[00:00:01] GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR WORK SESSION FOR SESSION NUMBER 14 OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, JULY 25TH, 2024. WE WILL GO THROUGH OUR AGENDA FOR OUR FORMAL 12 NOON SESSION. TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO. THERE WILL BE AN APPOINTMENT MADE TO THE SEAT OF LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT ONE. WE WILL GO THROUGH TABLED ITEMS. ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING. THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL. THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS AT THIS TIME. MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE AND ONTO PAGE TWO ARE, AS INDICATED, LOCAL LAWS. LOCAL LAW. INTRO 2-1 THROUGH LOCAL LAW. INTRO 5-1 ONE AS INDICATED. LOCAL LAW INTRO FIVE. DASH TWO FROM LEGISLATOR BARGNESI WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. COMMITTEE REPORTS REPORT NUMBER NINE FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE CHAIR. MEYERS. REPORT NUMBER TEN FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE CHAIR MEYERS. AND WOULD YOU DO ME THE FAVOR OF SPEAKING FOR MEETING? COMMITTEE REPORT FROM MEETING NUMBER 13 FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. ALL SAID, MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU. AND MEETING NUMBER 12 FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR. AND MEETING NUMBER NINE FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR. ALSO THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS. ONE SECOND, DO YOU HAVE. THIS IS WORKING, TOO. OKAY. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS INTRO 14-1 FROM LEGISLATORS KOOSHOIAN AND GILMOUR. SUPPORT FOR STATE LEGISLATION TO COMBAT OPIOID OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL TODAY. ARE YOU GUYS GOOD OR DID YOU NEED TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? YOU ALL SET? OKAY. INTRO 14-2 FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS WILL BE SENT TO THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. AND INTRO 14 DASH THREE FROM LEGISLATOR LORIGO WILL BE DIRECTED TO GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. COMMUNICATIONS. DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE. COMMUNICATION 1302. FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES. WE ACHIEVED DONOVAN HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM. WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US? GOOD MORNING. CHIEF. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE HERE AUTHORIZING THE RESOLUTION REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER 23,300 INTO ACCOUNT 516030 MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO COVER THE COST OF JANITORIAL SERVICES AT 13 CENTER DRIVE. ON THE QUESTION. LEGISLATIVE. LEGAL. THANK YOU. SO THIS IS JUST, THIS RECOVERING THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR? BECAUSE THIS IS A TOTAL CONTRACT IS $49,000, BUT WE'RE JUST MOVING $23,000. THE CONTRACT IS 49,000. IT'S FOR NEXT YEAR. FOR NEXT YEAR? YES. THIS WAS A BIT BY BUILDINGS. EXCUSE ME? BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. IT'S FOR NEXT YEAR. OKAY, SO THE 23,000 IS JUST TO COVER THE REST OF THIS YEAR. IT'S JUST THE TRANSFER. WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THE CONTRACT YET. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL TODAY. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS COMMUNICATION 13E-18 FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. WE HAVE SUPERINTENDENT PHILLIPS HERE TO SPEAK ON THE AWARD FOOD MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRWOMAN. GOOD MORNING AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. WE'RE HERE TO ASK FOR AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD A FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT TO TRINITY SERVICES. WE'VE DONE OUR STUDIES AND CALCULATIONS, AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL PROVIDE THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH BETTER QUALITY MEALS. WITH TWO HOT MEALS A DAY AS OPPOSED TO RIGHT NOW THEY GET ONE HOT MEAL A DAY AND AT SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS. ALSO, WHAT COMES WITH IT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE IS A FOOD SERVICE MANAGER THAT WILL HELP US ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ALL THE [00:05:09] STANDARDS REQUIRED FOR THE KITCHEN OPERATIONS. AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE HAS. DID THE PREVIOUS DID THEY HAVE THE CONTRACT PREVIOUSLY? NO. THERE WAS NO FOOD. SERVICES IS ALL HANDLED BY COUNTY EMPLOYEES. SO THE COUNTY PURCHASES ALL THE FOOD, SUPPLIES, THE MEALS. WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS CONTRACTING OUT TO A COMPANY THAT IS IN 14 OTHER COUNTY JAILS ACROSS THE STATE, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO OBTAIN SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO PURCHASE FOOD IN BULK. AND HERE'S PRIOR, THIS BODY IS VOTED ON A FOOD LIKE A KITCHEN SERVICES CONTRACT. I REMEMBER FORMER SUPERINTENDENT DEANNA COMING IN TALKING TO US ABOUT DETAINEES HAVING THE OPTIONS TO HAVE MORE NUTRITIONISTS, FOOD FROM A COMPANY AND THEN LIKE SPECIAL OCCASIONS WHERE THEY COULD GET LIKE HOAGIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IS THAT WAS THAT CONTRACT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY? I AM TOLD HISTORICALLY THAT THAT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE. I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THAT HAPPENED, BUT I THINK IT WAS SIMILAR. AND IT'S THE SAME COMPANY, TRINITY. IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE SHERIFF IS GOING TO BE? THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF IS GOING TO BE ENTERING A CONTRACT WITH TRINITY? YES. YES, IT IS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE ERIC THIS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE VOTED ON A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IN TERMS OF FOOD SERVICES. UNLESS ANY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS LEGISLATOR. VINAL I JUST WONDERED, BECAUSE IT'S A FLORIDA COMPANY, AND I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE THAT ARE YOU DISMISSING THE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE DOING THIS KIND OF WORK OR THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BE DOING LESS WORK? NO, THE SAME EMPLOYEES WILL BE DOING WHAT THEY DO ALREADY IN OPERATIONS, PREPARING THE MEALS, DISTRIBUTING THE MEALS. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THIS COMPANY WILL BE PURCHASING ALL THE MEALS AND LIKE I SAID, PROVIDE A KITCHEN MANAGER TO OVERSEE THE OPERATIONS OF THE KITCHEN. AND THEN SO WHAT IS THE? SO, THE SALARY SAVINGS, IS IT THE SALARY SAVINGS OR IS IT A INCREASE IN. THERE'S NO SALARY SAVINGS. AND THEN THE INCREASE IS HOW MUCH IS IT THEN FOR THE NOT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE FOOD BUT FOR THE SERVICES. THE INCREASE FOR THE SERVICES. YEAH. IS IT SEPARATED OUT AS THE INCREASE FOR THE LIKE? IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU'RE PAYING $1 MILLION FOR SOMETHING THAT WE DID IN HOUSE AND WHAT IS THE SAVINGS? AND IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE NOT BUYING LOCAL AS MUCH. YOU KNOW, I'D RATHER HAVE SOMEPLACE THAT HAS LOCAL EMPLOYEES BUYING LOCALLY. BUT WHAT IS THE SAVINGS AS FAR AS FINANCIALLY? WELL, I KNOW THAT LAST YEAR OUR BUDGET FOR FOOD SERVICES WAS $2.3 MILLION. AND IN LOOKING AT TRINITY FOOD SERVICES PROPOSAL, THEY CHARGE BY MEAL. AND I THINK IN THE RESOLUTION IT LISTS THE CHART. AND WHEN YOU DO THE MATH AND OUR AVERAGE POPULATION, IT COMES IN AT CONSERVATIVELY $500,000 LESS. AND THEN THAT'S WITH ALL THE COSTS ON IT. AND THEN WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE? WHY IS IT THE DIFFERENCE YOU'RE SAYING IS BECAUSE IT'S BUYING IN BULK, NOT THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD OR ANYTHING. YES. AND THEY HAD DIFFERENT OPTIONS. WE ASKED FOR THE HIGHEST QUALITY OPTION THAT THEY PROVIDED. I'D LIKE TO KNOW LEGISLATOR MILLS'S POSITION ON THIS INSTEAD OF BUYING LOCALLY. GETTING OUT OF BOREDOM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW LEGISLATOR MILLS'S POSITION ON IT INSTEAD OF BUYING LOCALLY, GETTING IT FROM FLORIDA. PUT THE COST OF THE COST OF FOOD ESCALATION. LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD, GOOD DEAL COUNTY FOR THE PRISON POPULATION. INCREASES OF 21, 20 OR 28% INCREASE IN FOOD OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS. IT'S A BENEFIT TO BUY LOCALLY. IS IT A DIFFERENCE OR DO WE NOT BUY LOCAL ANYWAY? WE STILL WE STILL WILL BUY LOCAL PRODUCE, MILK, BREAD THAT'LL STILL BE LOCAL AND JUST PURCHASED BY TRINITY. IT'LL BE PURCHASED BY US. SO YOU'LL STILL BE BUYING ALL THE PRODUCE, THE MILK AND THE DAIRY. AND THEN WHAT? DO THEY LIKE? THE DRY GOODS? YES. OH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [00:10:02] LEGISLATURE MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU. CHAIR. I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS SAID THAT THE SAVINGS IS ABOUT 500,000. YOU BUDGETED 2.3 FOR FOOD LAST YEAR. WHAT WAS ACTUALLY SPENT? I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER, MAJORITY LEADER, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR THE FIRST HALF OF 2024 ROUGHLY ONE A TOUCH OVER $1 MILLION WAS SPENT. SO IF YOU WERE TO DOUBLE THAT, IT WOULD COME OUT TO JUST A TOUCH OVER $2 MILLION FOR THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. SO THE 2.3 WAS BUDGETED FOR LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE THIS YEAR IS PART OF LAST YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE FOR THIS YEAR. SO HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR, YOU FIGURE THAT YOU'RE ABOUT AT 50% OF WHAT WAS BUDGETED SPENT, CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THE PRODUCE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU. NORMALLY YOU SPEND $1 MILLION. SO THAT WOULD BE REDUCE THE SAVINGS FROM THREE FROM 500,000 TO 200,000. BECAUSE YOU SAID IT WAS 2.3 WAS YOUR BUDGET. AND WE ONLY SPENT A MILLION. SO INSTEAD OF A SAVINGS OF 500, IT'S ONLY A SAVINGS OF 200. BUT WOULD, OUT OF THAT 2.3 MILLION DOES THAT, DID THAT INCLUDE THE PRODUCE AND THE MILK AND ALL THAT? YES. SO IT'S NOT REALLY A SAVINGS IF THE PRODUCE WAS MORE THAN 200,000, WHICH I'M ASSUMING IT WAS LIKE THE PRODUCE AND THE MILK. WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IF YOUR BUDGET WAS 2.3 MILLION, INCLUDING ALL THE MILK AND THE PRODUCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE YOU SPENT THIS YEAR, 1 MILLION, SO YOU'RE 150,000 UNDER BUDGET FOR THE HALF YEAR. OKAY, NOW YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THESE PEOPLE 1.8 MILLION AND FOR AN OUT OF TOWN VENDOR. AND THAT WILL STILL HAVE TO BUY LIKE WHAT IS THE OUT OF THE MILLION THAT WAS SPENT? HOW MUCH OF THAT IS THINGS WILL STILL HAVE TO BUY LIKE THE PRODUCE AND THE DAIRY AND SO FORTH, THE LOCAL THINGS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS. IT WAS FIGURED IN LIKE IT'S IN THE PRICE THAT $1.81 PER MEAL IS FIGURING THAT THE MILK IS $0.29 PER DAY. IT'S ALREADY FIGURED INTO THE PRICE OF $1.81 PER MEAL. I SEE, YES, IT'S BAKED INTO THE NUMBERS YOU SEE IN THE CHART. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, YES. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. JUST ONE MORE QUESTION. I THOUGHT IT. REAL QUICK, YOU SAID THAT WHEN YOU CAME UP, THE PRICE WITH THE SAVINGS OF THE 500,000 WAS BROKEN DOWN BY COST PER MEAL. I JUST WANT TO BEAT THIS UP, BUT IS THERE DOES THAT GO? I'M JUST WONDERING, FOR MY OWN CURIOSITY, IS THERE IS THAT BASED ON, LIKE, AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF INMATES? I MEAN, DOES THAT NUMBER FLUCTUATE? WHAT IF ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY WAS GOOD AND WE ONLY HAD 50 PEOPLE IN JAIL, YOU KNOW? I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT NUMBER GOES TO JUST HOW DO YOU GET TO THAT ESTIMATE, OR DO YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM A GUARANTEED AMOUNT? IS THAT IN THE CONTRACT? LIKE WE'RE GUARANTEED FOR 20,000 MEALS FOR THE YEAR. YEAH. THE CHART THAT WAS SUBMITTED SHOWS THE PRICE PER MEAL. THE LARGER THE POPULATION, THE LESS THE COST PER MEAL IS. OUR AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION RUNS AROUND 750, ALTHOUGH WE'VE BEEN TRENDING A LITTLE BIT HIGHER WHEN I DID THE MATH. AS OF LAST WEDNESDAY, I THINK IT WAS I USED THE NUMBER OF 771 IS THE POPULATION, AND I MULTIPLY THAT BY THREE MEALS A DAY BY 365 DAYS A YEAR, AND CAME UP WITH A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1.4 MILLION, BECAUSE THAT NUMBER HAS TO CHANGE ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? OF INMATES? SURE. OKAY, SO MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF HAS COME BEFORE THIS HONORABLE BODY IN MY TENURE TWICE BEFORE TO TRY TO PUT FORTH A CONTRACT WITH TRINITY SERVICES. I'M GOING TO PRINT. HAVE THE LEGISLATURE STAFF PRINT OUT THESE LETTERS OF CONCERN THAT WERE EXCHANGED BETWEEN MYSELF BACK IN 2019, WHEN I WAS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, AND THEN SHERIFF HOWARD, AND ALLOW THE MEMBERS TO REVIEW THE PREVIOUS CONCERNS THAT WE HAD. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE STILL HAVE THESE CONCERNS, BUT I JUST THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THE MATH JUST WASN'T MATHING WHEN IT CAME TO A CONTRACT WITH THIS PARTICULAR FIRM OUT IN FLORIDA. SO THAT IS JUST FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF THIS, CHRIS, IS COMMUNICATION 16-21 FROM 2019. THAT'S A LETTER FROM THEN MAJORITY LEADER APRIL BASKIN ADDRESSED TO TIM HOWARD. AND THE ORIGINAL REQUEST, WHICH I THINK THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME. I THINK THE FIRST TIME THE CONTRACT CAME THROUGH WAS IN 2018. BACK IN 2019, THEY ATTEMPTED TO PUSH IT THROUGH AGAIN TO PRIVATIZE FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT AT THE HOLDING CENTER. [00:15:08] AND THAT WAS COMMUNICATION 3E-23 FROM 2019. SO THE CLERK WILL MAKE COPIES OF THOSE, PASS THEM OUT TO THE MEMBERS. I'M NOT SAYING THIS WON'T PASS DURING SESSION. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE BECAUSE BEFORE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY CLEARLY HAD CONCERNS. IS THAT OKAY? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL UPDATE YOU WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN BEFORE SESSION. OKAY. THANK YOU. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. COMMUNICATION 1420 FROM CHAIR BASKIN AN APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE VACANCY IN THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT. JUST FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE, THIS ITEM WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER AND WE WILL HANDLE IT AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR AGENDA WHEN WE GAVEL IN FOR OUR FORMAL SESSION. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS. COMMUNICATION 14-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 14-2 AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATION 14 E THREE IS UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION REGARDING AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH FIVE FIRMS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH ERIE COUNTY ARP FUNDING. WE HAVE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BAINES AND COMMISSIONER CASTLE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. GOOD MORNING GENTLEMEN. GOOD MORNING. TODAY SEEKING YOUR AUTHORIZATION. VENDOR CONTRACT FOR FIVE DEVELOPERS WHO SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TO. WE'RE HERE TODAY ASKING FOR YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH FIVE DEVELOPMENT FIRMS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS TO AN RFP THAT WAS ISSUED BY DEP IN MAY FOR UP TO $1 MILLION OF ARP FUNDS TO SUPPORT MULTIFAMILY RENTAL DEVELOPMENT BY SPECIFICALLY BY NEW AND EMERGING DEVELOPERS. WE HAD BEEN THROUGH A PREVIOUS ROUND OF GRANTS FOR LARGER PROJECTS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS EVIDENT WAS THAT THERE WERE SOME GOOD PROJECTS BEING PROPOSED IN BY DEVELOPERS WHO WERE SORT OF NEW TO THE PROCESS. MAYBE THEY WERE MINORITY DEVELOPERS OR JUST NEW TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPACE, AND THEIR PROJECTS WERE SMALLER AND DIDN'T REQUIRE AS MUCH MONEY AS THE FIRST ROUND. SO THE FORM THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU, I HANDED OUT LISTED A LITTLE SUMMARY OF EACH OF THE EIGHT SUBMITTALS WE'VE GOTTEN. YOU CAN SEE THE FIVE THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR APPROVAL. AND WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THESE ARE THAT THEY ALL HAVE FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES. WE ARE KIND OF LIKE THE LAST MONEY IN WE ARE FUNDING A PIECE OF IT. AND WHEN YOU'RE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE DEVELOPERS LEARN HOW TO DEVELOP A CAPITAL STACK OF FEDERAL FUNDING, STATE FUNDING. THERE'S VARIOUS TYPES OF STATE FUNDING NOW. COUNTY FUNDING, OTHER FUNDING, MUNICIPAL FUNDING. AND IT'S A LESSON THAT THEY LEARN OVER TIME. SO WE'RE HELPING THESE DEVELOPERS GAIN THE CAPACITY TO DO LARGER PROJECTS. BUT STILL, THE EIGHT PROJECTS OR THE FIVE PROJECTS WERE SUBMITTING WILL RESULT IN ABOUT 48 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT'S FOR PEOPLE AT OR BELOW 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS THAT A FAMILY OF FOUR THAT MAKES $77,500 MEETS THAT ELIGIBILITY. I THINK WE ALL KNOW FAMILIES THAT MEET THAT ELIGIBILITY. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE. SO JUST QUICKLY, THE THREE FIRMS THAT WERE NOT SELECTED WERE NOT BECAUSE ONE ASKED FOR $15 MILLION, REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THAT. THE OTHER TWO WERE ASKING FOR THE COUNTY TO FIT THE ENTIRE BILL FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH WE WEREN'T ABOUT TO DO THAT EITHER. SO THESE ARE THE FIVE WE ENDED UP WITH. SO BEFORE I TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE BODY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONER. BECAUSE THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT. WHEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED A YEAR AGO THAT HE WAS GOING TO INVEST $20 MILLION OF ARP FUNDING INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE COUNTY. I WISH WE HAD BEEN AT THE SEAT AT THE TABLE AT THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. BUT BEFORE THAT DECISION WAS MADE BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IN THE PAST, I THINK ALL OF US HAVE HOUSING NEEDS IN OUR DISTRICT. BUT IT WAS GOOD GOVERNMENT AND I WAS PROUD OF IT. I THINK A LOT OF US WANTED TO WEIGH IN ON THAT. I WAS VERY CLEAR AND PASSIONATE, WRITING A LOT OF LETTERS, ASKING FOR A LOT OF MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT I, AS AN INDEPENDENT LEGISLATOR, HAD A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON THE PROCESS. AND SO TO KNOW THAT YOU DID AROUND A FUNDING TO DEVELOPERS WHO ARE DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT DID SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME LOCAL DEVELOPERS WHO JUST AREN'T THOSE AT THAT BIG TICKET LEVEL YET, BUT STILL WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO ADDRESSING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY? [00:20:07] I THINK IS ADMIRABLE. I THINK IT IS THE SPIRIT IN WHICH MYSELF AND LEGISLATOR VINAL, AND I THINK LEGISLATOR TODARO WERE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE IN THE MIDST OF COVID. AND IT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS, ENTREPRENEURS, DEVELOPERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE LOOKING TO GET INTO THE GAME AND SCALE UP, BUT THEY SOMETIMES COME TO THE TABLE WITH NOT AS MANY RESOURCES AS THEY NEED TO ENTER INTO THE GAME. AND SO FOR THE COUNTY TO ISSUE A NEW ROUND AND SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT THESE SMALLER PROJECTS AND THESE SMALLER BUSINESS OWNERS, AND LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THEY DO HAVE PORTFOLIOS THAT LEND THEMSELVES TO EXPERIENCE, AND THEY HAVE GONE OUT AND GOTTEN RESOURCES FROM OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN THIS, IN OUR COMMUNITY. FOR THE COUNTY TO COME IN WITH ARPA FUNDING AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY NEED, THAT IS CLEARLY A DEFICIT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. SO, I'M PROUD TO VOTE FOR THIS TODAY AND JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN, BECAUSE I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT OF TEDIOUS HARD WORK AND LONG HOURS. AND IT'S VERY IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU ARE A LEGISLATOR WHO'S ADVOCATING FOR SOMETHING TO GET DONE, WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY THE DEPARTMENT THAT ACTUALLY HAS TO CUSTOMIZE, CREATE AND DELIVER THE SERVICE. SO THANK YOU TO YOU BOTH. GREAT LEGISLATOR VINAL, THEN LEGISLATOR TODARO, AND THEN LEGISLATOR GRAY. SO IT LOOKS LIKE I. IS IT TRUE THAT OUT OF THE THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 48 APARTMENTS IN THE IN THE FIVE. IS THAT A SPARE 48. YES. OKAY. SO IT'S ABOUT 20,000 PER AS A GRANT. THE ONE I WAS WONDERING ABOUT IS ON 111 1175 DELAWARE AVENUE, BECAUSE THAT'S YOU KNOW. YEAH, THAT'S THE HIGH RENT DISTRICT. AND. YEAH. SO THAT THAT'S ANOTHER INTERESTING PROJECT. AND I WAS TRYING TO BE BRIEF JUST IN THE SAKE OF TIME, BUT ONE OF THE, THE IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE CONCERNS WHEN WE KEEP BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT ARE JUST FOR UNDER 50% AMI OR UNDER 80. WE'RE PROVIDING HOMES FOR THOSE PEOPLE, RENTAL APARTMENTS FOR THOSE. BUT IT ALSO IS CONCENTRATING THOSE PEOPLE AT THAT INCOME LEVEL FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. RIGHT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF NEW EVOLVING WISDOM IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPACE TO DEVELOP MIXED UNITS, MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENTS. SO PARK IS THAT IS WHERE IT'S 84 UNITS THAT ARE WELL, 84 UNITS TOTAL. AND THEY ARE MARKET RATE. BUT WHAT THE DEVELOPER HAS OFFERED TO DO IN EXCHANGE FOR OUR $275,000 IS TO SET ASIDE 18 UNITS WITHIN THAT DEVELOPMENT TO BE DEDICATED TO PEOPLE AT OR BELOW 75% OF THE AREA MEAN INCOME. SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE TAKING A A MARKET RATE DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY CAN GO AND GET TRADITIONAL FINANCING FOR. BUT THEY ARE ALSO MAKING THE COMMITMENT TO INCORPORATE IN SOME OTHER AFFORDABLE UNITS AS WELL. SO YOU'RE SEEING THAT CANAL SIDE AND A LOT OF WHAT THE STATE'S DOING AND SOME OF THEIR OTHER LIGHT TECH PROJECTS, AS THEY'RE DOING MIXED INCOME AND NOT JUST SOLELY ONE STRATA OF THE. YES. SO I SEE YEAH, I GUESS IT'S NOT ABOUT THE WEALTH OR NEED OF THE DEVELOPER. AND THAT IS LIKE THE PLACE DEVELOPING. IT IS AN AFFILIATE OF THAT'S OWNED BY A MEDICAL DOCTOR WHO'S A SURGEON IN BUFFALO. SO IT'S NOT A AN ISSUE OF NEED. BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE THAT. AT FIRST I WAS A LITTLE BIT THINKING, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT, BUT BECAUSE IT'S THE HIGHEST AMOUNT. BUT IF IT'S 18 AND BUT IT'S ACTUALLY LESS THE AVERAGE IS 20,000 AND THEIRS IS LESS, IT'S MORE. THAT'S WHY WE WERE INTERESTED BECAUSE FOR $275,000 WE CAN GET 18 UNITS. IN A DEVELOPMENT THAT'S PRETTY GOOD DEALS. IS IT FOR HOW MANY YEARS IS IT? I'M SORRY, HOW MANY YEARS IS THE 18 UNITS FOR? I THINK 20 YEARS. NO FEWER THAN 20 YEARS. 20 YEARS. NO FEWER THAN 20. NO FEWER THAN 20. OKAY. THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR TODARO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO ARTICULATE THAT YOUR REMARKS WERE SPOT ON, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. MY ANSWER OR MY QUESTION WAS ALREADY ANSWERED FROM LEGISLATOR VINAL. I WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY 48 UNITS AND THE COST AND THE DELAWARE PROJECT. SO I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THAT QUESTION. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. BEING ONE YOURSELF, SIR, I ADMIRE YOU, LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU. I'M 99% SURE YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION WHEN YOU WERE TALKING TO LEGISLATOR VINAL, BUT JUST TO CONFIRM. SO I THINK WE BOTH SHARE THE CONCERN IS MAKING SURE THAT THE INVESTMENT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE GOES INTO ASSISTING THE COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO LINING DEVELOPER'S POCKETS, [00:25:04] THEORETICALLY. BUT I BELIEVE YOU ADDRESSED THAT, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SPECIFIC UNITS. ARE THEY GOING TO DO THOSE UNITS ANY DIFFERENT OR ARE THOSE GOING TO BE MATCHED UP SIMILAR TO WHAT THE EXISTING ONE IS LIKE? IT'S STILL GOING TO BE PART OF THE SAME COMMUNITY. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHINTZ OUT ON THE FINISH. NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I THINK THESE ARE TONS OF ONE BEDROOM AND STUDIOS THAT THEY'RE MAKING AVAILABLE FOR THE, FOR THIS PROGRAM. SO THEY HAVE OTHER UNITS IN THE DEVELOPMENT THAT ARE PROBABLY THREE BEDROOMS OR WHATEVER, BUT THEY'RE TAKING SOME OF THESE SMALLER ONES. AND, AND THEY JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S 18 UNITS THAT ARE DEDICATED. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THESE 18 HERE. YOU KNOW, SOMEONE COULD MOVE OUT AND THEY PUT SOMEONE OFF. BUT THEY'RE SHOWING US 18 UNITS AND I'LL JUST ADD TWO THINGS. FIRST THING IS, IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IS COMMITTED DURING THE AFFORDABLE AFFORDABILITY PERIOD TO MONITOR THESE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. SO NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO BUILD THEM, WE'VE COMMITTED TO GO OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS THAT OCCUPY THESE UNITS ARE WITHIN THE PROPER INCOME GUIDELINES. SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO THE QUICKEST WAY TO GET ON A DO NOT WORK WITH THIS DEVELOPER LIST IS TO HAVE UNITS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MARKET RATE, AND YOU HAVE AFFORDABLE AND THEY LOOK DIFFERENT. BACK IN THE DAY, SOME DEVELOPERS WOULD EVEN MAKE THE DOORS ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE POOR SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER EXTERIOR DOORS ON THE BETTER SIDE OF THE BUILDING. SO WE SEE THAT AND THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET ON THE DON'T EXPECT MONEY FROM ERIE COUNTY BECAUSE THAT'S GREAT. I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THIS. THEN THE QUESTIONS HERE. AGAIN, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE THE SAME ONE. AND JUST MAKING SURE THE MONEY IS GOING IN THE RIGHT. THE INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING IS GETTING THE RIGHT AREA. I DO JUST HAVE KIND OF JUST TOUCH BASE, WHETHER IT'S THESE THREE THAT WERE NOT ACCEPTED OR FUTURE ONES. YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID TO MY $0.02, I LOVE THE FACT YOU'RE USING LOCAL INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES IF YOU'RE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND THIS IS YOUR PASSION, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME THE FIRST STEP. ONCE YOU DO IT ONCE, YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT MOVING FORWARD. I WOULD ENCOURAGE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN THE FUTURE, BUT I CAN'T STAND LIGHT. I HATE HOUSING STOCK THAT SITS THERE. I KNOW WHEN I WAS WATCHING 20 YEARS AGO, WE HAD NEW YORK CITY INVESTORS THAT WOULD BUY PROPERTIES AND DO NOTHING WITH THEM. SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT THESE PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD LOVE SEEING, YOU KNOW, SMALL TIME LOCAL DEVELOPERS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO, YOU KNOW, ACCELERATED, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S LEAD REMEDIATION, ASBESTOS AND GET SOME OF THOSE BACK ON AS WELL. AND WHEN I WENT TO THE COMMISSIONER TO HAVE THIS INITIAL CONVERSATION, LEGISLATOR GREENE, I USED YOUR FAMILY'S PIZZERIA AS AN EXAMPLE. AND WHAT THE INFORMATION THAT YOU SHARED WITH ME. SO IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THESE DEVELOPERS WERE TAKING PREEXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS DILAPIDATED AND FALLING APART AND RUINING COMMUNITIES AND INVESTING AND TURNING IT INTO NOT JUST SOMETHING INNOVATIVE, BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN NEED. SO A LOT OF THIS CAME OUT OF THAT CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH YOU, AND I APPRECIATE THAT TESTIMONY AS WELL. FINALLY, LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SITE ITSELF ACTUALLY GETS WORSE? SO THEY TURN AROUND AND SELL THE PROJECT TO ANOTHER DEVELOPER OR REFINANCE THE PROJECT IS THAT WE GIVE THEM A BETTER DEAL, OR DO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT? SO THE ONE THING THAT WILL SAY IS THAT THE FIRST ISSUE IS THAT WE CONTENDED WITH IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE AFFORDABILITY OF A PROJECT IF IT IS TO CHANGE IT. SO THE 20 TO 30 YEAR PERIOD IS BUILT INTO THE DEED OF THE PROPERTY SO THAT NO MATTER WHAT, THAT PERSON WHO LIVES IN THAT UNIT MUST ADHERE TO THE BELOW 80% AMI. ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. SO, SO, YEAH. AND THAT IMPLIES ALSO THAT THEY CAN REFINANCE IT. YEAH. YEAH. I MEAN IDEALLY WE WOULD NOT WANT THAT TO OCCUR. BUT YOU KNOW. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GOOD WORK GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU SO HARD FOR WORKING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. COMMISSIONER, YOU SAY COMMISSIONER 14-4 AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND NOVEMBER 2022. LAKE EFFECT STORM DAMAGE FUND PROGRAM. THAT'S NOT COMMISSIONER CASTLE, IS IT? [00:30:03] YES. OH IT IS. OH, OKAY. YEAH. AND I CAN'T GET RID OF ME THERE. OKAY. SO WE'RE HERE. I'M HERE TODAY ASKING FOR YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE CONTRACT WITH THE ERIE COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT FOR THE NOVEMBER 22ND LAKE EFFECT STORM DAMAGE. IF YOU RECALL, THAT WAS $2 MILLION THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR FARMERS AND AG BUSINESSES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THAT IN NOVEMBER 2022. STORM. THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO ALLOW US TO USE REMAINING FUNDS FOR FARMS AND BUSINESSES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THE RECENT TORNADOES AND THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE BERYL THAT CAME THROUGH. WE TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN 17 FARMS THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THAT $2 MILLION, TOTALING ABOUT $1.4 MILLION. THE REMAINING 600,000 HAS BEEN SITTING THERE, AND WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE THAT MONEY OR ALLOW THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT TO ACCEPT GRANTS OR APPLICATIONS FROM FARMERS UNDER SIMILAR TERMS, UP TO $200,000 OR LESS FOR ANY ELIGIBLE FARM THAT HAD THE STORM DAMAGE. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE WERE MANY. SO I EXPECT THAT THAT REMAINING 600,000 WILL GO FAIRLY QUICKLY. ON THE QUESTION OF [INAUDIBLE] CAN YOU JUST TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS APPLICATION PROCESS IS LIKE? YEAH, IT'S REALLY A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD APPLICATION. IT'S AN ONLINE THING. IT'S A FILLABLE FORM THAT ASKS FOR THE BASIC INFORMATION ON THE LOT THE PARCEL, THE OWNERSHIP, THE USE. YOU HAVE TO DOCUMENT THAT IT'S INPUT IN AG PRODUCTION AND YOU HAVE TO STAY IN AG PRODUCTION FOR FIVE YEARS, WHICH IS THE ACCEPTANCE. BUT IT'S FOR CAPITAL. THEN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE DAMAGES WERE. SO THIS MONEY IS FOR CAPITAL REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NOT FOR LOST REVENUE. IT'S NOT FOR LOST SUPPLIES OF WHEAT OR GRAIN THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN STORED. IT'S NOT THAT. IT'S FOR PHYSICAL ASSETS, BARNS, EQUIPMENT. AND THEN THAT APPLICATION GOES TO MARC GASTON AT THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT. HE WILL GO OUT AND SURVEY THE DAMAGE, MAKE SURE IT'S THERE. ALSO THE APPLICATION ALSO ASKS FOR ANY INSURANCE CLAIMS AND PROOF OF CLAIMS SUBMITTED. PROOF OF CLAIMS PAID BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE PAYING WHAT INSURANCE IS ALREADY PAYING. SO MARK GASTON WALKS THEM THROUGH ALL THAT, GETS DOCUMENTATION, AND THEN TAKES IT TO THE BOARD. THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT FOR THREE HILLS, AND IS THERE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE ON ONE APPLICATION? YEAH, $200,000. OKAY. COULD YOU SHARE WITH THE LEGISLATURE JUST THE LINK, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND. OR EMAILING ME? SURE. I'D BE HAPPY TO. YEP, YEP, YEP. IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. I'LL SAY LEGISLATOR VINAL AND THEN LEGISLATOR GREENE. AND THESE PROGRAMS, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF, AS AN IDEA, IF YOU DID AN RFP FOR WOMEN AND MINORITY FIRMS TO. AND JUST A CONTINGENCY BASIS TO GO AFTER, LIKE IF INSURANCE SAYS, OH, I'M ONLY GOING TO PAY YOU THIS. BUT THE ACTUAL LOSS IS THAT TO HAVE THE PERSON YOU'RE GIVING THIS MONEY TO SEGREGATE THEIR RATES TO THE COUNTY AND THEN HAVE THE COUNTY GO AFTER THEM FOR THE DIFFERENCE IF THEY UNDERPAID, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT JUST DEDUCTIBLE, I GUESS I'M NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING, LIKE IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR INSURANCE TO OFFER LESS THAN THEIR FULL RESPONSIBILITY. SO IF THEY'RE JUST PUTTING IN THE CLAIM AND THEN THE INSURANCE IS SAYING, OH, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO PAY YOU 600,000. BUT THE REAL LOSS WAS 900 AND THEIR DEDUCTIBLE IS 200. LIKE, WHAT ABOUT HAVING A PRIVATE FIRM LIKE AT A, YOU KNOW, A IN BUFFALO, GO AFTER THE INSURANCE COMPANY JUST ON A CONTINGENCY BASIS SO IT WOULDN'T COST THE COUNTY ANYTHING AND THEN GET THAT MONEY BACK FROM BOTH STORMS. IT'S A SIX YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATION. I SUPPOSE WE COULD DO THAT. I MEAN, OUR VIEW HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S BETWEEN THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THAT IT IS TO DEAL WITH IT. SO WE IT IS UNTIL IT'S BETWEEN THEM, UNTIL THEY ACCEPT LESS THAN THE FIRST OFFER AND GET THE DIFFERENCE FROM US, THEN IT'S ON US. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE INSURANCE. ONCE WE GIVE IT, THEN THE RIGHT IS ONLY THE COUNTIES WHO HAVE TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE GUY CAN'T ANYMORE BECAUSE HE GOT PAID ON IT. SO, I WAS JUST THINKING IT MIGHT BE AN IDEA TO JUST TALK, BECAUSE THAT WOULD GIVE US MORE MONEY TO KEEP FUNDING THAT. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I LIKE I'M NOT TRYING TO GIVE THIS MONEY TO HELP AN AGGRESSIVE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT'S NOT PAYING IN FULL. WELL, I IT'S A GOOD IDEA. IT'S WORTH DISCUSSING. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYONE ON MY STAFF THAT WOULD HAVE EXPERIENCE GOING AFTER INSURANCE COMPANIES. I'M NOT SURE YOU COULD DO AN RFP FOR LOCAL COMPANY LOCAL LAW FIRMS TO DO IT ON JUST CONTINGENCY ONLY. IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE COULD BRING TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND SEE BOTH OF THEM, LIKE THE ONES FROM VELASCO AND THE STATUTES, LIKE SIX YEARS. [00:35:01] UNLESS THE CONTRACT IS LESS THAN SOME CONTRACTS ARE AS SHORT AS TWO YEARS. RIGHT? YEAH. SO FROM THE DENIAL. OKAY. THANKS. LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU. DAN. YOU KNOW, I DO HAVE A MINOR CONCERN TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK OFF WHAT GEORGE VINAL REFERENCE. AND THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL THAT WE EVER HAVE IN ANY TYPE OF STORM DAMAGE OR ANYTHING FOR THE FRAUD WHERE SOMEBODY MIGHT BE YOU KNOW, THE GREENHOUSE HAS BEEN DOWN FOR YEARS, AND NOW IT'S LIKE, OH, LOOK, THE STORM DID YOU KNOW AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE A FRAUD DEPARTMENT, SO I GET THAT CONCERN, BUT WE HAVE PRETTY STRAIGHT DATA FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ON WHAT AREAS WERE HIT DOWN. RIGHT. AND I IMAGINE THAT IS THE SCOPE. YEAH, THAT THEY HAVE TO PROVE THE DAMAGE. RIGHT. SO THEY DO PHOTO DOCUMENTATION WHERE THINGS THAT SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DOES IS THEY, THEY GO OUT AND PHYSICALLY LOOK AT IT AND DETERMINE IT. THEY LOOK AT THE INSURANCE CLAIMS SO THEY KNOW WHEN THE CLAIM IS MADE, THEY GET DOT PHOTO DOCUMENTATION AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PRETTY RIGOROUS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF DETAIL THAT THEY LOOK AT. YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. THEY'RE HANDLING IT, NOT US. SO THEY'RE PROBABLY BETTER PREPARED. AND THEN I GUESS THE OTHER PIECE IS DO WE HAVE ANY ESTIMATE ON WHAT WE THINK THIS IS GOING TO EAT UP OF THE REMAINING 600,000. ALL SOME ANY IDEA I IMAGINE ALL OF IT WILL GO. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. YEAH. ON THE QUESTION OKAY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA WE HAVE COMMUNICATION 14E-5 AND COMMUNICATION 14 E SIX FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER GARY IS HERE TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION IS THE LINCOLN BUILDING EXTERIOR RESTORATION PROGRAM. AND THEN SECOND, THE COMMISSIONER WILL SPEAK TO THE ERIE COUNTY ON-CALL ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANT. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER GEARY. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD MORNING. THIS HONORABLE BODY. THE FIRST ONE IS FOR AN EXTERIOR RESTORATION PROJECT TO ENCAPSULATE SOME OF THE PAINT THAT'S ON THE GRAY AND YELLOW PAINT OF THE LINCOLN BUILDING, AS WELL AS ENCLOSING THE EAVES ON BOTH THE EAST AND WEST END OF THE LINCOLN BUILDING. BIDS ARE GOING TO BE ADVERTISED IN THE NEXT WEEK TO TWO WEEKS, AND DURING THE RECESS, WE WOULD ASK HIM TO AWARD THOSE BIDS TO A NUMBER NOT TO EXCEED 700,000. I HAVE A QUESTION. OKAY. LEGISLATIVE ARENA. THANK YOU. HOW DID WE NOT KNOW THAT THIS BUILDING HAD LEAD BASED PAINT? WAS IT EVER TESTED? YES, MA'AM. YEAH, WE DID AN EXTREME WHEN WE DID ALL THE WORK IN 2020 BEFORE THE 2021 COVID RESTORATIONS, WE HAD TO DO ASBESTOS ABATEMENT AND LEAD PAINT ON THE INTERIOR. THE PHASE FOUR PART IS THE EXTERIOR. WE DO HAVE A LARGER PROJECT IN CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR 2025. LAST WEEK THAT WE ASKED BECAUSE THE WINDOWS ARE IDENTIFIED BY SHIPPO. IT'S A IT'S A MUCH BROADER PROJECT, BUT THIS IS JUST THE FINAL PHASE OF EVERYTHING OF ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO REALLY MAKE THE OLDEST OFFICE BUILDING IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO COMPLIANT WITH ALL THE STANDARDS. AND IT'S FALLEN HUD'S PRACTICES ON LEAD PAINT. AND WE HAVE WHAT? IT'S SOCIAL SERVICES OPERATION. THERE'S A COMBINATION. THERE'S THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, I BELIEVE ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR OF THE FIRST FLOOR IS PROBATION, AND THEN THE FOURTH FLOOR IS COUNTY TRAINING SPACE. OKAY. SO, THERE I MEAN, WE HAVE LEAD BASED PAINT ON THE BUILDING, AND WE HAVE COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THERE. IT JUST SEEMS ODD THAT THIS IS HAPPENING NOW, BUT THE INVENTORY IN BUFFALO AND IT'S NOT JUST BUILDINGS, BUT THERE'S LEAD BASED PAINT THROUGH ALL OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. AND THEN THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE 2023 ROOF REPLACEMENT BUDGET. IT LOOKS LIKE AN EXTERIOR. SO WAS THAT MONEY MEANT FOR THIS OR IS THIS BEING CULLED FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE? SO THE 2023 ROOF REPLACEMENT MONEY IS FUNDS THAT WE USE FOR ALL COUNTY BUILDINGS. AND WE HAD A SURPLUS OF MONEY. WE WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS RIGHT AWAY AFTER THE CITY OF BUFFALO PUT US ON NOTICE. JUST BECAUSE OF THE INVENTORY, THEY DO AN INSPECTION. IT WASN'T JUST THE LEAD PAINT. THERE'S, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S PARTS OF THE EAVES THAT ARE OPENING. WE DON'T WANT INFESTATION. THE CITY SENT US A LETTER ON THAT, AND SO WE PIVOTED RIGHT AWAY. HAD WHAT'S WHO DID THE ASBESTOS AND LEAD BASED PAINT INVENTORY GO AND GIVE US AN ENCAPSULATION PLAN, BECAUSE THAT'S A RECOMMENDED METHOD TO REMEDIATE. ANY LEAD BASE IS ENCAPSULATED WITH OTHER PAINTS. SO WE DID THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE MOVING FAST. IN THE INTEREST OF BUDGET, LIKE I SAID, IN 2025, THERE IS A BIGGER PROJECT TO REHAB ALL THE WINDOWS THAT ARE HISTORIC AND SHIPPO WOULD BE INVOLVED. THIS IS TO REALLY IMMEDIATE TRIAGE OF WHAT THE SITUATION IS. [00:40:02] AND THEN AFTER THIS CONTRACT. I MEAN, I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT YET, BUT DO YOU EXPECT THAT IT'LL USE THE REST OF THE SURPLUS FUNDS IN THAT ACCOUNT? YES, MA'AM. AND HOW MUCH IS IN THAT ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW? OUR ESTIMATE IS JUST BELOW THE 700,000. WE BELIEVE THE. YOU KNOW, IN THE 600,000, WE PUT 700 THERE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DELAY THE PROJECT AND GET IT DONE THIS CONSTRUCTION SEASON. SO IF IT COMES IN AT UNDER 700,000. IF IT COMES IN AT UNDER 700,000. THE MONEY WILL GO BACK INTO THE ROOF. EXTERIOR CAPITAL ACCOUNT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHERS? OKAY. THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. NEXT ITEM. COMMISSIONER. YES, MA'AM. THIS ONE IS FOR THE ON CALL ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING CONTRACT. OUR CURRENT CONTRACT. THIS HONORABLE BODY APPROVED LIKE, FIVE YEARS AGO. WE DO A THREE YEAR TERM WITH TWO ONE YEAR RENEWABLES. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUT OUT AN RFP. WE SELECTED TWO FIRMS WITH THE TWO FIRMS, IT'S ME AND BUFFALO ENGINEERING OR. I'M SORRY. PREVIOUSLY WAS ME AND BUFFALO ENGINEERING. THIS ONE HERE IS BUFFALO ENGINEERING AND LABELLA. THE REASON WE SELECT TWO IS IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, BECAUSE THESE ARE UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS. WHY? WE NEED THE ON CALL ELECTRICAL CONTRACT, WE DON'T HAVE AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER ON STAFF AND THEY COME IN AND IT'S BEEN A VERY USEFUL. WE'VE USED THIS ALL THROUGHOUT. WE HAD A PROBLEM IN THE JAIL WITH A UNIVERSAL POWER SUPPLY THAT WE HAD TO BRING IN A SERVICE. IT'S AN HOURLY RATE. AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SERVER ROOM AT FIRE TRAINING ACADEMY. WE'VE USED THIS. SO THERE'S MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE HAVING THIS ON CALL CONTRACT'S BEEN HELPFUL TO THE COUNTY. AND THEN WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THE PLAN WITH DOING CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. LEGISLATOR GREENE MORNING, BILL. GOOD MORNING. LEGISLATOR. JUST REAL QUICK JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE MONEY, THIS ASPECT. NOT THESE ARE BOND SALES IS WHAT'S FUNDING THIS? YES, SIR. THE PRESERVATION OF BUILDINGS, WHICH IS WE USE THROUGH ALL OUR INVENTORY, COULD BE A HIGHWAY FACILITY. IT COULD BE ANY COUNTY OWNED STRUCTURE. THERE IS A CODE COMPLIANCE MONEY AS WELL. BECAUSE WHEN WE DO THIS, OBVIOUSLY IT HAS TO MEET NEW YORK STATE FIRE CODE. RIGHT. SO THEN YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE MONEY LEFT OVER. WE CAN USE THIS. WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME? IMMEDIATELY? WELL, NO, BUT YOU SAID IT'S A, I BELIEVE IT WAS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT. IT'S A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH TWO ONE YEAR EXTENSION. SO FIVE YEAR TOTAL. YES, SIR. THEORETICALLY. AND IF THERE'S MONEY LEFT AT THAT FIVE, WE CAN STILL ACCESS IT AND USE IT IN THE FUTURE. RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. WE'LL SEE YOU AFTER RECESS. OKAY. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. WE HAVE COMMUNICATION 14E-7 AND COMMUNICATION 14 E-8 AND COMMUNICATION 14 E-9 AND 14 E DASH TEN, ALL FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. DEALING WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER SCHINZEL HERE TO SPEAK ON ALL FOUR OF THESE ITEMS, WHICH ARE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONER. CHAIR. GOOD MORNING. YOUR HONORABLE BODY. AS ALWAYS, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. THE FIRST OF FOUR ITEMS I HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO ADD CONTINGENCY FUNDS TO THE GROVER CLEVELAND SHANKHOUSE RESTORATION PROJECT. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WHEN YOU OPEN UP A 200 YEAR OLD BUILDING, YOU FIND SOME THINGS YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING. EXCITING PROJECT. IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE OLDEST STONE STRUCTURES IN ERIE COUNTY. AND CONSTRUCTION IS COMING ALONG VERY NICELY, BUT IT'S TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL $882,000 TO THAT PROJECT IN CONTINGENCY. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT FUNDING WAS BEING MOVED FROM ANOTHER PROJECT WHERE WE SAVED FUNDS. WE DID NOT CHEW INTO THE CONTINGENCY FOR A JOB AT EMERY PARK. SO WE'RE MOVING THAT FUNDS FROM THERE TO SHANKHOUSE TO FINISH THAT PROJECT. I'M THE QUESTION, LEGISLATOR VINAL. I DID GO BY THERE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. AND WHEN DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DONE AND USABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY? IT'LL BE DONE THIS, THIS FALL. IS THE IS THE DEADLINE ON THAT PROJECT. AND THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THE HISTORY MUSEUM TO HELP CATALOG ALL OF OUR HISTORY, PARKS, HISTORY, AND STORE ALL OF OUR PARKS HISTORY IN ONE BUILDING. AND THEN WE'LL AT SOME POINT DISPLAY THAT IT'LL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO, TO HAVE DISPLAYS THAT ROTATE THROUGH OF THE PARK'S HISTORY, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL. BUT WE'RE TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE ALL THOSE IN ONE LOCATION. AND WILL IT BE AVAILABLE LIKE FOR EVENTS AND THINGS AS WELL? BECAUSE WE THINK IT MIGHT BE NICE FOR THAT. YEAH WE DO. WE FORESEE IT BEING USED. IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A HUGE STRUCTURE, BUT THE BOTTOM FLOOR IS GOING TO BE NICE ENOUGH WITH THE WITH THE LAYOUT OF OUR, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF THE PARKS WHERE I COULD SEE [00:45:01] SMALL EVENTS IN THERE. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. ON THE QUESTION. OKAY. THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. NEXT ITEM. GOOD. THE NEXT ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU IS FOR A LONG-AWAITED PROJECT TO FINALLY IMPROVE THE PARKING SITUATION AT BENNETT BEACH. THIS IS SEEKING YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. WE RECEIVED FIVE BIDS, AND THIS IS TO IMPROVE THE PARKING LOT OF BENNETT BEACH. FOR ANYONE THAT'S BEEN OUT BENNETT BEACH, THE PARKING LOT IS INSUFFICIENT TO SAY. AT LEAST THIS WOULD BE TO FORMALIZE IT, WHICH INCLUDES A NEW ROADWAY IN NEW ASPHALT PARKING LOTS, CURBING, NEW SIDEWALKS FOR THOSE VISITING US, NEW DRAINAGE, NEW STAFF PARKING LOT, AND ALSO TO IMPROVE THE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE BEACH. SO IT'S AN EXCITING PROJECT THAT WE HOPE TO KICK OFF THIS FALL. LEGISLATOR VINAL DID WE CLEARLY APPROVE A CONTRACT TO REDO THE PARKING LOT AT BENNETT BEACH. BUT IS THIS ADDING THE SIDEWALKS AND THE DRAINAGE THAT MAYBE WEREN'T PART OF THE PRIOR? NO. THIS IS EVERYTHING. THIS THIS THIS WAS BID YOU'LL SEE IN THE LAST PAGE WITH ALTS. THIS WAS BID TO REPAVE THE ENTIRE PARKING AT BENNETT BEACH. WE DID WENDT YEARS BACK. WE DID WENDT BEACH. YEAH. THIS IS BENNETT BEACH TO ACTUALLY PAVE THAT LOT WALKWAYS, ACCESSIBILITY CURBS. YEP. THANKS. LEGISLATOR MILLS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND SEE YOU AGAIN, TROY. ALWAYS JAM. THANK YOU. DID WE STORE A LOT OF WARRENVILLE AND SNOW IN THAT PARKING LOT BACK IN THE STORM? YEAH. THAT'S CORRECT. THE PARKING LOT WAS NEVER IN GREAT CONDITION, BUT THAT NOVEMBER 2022 STORE, WE WORKED WITH DPW AND THEY STORED WHEN I SAY A MOUNTAIN. A MOUNTAIN OF SNOW. AND THAT EQUIPMENT THEY USED THE VENDOR USED TO STORE THAT SNOW. TO MAKE THOSE STREETS ALONG THERE PASSABLE REALLY, REALLY DAMAGED AND MADE THAT PARKING LOT. FALL APART MUCH QUICKER. AND DOES THAT WOULD THAT FALL UNDER FEMA FUNDS? IT HAS NOT AS OF YET. WE. WE'VE APPLIED OR WORKED WITH FEMA ON IT, BUT IN THE FRONT END, WE WANT IT TO TAKE INITIATIVE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE IT QUITE FRANKLY, IT WAS IN OUR RADAR TO REPLACE EVENTUALLY. BUT WE'RE STILL ON THE FEMA HUNT. BUT AS OF NOW, IT HAS NOT MET THE CONDITIONS OF CRITERIA. OKAY. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. ANY OTHERS? THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION. NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU. IN FRONT OF YOU, WE'RE LOOKING FOR RESOLUTION SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND AN EXISTING CONTRACT WITH WENDEL COMPANIES TO CONTINUE ON WITH OUR OUR WAYFINDING AND FRONT ENTRANCE SIGN PLAN. SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR SOME OF THE FRONT ENTRANCE SIGNS THAT YOU'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT OUR HERITAGE PARKS AS PHASE ONE, AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. THIS IS TO CONTINUE ON WITH WENDEL FOR THE ENGINEERING DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION, CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING, PART OF THIS FOR PHASE TWO. AND PHASE ONE, WE PUT UP 27 SIGNS AND FIVE PARK AREAS. THOSE WERE OUR HERITAGE PARKS THE CHESTNUT RIDGE, THE ARMORY, THE COMO PARK, ELLICOTT CREEK AND AKRON FALLS. OF COURSE, THOSE WERE BIG SIGNS. SO IN THE FRONT END, WHERE YOU PLACE THE BIGGEST AND THE MOST EXPENSIVE SIGNS, THIS NEXT PHASE IS WE'RE WORKING TO REPLACE CLOSE TO 30 SIGNS AT AREAS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO BLACK ROCK, CANAL PARK, BENNETT BEACH, AKRON FALLS ELLICOTT CREEK, THE GOLF COURSES, ISLE VIEW, SPRINGBROOK AND TOWPATH PARK. SO IT'S THE FRONT ENTRANCE SIGNS THAT THOSE THAT DIDN'T GET THEM, BUT ALSO SOME SECONDARY SIGNS AT THESE PARKS. AND THAT'S ALL PART OF OUR 2019 APPROVED MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE A SIGNED PLAN WHICH PEOPLE CAN IDENTIFY ERIE COUNTY PARKS. THAT'S CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD, WHICH HISTORICALLY WE HAVE NOT DONE A GREAT JOB OF. ANOTHER QUESTION FOR LEGISLATOR MILLS. THANK YOU. SCIENCE LIBRARY, THEY REALLY DO, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, ENTRANCE TO CHESTNUT RIDGE PARK. YOU KNOW, I WATCHED THEM ON THE TELEVISION WHEN I GET HOME FROM WORK, AND I NOTICED THAT WE'RE RUNNING ADS AND ERIE COUNTY PARKS. AND DO WE REALLY NEED TO FEEL THAT WE NEED TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS AND ADVERTISING WHERE I THINK OUR RESIDENTS KNOW WHERE THE PARKS ARE? AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS THIS COSTING US? I MEAN, I WAS BLOWN AWAY. I'M LOOKING AT ADVERTISING FOR MARYLAND AND ONE FOR NEW YORK STATE? AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ON COMES ONE FOR ERIE COUNTY PARKS AND SAYING, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT? WE CAN EXPLAIN THAT. WELL QUITE HONESTLY, NOT EVERYONE IN ERIE COUNTY KNOWS ALL OUR PARKS. OFTENTIMES THEY THINK OF THEIR STATE PARKS. THEY DON'T KNOW. A PARK 20 MILES FROM THE ROAD IS AN ERIE COUNTY PARK. AND HONESTLY, LEGISLATOR, WE HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES, FREE OPPORTUNITIES, AND GREAT RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AND PARKS THAT A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN WESTERN NEW YORK HAVE NO [00:50:09] IDEA ABOUT. SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS WE DO AND ALL THE THINGS WE PROVIDE THROUGH FREE AND SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S GOLF COURSES, BEACHES, CAMPING, DISC GOLF. SO WE'RE REALLY JUST MAKING SURE EVERYONE'S AWARE OF ALL THE I MEAN, YOUR HONORABLE BODY HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO APPROVE ALL THESE RESOURCES AND FUNDING. WE REALLY WANT EVERYONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE. SO WE'RE JUST GETTING THE WORD OUT TO MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE OF ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE DO AND HAVE THAT THEY CAN ENJOY, OFTENTIMES FREE. WHAT'S THIS COSTING US? THE CHANNEL FOUR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN I DON'T HAVE, BUT I CAN PROVIDE YOU A LEGISLATOR. OKAY. YEP. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WAS THAT. OH. EXCUSE ME, LEGISLATOR GREENE. I APOLOGIZE, TROY, I THINK I GOT TO BE READ SOMETHING. RYAN. JUST HOPING YOU CAN CLARIFY SOMETHING. I THINK I'M JUST AS FAR AS THE DOLLARS, THE INITIAL WAS 80,000, AND NOW WE'RE BASICALLY DOUBLING IT TO 155. SO ON THE THE EXPLANATION SHEET, SIX OF SIX ON THIS I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. IT SAYS AVAILABLE FUNDS IS 110. IS THAT 110 TOTAL OR IS THAT 110 FOR THE 75? SO BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE EXCEEDING THE THE BUDGET FROM 110 TO 155, AM I WRONG ON THIS OR I MEAN, IF I'M MISSING SOMETHING, LET ME KNOW I I'M NOT. THIS MIGHT BE A SURPRISE, BUT I MAKE MISTAKES. IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT THE CONTROLLERS RULE 55 IS SAYING IS THAT THERE'S 80,000 EXISTING, AND WE'RE WE'RE TAKING 75 OF THAT THROUGH THE RESOLUTION. WE'RE MOVING 75. SO 75,000, THERE'S 110 LEFT, OR IS IT 110? THE TOTAL, KEVIN. YOU KNOW. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT GOING OVER BUDGET HERE BY. YEAH. AND THAT'S WHAT THE RULE THE FUNDS ARE THERE. RULE 55. THEY REVIEW IT AND MAKE SURE THE FUNDS ARE THERE BEFORE WE EVEN COME TO THIS STAGE. SO THEY'RE BOTH REVIEWED BY BUDGET IN HERE. BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU LEGISLATOR. OKAY. AND THEN COMMUNICATION 14. JUSTIN. THANK YOU. THE LAST ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU IS A REQUEST, YOUR HONORABLE BODY TO INCREASE PARK FEES. AS MOST, IF NOT ALL, THE ERIE COUNTY JUDGE KNOWS, THERE'S BEEN NO FEE INCREASES TO PARK FEES IN OVER TEN YEARS, TEN YEARS PLUS SINCE 2014 OR EARLIER. SO WE'RE ASKING FOR AN A REVIEW OF OUR PARK FEES. WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE TO THOSE YOU'LL SEE FROM PARKING, SHELTERS, BUILDINGS, CAMPING, THE BAND WAGON AND GOLF, SOME OF GOLF. WE'VE ASKED FOR SOME INCREASES TO THE PARK FEES WE TYPICALLY CHARGE IN YEARLY BASIS. LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE NOT INCREASED THESE IN OVER TEN YEARS AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, OUR OUR CAPITAL REQUEST ANNUALLY IS LARGE TO TO MAINTAIN 10,000 ACRES AND THE 110 RENTAL SHELTERS, 123 CAMPSITES AND 13 BUILDINGS BUT ALSO THE INVESTMENT IN THE GOLF COURSES AND SUCH. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FEE INCREASE TO THOSE ON THE QUESTION. LEGISLATIVE VINAL. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL LIKE, OH. THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IS WELL OVER 10%, 15% IN SOME CASES IN ONE YEAR. I WAS JUST WONDERING, WOULDN'T IT BE A IT WAS PART OF THE REASON WE DO THIS IS AS IS NOT TO MAKE MONEY. AND IT'S YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, WITH ALL THE FREE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE ON THE THING. SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE COULD SCALE IT BACK TO A LESSER IN ALL IN ONE YEAR TO HAVE THAT HIGH OF AN INCREASE AT SOME OF THESE ARE CHURCH GROUPS THAT USE IT IN OTHER PLACES. THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT SPARE MONEY AROUND, SOME OF THEM ARE FOR PROFIT, MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, BUT YEAH, IT'S CERTAINLY A COMBINATION OF LEGISLATOR, OF PEOPLE WHO RENT BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO GOLF IN HERE AND OTHER THINGS. YEAH. BUT OVER TEN YEARS, IF IT'S 10 OR 15% ADJUSTMENT, THAT'S 1%, 1.5%. OBVIOUSLY THESE WERE APPROVED THREE, FOUR YEARS EARLIER. THEY WOULD BE LESSER. WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE WE'RE NOT AT THE POINT OF MAKING MONEY ON THOSE, BUT TO HELP OFFSET THE COST AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE STAFF THAT CLEAN THESE, OPERATE THESE, MAINTAIN THESE STRUCTURES, GOLF COURSES, BUILDINGS DELIVER THE STAGE TO MUNICIPALITIES. HAVE SALARIES HAVE INCREASED OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS OF COURSE, INCLUDING FRINGE AND HEALTH CARE. [00:55:04] SO THESE WERE ALL NOMINAL. WHAT? WE FEEL NOMINAL. ASK REVIEWING AGAINST WHAT'S LOCAL WEST NEW YORK, OTHER GOLF COURSES, OTHER CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES. SO. AND WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER FRANKLY, WE HAVE REALLY, REALLY IMPROVED THE CONDITION OF OUR STRUCTURES AND SPENT A LOT OF CAPITAL FUNDING AND TIME DOING THAT, WHICH WE SHOULD. SO WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR NOMINAL INCREASES TO THOSE TO OFFSET SOME OF THAT. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD INCREASE IT, LIKE MAYBE LIKE, YOU KNOW, 5% A YEAR UNTIL IT'S UP TO THOSE LEVELS, MAYBE INCREASE THE DEPOSITS IN CASE OF DAMAGE, BUT OTHERWISE NOT INCREASE IT BECAUSE 15% OR MORE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HIGHEST IS, BUT THERE'S PLENTY THAT ARE 15% INCREASE. IN ONE YEAR, I THINK IT'S TOO MUCH FOR OKAY. AND ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHAT HOW DID YOUR THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM GO IN THE SUMMER OR HOW IS IT GOING? THE APPRENTICE DID YOU GET APPLICANTS OR. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE FINAL BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL TIED UP IN THE SIX MONTH, SIX WEEK PROGRAM THEY GO THROUGH. SO MY DEPUTY COMMISSIONER JAMES MCDONALD, IS WORKING WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES. SO HOPEFULLY AS EARLY AS SEPTEMBER WE HAVE THOSE AND WE CAN HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS UP TO FIVE MONTHS. THE FUNDING IS IN PLACE. SO WE PUT OUR CRITERIA OUT THERE LOOKING FOR OBVIOUSLY SOME PARK AREAS WHERE WE CAN USE IT AS ADDITIONAL HELP, WHICH IS OUR GOLF COURSE AND PARKS. IS IT IS THE CLASSICAL OR IS THE GROUP FULL YET OR NOT? WE HAVE THEY HAVEN'T MATRICULATED DOWN TO PARKS YET. OKAY. THEY'RE STILL WITH THE OTHER PROGRAMS BECAUSE THE PURPOSE WAS AFTER THEY GET THROUGH THE THOSE TWO DIFFERENT SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS, THEN THEY WOULD COME TO PARKS. WE ACTUALLY HAD A MEETING WITH ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS LAST WEEK, JUST EXPLORING OUR NEEDS AND TELLING, WE HAVE ROOM FOR 15. WE HAVE FUNDING FOR 15, AND AS NAMES COME AVAILABLE THAT HAVE THE SKILL SET NEEDED AND ARE INTERESTED, AND THE IDEA THERE IS TRUTHFULLY IS IS TO HAVE THEM GRADUATE UP TO FULL TIME POSITIONS FOR THOSE THAT ENJOY IT, ARE DOING A NICE JOB AND LOOKING FOR A FUTURE. THAT'S GREAT. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI THEN. LEGISLATOR GREENE. LEGISLATOR TODARO I JUST, I THINK A LOT OF PARTNERS ERIE COUNTY PARK IMPROVEMENTS. AND I THINK I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THE PROJECT IMPROVEMENT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. I REALLY DO, THANK YOU. AND I'LL PASS IT ALONG. LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU. JUST REAL QUICK, TROY, WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO BE? LOOKING AT 2023 FIGURES AND 24 FIGURES. SOMEWHERE OVER AROUND 200,000 AND REVENUE. 200,000 ADDITIONAL WITHIN A YEAR. THESE FEES ARE APPROVED AS IS. HAVE YOU BROUGHT IN FROM FEES FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR? I'M SORRY. HOW MUCH? HOW MANY? HOW MUCH IN FEES HAVE YOU BROUGHT IN FROM THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2023? I DON'T HAVE OUR BUDGET IN FRONT OF US. I THINK IF THE QUESTION I HEAR IS, HOW MUCH ARE WE PROJECTING THE INCREASE IN REVENUE IF THESE FEES ARE APPROVED? YES. OR AROUND $200,000. WE USE 20, 23 AND 24 NUMBERS TO EXTRAPOLATE 2025 AND SEE IF THOSE FEE INCREASES. AND IT CAME IN AROUND $200,000 INCREASE IN REVENUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR TODARO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. QUESTION I HAVE IS, ARE ANY OF THESE SHELTERS ALREADY BOOKED PAST JANUARY 1ST? IF SO, ARE THEY GOING TO BE HONORED? IF THIS DOES PASS WITH THE CURRENT RATE THAT YOU ALREADY HAD GIVEN? RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY THING THAT IS OPEN FOR RESERVATIONS INTO THE FOLLOWING YEAR IS CAMPING. WE ALLOW CAMPING TO BE RESERVED A YEAR IN ADVANCE. SHELTERS AND BUILDINGS DO NOT OPEN UNTIL JANUARY. OKAY. I JUST PARTICULARLY WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU'RE RUNNING THAT IN CASE. YEAH, WE ANYONE THAT'S ALREADY HAVE A CAMPING RESERVATION, WE WOULD NEVER GO BACK AND CHARGE THEM ADDITIONAL TWO BUCKS OR FIVE BUCKS. IT WAS APPROVED. I APPRECIATE THAT, OF COURSE. OH, YEAH. THANK YOU. BAD BUSINESS. THANK YOU. OKAY, THAT SUMS IT UP. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, COMMUNICATION 14 DASH 11 FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REGARDING ACCEPTANCE OF NEW YORK STATE FARM TO FAMILIES GRANT. COMMISSIONER GAIL BERNSTEIN IS HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. GOOD MORNING, DOCTOR BERNSTEIN. ARE YOU 14 E 12 AS WELL? THE MILESTONE SPEECH THERAPY. [01:00:06] SPEECH? NO. OKAY. WELL, IT. OH, THAT'S THAT'S DIRECTED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. NO WORRIES. SO GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I AM HERE SEEKING APPROVAL TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS OF 1 MILLION $45,537.89 THAT THE BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY COURTHOUSE COUNCIL, WAS RECENTLY AWARDED FROM A SUCCESSFUL NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS NEW YORK HOME FOR NEW YORK FAMILIES GRANT APPLICATION. THIS GRANT WILL FUND DISTRIBUTION OF FRESH PRODUCE AND FOOD ACCESS EDUCATION TO UP TO 400 FAMILIES EVERY WEEK WHO ARE CATEGORIZED AS EITHER LOW INCOME, LOW INCOME, OR ALICE THROUGHOUT YORK COUNTY FROM AUGUST 2025. AND WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH FRESH FISH FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION. HARRIS COUNTY FARMS AND AGRIBUSINESS WILL ALSO SEE A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT BECAUSE 90% OF THIS GRANT ALLOCATION, WHICH IS $941,000, WILL GO DIRECTLY TO FARMERS TO PURCHASE LOCAL PRODUCE EGGS. LEGISLATIVE GREENE. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE FROM THE FRESH FIX? NO. THERE'S NOBODY HERE FOR THE FRESH. ALL RIGHT. I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH ON THIS, AND FRESH FIX HAS A VERY LIMITED AREA OF DISTRIBUTION. THEY DO NOT COVER EVEN MY DISTRICT. ALL OF IT. AND I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO HAND OUT $1 MILLION, NO BID CONTRACT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT GETS OUT TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS YOU KNOW, WHO APPLIES FOR IT AND QUALIFIES. WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY ON HITTING TOWNS LIKE NEWSTEAD, SARDINIA COLLINS, NORTH COLLINS, COLDEN THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT ADDRESSED BY THIS ORGANIZATION? I CAN SPEAK ON THAT. SO THE GRANT REQUIRES. OH, I'M DANIELLE RAVELLO. I'M A PROJECT COORDINATOR IN THE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY. THE GRANT REQUIRES THAT THE VENDOR EXPLORE NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES. SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO WORK WITH THEM. OUR FOCUS IS ON RURAL AND URBAN AREAS COMPRISING THE POPULATIONS THAT GAIL MENTIONED. SO IT'LL EXPAND THEIR SERVICE AREA. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, STATING THAT FROM THE VENDOR RIGHT NOW? AND I GUESS THE ONLY QUESTION IS I, YOU KNOW, NOT THAT THIS IS YOUR FAULT NECESSARILY, BUT WE ALWAYS GET A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS DUMPED ON US THE LAST MEETING BEFORE WE GO INTO SESSION. AND THIS SEEMS LIKE A TIME SENSITIVE ISSUE THAT, YOU KNOW, MIGHT NOT HAVE YOU KNOW GOT ALL THE RESEARCH DONE ON IT TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, IF WE YOU KNOW, ONE THING, THE OTHER THING I MENTIONED THAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM VERSUS SOME OTHER FOOD BOX PROGRAMS IS IT OPENS UP ON A FRIDAY AND SOME OF THE FOOD BOX PROGRAMS PROVIDE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT NOT EVERYBODY EATS. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO EXCHANGE IT IN AND OUT OF YOUR BOX TO GET THE THINGS THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THE FOOD WASTE. HOWEVER, IT ALSO REQUIRES INTERNET ACCESS. THEY DON'T CURRENTLY TAKE PHONE CALLS AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO COORDINATE THIS STUFF AS WELL, HOW IS THAT GOING TO BE ADDRESSED? SO FRESH FIX AS A VENDOR, THEY WORK WITH OTHER COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ELIMINATE THAT INTERNET ACCESS BARRIER. SO I KNOW OF ANOTHER COMMUNITY PARTNER THEY WORK WITH WHERE THEY USE A TEXTING PROGRAM, LIKE A TEXT MESSAGE PROGRAM, SO THEY CAN TEXT IN THEIR ORDER. OTHER PLACES THEY USE THE PAPER SLIP. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS THE GROUP THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH NEEDS. THEY'RE VERY FLEXIBLE. YEAH. AND THAT WAS YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A NICE LITTLE OUTFIT ACROSS FROM MY OLD PIZZERIA ON BROADWAY. GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICE. THEY DID IT THROUGH ABOUT FOUR DIFFERENT WAYS, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, GETTING PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR ORDERS IN. RIGHT NOW, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT IN PLACE WITH THIS ORGANIZATION. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR. AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE THEM HERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS DIRECTLY. OKAY. WELL, YEAH. WITH THEIR THEY'RE NOT HERE, BUT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSED THESE ISSUES BECAUSE IT'S OUR GOAL THAT WE REACH, LIKE ALL THE JURISDICTIONS IN ERIE COUNTY AND ALL FAMILIES IN NEED. SO THEY SEEM VERY MUCH ON BOARD WITH FIGURING OUT SOLUTIONS LIKE THEY HAVE WITH OTHER CHALLENGES IN THE PAST WITH THE FOOD POLICY COUNCIL THAT WE WORK WITH. THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MANAGING THIS AWARD IS I MEAN, ALL THE EXPERTS ON FOOD WHO SIT ON THE FOOD POLICY COUNCIL, INCLUDING FARMERS DISTRIBUTORS, FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT SF6 WAS THE VENDOR OF CHOICE TO THE PARTNER OF CHOICE TO WORK WITH. [01:05:04] WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS. JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO BE PASSING THROUGH $1 MILLION INVESTMENT, THAT IT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE IT GETS TO THE END USERS. AND MY RESEARCH ON THE PEOPLE RUNNING THIS IS THEY GOT BIG HEARTS, AND THEY'RE DOING THIS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. BUT WE STILL NEED TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. AGAIN, A NO BID MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT IS KIND OF A BIG THING COMING FROM FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. BUT SINCE WE'RE UNDER THE GUN, WOULD THEY BE AMENABLE TO, LIKE, A ONE MONTH CONTRACT? AND THEN YOU GUYS CAN DO AN RFP AND MAKE SURE, NUMBER ONE, THAT THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT NEED TO BE COVERED ARE COVERED AND THAT THERE IS AN ADEQUATE ORDER SUBMISSION THAT IS FLEXIBLE ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE ON THE LOWER END OF THE ECONOMIC LADDER THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS. WELL, I THINK WE DID IT THAT WAY. WE WOULD NEED TO TO KEEP THE PROBLEM PROJECT GOING TO THE START DATE AS WE HAD ANTICIPATED. WE NEED MORE THAN A ONE MONTH CONTRACT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES TIME TO GET AN RFP GOING AND GET IT OUT. WHAT IS THE LOWEST TERM THAT WE CAN GET THIS MOVING, BUT STILL GO THROUGH A PROPER RFP AND KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING OUR JOB? I KNOW PROBABLY SIX WEEKS, TWO MONTHS, THREE MONTHS. I WAS THINKING ABOUT SIX. SO I WOULD SAY AT THIS POINT, ONE YEAR, YOU NEED A FULL YEAR TO DO AN RFP FROM MY KNOWLEDGE, AND GAIL CAN EXPAND UPON IT. OH NO, THAT WASN'T YOU SAID THE LENGTH OF CONTRACT TO SUFFICIENTLY DO. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, RIGHT NOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M SURE ALL THE LEGISLATORS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PROGRAM, THE VENDOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR CURRENT BUSINESS MODEL TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF. RIGHT NOW THEY ONLY TAKE INTERNET ORDERS AND RIGHT NOW THEY ONLY HAVE LIMITED AREAS OF THE COUNTY. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, YOU KNOW, I WANT THIS TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT I ALSO WANT US TO BE ABLE TO DO AN RFP. AND IF THERE'S A BETTER OPTION OUT THERE WHERE WE CAN DELIVER MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK, DELIVER MORE FOOD FOR THE DOLLAR, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO AT LEAST RESEARCH THAT AS AN OPTION, BUT NOT SLOW THE PROCESS. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING. COULD WE DO COULD WOULD IT BE AMENABLE TO BE ABLE TO START THIS MORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS VENDOR, AND THEN DO AN RFP TO CONTINUE IT FOR THE LAST, WHETHER IT'S 11 MONTHS OR TEN MONTHS? AND MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, WE'RE JUST DELIVERING THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK. RIGHT. BUT I MEAN, I THINK WE WOULD I MEAN, JUST KNOWING HOW THE RFP PROCESS GOES AND, YOU KNOW, CONVENING LIKE WRITING THE RFP, GETTING IT OUT, GIVING THEM TIME TO RESPOND, CONVENING AN OBJECTIVE REVIEW PANEL TO DECIDE ON THE AWARD, AND THEN GOING THROUGH YOUR LEGISLATIVE BODY AFTER THE PERSON IS CHOSEN FROM THE OBJECTIVE OF THE AFTER THE GROUP IS CHOSEN FROM THE OBJECTIVE REVIEW PANEL TO GET APPROVAL FROM THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY TO FUND WHATEVER ORGANIZATION. I MEAN, THAT TAKES TIME. I MEAN, THAT'S I UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M ASKING YOU IS WHAT IS THAT TIMETABLE? AND, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT'S I DON'T THINK IT'S OUT OF THE REALM OF OF JUST REASONABLE THOUGHT THAT A ERIE COUNTY PROGRAM ACTUALLY COVERS YOUR COUNTY. NO, I KNOW, I AGREE. I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT OUR INTENTION OF, OF THIS PROGRAM IS, IS TO REACH ALL AREAS OF ERIE COUNTY. AND FRESH FIX HAS REALLY COMMITTED THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR US. AND I WAS ON THEIR WEBSITE YESTERDAY AND I PUT IN SEVERAL ADDRESSES THAT IT DOESN'T CURRENTLY WORK WITH, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT IN WRITING TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IT DOES, YOU KNOW, COVER THE WHOLE COUNTY. I'M SORRY. SORRY. YES. EXPANSION OF NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AS PART OF THE GRANT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF. YEAH. WELL, THAT'S WHY WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THEM HERE. OR AT LEAST HAVE THAT IN WRITING TO US THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION DOES NOT ADDRESS THAT RIGHT NOW. MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION, LEGISLATOR I WOULD. WOULD THERE WOULD AN ACTION PLAN TO WITH WITH THE FIRM'S ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD SUFFICE FOR YOU RATHER THAN SLOWING DOWN THE PROCESS? IT'S A TWO STEP. SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S FACE IT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU GET INTO THE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD OF THE ECONOMIC LADDER, THEY DO EAT UNHEALTHY FOODS. THEY'RE GRABBING MCDONALD'S AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THIS IS GOING TO GIVE THEM THAT OTHER OPTION. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET AS MUCH OF THE HEALTHY FOOD AS, AS, AS OPTION, WHETHER IT'S A RURAL AREA. SO THERE'S REALLY TWO THINGS THAT CONCERN ME. NUMBER ONE, DOING IT AGAIN, IF WE DO A BRIDGE CONTRACT, THEN BEING ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT DELIVERS THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK. [01:10:02] NO, I UNDERSTAND. I JUST THINK THAT RIGHT NOW WE DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT. IT'S YOUR RESEARCH THAT SHOWS YOU'RE UNSURE IF THEY'RE COVERED. AND WE. IT'S NOT LIKE WE'VE ENTERED IN A CONTRACT AND THEY HAVE FAILED THIS YET. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WOULD AN ACTION PLAN FOR DISTRICTS THAT YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT FROM THE FIRM, LIKE WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO. SUFFICE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SLOW THE PROCESS DOWN AND MAKE OTHER COMMUNITIES. RIGHT. SO IT'S THE DELAY. IT'S REALLY IT'S TWO STEPS I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ADDRESSED. NUMBER ONE IS, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE IT DOES HIT THE ENTIRE ERIE COUNTY. AND NUMBER TWO YOU KNOW, AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT THE INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE PASSING THROUGH HERE IS GOING TO DELIVER THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK. AND, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, FRESH FIX, YOU KNOW, THROUGH AN RFP MIGHT STILL BE, YOU KNOW, THE LEAD PERSON OR THE LEAD AGENCY THAT IT FOLLOWS THROUGH ON IT, BUT MAYBE THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE ENDS UP IN THE BOX BECAUSE THE VENDOR CAN ADD A LITTLE BIT INTO IT, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GETTING THAT EXACT IDEA. AGAIN, IT'S JUST MAKING SURE WE GET THE MOST OUT OF IT AND IT'S GETTING TO ALL AREAS. THOSE ARE THE TWO BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAVE. WELL, IN THE IN THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT THAT THEY GAVE US, THEY COMMITTED TO TO PARTICIPATING IN DELIVERING IN ALL OF ERIE COUNTY. SO, I MEAN, WHEN WE REWRITE OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM, WE WILL I MEAN, YOU CAN PASS IT WITH THE, THE, THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE FRESH FIX WILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER TO ALL OF ERIE COUNTY. I MEAN, THAT'S I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT OUR INTENTION IS, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID, THAT THEIR INTENTION IS JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING IT NOW DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING IT FOR THIS PROGRAM. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE'RE. RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND IT'S A GRANT. WE ALSO HAVE IT IS GOING THROUGH US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NEED TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, THAT WE'RE DELIVERING THE RIGHT SOLUTION. IF IT'S GOING TO DO THE ENTIRE IT'S GOING TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THE. EXCUSE ME, I'M FINISHED. LET ME. PLEASE DO NOT INTERRUPT. IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT IN WRITING THAT IT IS COVERING. AND I DO THINK THAT IF WE'RE ALSO THE FISCAL BODY, EVEN THOUGH IF IT'S GRANT MONEY OR NOT GRANT MONEY, WE ARE HANDING IT OVER TO AN AGENCY OR SERVICING OR A VENDOR THAT'S GOING TO DELIVER THE MOST HEALTHY FOOD FOR EACH DOLLAR. AND THAT'S THAT'S MY. SO THERE'S THERE'S MY BIGGEST CONCERNS. AND NOT THAT I'M VOTING AGAINST THIS OR WITH IT, BUT MY BIGGEST CONCERNS IS COVERING THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND AND MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING THE MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK. I'M NOT SAYING REWRITING THE GRANT, BUT WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE ESSENTIALLY AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO FRESHMEN. WELL, WE BELIEVE WE ARE. IT'S THROUGH US. WE ARE GETTING A BIG BANG FOR OUR BUCK. 90% OF THE FUNDING IS ACTUALLY GOING TO PURCHASE FOOD. THAT'S HUGE RIGHT? PURCHASE FOOD AT THE PRICES THAT ARE SET BY FRESH FOLKS. NO, THEY'RE SET BY FARMERS. FRESH FIX IS GOING TO PURCHASE THE FOOD. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS. SO AGAIN IN AN RFP PROCESS IS IS WHAT I WOULD HAVE LIKE TO SEE FOR THIS TYPE OF DOLLAR AMOUNT. AND THAT'S WHY I'M WONDERING IF A BRIDGE CONTRACT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO DELIVER THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK IS THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED. AND HOW WOULD I GUESS? HERE'S THE QUESTION HOW WOULD AN RFP PROCESS NOT GOING THROUGH THAT? HOW WOULD WE KNOW WE'RE GETTING THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK WITHOUT IT? WELL, WE HAD CONSULTED OUR VENDOR. WELL, WE HAD CONSULTED WITH THE EXPERTS FROM THE FOOD POLICY COUNCIL, WHICH WHO, YOU KNOW, KNOW ALL THE FARMERS, KNOW ALL THE FOOD DISTRIBUTORS, KNOW ALL THE VENDORS IN OUR AREA. AND THIS WAS THE PROGRAM EVERY IT WAS UNANIMOUS THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION WAS GOING TO DELIVER TO THIS EXTENSIVE, YOU KNOW, 400 FAMILIES THROUGHOUT ERIE COUNTY. EVERY WEEK IS A PRETTY BIG ASK AND FRESH FIX. THEY THE FEELING WAS THAT FRESH FIX WAS REALLY THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN ERIE COUNTY THAT WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER ON THAT, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DELIVER ON THAT. AND WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WON'T, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, SO A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY INDIVIDUAL. I HAVE NEVER USED INSTACART, BUT INSTACART WOULD CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, A PARTNER WITH WITH VENDORS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, FRESH PRODUCE FROM TOPS MARKETS OR PIXLEY'S GROCERY STORE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT ONES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THE SMALL, LOCALLY OWNED GROCERY STORES YOU KNOW, IS THAT EVEN, YOU KNOW, VIABLE OPTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT THE FOOD CAN BE DELIVERED AND MAYBE EVEN MORE CUSTOMIZABLE. ALL I'M SAYING IS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND LET'S MAKE THE MOST OF IT. AND I DON'T KNOW FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THAT WE'RE MAKING THE MOST OUT OF IT HERE. I WANT TO SEE THIS BE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, YOU KNOW? BUT I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT I NEED PERFECT TO BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD. I DON'T NEED PERFECT. I'M TRYING TO GET PERFECT, BUT I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT. [01:15:04] THIS SEEMS GOOD. IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE IT BETTER? THAT'S MY ULTIMATE QUESTION. WELL, OUR SUBJECT MATTER EFFORTS BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE BEST. OKAY, OKAY. LEGISLATOR VINAL I NOTICED THAT THEY DO HAVE THAT THEIR REGULAR PRICE IS $35 PER FAMILY FIX, AND THIS ADDS UP TO $48 PER FAMILY. SO WHAT WAS THE IS THE DIFFERENCE? BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO TO OTHER PEOPLE'S FARMS AND TO MEET THE ORDERS. IS THAT WHY IT'S BECAUSE LIKE IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR REGULAR WITH DELIVERY. OH, THAT'S WITHOUT DELIVERY. LET'S SEE WHAT THIS IS WITH DELIVERY. SO THE NUMBER YOU'RE LOOKING AT DOESN'T INCLUDE MILK AND EGGS JUST. YEAH. THIS IS THAT'S WHAT THE NUMBER YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS WITHOUT MILK AND EGGS. BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE ADDING MILK AND EGGS TO EACH OF THOSE DELIVERIES. PERFECT. PERFECT. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR HRINKO. THANK YOU. SURE. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. SO LOOKING THROUGH THIS RESOLUTION, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? HOW LONG WILL THESE SERVICES LAST? LIKE WHAT IS THEIR START DATE? WHAT IS THEIR END DATE? WE HOPE TO START AUGUST 2024 AND THE GRANT CLOSES ON AUGUST 2025. OKAY. AND THEN I WAS ALSO LOOKING THROUGH THE NOTE FROM THE FOOD COUNCIL. IT SAID THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH CHILD CARE FACILITIES, SO FRESH PICKS WILL BE DELIVERING TO CHILD CARE FACILITIES. SO JUST TO MAYBE HELP ADDRESS SOME OF LEGISLATORS BECAUSE I THINK HE RAISES A VALID POINT. IT SAYS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED 15 CHILD CARE FACILITIES THAT WILL BE THEN BRINGING THE FOOD TO OR FRESH FIX WILL BE. CAN WE HAVE THAT LIST? SO WE DID AN INITIAL SEARCH BASED ON THE LOW INCOME, NO INCOME AND ALICE POPULATIONS AND FOUND 15 CHILD CARE FACILITIES THROUGH THE CHILD CARE RESOURCE NETWORK, WHICH WAS A LOCAL COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS LOCATE CHILD CARE FACILITIES. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND THAT BY WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO FIND OUT WHERE PEOPLE RECEIVING DAYCARE ASSISTANCE ARE TAKING THEIR CHILDREN, AND WE'LL EXPAND THE NETWORK BASED ON THAT INFORMATION. SO THIS IS AN ACTUAL HOME DELIVERY YOU'RE DELIVERING TO THE CHILD CARE TO THE FACILITIES? YEP. ONE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE THAT LIST OF THE 15 CHILD CARE FACILITIES IS TO MAKE SURE IT'S SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. DO YOU HAVE THAT LIST TODAY? OH, NO. NO, WE DON'T HAVE THAT LIST CURRENTLY WITH US. 11. TO ADD ON THAT THAT DOE CAN EXPAND ON IS THE 15 THAT YOU GUYS HAVE SELECTED. ONLY COVER THE FIRST 60 FAMILIES, AND YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY WHERE THE OTHER 340 WILL BE SERVED. RIGHT? YES. AND I THE MUNICIPALITIES WERE. GOWANDA. LACKAWANNA, TONAWANDA. THERE WAS A THERE WAS A BROAD RANGE. RIGHT. BUT WE'RE NOT I MEAN, THIS ISN'T THE FINAL LIST. I MEAN, THIS IS ONLY ABLE TO REACH 60 FAMILIES. SO WE HAVE TO DO MORE SEARCHING INTO WORKING WITH SOCIAL SERVICES AND FINDING OUT WHERE THE ADDITIONAL CHILD CARE SERVICES ARE THAT THESE FAMILIES WOULD ACCESS. RIGHT. AND I THINK TO THE POINT OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE COVERING THE ENTIRE COUNTY, SEEING THIS FIRST LIST OF 15 IS A REALLY GOOD TASTE OF IF WE'RE COVERING THE ENTIRE COUNTY. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT WITH YOU, COULD YOU PLEASE EMAIL IT TO US? SURE. YES. OKAY. AND THEN MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION ONE, IF WE'RE THEN DELIVERING IT TO THE CHILD CARE FACILITY, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF LIKE KEEPING, DO WE HAVE TO KEEP ANYTHING? I MEAN, IT'S MILK AND EGGS. WE HAVE TO KEEP IT COLD. SO DO THESE FACILITIES HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT? AND WHO'S RESPONSIBLE AT THAT POINT FOR I MEAN, IF WE, YOU KNOW, GIVE BAD MILK OR EGGS TO SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. SO FRESH PICKS WILL BE PROVIDING COOLERS TO THE DAYCARE FACILITIES FOR THE DAY OF DISTRIBUTION. AND THEN THEY ALSO DEAL WITH PICKING UP ANY REMAINING SO THAT IT'S HELD AT A TEMPERATURE FOR FOOD SAFETY. OKAY. BECAUSE I'M JUST UNLIKE LEGISLATOR GREENE, I USE INSTACART ALL THE TIME. IT MAKES MY LIFE EASIER. SO I KNOW, LIKE IF SOMETHING GETS DELIVERED TO ME AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY WHOEVER DROVE IT, IT WAS IN THEIR CAR FOR TWO HOURS AND SOMETHING GOES BAD. I THEN GO TO INSTACART AND SAY, HEY, THIS HAPPENED. SO WOULD THEY THEN BE TURNING TO FRESH FIX? YES. FRESH FIX AND SAYING, HEY, THIS IS BAD. IS THERE ANY TYPE OF LIKE, REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS THERE? OR TO, YOU KNOW, GET THEM EGGS THAT AREN'T EXPIRED OR MILK THAT ISN'T EXPIRED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WELL, OUR INTENTION SORRY. OUR INTENTION IS THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE NEW FOOD YOU KNOW, COLLECTED, LIKE, YOU KNOW, EVERY WEEK. SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SITTING AROUND OR EXPIRED AND AND THEN NUMBER TWO, FOR YOUR POINT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO BE STORED IN COOLERS. SO IT, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD STAY AT THE RECOMMENDED TEMPERATURES. I MEAN, AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE, WE REGULARLY INSPECT YOU KNOW, FOOD VENDORS AND RESTAURANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KEEP FOOD AT THE REQUIRED TEMPERATURE. SO WE WILL ALSO BE, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THESE THIS FOOD STAYS AT THE REQUIRED TEMPERATURES TO KEEP THE FOOD SAFE. OKAY. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT JUST ONCE YOU GET INTO DELIVERY, LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE'S ROOM. THERE'S ROOM FOR ERROR, RIGHT? THAT'S JUST IT IS WHAT IT IS. [01:20:01] AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TOO IS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LOT OF DAIRY FARMS IN MY DISTRICT. I HAVE A LOT OF FARMS. I ACTUALLY SEE THAT A COUPLE OF THE FARMS THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO RECENTLY ARE ON FRESH FIXES LIST, BUT COULD WE GET A LIST OF ALL OF THE LOCAL FARMERS THAT THEY'RE USING SO WE CAN SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THERE THAT AREN'T BEING MAXIMIZED YET? OR DO YOU HAVE THE LIST WITH YOU? WE DO HAVE A CURRENT LIST. THEY ARE WORKING ON EXPANDING THEIR MARKET OPPORTUNITIES. THERE'S 97 PRODUCERS ON THAT LIST, ALL OF WHICH ARE UNDER 400 MILES. 