05]

AND AGAIN, IT SPEAKS TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

MY NAME IS RORY ALLEN, AND THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A VERY PERSONAL SITUATION FOR ME.

I WAS OBVIOUSLY SCARED AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE AMHERST POLICE HAVE SINCE SEEN ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THEY SAY SMALL ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU, LARGE ENOUGH TO SERVE YOU.

AND I CAN'T SAY THAT THOSE WORDS, THOSE WORDS WERE VERY TRUE IN THIS CASE.

THEY I FELT LIKE I WAS TREATED LIKE A HUMAN AND THAT I WOULDN'T BE TREATED JUST LIKE THEY CARED FROM THE MOMENT THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AND WAS A REFRESHING I DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY IN THE AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THIS AND THEY TOOK THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND WERE COMFORTING THE WHOLE TIME.

I NEVER HAD A DOUBT THAT THEY STOPPED WORKING ON IT.

AND OBVIOUSLY WITH THE OUTCOME THAT WE HAD, DETECTIVE KOZLOWSKI STAYED IN TOUCH THE ENTIRE TIME.

I KNOW IT WAS BUSY WITH THE IT WAS A WEEKEND AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN THAT CASE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BE TREATED VERY COLD LIKE SORRY, JUST, YOU KNOW, GET IN LINE. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT WENT INTO FINDING MY FATHER.

SO ON BEHALF OF MY ENTIRE FAMILY, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DID HERE.

IT WILL ALWAYS BE AN IMPORTANT THING FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

AND JUST A WORD OF THANKS FROM OUR SUPERVISOR AND OUR GUEST.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW THAT.

I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW THAT.

THERE'S NOT A BETTER TESTAMENT TO THE WORK THAT THE FINE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT DO THAN HEARING A PERSONAL STORY SHARED.

WE ARE, AS A TOWN BOARD, EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE COMMITMENT THAT THE AMHERST POLICE HAVE SHOWN TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST 100 YEARS.

WE ARE EQUALLY COMMITTED TO THE POLICE AND HELPING THEM IN ALL THEIR ENDEAVORS.

YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY.

RIGHT. GOING INTO BUDGET SEASON.

BUT NO EVERYBODY THAT'S UP HERE IS IS KNOWN IN PERSON TO OUR BOARD.

AND USUALLY WHEN YOU'RE INTERACTING WITH POLICE, IT'S NOT ALWAYS IN THE MOST FUN, MOST CELEBRATORY OF OCCASIONS.

RIGHT. AND EVERY TIME THAT MY OFFICE HAS HAD TO INTERACT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY, I'VE ALWAYS WITNESSED AND SEEN THAT THEY REPRESENT RESPECT AND TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY RECIPROCATES THAT TO THEM.

SO, EVERYBODY, CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR VINAL FOR HONORING THE HARD WORK OF ALL OF OUR POLICE MEN AND WOMEN HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. AND I GUESS WE CAN END WITH THAT. I DID WANT TO POINT OUT I WAS THINKING OF LYNN DIXON AND OUR OLD FRIEND ED RATH, BECAUSE WHEN ALL THIS WAS GOING ON, WHEN WE WERE AT A PANEL TOGETHER WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THEY WERE ASKED, WHAT DID YOU FIND MOST FULFILLING IN YOUR ROLE AS ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATOR? AND THEY BOTH INDIVIDUALLY STATED ORGANIZING THE PROJECT SILVER [INAUDIBLE] THEY BOTH SAID THAT.

AND I THOUGHT, WOW, OF ALL THE THINGS.

BUT THEN WHEN I WAS, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH A SECOND HAND WITH THE ALLEN FAMILY, I THOUGHT, I KNOW WHY YOU SAID THAT, YOU KNOW? SO I JUST WANTED TO CONNECT WITH THAT.

AND THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR COMING AND FOR BEING A PART OF THIS AND FOR ALL YOU DO FOR AMHERST.

YES. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

[00:20:08]

IT'S LIKE THE PRICE IS RIGHT.

THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION JEANNE SALUTE.

COME AROUND HERE. COME OVER HERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

SO MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, AND THIS YEAR'S THEME IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.

SO THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL HEALTH STATE THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER AND REMEMBER THE INHERENT VALUE WE EACH HOLD, NO MATTER OUR DIAGNOSIS, APPEARANCE, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC STATUS, BACKGROUND OR ABILITY.

