Mar 07, 2024 Legislative Session

[00:00:02]

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE WORK SESSION TO ORDER FOR MEETING NUMBER FIVE.

I'LL BE PINCH HITTING FOR THE CHAIRWOMAN THIS MORNING.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS AGENDA A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER.

IF YOU COULD BEAR WITH ME.

UP FIRST, WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE ONE SUSPENSION OUT OF ORDER AND SOMETHING FOR MEDIA CONSIDERATION.

WE HAVE THE SENATOR.

SENATOR RYAN IS HERE.

SENATOR DURBIN, PLEASE.

COMING UP, THIS IS INTROING 5-7 NEW YORK SUPPORT BILL ON EMERGENCY HOUSING.

SO, SENATOR HAS JOINED US THIS MORNING.

HE'S GOING TO GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND AND THEN WE'LL GET BACK TO THE AGENDA IN ITS ORDER.

GOOD MORNING, SENATOR. GOOD MORNING.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

I WORKED WITH SEVERAL OF YOU OVER THE YEARS, SOME OF YOU RIGHT IN THIS BUILDING.

SO, I'M GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF DEJA VU.

MOST OF IT. GOOD.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

SO, I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT A RESOLUTION THAT'S ON YOUR AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON.

AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FACING GREAT DIFFICULTIES WITH HOUSING IN ERIE COUNTY AND THE REST OF THE STATE.

BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICALLY HAD VERY HIGH EVICTION RATES.

THAT EVICTION RATES, YOU KNOW, WASN'T AS PROBLEMATIC WHEN WE HAD A LARGER SUPPLY OF HOUSING.

BUT NOW THAT OUR SUPPLY IS DIMINISHED, IF YOU'RE FACING EVICTION MORE AND MORE, YOU'RE ENDING UP IN A SHELTER SYSTEM OR A HOTEL THAT'S PAID FOR BY COUNTY TAXPAYERS.

WE DID RESEARCH OVER THE SUMMER, AND WE FOUND OUT THAT THE AVERAGE EVICTION IN BUFFALO IS BASED ON $1,200 IN CONTROVERSY, SO PEOPLE ARE BEING DISPLACED OVER $1,200.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE BEING DISPLACED ARE ELIGIBLE FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES, THEY'RE TANF ELIGIBLE.

BUT DURING THE CLINTON WELFARE REFORM YEARS, THERE'S A LOT OF STRINGS ATTACHED TO THIS MONEY.

IT'S 100% FEDERALLY FUNDED MONEY.

THEY'VE BEEN USING THIS MONEY IN NEW YORK CITY TO DO WHAT WE CALL ONE SHOTS FOR DECADES.

BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME RESTRICTIONS WE DO.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S RESTRICTIONS OF YOU CAN ONLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.

AND THERE'S ALSO RESTRICTIONS ABOUT HAVING HOW YOU PAY IT BACK.

PEOPLE HAVE TO SIGN CONFESSIONS OF JUDGMENTS, AND ALSO, THEY HAVE TO SHOW THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO PAY IT WHICH IS OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE ALL THOSE THINGS.

SO, IT RESULTS IN ERIE COUNTY AND COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE ACTUALLY SENDING MONEY BACK EVERY YEAR, BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF THE ONE SHOT, THEY DON'T QUALIFY.

SO, WE'RE TRYING TO SIMPLIFY THIS PROGRAM TO MAKE IT BE MORE LIKE HEAT.

SO, IF YOU QUALIFY FOR HEAP, WE DON'T SAY, WELL, YOU GOT IT FOUR YEARS AGO.

SO, YOU CAN'T YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE ANYMORE.

WE SIMPLY ASK, YOU KNOW, DO YOU NEED HELP.

AND WE WANT TO STOP YOU FROM BEING COLD.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT EVICTIONS THE SAME WAY.

SO, WE'RE ASKING FOR A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD SUPPORT A BILL THAT I'M CARRYING THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE FIVE-YEAR RULE AND ELIMINATE SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY.

AND WE BELIEVE IF THIS IS PASSED IT WILL SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE EVICTION RATE IN ERIE COUNTY.

KEEPING IN MIND, YOU KNOW, THE MOST SALIENT POINT IS PEOPLE ARE BEING DISPLACED FOR, ON AVERAGE, $1,200, AND IT'S COSTING THE COUNTY SAFETY NET PROGRAMS WELL IN EXCESS OF THE $1,200.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE SENATOR? EXCELLENT. THANKS SO MUCH. THANKS FOR TAKING ME OUT OF ORDER.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

I JUST WANT TO BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

OKAY. MOVING BACK ON WITH OUR AGENDA ON PAGE ONE.

MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE AS INDICATED ON PAGE TWO.

MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE AS INDICATED ON THE PAGE THREE AS INDICATED.

LOCAL LAWS ARE NONE.

COMMITTEE REPORTS A REPORT, NUMBER FOUR FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

LEGISLATOR JOHNSON. WE ALL SET, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU.

REPORT NUMBER FOUR FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

MR. CHAIR, REPORT NUMBER THREE FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LEGISLATOR GILMORE.

ALSO REPORT NUMBER THREE FROM FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT.

LEGISLATOR MEYERS. ALL GOOD.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

MOVING ON TO OUR LEGISLATOR.

RESOLUTIONS. INTRO 5-1 LEGISLATOR VINAL.

THIS WILL BE DIRECTED TO SMALL BUSINESS.

GOOD WITH YOU. OKAY.

INTRO 5-2 FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS.

WILL BE DIRECTED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

[00:05:02]

INTRO 5-3 ADOPTION OF PERSONNEL POLICIES FOR MANAGERIAL AND CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

IT'LL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

LEGISLATOR GILMORE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? YES. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE IN MAKING THEM WORK WITH [INAUDIBLE].

TO MEMORIALIZE WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE SPOKE BEFORE THAT A LOT OF THESE BENEFITS THAT ARE DRIVING THE MIX ARE BASED UPON CONTRACTS THAT THE UNIONS HAVE THROUGH CSEA, BUT NOTHING IN WRITING.

SO, WE WANTED TO KIND OF STANDARDIZE IT ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, FOR THE COUNTY.

SO, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE'VE GOT BUY IN FROM ALL THE INDEPENDENT ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND I'M HOPING TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES TODAY.

THANK YOU. I GOT JUST ONE QUESTION FOR JOHN.

JOHN? YEAH. DO YOU KNOW HOW THIS IMPACTS THE FINANCES OF THE COUNTY AT ALL? PACKED TO THE FINANCES OF THE COUNTY.

THERE ULTIMATELY WILL BE MODEST SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY.

ULTIMATELY, BECAUSE FOLKS MOVE FROM A STANDARD VACATION PAYOUT SYSTEM TO AN ANNUAL ALLOTMENT THAT WOULDN'T GET PAID OUT.

SO, THERE'S SOME MODEST SAVINGS THERE.

THIS WOULD ALSO ELIMINATE CERTAIN KINDS OF OVERTIME AMOUNTS, LIKE ON HOLIDAYS THAT SOME EMPLOYEES WERE GETTING PREVIOUSLY.

SO MODEST SAVINGS, I WOULD SAY ULTIMATELY.

SO, NET POSITIVE IMPACT.

NET POSITIVE FISCAL IMPACT.

OKAY. MOVING ON.

OUR NEXT ITEM IS INTRO 5-4.

CALL FOR AN EXTERNAL AUDIT OF THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

I'M GOING TO HAVE LEGISLATOR JOHNSON SPEAK ON IT.

THE CLERK IS HERE IF YOU WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK ON IT.

AND WE'LL ALSO DEFER TO THE COMPTROLLER.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. YEAH. THIS RESOLUTION IS CALLING ON THE CLERK TO DO AN EXTERNAL AUDIT OF THE OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

WE ALL KNOW YOU KNOW, VIA THE NEWS, VIA WHAT WE SEE IN FRONT OF US, VIA WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO ABOUT THE OFFICE AND THE MISHAPS THAT'S TAKING PLACE THERE. SO, WE'RE ASKING ONE, THE CLERK TO DO AN RFP FOR AN EXTERNAL AUDIT FOR BOTH DIVISIONS, THE AUDIT BUREAU AND THE REGISTERS BUREAU, ALSO WORKING WITH THE COMPTROLLER TO GET THAT DONE.

WE'RE AND WE'RE ALSO ASKING THE COMPTROLLER, I MEAN, THE CLERK'S OFFICE, TO ALSO PAY FOR THIS AS WELL, TO FIND MONEY IN THIS BUDGET TO OR, I SHOULDN'T SAY THIS BUDGET TO FIND MONEY IN THE OFFICE TO GET THIS DONE AS WELL.

OKAY. WE'LL GO TO THE CLERK.

CLERK? YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU. THIS HONORABLE BODY.

FIRST, IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS.

AS WAS REPORTED YESTERDAY, AFTER A LONG INVESTIGATION WE WANT TO THANK THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

WE WANT TO THANK THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF.

AND, OF COURSE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT TO THANK THE SECRET SERVICE.

WE WERE ABLE TO RECAPTURE THAT CHECK THAT WAS STOLEN.

FROM STATE, COUNTY AND STATE TAXPAYERS AS A PASS THROUGH THAT WENT OUT OF THIS OFFICE STOLEN IN THE MAIL.

AND, YOU KNOW, GOOD NEWS.

AND THE REASON WHY THAT HAPPENED WAS WE WORK WITH INVESTIGATORS.

WE COULDN'T COMMENT ON THIS INFORMATION.

WE WOULD GET CALLS.

SO WITH THAT, THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

AND THE REASON WHY I BRING THAT UP IS WHEN YOU DO LET INVESTIGATORS DO THEIR WORK, YOU COULD HAVE POSITIVE RESULTS.

AND I JUST WANT TO BRING SOMETHING FORWARD TO YOU TODAY.

WE RECEIVED THE SECOND AUDIT.

AS I'M SPEAKING RIGHT NOW ALL OF MY STAFF IS MEETING WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S STAFF.

THEY'RE REVIEWING AND ASKING QUESTIONS OF THE WORKING PAPERS, AND I DID I DID BRING COPIES FOR BOTH THE MAJORITY AND THE MINORITY.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE PAPERS AND YOU TALK ABOUT COMPLIANCE AND WE TALK ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT I THINK WHEN YOU REVIEW THEM, I HAVE 2010 VISION.

YOU KNOW, I AM NEARSIGHTED.

I CAN'T SEE FAR AWAY. I DON'T HAVE GLASSES.

BUT IF THERE'S ANY ATTORNEY HERE AND YOU GOT THIS IN DISCOVERY THEY'RE UNREADABLE.

SO MY POINT IS, IS THAT HERE'S THE FACTS.

THE FACTS ARE THERE'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN REPORTED.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EVERYBODY IS WORKING ON THAT.

AND THAT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS NOW.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO COOPERATE WITH THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE WITH THEIR INVESTIGATION.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, HERE'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.

[00:10:04]

THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OFFICES.

MANY OF THE PROFESSIONALS, WHETHER IT'S OUR LOCAL ATTORNEYS, IT'S OUR TITLE PEOPLE THE FINANCIAL COMMUNITY WE RELY ON SOFTWARE TO GET THAT STUFF DONE.

NOW, IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE STILL USING YOUR PHONE FROM 20 YEARS AGO OR YOUR SAME COMPUTER.

YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT, BUT ERIE COUNTY IS.

THE ERIE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IS.

WE'VE RECEIVED A FEW UPDATES OVER THE YEARS, BUT HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED.

WE JUST RECEIVED WORD.

AND THIS IS WHY I'M PUTTING YOU ON NOTICE THAT RECORDS LNG ARE RECORDS YOU KNOW SOFTWARE WILL BE OBSOLETE IN TWO YEARS. AND YOU SAY TO YOURSELF, WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? THAT'S A LONG-TIME CLERK.

IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WHEN WE RECEIVED THE AUDIT AND THE COMPTROLLER STATED, RIGHTLY AND CORRECTLY, THAT WE FOUND THAT THERE WERE BUGS IN OUR SOFTWARE AND THERE WERE THINGS THAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM AND FOR OUR OFFICE TO DO REPORTS TO GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEEDED.

WE ARE GOING TO NEED SOFTWARE IMMEDIATELY.

AND IT'S GOING TO COST BETWEEN BASED ON THE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT WE HAD PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WITH BETWEEN 500,000 AND $1 MILLION.

NOT ONLY IS THAT GOING TO TAKE THIS IS A BIG OPERATION.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO A YEAR TO CONVERT THIS.

REMEMBER, MY JOB IS THE KEEPER OF THE RECORDS.

SO THAT'S ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO A YEAR.

NOW THERE'S GOING TO BE ABOUT APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS OF TRAINING OF OUR STAFF.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF PROJECT TO GET THIS DONE.

ALL I'M SAYING IS, IS THAT YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AGAINST AN EXTERNAL AUDIT, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MANY HOURS IN A DAY, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR PRESENTATION BASED ON THE SECOND AUDIT.

