Sep 07, 2023 Legislative Session

[ ROLL CALL]

[00:00:03]

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO ORDER.

THIS IS MEETING NUMBER 16 OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2023.

MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. BEFORE WE STAND FOR TODAY'S INVOCATION, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIFE AND THE LOSS OF ONE OF THE MAJORITY CAUCUS'S BELOVED STAFF MEMBERS. FATHER TIMOTHY [INAUDIBLE] WAS THE FATHER OF JEREMY [INAUDIBLE] AND HE HAS GONE ON TO BE WITH THE LORD IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

AND TODAY'S LEGISLATURE MEETING WILL BE IN HONOR OF HIM.

WE WILL RECOGNIZE HIM AGAIN LATER TODAY DURING MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.

BUT JUST KNOW ON BEHALF OF OUR BODY, WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR GREENE.

PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE.

LEGISLATOR GREENE.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, MADAM CHAIR.

AMEN. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING IF YOU ARE ABLE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY LEGISLATOR GILMORE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ON WITH OUR AGENDA TABLED ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM OUR PREVIOUS MEETING.

THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - Meeting No. 15]

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

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MEETING MINUTES FROM MEETING 15 ARE APPROVED.

PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE ARE NONE.

MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE AND CONTINUING ON TO PAGE TWO.

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO CONSIDER.

SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER.

I'M SORRY. THESE RESOLUTIONS ARE CONTINUED ON TO PAGE THREE.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER.

IT'S 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. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE AT ALL SPONSORSHIP.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO MAKE AT ALL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMORE.

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 MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS AS AMENDED 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 APPROVED AS AMENDED.

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

SECOND PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0 CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE.

[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]

[ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:]

WE HAVE TWO SUSPENSIONS.

THE FIRST FROM THE MAJORITY CAUCUS APPOINTMENTS TO THE CITIZEN SALARY REVIEW COMMISSION.

OKAY. SO THIS ITEM, MR. CLERK. 16.

OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE FILE AND PRINT THIS LETTER UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

MAJORITY LEADER.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE NEXT SUSPENSION IS FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS CALLING FOR INFORMATION REGARDING EXPENSES OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TO ERIE COUNTY. MR. CLERK OKAY.

MR. MEYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVED TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION WITH WHAT'S BEEN PASSED NOW.

OKAY. THERE'S BEEN AN AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN PASSED OUT.

SECOND. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GREENE ON THE QUESTION ON THE AMENDMENT.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT? AYE. ANY OPPOSED TO THE AMENDMENT? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED.

[00:05:02]

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

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNICATIONS 16-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 16E-10 AS INDICATED ON TO PAGE FIVE OF YOUR

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

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

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

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

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM? ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED ONTO PAGE SEVEN OF OUR AGENDA COMMUNICATION 16E-40 FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REGARDING THE TEAMSTERS LOCAL 264 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE TO CONSIDER THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR A CONSULTANT.

OKAY. ON THE QUESTION, JUST ONE QUESTION.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WE'RE JUST CONSIDERING THE ITEM RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THE NEXT MOTION IS GOING TO BE THE AMENDED.

CORRECT. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE CONSIDERATION.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE MOTION APPROVED.

AND THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVE TO AMEND WITH WHAT'S BEEN PASSED NOW, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO AMEND THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

ON THE QUESTION ON THE AMENDMENT.

SO IN WORK SESSION WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AMENDING THE ITEM TO INCLUDE THE BODY CAMERA POLICY.

DOES EVERYBODY HAVE THE AMENDMENT? . SO THERE'S BEEN SO THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO AMEND THE ITEM.

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

LEGISLATOR GREENE I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT AT THE WORK SESSION TO CONFIRM THAT THIS IS PROPERLY PUT TOGETHER.

FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT.

WE'RE NOT YEAH, WE'RE NOT AMENDING THE CONTRACT, WE'RE JUST ADDING ADDING AN AMENDMENT.

YEAH. THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK.

THANK YOU.

NO ISSUES. OKAY.

ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM IS AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA COMMUNICATION 16E-41 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS 16E- 44 AS INDICATED COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS,

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, AND THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

ALSO, THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING NEXT THURSDAY ON SEPTEMBER 14TH AT 6 P.M.

TO HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENT TO LOCAL LAW INTRO 16-1.

THAT IS THE LOCAL LAW REGARDING PROVIDING THE EXTENDED LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 13 CENTER DRIVE IN ORCHARD PARK, AFFILIATED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE LEASE THAT WE DEBATED BEFORE RECESS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? I HAVE ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT, MR. CLERK. THE MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE WERE SO KIND.