WHAT WE'RE FIGURING OUT NOW, I SHOULDN'T SAY WHAT WE'RE FIGURING OUT, BUT WHAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO REALIZE IS THAT MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH IS A IS A PROMINENT ISSUE IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS APPROACHED BY MISS TIFFANY HERE TO, HEY, LET'S DO SOMETHING SURROUNDING THAT.

AND I THOUGHT I SAID, YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, GREAT IDEA TO DO THIS.

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PLAYING YOUR PROGRAM IN MY DISTRICT, AND WE WELCOME YOU AND WE LOVE YOUR PROGRAM.

SHE IS THE I DON'T WANT TO CALL HER CEO, BUT SHE RUNS THE CONFIDENT GIRL MENTORING PROGRAM.

SO IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH.

UM, WELL, LET ME MAKE SURE YOU'RE RIGHT.

THEIR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH RESILIENCY AND POSITIVE MENTORING.

AND SHE HAS A VERY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM.

I WAS PRIVILEGED AT THE END OF LAST SUMMER TO HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE THEY HAD LIKE 100 KIDS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING FUN.

AND I WAS JUST LIKE, WOW.

AND IT'S OFTEN YOU DON'T SEE THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO KUDOS AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND WE ALSO HAVE HERE I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, BRING, YOU KNOW, OTHER, YOU KNOW, OTHER EXPERTS IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.

SO DR.

ARCHER WAS SOMEONE I MET AT MLK PARK AND THERE WAS AN EVENT THERE.

AND WE WERE I WAS WALKING AROUND AND I STOPPED OVER TO TALK TO HER.

AND WE HAD A VERY LONG CONVERSATION CENTERED AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.

AND THIS WAS RIGHT.

IT WAS RIGHT AROUND COVID.

AND THEN ME AND HER COLLABORATED.

WE HELD A MENTAL HEALTH PANEL DISCUSSION VIA ZOOM, WHICH WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

SO, YOU KNOW, I SAID, HEY, I WANT TO INVITE THESE TWO HERE TO SPEAK ON ON ON MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.

I DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION I PRESENT AT THE END, BUT I WANT TO TURN IT OVER SO WE CAN HEAR FROM OUR FROM OUR SPEAKERS.

SO, DR.

ARCHER, FIRST AND I WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, HOWARD JOHNSON, FOR HAVING ME HERE.

THANK YOU ALL.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE CALLED A DOCTOR.

THAT IS NOT ME. THAT'S MY HUSBAND.

I'M ACTUALLY A PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER.

WE DO VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT A PSYCHIATRIST DOES.

I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M SO GLAD THAT WE ARE HONORING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.

IT'S TO ME IT'S EVERY DAY, BUT I'M GLAD WE'RE GIVING IT A MONTH AND NOT A DAY.

BECAUSE IF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT INTACT, NOTHING ELSE REALLY MATTERS AS WE CAN SEE AS IT PLAYS OUT IN EVERYDAY LIFE.

SO MENTAL HEALTH REFERS TO THE STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

MENTAL ILLNESS ACTUALLY REFERS TO DIAGNOSED ILLNESSES THAT AFFECT YOUR YOUR BEHAVIOR OR YOUR THOUGHTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIAGNOSES.

I WON'T GO INTO THEM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME STATISTICS.

THERE'S 1 IN 5 AMERICANS THAT SUFFER WITH MENTAL HEALTH THAT WE'RE AWARE OF.

1 IN 25 SUFFER FROM SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH IS THINGS LIKE BIPOLAR, SCHIZOPHRENIA AND MAJOR DEPRESSION.

AND FROM A CLINICAL STANDPOINT, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO DEAL WITH IT IS THERAPY AND MEDICATION.

AND THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY STIGMA AROUND THAT BECAUSE THE STIGMA IS WHAT HOLDS US DOWN FROM GETTING THE HELP THAT WE NEED SO WE CAN LIVE THE BEST VERSIONS OF OURSELVES IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

AND ESPECIALLY NOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THAT THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG 10 TO 14 AND 20 TO 34 YEAR OLDS IS SUICIDE.

WE REALLY HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND WHEN COVID, PRE-COVID, WE WERE IN A REALLY BAD SPOT.

BUT SINCE COVID, YOU KNOW, DEPRESSION AMONGST YOUTH AND ADULTS HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED.

AND THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE AWARE OF.

THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT ARE SUFFERING ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

MAYBE SOME OF US IN THIS ROOM, MAYBE SOME OF US OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM.

THERE IS NO SHAME, THERE IS NO STIGMA TO JUST REACH OUT TO SOMEONE AND TALK.