AND IF YESTERDAY WAS ANY INDICATION OF WHAT'S TO COME, TO NOT RUSH TO JUDGMENT, TO NOT RUN IN AND APPROVE THIS TODAY UNTIL WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS.

THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE.

THIS HASN'T BEEN DONE IN NEARLY 15 YEARS.

SO, THINKING ABOUT TIME, THINKING ABOUT.

RESOURCES. WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUT THOSE RESOURCES TOGETHER.

BUT I'LL BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, AND I WANT TO LET THIS HONORABLE BODY KNOW THE STAFF IS TIRED.

THE RANK-AND-FILE WORKERS, THEY'RE TIRED.

THAT DOESN'T WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MAKE EXCUSES, BUT THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE PROPER SOFTWARE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AFTER AN RFP.

SO, WE DID DRAFT THE LETTER.

AND I KNOW WE WANT INTEGRATION OF SAP, RIGHT? THE COUNTY'S ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.

WE DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.

BUT SAP IS GOING TO BE OBSOLETE IN A FEW YEARS.

THERE ARE ISSUES WITH TRAINING.

SO EVEN IF WHEN WE ASK AND SAY, WELL, OKAY, IF WE'RE ABLE TO INTEGRATE SAP, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THE TRAINING? THEY'RE GOOGLING.

THEY'RE GOOGLING TRAINING AND HOW TO DO THINGS.

THERE IS NO TRAINING FOR SAP.

SO, WE'VE ASKED THE STATE COMPTROLLER TO COME IN.

I WOULD HOPE THAT THE STATE COMPTROLLER COULD COME IN, COULD SAVE SOME TAXPAYERS SOME MONEY.

BUT LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS THAT WE SEE AND REVIEWING SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS.

WE DO SEE THAT THERE WERE MISTAKES AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PROVEN.

AND THESE ARE JUST FACTS.

SO, ALL I'M SAYING IS, WHATEVER THE COST TO THAT IS, IT'S NOT ONLY FINANCIAL.

IT'S NOT ONLY TIME WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU.

WE'RE WILLING TO DO THIS.

BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU SOFTWARE HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.

WE ARE ON A DEADLINE NOW, SO TWO YEARS SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME.

THESE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO NEED EIGHT MONTHS TO A YEAR FOR CONVERSION.

CONVERSION OF THAT.

SO, I APPRECIATE YOU KNOW, THAT, AS I SAID, I BROUGHT THIS IN FOR BOTH THE MAJORITY AND THE MINORITY.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT RIGHT NOW, OUR TEAMS WILL WORK TOGETHER AND WE'LL GET MORE ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS.

ON THE SECOND AUDIT, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO GIVE THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER.

[00:15:06]

I KNOW THERE WAS A DISCUSSION LAST THURSDAY.

I WASN'T INVITED TO THAT MEETING.

WE CLARIFIED THAT.

WE WORKED THAT OUT. I SENT A LETTER TO THIS HONORABLE BODY.

BUT WE'RE IN GOOD GOVERNMENT.

GOOD GOVERNMENT MEANS WORKING TOGETHER.

IT'S JUST NOT WORDS, IT'S ACTIONS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

AND FINALLY, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE'RE DOING THIS ON OUR OWN.

WE'VE CONSULTED WITH DIS WE'VE TALKED TO THEM, WE'VE HAD PRELIMINARY MEETINGS, AND THEY'RE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY CONVEYED TO US IS FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, AND WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT SECURITY IS.

AND THE DATA IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE THAT WE NEED TO GO TO A CLOUD-BASED SYSTEM.

SO, WE'LL, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFULLY MEETING WITH THE DISS NEXT WEEK.

NEXT MONDAY, THEY'RE GOING TO HELP US DRAFT THE RFP.

BUT I THINK BEFORE THERE'S A RUSH TO JUDGMENT, WE NEED TO GET THIS SOFTWARE ISSUE, GET THIS RFP OUT, AND WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU. CLERK. BEFORE I MOVE ON, I JUST WANT A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.

CLERK, DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE LAST TIME AN EXTERNAL AUDIT WAS DONE? I KNOW THAT A PREVIOUS COUNT OR PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBER.

SORRY. PREVIOUS COUNTY CLERK JACOBS HIRED A FIRM BACK IN, I BELIEVE, IN 2015.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE, BUT THEY REVIEWED A SMALL PORTION OF THE OFFICE DEALING WITH THE MORTGAGE TAX.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE COMPTROLLER TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE DID FIND SOME BUGS IN OUR SYSTEM THAT WE CORRECTED.

AND I THINK WHEN WE RELEASE THE DATA, AND YOU SEE THAT 99.99% OF THE TRANSACTIONS WERE FINE.

YES. DEALING WITH APPORTIONMENTS, DEALING WITH NEW YORK STATE WE DID FIND SOME SMALL ISSUES.

WE'RE THANKFUL TO THE COMPTROLLER ON THAT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, SOMETIMES THOSE TRANSACTIONS GO MONTHS.

IT COULD BE SIX MONTHS BEFORE THOSE TRANSACTIONS ARE COMPLETED.

SO, I THINK OVERALL WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND AUDIT A BIG THING WAS THE CHECK.

WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THE THAT THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE IDENTIFIED THAT WE WERE THANKFUL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU KNOW; YOU HAVE TO LET LAW ENFORCEMENT DO THEIR JOB.

AND YOU LET THEM, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO LET THEM COMPLETE WHAT THEY STARTED.

AND EVERY TIME YOU KNOW, SOMETHING GETS ADDED, WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN.

WE'RE 100% SUPPORT OF IT BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY DONE IT.

I MEAN, WE COULD GIVE YOU THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN TOMORROW.

PART OF OUR CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN IS THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE.

AND WE THANK THE COMPTROLLER BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN DONE IN 15 YEARS.

AND THAT'S. I JUST LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

JUST IMAGINE USING YOUR SAME PHONE, YOUR SAME COMPUTER FROM 15 YEARS AGO.

NOBODY DOES THAT.

PEOPLE ARE CHANGING THOSE TECHNOLOGY CHANGES QUICKLY.

AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THE PROFESSIONAL ENTITIES THAT USE THIS OFFICE AND ERIE COUNTY CITIZENS WHO RELY ON THIS SOFTWARE.

SO, I BELIEVE IT HASN'T BEEN DONE IN QUITE SOME TIME, PROBABLY 2015, BUT WE'VE HAD TWO AUDITS.

FINALLY, I KNOW IT'S MENTIONED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT TO REVIEW THE AUTO BUREAU, WE ARE REGULARLY AUDITED BY NEW YORK STATE BECAUSE WE ARE A LIAISON TO NEW YORK STATE.

SO, ALL OF OUR MONEY GETS TRANSFERRED.

WE USE THEIR COMPUTERS.

THESE AREN'T SEPARATE COMPUTERS FROM WE WORK WITH THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.

USUALLY, IT'S ABOUT ONCE A YEAR TO ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS FOR AN AUDIT OF THE AUTO BUREAU.

REMEMBER, THEY WANT THEIR MONEY.

SO THAT COMES DIRECTLY TO THEM.

WE'VE EVEN CHANGED OUR POLICY WHERE WE SEND THE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THEM AND SAID, TAKE IT OUT.

TAKE IT OUT FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL WORK WITH THE COUNTY COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE ON THAT AUDIT DEALING WITH THE AUTO BUREAU, WE'LL DEFINITELY PARTNER WITH NEW YORK STATE AS OUR LIAISON, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TO A RESULT.

BUT REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A LIAISON TO NEW YORK STATE.

THEY GIVE US THE PERMISSION TO RUN THOSE AUTO BUREAUS.

THAT'S NOT AUTOMATIC.

AND WE WORK WITH THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, CHEEKTOWAGA, THEY HAVE TO APPROVE CHEEKTOWAGA BEFORE WE OPEN.

WE CAN'T JUST OPEN THAT UP.

THEY COME IN, THEY REVIEW THE SOFTWARE, THEY REVIEW THE FACILITIES.

THEY REVIEW OUR EMPLOYEES, HOW MANY STAFF WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE OPEN.

[00:20:05]

IT'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP.

BUT I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN SINCE ABOUT 2015, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, CLERK.

BEFORE I MOVE TO LEGISLATORS JOHNSON AND VINAL, I JUST HAVE A TWO-PART QUESTION FOR THE COMPTROLLER.

IF YOU WOULD BE SO NICE TO ANSWER.

KEVIN, I JUST LIKE TO KNOW TWO PARTS, WITH ALL THE CASH AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THE CLERK'S OFFICE, DO YOU THINK IT'S WARRANTED JUST FOR THE AMOUNT OF CASH THAT THEY HANDLE FOR AN OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDIT? AND ALSO WELL, WITH JUST THE OTHER OFFICER, THE SECOND PART OF IT, WITH ALL THE UPGRADES AND THINGS THAT THE CLERK IS TALKING ABOUT, THE CHANGES GOING ON IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE, DO YOU THINK IT'S ADVANTAGEOUS OR NOT TO STILL GO AHEAD WITH AN AUDIT? I DON'T KNOW HOW AN AUDIT COULD HURT OR NOT.

I WAS JUST WONDERING THEM TWO QUESTIONS.

WELL, LET ME COMBINE MY ANSWER INTO IN TO BOTH QUESTIONS INTO ONE.

YEAH. I THINK THE EXTERNAL AUDIT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

WE SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.

I THINK UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AN AUDIT BY OUR OFFICE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT.

NORMALLY, WE DON'T FIND ANYTHING AS MAJOR AS WE FOUND HERE, BUT IN THE COURSE OF, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN A YEAR, WE FOUND WE FOUND MONEY MISSING THAT WE IDENTIFIED AT $114,000.

WE THINK IT'S A LOT MORE.

MAYBE DOUBLE THAT.

WE'LL FIND OUT. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS WORKING ON THAT.

AND WE ALSO FOUND A CHECK FOR $326,000 PLUS THAT.

NO ONE SEEMED TO BE AWARE IT WAS MISSING.

THE MONEY WAS MISSING UNTIL WE BROUGHT IT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.

SO, YEAH. DO I THINK AN EXTERNAL AUDIT IS NECESSARY? YEAH. MY PEOPLE ARE TIRED.

ALSO, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

THERE'S A WHOLE REST OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET TO ALONG THE WAY.

WE HAVE DONE SOME OTHER SIGNIFICANT AUDITS, A COUPLE AUDITS OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT, WHICH I THINK IN THE END WILL RECOVER ABOUT $1 MILLION FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY AND MONEY THAT WE WE WEREN'T GETTING REIMBURSED FOR PROPERLY FROM THE STATE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF FOLLOW THROUGH AND OTHER PEOPLE HOLDING THE MONEY THAT REALLY BELONG, THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN BACK TO ERIE COUNTY.

I MEAN, SO WE ARE I THINK WE'RE DOING GOOD WORK.

AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO HAND OFF THE WORK IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO SOMEONE ELSE.

IT WOULD ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF NOT BEING OBJECTIVE OF BEING POLITICAL ACCUSATIONS, WHICH I FRANKLY RESENT GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE FOUND. BUT I THINK IF YOU HAND IT OFF TO AN EXTERNAL AUDITOR ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE THE CLERK PAY FOR.

IT OUT OF THE CLERK'S BUDGET AND DO THE RFP HIMSELF.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION OF POLITICS WOULD BE MOOT.

THERE WOULD BE NO PURPOSE FOR SUCH ACCUSATIONS IN TERMS OF THE SOFTWARE.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE FLAGGED INITIALLY, THAT THE SOFTWARE THAT THEY WERE USING WAS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE JOB THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THEY WERE PERFORMING.

SO, I THINK THAT THEY WILL NEED NEW SOFTWARE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CLERK SAYS ABOUT THE NEED FOR TRAINING AND SUCH, BUT I WOULDN'T RUSH THIS IF I WERE YOU.

I THINK, GIVEN WHAT WE FOUND.

LET'S DO THIS RIGHT.

CLERK ALSO MENTIONS THAT SAP WILL BE OBSOLETE.

A CURRENT EDITION OF SAP WILL BE OBSOLETE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR HIM TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE ANYMORE WOULD BE LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT MICROSOFT WORD, AFTER IT WENT FROM 1.0 TO 2 POINT 0 TO 3.0 TO WHATEVER VERSION IT'S IN NOW IS OBSOLETE AND THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE.

THANK YOU. I HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.

KEVIN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO LEGISLATOR JOHNSON, THEN THE LEGISLATOR VINAL THEN LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

YEAH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

FIRST COMMENT MR. CLERK, SOME OF YOUR COMMENTARY IS TO ME IS UNACCEPTABLE.

AND IT'S VIRTUALLY AND IT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE TO THE TAXPAYERS AND TO THIS BODY WHEN YOU COME DOWN HERE AND KIND OF GRANDSTAND ABOUT THE POSITION OF OFFICES AND REALLY BOTHERS ME.

BUT CARRYING ON.

SO, ONE QUESTION, I KNOW YOU SAID YOU SAID THE AUTO GRILL WAS FINE AS FAR AS THE MONEY.

SO, THE MONEY IS BROUGHT IN.