THE ITEM NUMBER IS ESCAPING ME RIGHT NOW.

[00:10:04]

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING THAT RESOLUTION.

YOU ALSO ALL MADE IT CLEAR, SPECIFICALLY THE MINORITY LEADER, THAT YOU WANTED THIS CONVERSATION TO CONTINUE IN A FORMAL COMMITTEE.

SO I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE CHAIR OF THE MWBE COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR JOHNSON, AND HE HAS AGREED TO HAVE A COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ON AUGUST 5TH.

THAT IS A SESSION I'M SORRY, OCTOBER 5TH.

I DID NOT SAY AUGUST 5TH, OCTOBER 5TH.

THAT IS A SESSION DAY.

THAT IS NOT A COMMITTEE DAY.

THAT IS A SESSION DAY WHERE WE WILL HOLD A FORMAL COMMITTEE OF THE MWBE COMMITTEE PRIOR TO WORK SESSION AT 9 A.M.

AT THAT TIME.

I KNOW LEGISLATOR VINAL YOU HAVE EXPERTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME IN TO TALK ABOUT THE BIDDING PROCESS.

AND ALL OF US HAVE CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE AS A DISABLED VETERAN, BUSINESS OWNER, AS A MINORITY BUSINESS OWNER, OR A WOMAN BUSINESS OWNER WHO SHOULD SEEK EVERY OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE.

I WILL ALSO BE CLOCKING IN A RECOMMENDATION TO THIS HONORABLE BODY TO CONVENE A COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON INCLUSION FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY, AND THAT COMMITTEE CAN BE UPDATED REGULARLY AND REPORT BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE THE ON GOINGS OF INCLUSION OPPORTUNITIES.

I'VE INVITED THE BUFFALO BILLS TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BUFFALO BILLS TO BE PRESENT AT THAT COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TURNER AND GILBANE CONSTRUCTION.

THE MANAGING CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN HIRED TO HIRE THE STADIUM AS WELL AS THE OFFICE OF EEO.

IF THERE IS ANYBODY ELSE THAT THIS HONORABLE BODY WOULD LIKE TO SEE REPRESENTED AT THE MWBE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE PRACTICES OF INCLUSION FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO BID ON STADIUM CONTRACTS, PLEASE COME TO MYSELF OR SEE THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, LEGISLATOR JOHNSON SO THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM AN INVITE AND WE CAN HAVE OUR FAVORITE WORD, A ROBUST CONVERSATION ON INCLUSION TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY THAT IS A RESIDENT OF ERIE COUNTY HAS ACCESS TO BEING A HIRED VENDOR OR BUSINESS OWNER AS WE CONSTRUCT THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. THAT CONCLUDES MY ANNOUNCEMENT.

IF THERE ARE NO OTHERS, I'LL ASK THE BODY TO STAND FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTION.

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

TIMMY WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE RARE BREED MC AND A RETIRED FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPAIR SHOP FOR 26 YEARS.

JEREMY, AGAIN, WE ARE SORRY FOR YOU AND YOUR SIBLINGS AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU DURING THIS TIME OF LOSS.

ANY OTHER MEMBERS? LEGISLATOR JOHNSON YES, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF JOYCE WILSON NIXON, WHO WAS A STRONG YOUTH ADVOCATE.

HER WORK WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] WAS JUST IF YOU KNEW WHO SHE WAS AND YOU KNEW WHAT THAT PROGRAM DID FOR THE INNER CITY YOUTH [INAUDIBLE] . A PILLAR IN OUR COMMUNITY AND A HUGE LOSS TO US ALL.

I JOIN YOU LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

ANY OTHERS? LEGISLATOR TODARO.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVED TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF AGOSTINO AURILIO.

JACQUELINE STARR, WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE BOWMANSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE ASSOCIATION SERVING THE CITIZENS OF LANCASTER FOR OVER 25 YEARS.

SHE SERVED AS A CHAPLAIN, DIRECTOR, CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUXILIARY, AND ALSO MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEMORY OF JAMES SMITH.

I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS LEGISLATOR.

LEGISLATOR GREENE.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF NELSON SHIRLEY, DR.

ROBERT KUNDSCHAFTER AND JOHN ROTTENMEIER.

WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS COLLEAGUE.

ANY OTHERS? 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 LEGISLATOR JOHNSON, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMORE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.