SO FROM A CLINICAL BASIS THERAPY PSYCHOEDUCATION NON-CLINICAL FROM INDIVIDUAL SELF CARE.

[00:25:05]

AND THAT'S JUST I JUST NEED FIVE MINUTES OF THAT AND IT JUST LOWERS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE DAILY GRIND BECAUSE WE HAVE A DAILY GRIND.

AND IF WE DON'T TAKE THE EDGE OFF, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP POURING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FAMILIES, IF WE'RE NOT POURING INTO OURSELVES? ALSO, EDUCATE YOURSELVES, YOU KNOW, TAKE A PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID OR MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID CLASS.

THEY'RE OFFERED BY OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH.

THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH MORE AVAILABLE NOW AND THEY'RE FREE.

ADVOCATE. SPEAK UP, REACH OUT.

LIKE I SAID, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH REACHING OUT FROM A.

COMMUNITY STANDPOINT AND ORGANIZATION STANDPOINT BEING A VERY COMPREHENSIVE, COLLABORATIVE HOLISTIC AND INTENTIONAL AND SERVING, WHETHER IT'S YOUR STAFF, WHETHER IT'S YOUR COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS YOU SERVE.

BUT TO DO THAT, YOU'LL HAVE A HEALTHIER INDIVIDUAL.

HEALTHIER FAMILY.

HEALTHIER SOCIETIES.

HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S WHAT THAT. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU. I WON'T CALL HER DR.

ARCHER. I WAS PROMOTING HER BEFORE HER TIME, SO MY APOLOGIES FOR NOW.

BUT THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE.

YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH IS CRUCIAL.

SO I WILL BE EATING A LOT OF ICE CREAM AND WATCHING GOLDEN GIRLS GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO NEXT, I WANTED TO BRING UP MS. TIFFANY LEWIS AND HER AND HER CONFIDENT MENTORING GIRL PROGRAM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE SHE TALKED ABOUT THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH.

SO THIS HONORABLE BODY HERE, WHAT WE DID OVER A YEAR AGO, IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER, WE GAVE MONEY FOR THE RESPITE CENTER THAT'S NOW HOUSED ON IN OUR FRUIT BELT COMMUNITY.

IT WAS A IT WAS A TASK GETTING IT DONE.

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME SOME OBSTACLES AND IT WASN'T WELL RECEIVED.

BUT NOW IT'S BECOMING WELL RECEIVED BECAUSE WE'RE STARTING TO REALIZE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS, YOU KNOW, IS AN ISSUE THAT PLAGUES A LOT OF US.

SO, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO TURN THIS PORTION OF IT BACK OVER TO MISS TIFFANY LEWIS.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS. COME ON.

SO THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR JOHNSON AND THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE BODY.

WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE WORD MENTAL HEALTH, RIGHT? SO WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AS THE LATEST BUZZWORD BECAUSE WE KNOW MENTAL HEALTH IS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE.

AND MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT ONLY A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE, BUT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH IS REALLY AT A NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY. AND ABOUT 70% OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES HAVE THEIR ONSET AND CHILDHOOD OR YOUTH.

AND WHICH DEPRESSION IS THE NUMBER ONE MOST DIAGNOSED MENTAL DISORDER IMPACTING AT LEAST 300 MILLION PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE INTERVENTION.

ALSO, THAT WE LEAD CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS THAT IMPROVE THE ACHIEVEMENT IN SCHOOLS AND THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF OUR YOUTH NATIONWIDE.

AT CONFIDENT GIRL MENTORING, WHERE I SERVE AS THE FOUNDER AND THE PRESIDENT OF CONFIDENT GIRL MENTORING, WE ARE CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR ONGOING SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GATHER AND TALK ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN A NON-JUDGMENTAL WAY, AND PROVIDING STRATEGIES TO DISMANTLE MENTAL HEALTH MYTHS.

SO SINCE JANUARY, MY OFFICE HAS TRAINED 4 CERTIFIED MENTAL HEALTH INSTRUCTORS AND 14 ADULTS IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, THE FIRST OF A YOUTH ORGANIZATION, A YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATION IN ERIE COUNTY.

A LOT OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE TODAY FROM VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY FAMILY FAMILIES THAT REPRESENT CONFIDENT GIRL MENTORING. SO OF THE 14, WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN THAT ARE HERE TODAY, WHICH IS AN INCREASED IMPACT AND INFORMATION, ALSO AWARENESS AND ALSO SOCIAL GATHERING AMONGST OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ACCESS AND THEN EQUIPT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS AND ALSO HELP WITH THEIR TEENS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID AS WELL.