IT'S IT GOES IT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE STATE AND ALL THAT DURING THIS, DURING THIS AUDIT I THINK IT WAS IDENTIFIED MAYBE 114,000 OR SO WAS MISSING FROM THE AUDIT BUREAU, CORRECT? NO. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK, AND I JUST WANT TO COMMENT SOMETIMES I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS HONORABLE BODY IS HERE IS THE POWER OF THE PURSE.

AND I'M NOT LOOKING TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE A POLITICAL SPEECH FOR YOU.

[00:25:02]

I'M GOING TO GET TO IT. IT'S VICTIM SHAMING.

THIS WAS A CRIME PERPETRATED ON TAXPAYERS.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I COME HERE AND I'M NOT INVITED, AND YOU'RE THE CHAIR AND I'M IN THE BUILDING AND YOU DON'T COME DOWN AND CALL AND YOU HAVE A MEETING WITHOUT ME ABOUT MY OFFICE THAT I'M ELECTED TO DO.

AS YOU ALWAYS SAY. MY NAME IS ON THE DOOR.

I GET A LITTLE INSULTED, TOO.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO VICTIM SHAME OUR STAFF BECAUSE THEY PUT A CHECK IN THE MAIL, AND IT WAS STOLEN AND IT WAS INTERCEPTED.

THAT IS NOT A MESS.

THAT IS NOT A MESS.

AND THAT'S ABOUT THE.

NO. IT'S ABOUT THE NARRATIVE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT OUT THERE.

LEGISLATOR LET'S BE HONEST.

IT'S A NARRATIVE.

WHAT NARRATIVE? THE NARRATIVE THAT THE OFFICE IS NOT WORKING WELL.

99.9% OF THE TRANSACTIONS ARE DONE CORRECTLY.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED.

WAIT A SECOND. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE SECOND AUDIT WAS THAT THERE WAS A CHECK MISSING.

OKAY. WE IDENTIFIED THAT THEY HELD IT FOR MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALKED TO THE SECRET SERVICE, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FIVE, SIX MONTHS EARLIER.

WE'RE THE VICTIM OF A CRIME.

I MEAN, THIS IS VICTIM SHAMING.

IT'S NOT AN END. AND SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AUTO BUREAU, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUTO BUREAU WHERE WE PARTNER WITH THE STATE, WHERE WE'RE AUDITED, AND THEY ARE VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE DO.

WE'RE NOT AGAINST THIS.

ALL I'M SAYING IS, IS THAT THIS SOFTWARE SYSTEM, WHEN I TALK TO THE BAR ASSOCIATION, WHEN I TALK TO THE TITLE COMPANIES, AND WHEN I TELL THEM THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS ANYMORE, BECAUSE REMEMBER, EIGHT MONTHS TO A YEAR, $1 MILLION CONVERSION.

NOW, WHEN I TALKED ABOUT SAP AND WE WORKED WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, WE ASKED THEM, IS THERE SAP TRAINING? IS THERE TRAINING RIGHT NOW? WHEN I TALKED ABOUT OBSOLETE AND THEY CONVEYED TO US, THERE IS NO SAP TRAINING.

THERE IS NO TRAINING NOW.

SO HOW DO WE GET TRAINING ON THIS IF THERE'S NO ONE THAT CAN TRAIN US? THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING IS WE WANT TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME FAIRNESS, TOO.

AND FAIRNESS IS RESPECT FOR THE OFFICE.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS, WHATEVER THAT AMOUNT IS.

I KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T PUT A CLAIM IN BECAUSE THE MONEY IT HASN'T BEEN THE INVESTIGATION HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED.

WHY NOT LET THE INVESTIGATORS DO THEIR JOB AND LET THEM FINISH THE INVESTIGATION? ARE YOU? I AM DONE, THANK YOU.

SO, I WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE MISSING CASH.

SO, WHEN WE HAD THE COMPTROLLER IN HERE LAST WEEK, THE PART OF THE REPORT, WHAT THEY PROVIDED WAS THEY SAID THERE WERE DEPOSIT SLIPS WITH CASH THAT WAS ALTERED, DEPOSIT WAS ALTERED, AND CASH WAS MISSING.

ALL I'M ASKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW.

IS THAT TRUE? IT'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

I MEAN, ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THEY WOULD TELL YOU THE SAME THING.

AND I THINK THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS THE SAME THING.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TOLD THE COMPTROLLER TO CEASE AND DESIST RELEASING AND LEAKING INFORMATION TO THE PRESS.

THAT'S AGAINST [INAUDIBLE].

WHEN THERE'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION, HE'S FILING [INAUDIBLE] HE SAID THAT IN HIS AUDITS.

SO, AND HE'S COMPLIED WITH THAT.

WE DIDN'T COME HERE AND SAY THE SECRET SERVICE IS WORKING ON RECOVERING THAT CHECK.

WE KEPT IT QUIET UNTIL THE PROPER TIME IT WAS RELEASED.

THAT'S WHAT YOU DO IN AN INVESTIGATION.

YOU LET THE INVESTIGATION, LET THE INVESTIGATORS DO THEIR JOB.

AS THE COMPTROLLER SAID, IT COULD BE MORE.

IT COULD BE MORE. THEY'VE DONE AN INVESTIGATION.

THEY'VE DONE. THEY'VE RUN THE NUMBERS.

SO, LET THE INVESTIGATORS DO THEIR JOB AND FINISH THE JOB.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS AS THE CLOCK IS TICKING, AS THE CLOCK IS TICKING, I'M PUTTING THIS HONORABLE BODY ON NOTICE THAT IF WE DO NOT GET THIS NEW SOFTWARE SYSTEM, SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO BECOME A PRIORITY.

AND OUR OFFICE IS WORKING VERY HARD, JUST LIKE THE COMPTROLLER SAID.

I GIVE THEM GREAT CREDIT FOR TAKING THIS ON, BUT IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY HOURS IN THE DAY.

WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY STAFF, SO WE'RE NOT AGAINST WHATEVER THE FINAL RESULTS ARE.

THE FINAL RESULTS ARE.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE ARE ON A DEADLINE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS SOFTWARE SYSTEM AND IT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR, MAJOR CONVERSION AND YOU CAN BRING THESE PEOPLE IN. I'D BE HAPPY TO HAVE THESE PEOPLE COME IN AND TALK TO YOU AND LET THEM EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS CONVERSION OF RECORDS AND JEANNE, WHEN IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT THE COMPTROLLER OFFICE DISCOVERED, I IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DISPUTING THAT.

[00:30:04]

MY POINT IS, YESTERDAY WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF JUST LETTING PEOPLE DO THEIR JOBS.

THAT'S I HAVE FULL TRUST IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO THEIR JOBS.

WHEN THEY ISSUE THEIR REPORT, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IT'S ALSO ABOUT FINDING THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO PERPETRATED THESE CRIMES ON TAXPAYERS WHO BROKE THE PUBLIC TRUST. THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHARGE THEM.

THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GOING TO GO ON IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

THIS IS A SMALL PIECE OF IT.

SO, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO LET THE INVESTIGATORS DO THEIR JOB.

UNDERSTOOD. BUT THE COMPTROLLER HAD A JOB TO DO, AND HE'S DONE HIS JOB, AM I CORRECT? CORRECT. I DO SO THERE IDENTIFY SOME ISSUES.

THAT WAS IN YOUR OFFICE, AM I CORRECT? OF COURSE. YES.

SO THOSE ARE WHAT THEY IDENTIFIED WAS THERE WAS DISCREPANCIES IN DEPOSIT SLIPS AND MISSING FUNDS.

THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED IN THE BUFFALO NEWS.

YES. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

SO, MR. CLERK, I MEAN MR. COMPTROLLER, YOUR INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE, AM I CORRECT? HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE INVESTIGATING.

HE'S DOING HIS JOB.

I'M TALKING TO HIM. EXCUSE ME.

SIR, MA'AM, THE ART IS COMPLETE.

CORRECT? I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

OKAY. AS THE CLERK INDICATED MY STAFF IS CURRENTLY MEETING WITH HIS STAFF OVER IN CONFERENCE ROOM AND ON THE 11TH FLOOR WHERE WE CAN LAY EVERYTHING OUT ON LARGE MONITORS.

HE'S CORRECT. THESE WORK PAPERS.

NORMALLY, WE DON'T SHARE OUR WORK PAPERS WITH ANYONE.

THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR OUR PEER REVIEW, WHICH COMES AROUND EVERY THREE YEARS, WHICH WE'RE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR.

SO, THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL REQUEST, BUT WE WERE GLAD TO GRANT IT.

AND YEAH, IF YOU LOOK AT THESE SPREADSHEETS, THEY ARE SEVERAL MONITORS LONG.

AND TO GET THEM INTO AN EIGHT AND A HALF PIECE OF PAPER, 11 PIECE OF PAPER IS DIFFICULT.

YOU WOULD NEED AN EIGHT AND A HALF BY 11-FOOT PIECE OF PAPER TO PRINT THIS OUT.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE OVER THERE LOOKING AT THE MONITORS, AND I WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT INACCURACIES THAT THEY FIND THERE. YOU KNOW, THE CLERK IS SAYING THAT THERE ARE MANY INACCURACIES, MANY MISCALCULATIONS.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

I ALSO WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING THAT THE CLERK SAID OR COMMENT ON IT.

HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR SAP, AND HE'S CORRECT.

A LONG TIME AGO, THE FORMAL TRAINING FOR SAP IN THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, US HAVING TRAINERS IN THE LIKE CEASED.

AND IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEMOANED IN RECENT YEARS, HOWEVER MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S THE CASE THAT ONCE A ONE OF HIS DEPUTIES LEFT THE OFFICE WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE FINANCES, THAT NO ONE OVER THERE KNEW HOW TO PAY THE BILLS.

AND MY STAFF WENT OVER AND GAVE HIS STAFF A PRIMER ON THAT PORTION OF SAP THAT THEY NEEDED TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

AND IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, LET ME KNOW, NICKY, BECAUSE I THINK YOUR BILLS NEED TO BE PAID.

BUT WE'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO GET THE STAFF OVER THERE, THE HELP THAT THEY NEED IN SAP.

EVEN THOUGH HE'S CORRECT, THERE IS NO FORMAL, COUNTY WIDE TRAINING OFFICE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE PROBABLY SHOULD BE WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT SYSTEM.

BUT WE'RE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP.

AND IT'S THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENS IN OUR OFFICE.

WE GET NEW ACCOUNTANTS IN WHO HAVE NEVER USED SAP BEFORE THE FIRST FEW WEEKS, YOU KNOW, IT'S PEOPLE FROM OUR OFFICE SHARING THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH THEM. AND THAT'S ON AN AD HOC KIND OF BASIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW WE'VE BEEN GETTING BY.

THANK YOU.

WHAT WAS THE QUESTION, BY THE WAY? HOWARD, I ANSWERED IT FIRST BEFORE I WENT OFF ON A TANGENT.

OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE.

OKAY. YOU KNOW, AND THE LAST POINT AND I'M DONE WITH IT, AND WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO LEGISLATOR VINAL? MR. CLERK, AGAIN.

YES. YOUR NAME IS ON THE DOOR.

SO, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE YEAR.

THIS IS NOT AN AUDIT THAT WENT BACK FIVE YEARS.

IT'S JUST A YEAR'S TIME AUDIT.

WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN? WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IF THEY WOULD GO BACK, SAY, SIX YEARS.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOUR NAME IS ON THE DOOR.

SO, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE. YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING YOUR OFFICE TO TRAIN AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD.

THAT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT YOUR STAFF IS BROUGHT TRAINING.

SO, IF THERE ISN'T ANY TRAINING, YOU SHOULD BE REACHING OUT TO FIND OUT WHAT WHERE THAT TRAINING IS LIKE.

IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ME FOR MY STAFFER.

THAT WORKS FOR ME TO ENSURE THAT SHE'S ADEPT AT WHAT'S GOING ON.

I HAVE TO BRING HER UP TO SPEED.

I CAN'T HOPE THAT SHE KNOWS.

I CAN'T SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE'S NO TRAINING OUT THERE YOU CAN'T GET NO TRAINING FOR.

I HAVE TO GO AND FIND THOSE THINGS AS THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR MY OFFICE.

SO. AND I'M JUST GOING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME THING.

[00:35:01]

I WORKED IN BANKING.

A LOT OF THESE ANSWERS WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE.

MANY FOLKS WILL BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY, TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY, AND CHARGES WOULD BE BROUGHT IMMEDIATELY.

SO, WHEN I COME FROM THE PREMISE, I COME FROM IS THAT BACKGROUND.

SO, IF I SOUND DIRECT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, I'M COMING FROM A BACKGROUND WHERE A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THIS IS GOOD. AND LISTEN, I WANT TO GIVE THE COMPTROLLER CREDIT.

IT'S GOOD WE'RE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS.

THIS IS WHAT GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT DIALOG BACK AND FORTH.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO LISTEN, YOU KNOW, SO HE'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

WE DO WORK TOGETHER, AND HIS STAFF HAS COME OVER AND HELPED US.