SO WE'RE THE ONLY ORGANIZATION HERE AND AND THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID.

SO OUR GOAL IS TO TRAIN OVER 100 YOUTH THIS YEAR, THIS SUMMER, AND TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID.

BUT WE CANNOT DO THAT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR COMMUNITIES AND ALSO OUR FAMILIES.

SO AGAIN, WE JUST THANK YOU, LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATOR JOHNSON, FOR AGAIN SHINING THE LIGHT ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID AND ALSO OUR CHAIRWOMAN, APRIL BASKIN, BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO WE STARTED WHAT'S CALLED A COLLECTIVE AND WE COULDN'T DO THAT WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR

[00:30:08]

SO WE HAVE TO, AS A COLLECTIVE BODY, CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD.

AND SHE TALKED ABOUT HOPE EARLIER.

IF YOU LOOK AROUND, THIS IS HOPE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THIS YOUNG GIRL RIGHT HERE, MY GRANDDAUGHTER WHO'S ONLY TWO YEARS OLD, THAT'S HOPE.

THAT'S WHAT HOPE LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR FUTURE.

AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THAT HOPE TO HER? SO THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

SO WE GOT A PROCLAMATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH MONTH AND FOR CONFIDENT GIRL MENTORING AND I'LL READ IT.

SO IT SAYS WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH BRINGS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF FAMILIES.

AND WHEREAS, MENTAL HEALTH ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES, TAKE CARE OF OUR PHYSICAL BODIES AND RESPOND AND ADAPT TO DAILY LIFE CHANGES. AND WHEREAS, WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE DETECTED EARLY AND TREATED, PEOPLE CAN RECOVER AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT LIFE.

AND WHEREAS, SINCE 2016, CONFIDENT GIRL MENTORING HAS STRIVED TO FULFILL ITS MISSION OF IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCE THROUGH POSITIVE, POSITIVE MENTORING.

AND WHEREAS, CONFIDENT GIRL MENTORING HAS GAINED RECOGNITION IN THE MENTORING AND COMMUNITY AND IS A REGISTERED AGENCY IN THE NEW YORK STATE TRAUMA INFORMED NETWORK AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL MENTORING CONNECTOR, A UNIFYING CHAMPION FOR EXPANDING QUALITY YOUTH MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND WHEREAS, THIS PROGRAM HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THEIR MISSION THROUGH ITS FIVE POINT EVIDENCE BASED MENTORING SYSTEM THAT RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE EFFECT OF TRAUMA ON MENTAL HEALTH AND YIELDS YOUTH CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM TO CULTIVATE A HEALTHIER SOCIETY.

AND WHEREAS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT EACH BUSINESS, SCHOOL, GOVERNMENT AGENCY, NONPROFIT AGENCY AND COMMUNITY MEMBER PLAYS A ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF STRENGTHENING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND IMPLEMENTING AN INTEGRATED PLAN TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH.

AND WHEREAS, DURING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, WE RECOGNIZE PROGRAMS LIKE CONFIDENT GIRL MENTORING AND COMMIT OURSELVES TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH ERIE COUNTY SUPPORT, SUPPORTING AND TRAINING MORE PROVIDERS, IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE AND BUILDING HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE DOES HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE CONFIDENT GIRL MENTORING AND HIGHLIGHT MENTAL AWARENESS MONTH AND BRINGING AWARENESS TO INVEST IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO HELP SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS IN NEED [APPLAUSE].

SO IF YOU TAKE ONLY ONE THING AWAY FROM THIS, REMEMBER I SAID THIS EAT ICE CREAM AND WATCH GOLDEN GIRLS.

THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR VINAL AND LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATIONS AND THANK YOU TO MISS TIFFANY LEWIS, WHO HAS ALSO SERVED AS THE COUNTY'S CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN.

YOU ARE MAKING AN IMPACT IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS ACROSS ERIE COUNTY TIFFANY FROM CONFIDENT GIRL MENTORING TO ACKNOWLEDGING THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT WE HAVE TO SERVING WOMEN ACROSS EVERY COUNTY WITH EQUITY INITIATIVES.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, QUEEN SO THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

OKAY. SO BACK.

YES, BEAUTIFUL.

THANKS FOR COMING [INAUDIBLE].

BACK TO OUR AGENDA.