SO I THANK HIM.

HE KNOWS I ALWAYS PUT MY HAND OUT, BUT I DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH HIM ON EVERYTHING.

AND WHAT I'M SAYING TO THIS HONORABLE BODY IS THIS IS A COMPLEX SITUATION AND I THINK GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY.

THE STAFF IS OVER RIGHT NOW LOOKING AT THE WORKING PAPERS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TOTAL, YOU KNOW, THE TOTALITY OF THIS, OF WHAT IS BEING PORTRAYED IN THE MEDIA OF, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SURPRISED.

I HEAR IT FROM THE STAFF ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, MR. CLERK. WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

WHY ARE THEY SAYING WE'RE DOING A BAD JOB? I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE UP THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR YOU.

ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS I WAS ELECTED TO DO A JOB.

AND WHEN I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, I WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, TOO, THAT WE'RE 99% COMPLIANT.

WE'RE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLIANT.

YES, A MISSING CHECK.

THAT WAS A CRIME.

SOMEONE. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY.

UNFORTUNATELY. SOMEONE IF THEY DID TAKE MONEY AND IT HASN'T BEEN PROVEN YET, BUT WHEN THEY DO, IT WAS A CRIME ON THE TAXPAYERS ALSO.

SO, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST.

AND HERE'S A GOOD THING.

YOU KNOW, WE DO.

WORKING WITH THE COMPTROLLER.

THIS HONORABLE BODY GAVE US TWO ADDITIONAL PEOPLE.

WE'VE HIRED A CPA WHO HAS A FORENSIC AUDIT BACKGROUND, AND WE ARE CATCHING STUFF.

SO, YOU KNOW, TO ME I THINK IT'S GOOD IN GOVERNMENT WHEN YOU HAVE THESE TOUGH DISCUSSIONS, WE'RE DOING THEM PUBLICLY.

PUBLICLY. WE'RE NOT DOING IT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

I GIVE HIM CREDIT.

HE HASN'T, YOU KNOW, SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEND SOMEONE OVER IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THIS.

SO, HE DESERVES CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE AND I'M GIVING HIM CREDIT AND I DO THANK HIM FOR HELPING US.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

LEGISLATOR VINAL.

LEGISLATOR LORIGO AND LEGISLATOR VINAL.

OKAY. CLERK, I WAS THE THINGS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ARE, NUMBER ONE IS LIKE CONFLATING THE ISSUE OF A CRIME VERSUS MANAGEMENT.

SO, TO SAY THAT LET THE INVESTIGATORS DO.

DON'T SAY ANYTHING.

THAT'S A CRIME.

ONCE THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED, THAT YOU CAN'T SAY TO THE LEGISLATOR, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE MIGHT BE SHORT.

WE MIGHT NOT BE SHORT.

THAT'S NOT A CRIME. A CRIME IS THAT THIS CHECK THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WAS STOLEN BECAUSE NO ONE WAS CHECKING TO SEE THAT THE CHECKS CLEARED, NOBODY RECONCILED THAT THAT'S WHY THERE WAS SUCH A DELAY THAT THAT'S A CRIME.

OKAY, BUT THE MANAGEMENT PART IS THAT THERE WAS A LENGTH OF TIME WHEN THERE WAS NO RECONCILIATION DONE, AND THERE WAS A LENGTH.

SO THAT WAS WHAT THE, THE, THE PART THAT WAS THE MANAGEMENT PART WAS THE LENGTH OF TIME AND KNOWING THAT A CHECK HAD BEEN STOLEN.

THE OTHER PART IS THAT WHEN WE CAME, WHEN THIS CAME LAST WEEK, IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS 100 OVER 100 DOCUMENTS THAT WERE CHANGED AFTERWARDS.

THOSE TO ME ARE THAT'S GROUNDS FOR ME IN THE IMMEDIATE FIRING.

IF YOU CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT, A FINANCIAL DOCUMENT, YOU DON'T BOTHER INITIAL.

YOU DON'T SAY YOU CHANGED IT; YOU CHANGE IT ON YOUR OWN.

THOSE ARE ALL THAT'S A SERIOUS, SERIOUS ISSUE.

THE OTHER THING IS, IS WHEN YOU FIRST CAME TO US ON THIS TOPIC, YOU SAID, HOW DARE YOU ASK FOR MY BANK ACCOUNT PERMISSION? HOW DARE YOU? THIS IS RIDICULOUS! HOW DARE YOU? IT HAD TO COME TO A HEAD.

SO, I'M THINKING SOMEBODY ADVISED YOU TO SAY FIGHT FOR YOUR INDEPENDENT RIGHTS OR WHATEVER.

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARILY, YOU'RE DOING IT BECAUSE YOU WERE SAYING THAT.

BUT SOMEBODY WAS PUTTING THAT IN YOUR EAR TO SAY THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF OUTRAGE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF OUTRAGE OVER SOMETHING THAT'S OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY SHOULD WANT THEIR GOVERNMENT RECORDS CHECKED AT ANY TIME.

ALL RIGHT. SO, MY POINT IS THAT NOW YOU'RE COMING UP, INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE OVER 100 CLAIMS THAT WERE JUST DISCOVERED BECAUSE OF REGULAR PEOPLE LOOKING TO SAY THAT THERE WAS 100 INSTANCES WHEN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS WERE CHECKED.

I ASKED, WAS IT JUST ONE CASHIER? ALL OF THEM? IT'S ON.

ALL THE CASHIERS PUT THEIR THINGS IN THERE.

SO, THERE'S AN ISSUE OF A PERVASIVE SYSTEM OF A PROBLEM.

SO NOW YOU'RE COMING DIVERTING THE ISSUE OF SAYING, DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT.

THESE MIGHT BE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF CRIMES.

DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT AND FORGET ABOUT DOING A PRIVATE AUDIT WHERE WE REALLY HAVE SOMEBODY LOOK AT EVERY EVERYTHING.

INSTEAD, LET'S DO A LET'S CHANGE ALL THE DATA TO A NEW PROGRAM.

[00:40:03]

IT'S A PERFECT TIME FOR A COVER UP OF ALL THESE CRIMES.

WE ONLY KNOW ABOUT THE CRIMES THAT WERE ACTUALLY BROUGHT TO BEAR.

WE ONLY KNOW ABOUT THE 100 DOCUMENTS THAT WERE ALTERED, THAT I DON'T CARE IF SOMEBODY'S TIRED, WHO'S TIRED, AND IF I SAID THAT, LIKE, SOMEBODY NEXT TO ME IS ALTERING DOCUMENTS AND NOT PUTTING THEIR INITIALS ON IT, MAKING US ALL LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF THIEVES AND LIARS.

THERE'S NOTHING COMPLICATED ABOUT LYING.

THERE'S NOTHING COMPLICATED ABOUT FORGING OR CHANGING DOCUMENTS.

THERE'S NOTHING COMPLICATED ABOUT STEALING.

BUT THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE UNCOVERED, SO TO SAY.

AND LET'S NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. LET'S GET A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM SO WE'LL FORGET ABOUT OUR OLD DOCUMENTS, PUT THEM ON THE NEW DOCUMENTS.

PERFECT TIME FOR MORE FORGING, STEALING AND COVER UP.

SO, WHATEVER IT IS, I THINK THAT IT'S NOT A POLITICAL THING.

IT'S THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE'S SOMEBODY SAYING TO YOU THE SAME WHOEVER WAS THE PEOPLE.

AND I DOUBT IT'S JUST ONE PERSON INVOLVED IN THIS, THAT IT'S THAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING TO YOU, DON'T SHARE YOUR BOOKS WITH THE THINGS REPEATEDLY.

SO, SUCH VEHEMENTLY AND ALL THAT RIGHTEOUS OUTRAGE.

AND NOW IT TURNS OUT, THANK GOODNESS, THAT IT CAME TO PASS, THAT IT HAPPENED.

AND NOW THE SAME OUTRAGE.

LET'S DIVERT THE ISSUE AND GET A NEW SYSTEM SO WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE FORGED DOCUMENTS.

AND TO HAVE WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO BY JESSICA SCHUSTER OR WHOEVER ELSE.

THEY'RE FORTUNATELY DISCOVERING THAT THERE WERE OBVIOUS FORGERIES, BUT SOMEBODY TO COMPARE THE ACTUAL DEPOSIT TICKETS FOR EVERY DEPOSIT TICKET TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER FORGERIES, SEE WHOSE DEPOSIT TICKET IT WAS, AND THEN FIND OUT.

AND THIS TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR, YOU KNOW, A FULL INVESTIGATION ON THINGS THAT WERE UNCOVERED BY OTHERS BEFORE WE FIRE PEOPLE, BEFORE WE REPRIMAND PEOPLE. YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP ALL THESE, YOU KNOW, FOXES IN THE HENHOUSE.

UNTIL THEN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND TO SAY THAT IT'S 99% OR 100, IT'S LIKE OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY THAT PEOPLE ARE ALTERING DOCUMENTS ON AND STEALING.

SO, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE INDIGNATION ABOUT THAT, AS OPPOSED TO INDIGNATION ABOUT SOMEBODY SAYING, HEY, LET'S DO AN OUTSIDE AUDIT, WHICH SHOULD BE A NEUTRAL RESPONSE IN MY OPINION. SO, HERE'S THE POINT.

NUMBER ONE, WE WANT TO AND WE YOU KNOW, WHEN THE COMPTROLLER CAME TO MY OFFICE, HE WALKED IN, SAID, MICKEY, I THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE.

I SAID RIGHT AWAY, I'M SIGNING ON.

WE'RE GOING TO REWRITING HISTORY.

YOU CAME IN HERE AND SAID SPECIFICALLY, EXCUSE ME.

NO, EXCUSE ME. I DON'T WANT YOU TO REWRITE HISTORY.

YOU CAME IN HERE WITH SO MUCH RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION THAT I SHALL NEVER GIVE MY DOCUMENTS.

I'M AN INDEPENDENT ELECTED.

I NEVER HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE ANYONE LOOK AT IT.

YOU CAN'T BACKTRACK ON THAT.

SOMEBODY TOLD YOU THAT, OR YOU DECIDED THAT ON YOUR OWN.

IF YOU DECIDED ON YOUR OWN, THAT WAS WRONG.

AND WHOEVER WAS PUSHING YOU TO IT.

SOMEBODY TO ME WHO TRIES TO COVER UP DISCLOSURE, IT'S ALWAYS LIKE KIND OF A RED FLAG.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO COVER UP.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU THE FACTS.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU WEREN'T. YOU WERE TRYING TO READ MATTHEW? FOR WHAT? YOU WILL BE MEASURED.

YOU WILL BE MEASURED. OKAY.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE CHAT, WE DID THE RECONCILIATION, BUT WHAT HAPPENED IS AND IT WAS NOTED IN IT WAS NOTED IN THE AUDIT THAT OUR, WELL, LET ME FINISH THIS TIME.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT I'M TRYING TO ASK.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIVERT THE ISSUE AGAIN.

THE CHECK, THE PART OF THE CHECK WAS THAT YOU SOMEONE ELSE HAD TO COME AND TELL YOU HAD THREE CHECKS STOLEN BECAUSE IT WAS A SOPHISTICATED CRIME.

IT ENDED. SOMEBODY ELSE HAD TO TELL YOU THERE WAS A CRIME COMMITTED.

YOU DIDN'T FIND THE CRIME.

SOMEONE ELSE HAD TO TELL YOU THERE WAS A CRIME COMMITTED, NUMBER ONE.

ALL RIGHT. ISN'T THAT RIGHT? YES. IT WAS STOLEN FROM THE MAILBOX.

SOMEBODY ELSE HAD TO TELL YOU THAT YOUR CHECK WAS STOLEN FROM THE MAILBOX.

PERIOD. END OF STORY.

THE SAME PROBLEM THAT YOU COULDN'T FIND.

THAT THAT CHECK WAS STILL IN YOURSELF IS THE REASON WHY THERE SHOULD BE AN AUDIT.

THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THERE WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE OVER 100 DOCUMENTS THAT WERE ALTERED.

WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND WITHOUT ANYONE'S KNOWLEDGE, IS THE REASON WHY THERE SHOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT.

THE SAME THING THAT SHOWED THAT THERE'S OVER $100,000 THAT WAS STOLEN, THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT, THAT WHOEVER ELSE KNEW ABOUT IT DIDN'T TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

THAT AN OUTSIDER, THAT'S WHY THERE SHOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT.

SO, TO SAY THIS, WHOEVER IT TOLD YOU TO ARGUE ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, TO NOT LET YOUR, YOUR DEPARTMENT BE AUDITED, WHICH YOU CAN'T REWRITE THAT HISTORY AT ALL IS THE SAME ONE.

IT'S WHOEVER ELSE IS NOW TELLING YOU THAT.

OH, FORGET ABOUT THIS. LET'S CONCENTRATE ON THIS NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM.

YOU SHOULD BE SAYING, PLEASE DO THE AUDIT.

I FEEL TERRIBLE THAT I, AS THE KEEPER, DIDN'T FIND THAT A CHECK FOR 300,000 WAS STOLEN.