OKAY. IF YOU'RE ON YOUR TABLET OR USING THE PAPER COPY, WE ARE NOW ON PAGE THREE, LOCAL LAWS, LOCAL

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

MOVE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER SEVEN FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

[00:35:02]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE FOR A MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

DO I HAVE A SECOND.

SECONDED BY MINORITY LEADER MILLS ON THE QUESTION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. CARRIED.

THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER FIVE FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMORE SECOND PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL MADE BY COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMORE SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE REPORT IS APPROVED LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS INTRO 11-1 FROM FROM LEGISLATOR MALCZEWSKI IS DIRECTED TO THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

INTRO 11-2 FROM LEGISLATOR MALCZEWSKI IS DIRECTED TO THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR LEGISLATOR.

MADAM CHAIR. YES, I MAKE A MOTION TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIR.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIR TO THE RULING OF THE CHAIR BE OVERTURNED.

OKAY. THERE'S BEEN AN OVERTURNING MADE BY LEGISLATOR TODARO, MR. CLERK, ON THE MOTION TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIR.

THANK YOU. I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY FLUID SITUATION.

I THINK IT'S CHANGING.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE KNOW EVERYTHING.

I THINK THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT IF IT'S ILLEGAL OR NOT.

I ALSO RECALL WE JUST COME OUT OF A PANDEMIC HEALTH PANDEMIC WITHIN A YEAR.

AND I RECALL SEEING MEMBERS PUTTING THIS UP, SAYING THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAD TOO MANY POLITICS, TOO MANY EXECUTIVE ORDERS, AND TAKE THAT AWAY FROM IT.

NOW WE WANT TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE COUNTY.

SO I JUST THINK THERE'S SOME MIXED MESSAGES THERE, BUT I VOTE FOR IT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

SO THE MOTION TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIR FAILS IN THE ITEM WILL REMAIN IN GOVERNMENT AND AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

INTRO 11-3 IS RECEIVED AND FILED UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

INTRO 14-4 REGARDING THE WORKDAY RESOLUTION LEGISLATOR MEYERS.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY LEGISLATOR MEYERS IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE LEGISLATOR MEYERS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]

ERIE COUNTY SEWER DISTRICT NUMBER SIX [INAUDIBLE] IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.

ON THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE ALL, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO DISCHARGE MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S MY SECOND BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE MOTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVE TO AMEND COMMUNICATIONS 6E-9 WITH WHAT'S BEEN PASSED OUT, THERE'S PROPER MOTION TO AMEND THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED MEYERS.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 6E-9 AS AMENDED.

MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

MEYERS HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

NEXT DISCHARGE MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 6E-11 FROM THE ENERGY ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.

ERIE COUNTY SEWER DISTRICT NUMBER TWO BIG SISTER CREEK WRRF IT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO DISCHARGE AN ITEM MADE BY LEGISLATOR MEYERS.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR MILLS ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

MAJORITY LEADER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO AMEND COMMUNICATION 6E-11 WITH WHAT'S BEEN PASSED, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO AMEND THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY THE MINORITY LEADER.

ALL IN FAVOR ON THE QUESTION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES.

THE ITEM IS NOW AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVE TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 6E-11 AS AMENDED.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS AMENDED MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY MINORITY LEADER MILLS ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED.

OKAY. CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THE ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

NEXT DISCHARGE MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS MOVED TO DISCHARGE INTRO 3-2 FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIR BASKIN LEGISLATIVE JOHNSON APPOINTMENTS TO THE ERIE COUNTY HEALTH EQUITY ADVISORY BOARD.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO DISCHARGE THE ITEM MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS.

[00:40:04]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

MAJORITY LEADER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

I MOVE TO AMEND INTRO 3-2 WITH WHAT'S BEEN SENT OUT.

OKAY. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO AMEND IT WITH WHAT'S BEEN CAST OUT MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THE RESOLUTION IS AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO APPROVE INTRO 3-2 AS AMENDED.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS AMENDED MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 10E-18 FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY HEALTH EQUITY ADVISORY BOARD.

EXCUSE ME, SIR. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO DISCHARGE THE ITEM 10E-18 MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 10E-18.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE DISCHARGE.

I'M SORRY TO AMEND THE DISCHARGE MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S APPROVED THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE DISCHARGE MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

IF YOU ARE USING THE PAPER COPY, WE ARE NOW ON PAGE FIVE OF THE AGENDA.

[ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:]

MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE FIVE SUSPENSIONS.

THE FIRST COMMITTEE FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE RENEW PLAN CONTRACTS, AUTHORIZATIONS, PHASE SEVEN.