OF COURSE, I FEEL TERRIBLE.

AND SO, IT'S NOT THAT THERE'S.

SO THAT THE CRIME IS A CRIME.

THE MANAGEMENT IS A SEPARATE THING.

THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A CRIME COMMITTED, THAT'S THE ISSUE.

WHY WE NEED AN AUDIT.

AND THE THING IS IT IS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

OKAY. YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT THERE'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

YOU NEED THAT PRIVATE AUDIT.

THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE SINCE 2015.

AND NOW WE KNOW THERE'S ALL THESE ISSUES WITH JUST, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE SCRAPING AT THE SURFACE.

SO, I JUST WOULD ASK THAT YOU SAY, YES, WE WANT THIS AUDIT PERIOD, END OF STORY AND NOT MAKE IT THAT, OH, LET'S LET THE INVESTIGATORS DO THEIR BUSINESS.

[00:45:02]

BUT FIRST, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN AUDIT TO TELL THE INVESTIGATOR, HEY, THIS CRIME WAS COMMITTED.

YOU'RE JUST TELLING CRIMES THAT WERE DISCOVERED BY SOMEONE ELSE THAT THESE WERE COMMITTED.

AND NOW I'M THE VICTIM AND YOUR VICTIM SHAMING AND ALL THIS BALONEY.

I'M SAYING THAT YOU'RE, YOU SHOULD SAY THAT.

HEY, I FEEL TERRIBLE THAT I DIDN'T DISCOVER THAT THERE WERE 100 PLUS DOCUMENTS STILL ALTERED.

I FEEL TERRIBLE I DIDN'T DISCOVER THERE WAS OVER $100,000 OF CASH MISSING.

I FEEL TERRIBLE THAT DEPOSITS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DEPOSITED DAILY WENT DAYS WITHOUT GETTING DEPOSITED.

AND THEN WHEN IT DID GET DEPOSITED, NO CASH.

SO, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS GOING ON THAT ARE OBVIOUS RED FLAGS FOR CRIMES THAT YOU NEED SOMEONE ELSE TO FLUSH OUT ALL THE CRIMES.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE WAITING.

IF, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ALTERED A DOCUMENT, THAT PERSON SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THEIR SERVICE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PUT THEIR INITIALS ON IT AND THEY DIDN'T TELL PEOPLE THEY AUDIT IT. IF SOMEBODY PUT A DEPOSIT WITH NO CASH, AND IT TURNS OUT THERE WAS CASH THAT DAY, THAT THAT SHOULD BE AN ISSUE.

SO, THESE AREN'T THINGS YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN INVESTIGATOR TO DO YOUR OWN INTERNAL MANAGEMENT.

THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS.

SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD SAY THAT YOU SHOULD BE ON BOARD WITH THIS PERIOD, END OF STORY, END OF DISCUSSION, AND NOT BE UPSET ABOUT THAT HE REPORTED YESTERDAY.

YOU'RE UPSET THAT YOU WEREN'T INVITED WHEN HE WAS ASKED YESTERDAY, LAST WEEK THAT TO TELL US THERE WERE 100 PLUS DOCUMENTS THAT WERE ALTERED.

WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER ON THAT? MY ANSWER IS WE SHOULDN'T BE DISCLOSING ANY INFORMATION ON AN INVESTIGATION.

THERE WASN'T AN INVESTIGATION.

YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL HE REPORTED IT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE OPEN DIALOG.

WE CAN'T GO UNDER THE CLOAK.

WHO'S EVER GIVING YOU THAT ADVICE? TO SAY THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE SAYING THAT.

DON'T TELL HIM ANYTHING ABOUT ANY WRONGDOING.

THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, WRONGDOING.

I'M SAYING WE'RE PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

THIS IS PUBLIC TRUST THAT, YES, WE CAN REPORT A CRIME, BUT YOU JUST WANTING TO LET THE PEOPLE STAY THERE TO COMMIT MORE CRIMES SO YOU CAN HAVE MORE AGAINST THEM? NO, OF COURSE NOT. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING.

BUT HERE'S THE THING, LEGISLATOR.

WE HAVE AN INVESTIGATOR.

WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS HAPPENING.

I WAS TOLD, THIS IS ME NOT TO COMMENT TO THE PUBLIC.

NOW, IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, LIKE WHEN I WAS ON THE COMMON COUNCIL AND NOT HAVE THE MEDIAN YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT I USE THE EXAMPLE OF NUMBER ONE, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.

WE THANK THE COMPTROLLER FOR COMING IN, BUT WHEN THERE IS INFORMATION THAT IS BEING PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE OFFICE IS A MESS WHEN IT'S NOT A MESS, THE PEOPLE THAT DO THE RANK-AND-FILE WORK ON A DAILY BASIS, WHO COME IN AND WORK REALLY HARD AND TRY THEIR BEST.

NOW, WHEN WE FIND A PROBLEM, I THINK AN AUDIT IS THERE TO SAY, HEY, THERE'S A PROBLEM, LET'S.

PROACTIVE. THAT'S GOOD.

RIGHT? HE'S DOING HIS JOB.

I DON'T HAVE ANY ILL WILL TOWARDS HIM.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS THAT I'M JUST PUTTING YOU ON NOTICE THAT WE'LL COOPERATE.

WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO.

I ASKED IN JULY OF LAST YEAR, IF YOU REMEMBER, I SENT A LETTER TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER SAYING, PLEASE COME IN.

PLEASE AUDIT MY OFFICE.

ALL I'M TELLING YOU IS THAT WHEN YOU BRING PEOPLE IN, WHO HAS TO CREATE THE REPORTS FOR THE INVESTIGATORS, MY STAFF, IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME. WE'RE A BUSY OFFICE.

ALL I'M DOING IS PUTTING YOU ON RECORD.

I'M NOT TRYING TO DEFLECT.

WE'VE DONE MANY OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS IS REAL.

YOU KNOW, AS AN ATTORNEY THAT WHEN YOU NEED ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS.

SO, IF THIS IS DELAYED, THIS RECORDING IS DELAYED AND PEOPLE CAN'T GET ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENTS, THEN I'M GOING TO SAY I PUT THE LEGISLATURE ON RECORD.

THIS IS A BIG PROJECT.

THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DONE IN A VACUUM.

OUR DIS PERSON HAS BEEN.

I ASKED HIM YESTERDAY, HOW MUCH OF YOUR TIME HAVE YOU BEEN SPENDING ON THE AUDIT? BECAUSE WHEN THEY CAME OVER, HE HAS TO GET THOSE REPORTS.

80% OF HIS TIME HAS BEEN SPENT ON THE AUDIT.

HERE'S SOMETHING TO BE PREPARED FOR.

AND HERE'S AN EXAMPLE.

SO, WE'LL GET AN EMAIL FROM AN ACCOUNTANT IN DPW DEALING WITH MORTGAGE TAX SAYING, HEY, HOW MUCH HAS COME IN THIS MONTH? BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO PROJECT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY CAN SPEND FOR THE ROAD FUND, RIGHT? SO, WE SEND THEM OVER THAT NUMBER, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL.

BUT WHEN EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT IS SENDING OVER MULTIPLE REQUESTS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STOP THAT.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO PUT OUR PLAN IN PLACE TO DO THAT.

SO, YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO? ALL I'M SAYING IS, I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION FOR THE OFFICE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE STAFF.

WE'RE NOT AGAINST AN EXTERNAL AUDITOR COMING IN.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TIME IN A DAY FOR US TO COMPLETE THIS WORK.

IF WE HAVE TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS TO COMPLY WITH AN EXTERNAL AUDIT, WITH A THE INVESTIGATIONS, WE'LL DO

[00:50:05]

THIS WAS A BIG AND A MAJOR FINDING THAT THE COMPTROLLER FOUND THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE YOU.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE OLD DAYS OF ACCOUNTING.

IT'S FINANCIAL SOFTWARE AND TRANSACTIONS ARE INTEGRATED.

WE DON'T HAVE AN ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.

OVER AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

I DIDN'T MAKE THAT DECISION ON THE SOFTWARE THAT WAS MADE 15 OR 20 YEARS AGO.

SO WHATEVER HAPPENED? IF SOMEONE STOLE MONEY, THEN, YES, I WANT.

I WAS VERY HAPPY YESTERDAY.

I THOUGHT WE'D ALL BE VERY HAPPY THAT WE RECOVERED.

THAT MONEY IS LIKE PREVIOUSLY, IT WAS STATED TO US THAT THERE WAS NO POSSIBLE WAY OF FINDING OUT WHO TOOK THE CHECK.

THAT WAS WHAT WAS STATED TO THE LEGISLATURE PREVIOUSLY.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT THAT ASPECT, IT WASN'T SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT.

IT WAS LIKE, THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY, EVEN THOUGH A CHECK GOES THROUGH A SYSTEM BECAUSE IT WAS LLCS AND EVERYTHING.

NO POSSIBLE WAY.

MY POINT IS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE BROADLY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO DO THE MORTGAGE TAX AND THE TRANSFER TAX, BECAUSE THE CLERK'S OFFICE WAS INTENDED, AS YOU SAID, TO BE A KEEPER OF THE RECORDS AND NOT TO BE THE FINANCIAL ARM AND THE KEEPER AND THE COLLECTOR OF TAXES AND EVERYTHING.

AND NOW THAT TAX IS SO MUCH AND IT'S THE TAX YOU'RE COLLECTING TAXES FROM THE STATE FOR, AND THE THINGS ON THE COUNTY TAXES THAT ARE LINE ITEMS THAT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA IF IT'S THIS LEVEL OF PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO CHANGE DOCUMENTS AND NO OUTRAGE ARE ALLOWED TO CHANGE.

IT WAS A CRIME. SOMEONE COMMITTED A CRIME.

I DON'T SEE ANYBODY GET FIRED OVER IT.

AND I'M SAYING THAT PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO CHANGE DOCUMENTS BECAUSE THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION.

I'M SAYING THAT THERE'S A MANAGEMENT SIDE AND THERE'S THE POLICE SIDE.

SO, I'M SAYING ON THE MANAGEMENT SIDE IS THE PART I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THAT WE'VE MADE MANY CHANGES.

WE'VE CHANGED MANY DIFFERENT THINGS FOR CHANGING DOCUMENTS.

BASED ON THE FIRST AUDIT THAT THE COMPTROLLER DID, WE HAVE INSTITUTED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CHANGE FIRED FOR CHANGING DOCUMENTS.

WHAT WAS THAT? HOW MANY PEOPLE GOT FIRED FOR CHANGING? WE DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE THE INVESTIGATION I WAS IT'S BEEN CONVEYED TO ME.

IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU'RE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

I'M NOT TRYING TO FIGHT ANYTHING HERE.

I'M JUST SAYING WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ATTORNEYS THAT ARE HERE.

I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO BRING THE CONSTITUTION IN.

I DON'T KNOW, I'M GOING TO LET THE INVESTIGATORS DO THEIR JOB.

AND THEN WHEN THEY TELL ME THIS PERSON DID IT AT THAT POINT IN TIME, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN SOMEONE DISMISSED, AND WE HAVE STARTED OVER. AND I CAN'T SAY WHY THAT PERSON WAS DISMISSED, BUT WE DID LET SOMEONE GO.

THAT WASN'T ABOUT THIS.

THAT WAS ABOUT THE ORIGINAL MONEY THAT WAS STOLEN.

THAT WASN'T ABOUT. DOCTOR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE'S THE 100 DOCUMENTS COMING FROM.

OKAY, WE NEED TO. WE NEED TO MOVE ON.

MY POINT IS, IS THAT THERE'S THE 100 DOCUMENTS THAT YOU SHOULD ASK THE COMPTROLLER ABOUT.

THAT THEY CAME IN 100 DOCUMENTS.

YOU'RE TALKING. I'M ASKING YOU, WHAT ARE THE 100 DOCUMENTS? THEY SHOWED US EXAMPLES LAST WEEK.

THERE WERE WHITED OUT DEPOSIT TICKETS, THAT THE DEPOSIT TICKETS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DEPOSITED EVERY DAY.

THE CASH. I'LL CONTACT THE SHERIFF, AND I'LL LET THE SHERIFF KNOW THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT WE'LL SAY THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE LEGISLATURE.

I'LL CALL THE SHERIFF AND LET THEM KNOW IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION.

I THINK IT SHOULD. IT SHOULD GO DIRECTLY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND I'M SURE THAT WILL HELP IN THEIR INVESTIGATION.

SO, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP, LEGISLATOR, BECAUSE IF THERE ARE NEW DOCUMENTS, THERE'S NEW EVIDENCE.

I'M GOING TO GIVE THAT TO THE SHERIFF.

DID YOU READ THE REPORT THAT THE AUDIT, BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE AUDIT, MULTIPLE PAGES THAT SAID, AND THEY HAD EXAMPLES OF THE AUDIT, THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE IN WHAT AUDIT? THE FIRST OF THE SECOND AUDIT THAT WE RECEIVED LAST, THE FIRST AUDIT IT HAD IN THERE, THAT THERE WERE OVER 100 DOCUMENTS THAT WERE ALTERED.

THAT'S WHAT WHEN I GOT THAT, THAT WAS LIKE, I THOUGHT, WHOA, THAT'S LIKE A SERIOUS THING.

SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE TELLING US TO DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING.

LET THE INVESTIGATOR, THAT LEGISLATOR, YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS. YOU DIDN'T EVEN REPORT THAT TO THE SHERIFF.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE NEED A HOWARD JOHNSON IS RIGHT.

DO WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT? AND WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THAT.

OKAY, OKAY. ALL I'M SAYING, JUST TO END THIS IS I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE SURPRISED IF YOU DO THAT.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE SURPRISED THAT IF THERE'S 500, WHATEVER THIS, YOU KNOW THESE AREN'T CHEAP, I SUPPORT IT.

I SAID THAT ON THE RECORD, I SUPPORT IT.

HOWEVER, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE HERE JUST TO DO.

LIKE EVERY DAY THERE'S TRANSACTIONS GOING ON IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

BUSINESS IS GETTING DONE.

MANAGEMENT. I'M DOING A DARN GOOD JOB OF MANAGING THIS OFFICE.

AND THAT'S. AND I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS UNDER COVID CONDITIONS NOW UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

AND WE'RE THANKFUL TO THE COMPTROLLER.

BUT HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY TO YOU IS WE HAVE TO RELY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHEN I WAS TOLD TO ZIP IT, DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE SECRET SERVICE.

INVESTIGATE THIS.

WE DIDN'T. AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENED? THE MONEY WAS RECOVERED.

[00:55:01]

SO LET IT PLAY OUT.

LET IT FINISH.

I THINK THERE'S A RUSH TO JUDGMENT HERE.

AND IF YOU GUYS WANT TO DO THAT, IF I COME IN A MONTH FROM NOW AND SAY, HEY, LOOK IT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OR $800,000 TO UPGRADE OUR SOFTWARE SYSTEM.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO SAY, WHY DIDN'T YOU COME TO US? WHY DIDN'T YOU PUT ME ON NOTICE? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME? YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD US THIS.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY IS TO AT LEAST HAVE YOU HAVE THE FULL CONSIDERATION THAT THIS IS WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPE? YES, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SECOND AUDIT.

WE'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT I AM DO YOU THINK I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND I SAY, THIS IS A GREAT DAY.

I WANT TO COME IN AND ARGUE WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

NO, I DON'T, I LOVE MY JOB.

I LOVE WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE.

I'VE GOT A STELLAR RECORD.

I'VE DONE IT FOR 20 YEARS.

I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH ME ALSO.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY.

JUST LIKE A BILLS GAME TO MONDAY DAY QUARTERBACK.

THIS ONE SHOULD HAVE RAN.

THIS ONE SHOULD HAVE PASSED. I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU, LEGISLATOR, BUT PLEASE GIVE US SOME CONSIDERATION AND LET PEOPLE DO THEIR JOBS.

AND IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, I CAN'T STOP YOU FROM DOING IT.

I'M JUST GIVING YOU THE WHOLE PICTURE.

OKAY? WE'RE MOVING ON.

LEGISLATOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR COMPTROLLER FOR BEING HERE.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

SURE. YOU'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE SECOND AUDIT.

THE COMPTROLLER SAID THAT MOVING FORWARD WITH ANOTHER INTERNAL AUDIT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS NOT GOING TO PRESCRIBE ANY WORDS TO YOU, BUT THAT IT MAY BE RUSHED TO.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH ONE AUDIT BEFORE WE JUMP INTO ANOTHER.

NO, I'M NOT I'M NOT SURE THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

WE'VE COMPLETED TWO AUDITS.

YES. I THINK THAT WE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE US.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, I GET THIS FEELING.

I WENT TO THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE CAUCUS, AND AN AMHERST TOWN BOARD MEETING BROKE OUT.

BUT I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

YEAH, BUT SO WE'VE DONE THE TWO AUDITS, AND WE'RE SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT SPECIFICALLY. I MEAN, MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MORTGAGE TAX DISTRIBUTION MONEY WENT TO CONFIRM OUR FINDINGS, WHICH I'M SURE THEY WILL DO.

BUT TO GO FURTHER AND TRY TO SORT THE MESS OUT.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS BEFORE US.

OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WHAT YOU SAID, AND I DID MAKE COMMENTS THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO OTHER AUDITS OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

YOU KNOW, THE AUDIT STAFF IS CURRENTLY MEETING WITH THE CLERK'S STAFF OVER IN OUR CONFERENCE ROOM.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TAKING A LOT OF TIME GOING BACK THROUGH THE WORK PAPERS, EXPLAINING THAT TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, ALLAY THEIR FEARS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN, AS THE CLERK HAS SAID, MISCALCULATIONS AND ERRORS.

I HOPE THAT THEIR FEARS ARE ALLAYED, THAT AT THE END OF THIS MEETING TODAY.

AND I HOPE THAT WE'RE DONE SOON WITH THE CLERK'S AUDIT FOR OUR PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO HAND IT OFF.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT.

OKAY. WE HAVE THE TWO AUDITS NOW.

THERE ARE STILL PROBLEMS. I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH UPGRADING THE SOFTWARE SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY.

I SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF THIS RESOLUTION.

I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR SITTING HERE THROUGH ALL OF THIS, THAT WHETHER IT'S AND I KNOW THE COMPTROLLER AND THE CLERK ARE BOTH OFFENDED BY THE IMPLICATIONS THAT THIS IS GETTING TO BE VERY POLITICAL.

IF WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE THIS ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT, LET'S REMOVE ALL OF THE POLITICS FROM IT.

THE THIRD RESOLVE CLAUSE HAS THE ERIE COUNTY COMPTROLLER TO BE CONSULTED ON THE PROCESS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A SEAT ON THE RFP, SCORING COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION AND SUBJECT TO ANY INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY THE EXTERNAL AUDIT TEAM? IF THIS IS TRULY GOING TO BE AN EXTERNAL AUDIT, LET'S TALK AND REMOVE THAT CLAUSE.

AND LET'S TAKE THE POLITICS AND THE FIGHTING BETWEEN THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE COMPTROLLER OUT OF THIS.

BECAUSE WHETHER THAT'S REAL OR PERCEIVED, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S BEING SPEWED.

AND THIS IS INSTEAD OF TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THESE GOOD GOVERNMENT MOVES; I THINK THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT ONLY STOKE THE FIRE.

THERE ARE TAX TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT ARE MISSING THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH, AND WE NEED TO FIND OUT THE CORRECTIVE SOLUTION TO DEAL WITH THAT.

IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS AN INDEPENDENT AND PROFESSIONAL AUDIT, THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE COMPTROLLER TO BE INVOLVED.

IT SHOULD BE EXTERNAL.

THEN IT WOULD NOT BE INDEPENDENT.

CORRECT? ANYBODY? LEGISLATOR JOHNSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY DISAGREEMENTS WITH IT? UP TO MY POINT OF THE RESOLUTION IS, YOU KNOW, THE COMPTROLLER HAS CONDUCTED THE AUDIT.

THEY ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.

[01:00:01]

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT, TO YOUR POINT THAT THE PUBLIC IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF, AN EXTERNAL AUDIT THAT IMMEDIATELY MAKES IT.

WE'RE ASKING WE'RE NOT ASKING THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE TO DO ANYTHING.

WE'RE JUST ASKING TO BE ABLE TO SIT THERE AS THEY DO AN RFP AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES WITH IT, JUST TO BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS.

LEGISLATOR, YOU'RE FREE TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO THAT.

OKAY, OKAY.

THE COMPTROLLER WANTED TO CHIME IN AND JUST LET HIM CHIME.

YEAH. THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTY SAYS THAT THE COUNTY COMPTROLLER IS THE CHIEF NOT ONLY FINANCIAL OFFICER, BUT THE CHIEF AUDITING OFFICER IN THE COUNTY.

SO, I THINK A ROLE IN AT LEAST PICKING THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK.

I MEAN, WE'RE CURRENTLY WRITING AN RFP FOR AN EXTERNAL AUDITOR TO COME IN AND DO AN AUDIT OF US, AND WE DO IT EVERY THREE YEARS. TO SAY THAT HAVING US INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS WOULD MAKE THIS SOMEHOW POLITICAL WOULD THEN, BY EXTENSION, MEAN THAT ALLOWING THE CLERK TO PICK THE AUDITOR WOULD MAKE IT POLITICAL ALSO.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE CLERK INVOLVED IN PICKING THE AUDITOR, US INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF PICKING THE EXTERNAL INDEPENDENT AUDITOR, I DON'T THINK EITHER OF THEM WILL MAKE IT POLITICAL.

SOMEONE'S GOT TO PICK THE AUDITOR, AND WHOEVER DOES IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE AN ELECTED POLITICAL OFFICIAL, EITHER MYSELF OR MICKEY OR YOU OR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. YOU KNOW, UNLESS WE GET, I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD GET TO PICK THE AUDITOR, BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE AS THE AS THE CHIEF AUDITING OFFICER OF THE COUNTY, I THINK MY OFFICE SHOULD HAVE A ROLE IN PICKING THE AUDITOR ASSURED THE CLERK, BECAUSE IT'S HIS OFFICE BEING AUDITED.

LOOK, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SENTIMENT, BUT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE THIS AS CLEAR CUT AS POSSIBLE AND TAKE ALL OF THE PERCEIVED POLITICS OUT OF THEM. AND I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

LET'S WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND WE CAN TALK.

WE CAN TALK, YOU KNOW, TALK OFFLINE ON THIS, TOO, YOU KNOW, SEE WHERE WE GO WITH THIS.

OKAY. YOU KNOW, AND IN TERMS OF FINDING THE FUNDS FOR IT, I MEAN, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE, I MEAN, THERE'S EXPENSES COMING DOWN THE LINE.

WE ARE HITTING MID-YEAR BUDGET TIME SOON.

THEY'RE STILL DEALING WITH THE SECOND AUDIT.

CAN WE WAIT AND FIND SOME MONEY TO DO THIS? I THINK THERE'S I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LANGUAGE IN THIS TO MAKE SURE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS CAN BE PERCEIVED AS SO POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

YEAH. AND FOR ME, I KNOW THEY JUST GAVE $125,000 TO THE WESTERN NEW YORK LAW CENTER FOR THE ZOMBIE INITIATIVE PROGRAM.

I MEAN, IF THEY'RE FINDING MONEY IN THE BUDGET IN REGARD TO THAT, I'M SURE THAT THEY'RE VERY PRIOR HERE TO THAT.

BUT THERE'S $250,000 THEY GAVE FOR THAT ADMISSION.

SO, THIS YEAR THEY CAME BACK WITH 125,000, YOU KNOW TO THAT SAME PROGRAM.

SO, I'M, YOU KNOW, THEY WORK WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE TO IDENTIFY THE MONEY IN THEIR BUDGET.

AND RECOGNITION IS ALSO PART OF THAT, THAT WORK WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE TO IDENTIFY FUNDING IN THEIR OFFICE FOR THAT.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE LEGISLATURE ISSUE.

IT'S THE CLERK'S OFFICE, AND THEY SHOULD WORK TO FIND THE FUNDING FOR THAT.

WELL, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.

ARE YOU TALKING JUST ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MID-YEAR BUDGET HEARINGS FOR THE MONEY, MONIES FOR THE AUDIT OR MONIES FOR THE SOFTWARE, THE AUDIT.

OKAY. I THINK THAT THE COMPTROLLER INITIALLY SAID THAT A BALLPARK FIGURE OF THAT AUDIT WOULD BE 50 TO 100,000.

I MEAN, 50 TO 100,000.

THAT'S A HUGE BALLPARK, RIGHT? SO, I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT OUT THE RFP THAT'S GOING TO TAKE HOWEVER MANY WEEKS THAT'S GOING TO TAKE.

AND THEN WE CAN DEAL WITH FINDING, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY TO DO AN AUDIT LIKE THIS.

I KNOW THE STAFF IS OVERWHELMED.

I KNOW THIS HAS TAKEN A LOT, BUT THERE ARE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

BUT I CAN'T REITERATE ENOUGH IN LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

WE CAN TALK OFFLINE ABOUT MAYBE SOME AMENDMENTS, BUT I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE TO THIS BEING ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT AND TAKE OUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WILL JUST BE PERCEIVED AS POLITICAL.

THANKS ALSO.

OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

CLERK. OKAY.

MOVING ON. COMMUNICATION 4.E-12.

BRIAN BRAY.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING AFTER ALL THAT? COME ON UP, MAN. YOU'VE BEEN YOU'VE BEEN ON THE SIDELINES NOW, MAN.

HE'S GOING OH, BOY. I'M NEXT.

BRIAN'S HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.

[01:05:01]

JUST AS A REMINDER, WE DISCUSSED THIS RESOLUTION IN THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

IT DEALS WITH AMENDMENTS TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS THAT ARE MADE BETWEEN NEGOTIATING SESSIONS.