THANK YOU, MR. CLERK.

OKAY. THIS ITEM IS GOING TO BE DIRECTED TO THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

NEXT SUSPENSION, MR. MEYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

THE NEXT SUSPENSION IS FOR COMMITTEE FROM THE SHERIFF LEASE SPACE AT 10 CENTER DRIVE ORCHARD PARK.

MR. CLERK.

NEXT SUSPENSION.

THE NEXT SUSPENSION IS FOR COMMITTEE FROM THE SHERIFF, MOOSE AND DEIMOS CANINE RETIREMENT TRANSFER.

MR. CLERK.

THIS ITEM IS GOING TO BE REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR LEGISLATOR MEYERS NEXT SUSPENSION.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE NEXT SUSPENSION IS FROM CINDI MCEACHON.

RESIGNATION LETTER FROM ERIE COUNTY COMMUNITY SPECIALIST ADVISORY BOARD.

MR. CLERK THIS ITEM IS GOING TO BE RECEIVED, FILED AND PRINTED UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

NEXT SUSPENSION MR. MEYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

THE FINAL SUSPENSION IS FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION FROM CHAIR BASKIN APPOINTMENTS TO THE ERIE COUNTY CORRECTIONS SPECIALIST ADVISORY BOARD.

MR. CLERK. MR. MEYERS. I MOVED TO APPROVE.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEMBERS OF THE ERIE COUNTY SPECIALIST ADVISORY BOARD MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

IS THERE A ISSUE? CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNICATION 11E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 11E-3 AS INDICATED COMMUNICATION FROM I'M SORRY, COMMUNICATION 11E-4 FROM THE CONTROLLER REGARDING THE HOME RULE REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION FOR EXTENSION OF THE SALES TAX.

ADDITIONAL SALES TAX.

MAJORITY LEADER. I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? YES.

ON THE QUESTION. ON THE QUESTION.

OKAY. ROLL CALL.

VOTE, MR. CLERK.

[00:45:03]

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA COMMUNICATION 11E-5 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 11E-8 AS INDICATED PAPER COPIES OF THE AGENDA PAGE SIX COMMUNICATION 11E-9 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 11E-12 AS INDICATED COMMUNICATION 11E-13 IS GOING TO BE DIRECTED TO THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN MY DIRECTION AT THE WORK SESSION FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA COMMUNICATION 11E-14 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 11 E-20 AS INDICATED PAGE SEVEN COMMUNICATION 11E-21 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 11E-33 AS INDICATED COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNICATION

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

THE NEXT SCHEDULED SESSION OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE IS THURSDAY, JUNE 8TH.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS MEMBERS? OKAY. IF YOU ARE ABLE, PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

HEY, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF CLARA CLAIRE GOMEZ SHE WAS A PANHANDLER IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WAS WAS PROBABLY THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE BUFFALO COMMUNITY. WHAT IT REALLY WAS TO BE A BUFFALO MEMBER.

SHE DEALT WITH SOME MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, BUT SHE WAS STILL A VIBRANT, YOU KNOW, VIBRANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY [INAUDIBLE].

I'D LIKE TO JOIN LEGISLATOR JOHNSON IN THE MEMORY OF MISS CLARA GOMEZ.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY REFERS TO HER AS MISS CLAIRE.

I THINK MISS CLAIRE REPRESENTS SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT WHAT MAKES BUFFALO THE CITY OF GOOD NEIGHBORS, BUT ALSO REPRESENTATION OF JUST HOW FAR WE HAVE TO GO WITH HUMAN SERVICES TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.

AND SHE WILL BE MISSED.

ANY OTHER LEGISLATOR? TODARO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF DONALD GAVIOLA.

I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS LEGISLATOR.

MINORITY LEADER MILLS.

I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEMORY OF BARBARA PARISH.

MY CONDOLENCES LEGISLATOR.

ANY OTHERS. LEGISLATOR VINAL.

OUR CONDOLENCES LEGISLATOR.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEMORY OF JUSTIN COSTANTINO.

JUSTIN GREW UP DOWN THE STREET FROM ME AS A LITTLE BROTHER, AND MUCH LIKE THE REST OF OUR DISTRICT, HE SUCCUMBED LAST WEEK TO THE DEMONS THAT HIS SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND I LIKE TO ADJOURN IN HIS MEMORY AS WELL AS JACK BEERS.

CONDOLENCES TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND HIS FAMILY.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE THAT HAVE GONE ON TO BE WITH THE LORD.

AMEN. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOTION TO ADJOURN.

BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.