SO OFTENTIMES THESE ARE FOR THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS ARE FOR FIVE YEARS IN TIME, AND THERE ARE AMENDMENTS NEEDED DURING THE EFFECT OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT TO HANDLE CHANGES IN CONDITIONS THAT THE COUNTY EXPERIENCES. WE HAVE PROVIDED COPIES OF MEMORANDUMS OF AGREEMENTS THAT THIS WOULD COVER THAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE WE'VE GIVEN TO YOU EVERYONE THAT WE'VE HAD.

AND I'LL HAPPILY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON THE RESOLUTION.

ON THE QUESTION. THIS WILL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU, BRIAN. THANK YOU.

OKAY. UP NEXT IS CONSOLIDATED BOND ISSUE 2024 WILL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

NEXT, THE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES CENTRAL 5-5, INCREASED MEDICAID SPENDING.

THAT WILL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

INTRO 5-6 WILL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION WITH PRESENTED AMENDMENT ON THAT WHICH WILL BE PASSED OUT AFTER A WHILE, I GUESS.

RACHEL. OKAY.

WE DID TURN TO SENATOR RYAN.

OKAY. MOVING ON DOWN WITH OUR AGENDA HERE.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS AS INDICATED ON THE REST OF THAT PAGE, ON PAGE NUMBERS ON THERE.

SO, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

COMMUNICATION 5-4 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 5E-17 AS INDICATED.

INTRO. 5E-18 FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE WILL BE UP FOR A MEETING.

CONSIDERATION. THIS IS MONEY FOR THE WATER LAKE EFFECT STORM WE HAVE COMMISSIONER.

HERE TO TALK WITH US.

BILL. MORNING, SIR.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

THIS IS FOR THIS HONORABLE BODY'S MEDIA CONSIDERATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO REAPPROPRIATE FUNDING TO COVER THE OBLIGATION OF $3,463,215 WITH REGARDS TO THE SNOW REMOVAL DURING OUR BACK-TO-BACK LAKE EFFECT STORM EVENTS FROM JANUARY 12TH THROUGH THE END OF OUR OPERATION OF JANUARY 20TH, I BELIEVE IT WAS WE ASSISTED MOST.

YEAH. APOLOGIZE.

WE ASSISTED MOST MUNICIPALITIES IN THE HARD-HIT AREA.

THE CITY OF BUFFALO VILLAGE, BLAISDELL, CITY OF LACKAWANNA, TOWN OF HAMBURG AND THE VILLAGE OF HAMBURG, TOWN OF ORCHARD PARK AND THE VILLAGE OF ORCHARD PARK AND THE TOWN OF WEST SENECA. AT THE HEIGHT, WE HAD OVER 111 DUMP TRUCKS, 43 LOADERS, TWO DOZERS, TWO GRADERS, AND THREE DUMP SITES THAT WE WERE MAINTAINING TO REMOVE THE SNOW FOR THOSE MUNICIPALITIES.

OKAY. THIS WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MARK.

NEXT BILL. OKAY MOVING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

COMMUNICATION 5E-19 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 5E-33, AS INDICATED UNDER OUR NEXT PAGE, OUR ITEMS 5E-34 THROUGH AND INCLUDING FIVE DASH 37 AS INDICATED.

THE NEXT ONE IS UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

COMMUNICATION 5E-38.

TRACY, YOU'VE BEEN HERE WAITING A WHILE.

HOW ARE YOU LIVING, BUDDY? YOU ALL RIGHT? HE'S HERE WITH KATHY CALLAN.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.

OH, GOOD.

POOR TRACY, RIGHT? I GET HIM TO COME AND HELP US OUT, AND I JUST WANT TO START ABOUT THE COURTROOM MODERNIZATION INITIATIVE.

WE REALLY COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS.

THIS WAS A GREAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, JEREMY TOTH, RICH STANTON.

TRACY. COMMISSIONER BILL GEARY AND LAURA HERZOG.

I NOW CARRY MY ACCOUNTANT WITH ME AT ALL TIMES.

THIS IS LAURA FROM OUR OFFICE.

SHE DOES A LOT OF GREAT WORK.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAD THAT SEVERAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICES HAVE TAKEN THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WHICH IS TO PARTNER FINANCIALLY AND INFRASTRUCTURE WISE WITH THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION TO IMPROVE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT ARE IN THE CRIMINAL COURTROOMS. WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN THIS PROJECT IS FINISHED, SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO USE THE GRANT FUNDING? NO COST TO THE COUNTY.

IT WILL BE A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, DEFENSE COUNSEL, JURORS, JUDGES, COURTROOM STAFF.

WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER IN A 50/50 TRANSACTION TO IMPROVE THE FIVE CRIMINAL COURTROOMS. SHARE THE COST 50/50 DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICES THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE WILL BE BUYING THE EQUIPMENT.

THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO BE WORKING WITH BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS TO UPDATE ALL THE THINGS THAT GO BEHIND THAT, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT DRIVES THAT

[01:10:10]

IF YOU'VE BEEN A JUROR ON A CRIMINAL CASE OR YOU'VE BEEN A WITNESS ON A CRIMINAL CASE, THAT'S OUR TV IN THERE.

THAT'S OUR LAPTOP.

THOSE ARE OUR THUMB DRIVES.

SO, THERE'S ALREADY THIS RELATIONSHIP THAT EXISTS.

OBVIOUSLY, OCA HAS A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING ALL COURTROOMS. WE'RE JUST SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON THIS, AND THIS KIND OF MOVES US UP IN THE QUEUE.

IF WE CAN SPEND THIS GRANT MONEY, IT'S COMING UP TO THE PROSECUTION GRANT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

WE'VE ALREADY ACCEPTED IT IN THE BUDGET, AND WE WOULD HOPE TO BE ABLE TO USE THESE FUNDS IMMEDIATELY.

THE MOU WAS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE STATEWIDE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION, WHICH WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

THEY GOT IT DONE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

TRACY'S BEEN FANTASTIC WALKING CREWS THROUGH SPECKING OUT THINGS THAT BROUGHT HIM IN CASE THERE WERE ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.

OKAY. THIS WILL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

EVERYBODY GOOD? OKAY.

NEXT UP, MY REPLACEMENTS.

YEAH. LOOK AT THAT. OH, BOY.

I'M JUST KIDDING. ENJOY YOURSELF.

NEXT UP IS 539 FLEXIBLE FUNDING.

KATHY. OH, SURE.

JUST FLEXIBLE FUNDING. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TAP INTO FUNDS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS.

THIS HELPS US WITH SOMETIMES RENT COSTS, A SECURITY SYSTEM.

IT'S CALLED FLEXIBLE FUNDING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S COMING FROM THE STATEWIDE LEVEL.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GIVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NOT JUST OUR OFFICE, BUT OTHER AGENCIES THAT DEAL WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS, MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE KIND OF FUNDING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO SURVIVORS AS THEY START THEIR NEW LIFE OR TRANSITION TO THAT NEW LIFE, HOPEFULLY.

THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR VINAL IS BEING USED FOR BY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER AND THOSE LIKE THROUGH RECOMMENDATIONS OR JUST THROUGH.

SO, WE ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE AN EXISTING GRANT RELATIONSHIP WITH OPD, THEY MADE THIS MONEY AVAILABLE TO EXISTING LAW.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OTHER PROVIDERS WERE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY? I THINK IT WENT TO ALMOST.

IT MAY HAVE GONE TO ALL NONRESIDENTIAL PROVIDERS, BUT I CAN GET YOU A LIST OF THAT OF WHO ELSE GOT THIS KIND OF FUNDING AND WHAT AMOUNTS.

I MEAN COULD THEY USE MONEY FROM YOURS IF YOU.

YEAH, WE ALL COLLABORATIVELY SHARE CLIENTS.

IF THAT'S SOMEONE'S CLIENT AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND WE HAVE CONTACT WITH THEM.

YES, WE WILL TAKE REFERRALS FROM ALL OVER THIS.

THIS FUNDING ACTUALLY IS WE ARE WE HAVE TO PARTNER WITH, WITH AN OUTSIDE AGENCY.

SO, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A VICTIM THAT'S COMING THROUGH.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A VICTIM OF A, I'M THE PROSECUTOR.

YEAH. WE CAN GET A REFERRAL FROM ANYONE AND PROVIDE IMMEDIATE HOUSING, FOOD, MONEY, WHATEVER.

YOU KNOW THINGS DOWN THERE.

FLEXIBLE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. I'LL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

MOVING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

COMMUNICATION 5E-40 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 5M-4, AS INDICATED UNDER OUR LAST PAGE.

COMMUNICATION 5M-5 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 5M-7, AS INDICATED.

THAT'LL WRAP UP OUR WORK SESSION.

WE'LL SEE EVERYBODY BACK IN HERE AT 2:00.

I WAS JUST JOKING. I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF ANYBODY'S STILL LISTENING.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A 1215, RIGHT? 1215 IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

[ ROLL CALL]

THIS IS MEETING NUMBER FIVE OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE MARCH 7TH, 2024.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? CALL].

QUORUM PRESENT. ALL RIGHT.

TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR GREENE.

PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, WHICH WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

AS WE GATHER IN THIS HONORABLE BODY, WE HUMBLY SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE AND GRACE.

GRANT US THE CLARITY TO GOVERN, TO NAVIGATE COMPLEXITIES AND THE HUMILITY TO CONSIDER ALL PERSPECTIVES.

WE ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE US WITH THE COURAGE TO UPHOLD WHAT IS RIGHT.

MAY OUR DELIBERATIONS BE MARKED BY CIVILITY, AND OUR DECISIONS BE ROOTED IN COMPASSION.

[01:15:02]

AMEN. AMEN.

BEAUTIFUL. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. YOU MAY TAKE YOUR SEATS IF YOU ARE ABLE.

TABLED ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE. ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION.

THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 4]

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

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE ARE NONE.

MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION ON PAGE ONE AND CONTINUED ON TO PAGE THREE.

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

DO I HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0.

CARRY UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

SPONSORS, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO AMEND TO MAKE IT ALL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND LEGISLATOR.

GREENE ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER, MADAM CHAIR, MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.

SECOND, IT'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS, AS AMENDED, MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED, AS AMENDED.

WE WILL NOW HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THE CITIZEN OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY LAST MONTH, 2024.

AND I'M GOING TO ASK BUFFALO'S RENOWNED AND WELL-RESPECTED MISS TARA LYNCH TO JOIN ME HERE AT THE PODIUM.

TARA WILL BE GOING ON TO BOSTON, BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE.

I KEEP SAYING BOSTON.

NO, BALTIMORE TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY IN THE SAME CAPACITY THAT SHE HAS SERVED US BRINGING THE MEDIA JUSTICE NARRATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE GREATER AT LARGE TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY INFORMED.

I HAVE BEEN TRULY TOUCHED BY TARA'S LEADERSHIP HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HER TIME AS A PRISTINE JOURNALIST AND REPORTER.

SHE HAS BEEN PRESENT.

SHE'S BEEN ON THE SCENE.

AND WITH HER MOVING ON IN HER CAREER, IT KIND OF MAKES ME.

WELL, IT DOES MAKE ME EXTREMELY SAD TO SEE HER GO, BUT ALSO EXTREMELY HAPPY, ESPECIALLY DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH HERE IN MARCH TO SEE SUCH A YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL, INTELLIGENT WOMAN PROGRESSING IN HER CAREER.

TO LEAVE AN IMPRINT ON OUR SOCIETY.

AND SO, I HAVE HERE ROSES BECAUSE I THINK WOMEN SHOULD GET THEIR ROSES WHILE THEY ARE STILL WITH US AND MAKING AN IMPACT IN THE WORLD.

AND THIS PROCLAMATION TO PRESENT TO YOU AS MY CITIZEN OF THE MONTH IN 2024.

WHEREAS TARA LYNCH IS AN EMMY NOMINATED REPORTER AT NEWS CHANNEL 4, WIVB HAS PROVIDED PASSION, PERSISTENCE AND EXCEPTIONAL WORK AS A MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

AND WHEREAS, TARA GRADUATED SUMMA CUM LAUDE FROM THE ROY H.

PARK SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AT ITHACA COLLEGE AND INTERNED WITH CNN, ESPN, AND NBC CONNECTICUT NEWS.

AND WHEREAS, PRIOR TO HER EMPLOYMENT AS A REPORTER WITH WIVB TV IN BUFFALO, TARA WORKED AT WIVB, WNLO SISTER STATION IN ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

AT WETM, SHE ANCHORED 18 NEWS AT NOON AND REPORTED FOR THE EVENING NEWSCAST.

TARA NOT ONLY HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN SPORTS BUT HAS ALSO FOCUSED ON NEWS COVERAGE COVERING SEVERAL NATIONAL NEWS STORIES, INCLUDING THE TOPS MASS SHOOTING, SEVERAL WINTER WEATHER EVENTS INCLUDING THE DEADLY CHRISTMAS BLIZZARD HERE IN BUFFALO AND THE ATTACK ON SALMA RUSHDIE AT CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTE, AND MUCH MORE.

AND WHEREAS A FEW OF TARA'S MEMORABLE MOMENTS INCLUDE HER INVOLVEMENT AS AN INTERN WITH CNN IN 2020, IOWA CAUCUS, ESPN AT THE 2020 ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL AND 2019 FROZEN FOUR AND NBC CONNECTICUT NEWS.

WHEREAS TARA HAS BEEN FEATURED ON CBS EVENING NEWS WITH NORAH O'DONNELL AFTER A TOUR BOAT CAPSIZED,

[01:20:07]

AND WHEREAS IN HER SPARE TIME, TARA ENJOYS PLAYING AND WATCHING SPORTS, ESPECIALLY HER BELOVED BUFFALO BILLS AND BUFFALO SABERS.

AND WHEREAS MULTIPLE YEARS OF LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS SERVICE TO WIVB AND BUFFALO, TARA WILL TRANSITION INTO HER NEW ROLE AS A REPORTER AT WJZ-TV IN BALTIMORE.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS HONORABLE BODY CONGRATULATES TARA LYNCH AS THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE CITIZEN OF THE MONTH AND WISHES HER MANY MORE YEARS OF GOOD HEALTH AND BLESSED HAPPINESS AS SHE PURSUES HER NEW BEGINNINGS.

WAIT. WE NEED TO DO ONE.

COME ON, YOU GUYS.

NO, WE GOT TO DO ONE FOR GERALD.

MY NAME IS THE ONLY WAY.

JACKIE WALKER WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.

RIGHT? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I JUST I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THIS, CHAIRWOMAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO REPRESENT MY HOMETOWN, TO HAVE MY GRANDPARENTS HERE WITH ME TODAY.

I WAS BORN IN BUFFALO.

I DID NOT GROW UP HERE.

MY PARENTS MOVED OUT OF STATE FOR WORK, BUT I'VE ALWAYS VISITED.

I HAVE MAINTAINED MY BUFFALO BILLS FANDOM.

SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW MY GRANDFATHER WAS PR FOR THE BILLS FOR TWO DECADES, SO IF I WASN'T A BILLS FAN, I WOULD BE EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE FAMILY ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT IT'S JUST TRULY BEEN AN HONOR TO COME BACK, TO LIVE HERE, TO WORK HERE, TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AND TO WORK WITH THIS BODY, AMONG OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO GO TO BALTIMORE, AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE REPRESENTING ALL OF THE BUFFALO VALUES HERE, JUST THERE AS WELL.

AND I WILL NOT BE WEARING A PURPLE RAVENS JERSEY.

I WILL ONLY WEAR BUFFALO BILLS.

SO THANK YOU TO YOU ALL.

THANK YOU TO OUR VIEWERS AND GO BILLS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU. YOU WILL BE MISSED.

YOU ARE WELL LOVED. I SAW THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO BID YOU FAREWELL ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE ARE DEFINITELY SAD TO SEE YOU GO, BUT HAPPY.

TARA, TO SEE YOU PURSUE MORE IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES TO RESIDENTS ACROSS OUR NATION.

SO CONGRATULATIONS.

OKAY, WE ARE BACK TO OUR AGENDA.

LOCAL LAWS.

LOCAL LAWS.

THERE ARE NONE.

COMMITTEE REPORTS. REPORT NUMBER FOUR FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

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

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY COMMITTEE CHAIR JOHNSON.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER FOUR FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR JOHNSON.

THANK YOU. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY COMMITTEE CHAIR JOHNSON.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0.

THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER TWO FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR.

THANK YOU. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

APPROVAL. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER THREE FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR MEYERS.

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

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY COMMITTEE CHAIR MEYERS.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

LEGISLATOR. RESOLUTIONS.

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

INTRO 5-2 WILL BE SENT TO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

INTRO 5-3 I'LL RECOGNIZE MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE FOR ME TO CONSIDERATION.

OKAY, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER SMITH, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. OKAY.

THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

INTRO 5-4 MR. MEYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

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

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

LEGISLATOR LORIGO SORRY.

MOTION TO AMEND IS WHAT'S BEEN PASSED OUT.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO AMEND.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GREENE.

THERE'S BEEN AN ITEM PASSED OUT.

DO YOU HAVE ITEM OH.

OH, I'M SORRY. MR..

[01:25:05]

WE STAND IN RECESS.

SO WHY ARE WE AT FIVE MINUTES? WE ARE RESUMING BACK FROM RECESS.

I'M GOING TO ASK THE MEMBERS TO TAKE THEIR SEAT AND ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL.

MADAM CLERK.

LEGISLATOR GREEN. ON THE AMENDMENT.

YES. OH, NO.

WE'RE JUST HERE. WE'RE COMING.

IT'S ROLL CALL. COME BACK! YES! OH, YES! LAREDO MILLS, NOT PRESENT.

TODARO. HE'S HERE.

BARGNESI. BASKIN HERE.

GILMORE, HERE. JOHNSON.

KOOSHOIAN. MEYERS HERE.

AND VINAL. OKAY, WE ARE BACK ON THE RECORD FOR INTRO FIVE.

WE ARE BACK ON THE RECORD FOR INTRO 5-4.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE TO AMEND BY LEGISLATOR RIGO.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GREENE.

ROLL CALL. VOTE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.

ON THE MOTION AND LEGISLATOR GREEN.

YES. LORIGO.

YES. MILLS.

NOT PRESENT. TODARO.

YES. BARGNESI.

BARGNESI. AND THE MOTION TO AMEND.

YES. BASKIN.

NO. GILMORE.

YES. JOHNSON.

NO. KOOSHOIAN.

MEYERS. NO.

AND VINAL. NO.

LEGISLATOR. BARGNESI.

NO. THIS MOTION FAILS.

OKAY, SO THE MOTION FAILS.

BACK ON THE ITEM, THERE HAS BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE AND THEN A MOTION TO SECOND ON THE APPROVAL OF THE ITEM.

MADAM CLERK, CALL THE ROLL CALL QUESTION, SIR.

IS THERE A QUESTION? I MEAN, THE QUESTION.

THE VOTE CALL. CALL THE ROLL CALL.

VOTE. ROLL CALL. VOTE. ROLL CALL.

VOTE. OKAY. ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

LEGISLATOR. GREENE. YES.

LORIGO. YES.

MILLS. NOT PRESENT.

LEGISLATOR TODARO.

BARGNESI. YES.

BASKIN. YES.

GILMOUR. YES.

JOHNSON. YES.

KOOSHOIAN. YES.

MEYERS AND VINAL.

VOTE IS 10 TO 0.

THIS MOTION PASSES.

OKAY. ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM.

TAKING THE AGENDA OUT OF ORDER.

COUNCIL. INTRO 5-3 WAS VOTED ON AND APPROVED, BUT THERE IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE ITEM, SO.

DO WE NEED TO RECONSIDER THE.

OKAY. YEAH.

SO I NOW WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER.

INTRO 5-3 FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN AMENDMENT.

DO I? CAN I DO THAT UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR? DO I NEED TO HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO ALL IN FAVOR OF RECONSIDERING INTRO 5-3.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. SO MAJORITY LEADER YOU CAN REINTRODUCE 5-3 FOR US PLEASE.

PERSONNEL POLICIES FOR MANAGERIAL AND CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO AMEND.

YES. MOTION TO AMEND.

SECOND. YOU HAVE TO PUT THAT BACK UP.

MOTION TO AMEND. INTRO 5-3 REPORTS.

ONE PASS. NOW. DOES HE HAVE TO PUT THE ITEM UP BEFORE HE AMENDS IT IF WE'RE RECONSIDERING IT? OKAY, SO THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY. MOTION TO CONSIDER.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO CONSIDER.

INTRO FIVE, DASH THREE.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0.

OKAY. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOTION TO AMEND.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO AMEND.

INTRO 5-3.

THERE'S BEEN A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0.

MAJORITY LEADER, MOTION TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.

MOTION TO APPROVE. INTRO FIVE.

DASH THREE, AS AMENDED.

THERE'S MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0.

THE MOTION CARRIES.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, WE ARE NOW AT COMMUNICATIONS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]

THANKS, LYNN. OKAY.

I HAVE TWO DISCHARGES.

MOVE TO JUST DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION FOR E 12 FROM THE FINANCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION FOR E DASH 12.

ALL IN FAVOR?

[01:30:01]

THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE.

THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER IS THE SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES IN. THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

MAJORITY LEADER, THE NEXT DISCHARGE.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION FOUR E DASH 29 FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

OKAY. THIS IS THE CONSOLIDATED BOND RESOLUTION.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE DISCHARGE ROLL CALL.

VOTE. ROLL CALL. VOTE, MA'AM.

MADAM CHAIR ON THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE.

ROLL CALL ON THE MOTION.

LEGISLATOR. GREENE.

NO. LORIGO.

NO. MILLS.

NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR.

TODARO. BARGNESI.

BASKIN. YES.

GILMOUR. YES.

JOHNSON. YES.

KOOSHOIAN. MEYERS.

YES. AND VINYL.

YES. THE VOTE IS 8 TO 2.

THIS MOTION PASSES EIGHT TO.

NO, NO. WHAT AM I SAYING? SORRY. GOD'S MOUTH.

THIS MOTION PASSES.

SO. NOT 7 TO 3.

YES. YEAH.

NOW WE HAVE TO JUST DISCHARGE.

DISCHARGE. OKAY, THAT'S APPROPRIATE THEN.

OKAY. THE ITEM IS DISCHARGED ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

ROLL CALL. VOTE. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

ROLL CALL. VOTE ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

LEGISLATOR GREENE.

NO. LORIGO.

NO. MILLS. NOT PRESENT.

LEGISLATOR TODARO.

BARGNESI. BASKIN.

YES. GILMOUR.

YES. JOHNSON.

YES. KOOSHOIAN.

MEYERS AND VINAL.

YES. THE VOTE IS 73.

THE MOTION PASSES.

OKAY. THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

I'M SORRY. OH, YOU NEED EIGHT VOTES.

THE ITEM FAILS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES.

[ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE THREE SUSPENSION.

THE FIRST FROM LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN AND BASKIN.

INCREASED MEDICAL SPENDING.

MADAM CLERK. INTRO FIVE FIVE.

MEYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

THE SECOND SUSPENSION, MAJORITY LEADER.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SECOND.

NEXT SUSPENSION IS FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

REAPPROPRIATION OF COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD ART CULTURAL FUNDS.

MADAM CLERK. INTRO FIVE SIX MEYERS MOVE FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0.

THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

MAJORITY LEADER, THE THIRD SUSPENSION.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE FINAL SUSPENSION IS FROM CHAIR BASKIN IN SUPPORT OF NEW YORK STATE BILL ON EMERGENCY HOUSING.

MADAM CLERK. INTRO FIVE SEVEN.

MAJORITY LEADER CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION. THERE'S BEEN A THERE WAS A REQUEST TO AMEND TO MAKE AT ALL ON THIS ITEM.

OKAY. YEAH.

OR LEGISLATOR BARGAINING.

THEY WANTED TO. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ON.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

YEAH. WE'LL JUST MAKE IT TO APPROVAL.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO CONSIDERATION, AND A SECOND, IT'S JUST ALL.

ALL IN FAVOR. SO ROLL CALL.

VOTE. LEGISLATOR.

GREENE. NO.

LORIGO. NO.

MILLS. NOT PRESENT.

TODARO. BARGNESI.

BASKIN. YES.

GILMOUR. JOHNSON.

YES. KOOSHOIAN.

YES. MEYERS AND VINAL.

THE VOTE IS 7 TO 3. THIS MOTION PASSES.

THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

COMMUNICATION FIVE DASH 18 FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

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

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

[01:35:01]

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. OKAY.

THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

CONTINUING ON. COMMUNICATION 519, INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 5-37 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATION 5-38 FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE FOR ME TO CONSIDERATION THE APPROVAL.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR A MEETING.

CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMORE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0.

THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

COMMUNICATION 5-39.

FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

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.

HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMORE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. OKAY.

THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

CONTINUING ON WITH THE AGENDA.

COMMUNICATION FIVE E DASH 40 THROUGH INCLUDING COMMUNICATION FIVE E DASH 42 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNICATION 5D-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 5D-2 AS INDICATED.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

ANNOUNCEMENTS. WE WILL CONDUCT OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT WEEK ON THURSDAY, MARCH 14TH, AND THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE BODY? PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

AND MADAM CLERK, HE WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN OUR FIFTH SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE DATED TODAY, MARCH 7TH, 2024, IN MEMORY OF CAROLYN S 60 WOJAHN AND CATHERINE BOLLING, ANY.

OTHERS. LEGISLATOR GREENE.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF KAREN RICOTTA, AS WELL AS THE MEMORY OF DANIEL GURNETT IN THE THIRD.

WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF JEREMY J.

CILLEY. HE WAS A WEST SENECA TOWN HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE WHO PASSED AWAY TRYING TO SAVE SOMEONE IN A HOUSE FIRE.

WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

THE HARDEST WITH YOUR TOWN.

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

AMEN. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MADE BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMER.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.