38 OF THEM ARE IN ERIE COUNTY AND 29 ARE W-M-B-D BUSINESSES, SO CAN SHARE THAT. THANK YOU. THANKS, CHAIR. OKAY. I THINK THAT ANSWERS THE MAJORITY OF MY QUESTIONS. SO I GUESS I GUESS ONE JUST LAST QUESTION. ONCE WE GET PAST THE CHILD CARE FACILITIES, IF WE CAN'T REACH THE AMOUNT OF FAMILIES THAT WE NEED I GUESS WHAT'S NEXT? DO WE EXPAND THE. CAN THE PROGRAM BE EXPANDED? HOW DOES THAT WORK? I THINK THAT CONVERSATION IS BETWEEN US AND THE STATE. WE'D HAVE TO FIND OUT. WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR GREENE. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. WHEN I DID RESEARCH THE FRESH FIX, THEY STATED THAT EVERYBODY NEEDED TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN COOLER. WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THE COOLERS TO EACH INDIVIDUAL FAMILY BECAUSE THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL UNNECESSARY COST IF WE CAN PROVIDE THAT. YEAH, IT'S IN OUR BUDGET TO PROVIDE COOLERS TO EACH FACILITY. YEP. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU. THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. COMMUNICATION 1412 FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY'S CHAIR. COMMUNICATION 14 E 13 FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REGARDING TAX ROLLS FOR LACKAWANNA AND LACKAWANNA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE HAVE DIRECTOR BIELAWSKI HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. GOOD MORNING. DIRECTOR. DIRECTOR. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD MORNING. LEGISLATORS. YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A RESOLUTION FOR THE COUNTY OF ERIE TO PRINT TAX BILLS FOR BOTH THE CITY OF LACKAWANNA AND THE LACKAWANNA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, AT LEAST IN RECENT MEMORY. THE COUNTY HAS NOT PRINTED THE BILLS FOR LACKAWANNA AND NOR FOR THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. LACKAWANNA LAST YEAR WAS INFORMED BY THE STATE THEY NEEDED TO PROVIDE A FORM THAT HAD THE TAX BILLS, BANK CODES, ETC. THEIR VENDOR IS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT. WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT AS PART OF THE PRINTING SERVICES THAT WE DO FOR EVERYONE ELSE. AND LACKAWANNA HAS REQUESTED OFFICIALLY AS OF JULY 15TH WHEN THEY PASSED THE RESOLUTION THAT THE COUNTY OF ERIE PROVIDE SUCH PRINTING AND THE QUESTION OKAY, THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, COMMUNICATION 14 DASH 14 FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. COMPUTERS FOR CHILDREN, INC. DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINER CONTRACT. FOR COMMISSIONER OF SENIOR SERVICES. MANAGER. GOOD MORNING. MORNING, CHAIR AND MORNING TO THE REST OF THE HONORABLE BODY. I'M HERE TODAY TO SEEK AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH COMPUTERS FOR CHILDREN, INC.. THEY RUN THE MISSION IGNITE AMERICORPS PROGRAM. THEY WOULD BE $4,795 TO CONTRACT WITH THEM TO OBTAIN AN AMERICORPS DIGITAL SERVICES TRAINER THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER OF 2024, AND THE POTENTIAL TO EXTEND FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR WITH UP TO TWO DIGITAL SERVICES. TRAINERS. THESE TRAINERS WILL BE AT THE CENTERS TO HELP VOLUNTEERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THOSE CENTERS USE THE TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS THAT THIS HONORABLE BODY HAS APPROVED WITH THE ARP FUNDS TO INCREASE SERVICE AND CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN OUR CENTERS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I FEEL LIKE ON THE QUESTION. HEARING NONE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. COMMUNICATION 1415 FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REGARDING AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT THE FY 21 AND FY 22 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TARGETED GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS. WE HAVE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER GREG BUTCHER HERE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND HONORABLE BODY. TODAY WE'RE HERE TO ASK THIS HONORABLE BODIES PERMISSION TO AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 AND 2022. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TARGETED PROGRAM GRANT FUNDS. THESE ENCOMPASS AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $379,600, WHICH BENEFITS THE BEND REGION. [01:25:02] BUFFALO, ERIE AND NIAGARA, FOR WHICH ERIE COUNTY IS THE ERIE, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I'M A QUESTION. OKAY. HEARING NONE. THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER. WE'LL SEE YOU AFTER RECESS. COMMUNICATION 1416. FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REGARDING UNVEILING CEREMONY FOR THE TRAILBLAZING WOMEN'S MONUMENT PROJECT. WE HAVE COMMISSIONER. OH, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BELLAMY. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. YES. SO TODAY WE ARE ASKING TO ACCEPT A DONATION FROM THE SENECA GAMING CORPORATION THAT WILL COVER THE COST OF FOOD AND BEVERAGES FOR THE UNVEILING CEREMONY FOR THE TRAILBLAZING WOMEN WESTERN NEW YORK MONUMENT. IT'S EXCITING. WE'RE ALL EXCITED. VERY EXCITED. THANKS FOR COMING OVER AND WAVING AT US. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE MONUMENT. WE'LL SEE YOU AFTER RECESS. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. COMMUNICATION 1417 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 1419 AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNICATION 14 D-1 AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATION 14 D-2 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 14 D-8 AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES. COMMUNICATION 14 DASH ONE THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 14 M-4 AS INDICATED. ANY OTHER CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS? MAJORITY LEADER MINORITY LEADER, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR CAUCUSES AND MAKE A FORMAL DECISION ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S ITEM? AND THEN WHY DON'T WE HOLD FOR FIVE MINUTES? IT'S 12 NOON NOW, BUT SOME PEOPLE MAY NEED A WATER BREAK OR A RESTROOM BREAK. SO WE WILL START AT 1205. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO ORDER. THIS IS MEETING NUMBER 14 OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE JULY 25TH, 2024. BEFORE MADAM CLERK CALLS THE ROLL, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE JOINING US HERE TODAY, THE HONORABLE JUSTICE JEANETTE OGDEN. WELCOME, JUSTICE. [ ROLL CALL] MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. LEGISLATOR GREENE LORIGO MILLS. TODARO HERE. BARGNESI. BASKIN. HERE. GILMOUR. HERE. KOOSHOIAN MEYERS VINAL. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND. IF YOU ARE ABLE, I WILL CALL ON LEGISLATOR VINAL FOR TODAY'S INVOCATION LED BY MARY STEWART, WRITTEN IN 1904. KEEP US, O GOD, FROM PETTINESS. LET US BE LARGE IN THOUGHT AND WORD AND DEED. LET US BE DONE WITH FAULT FINDING AND LEAVE OFF SELF-SEEKING. MAY WE ALWAYS PUT AWAY ALL PRETENSE AND MEET EACH OTHER FACE TO FACE, WITHOUT SELF-PITY AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE. MAY WE NEVER BE HASTY IN JUDGMENT AND ALWAYS GRACIOUS. LET US TAKE TIME FOR ALL THINGS. AND GROW CALM, SERENE, GENTLE. TEACH US TO PUT INTO ACTION OUR BETTER IMPULSES, STRAIGHTFORWARD AND UNAFRAID. GRANT THAT WE MAY REALIZE THAT IN THE LITTLE THINGS THAT CREATE DIFFERENCES, THAT IN THE BIG THINGS OF LIFE WE ARE AT ONE. AND MAY WE STRIVE TO TOUCH AND TO KNOW THE GREAT HUMAN HEART OF THE SOUTH. AND O LORD GOD, LET US NOT FORGET TO BE KIND. AMEN. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING IF YOU ARE ABLE, FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO. 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. YOU MAY TAKE YOUR SEAT. [ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:] AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE OUR AGENDA OUT OF ORDER, AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION, WHICH IS A SUSPENSION. THIS IS THE APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE VACANCY IN THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT. MR. MEYERS. I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS SUSPENSION IS FROM CHAIR BASKIN APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE VACANCY IN THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT. MADAM CLERK, COMMUNICATION 14 E DASH 20 MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE FOR A MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. THE SECOND IS BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. OKAY. THE COMMUNICATION IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY. MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR. MOVED TO RECEIVE FILE AND PRINT THE ITEM. OKAY. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE A FILE AND PRINT THE ITEM? IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR. THE ITEM IS NOW RECEIVED, FILED AND PRINTED. MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THE COMMUNICATION INCLUDED A PETITION SIGNED BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS NOMINATING LAWRENCE J. [01:30:06] DUPREE TO FILL THE APPOINTMENT. TO FILL THE VACANCY IN THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, I MOVED TO RECEIVE, FILE AND PRINT THIS COMMUNICATION. SECOND, THANK YOU. MAJORITY OF YOU, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 6 TO 0. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE THE NOMINATION TO APPOINT MR. DUPREE. SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO NOMINATE MR. DUPREE TO THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR. I WILL CALL A ROLL CALL. VOTE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF LAURENCE JAY DUPREE AS FIRST DISTRICT LEGISLATOR FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS OF THE LEGISLATURE. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? LEGISLATOR. BARGNESI. YES. BASKIN. YES. GILMOUR. YES. KOOSHOIAN. YES. MEYERS. SWAGIT. MAIMONA. YES AND VINAL. YES. 6 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE APPOINTMENT IS APPROVED. CONGRATULATIONS. NEWLY ELECTED LEGISLATOR LAWRENCE. LEGISLATOR. DUPREE. AT THIS TIME, I WILL CALL ON JUSTICE OGDEN TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE OF LEGISLATOR LAWRENCE J. DUPREE. AND. I, I. I. LAWRENCE JOSEPH DUPRE DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. TO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARD OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. AND THE CHARTER OF THE COUNTY OF ERIE. FULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES AND TO FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATURE. HOEGER. AFTER THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE. FROM LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT. FOR THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS. I WANT TO THANK MY DAUGHTER FOR COMING UP HERE. I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE CLOSE TO ME FOR ATTENDING THIS. A LOT OF BIG WORK GETS DONE IN THIS ROOM, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS RESPONSIBILITY AND THIS PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE EVERY COUNTY BETTER. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW COLLEAGUE, LEGISLATOR LAWRENCE DUPREE. WE WILL NOW CONTINUE ON WITH OUR AGENDA. TABLED ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING. [ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 13] THERE ARE NONE. MEANING MAJORITY LEADER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. APPROVAL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED. PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE ARE NONE AT THIS TIME. MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE AND CONTINUED ON TO PAGE TWO. [ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:] MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO CONSIDER. IT'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMORE ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE BODY. MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVED TO AMEND TO INCLUDE AT ALL. SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO AMEND THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS TO MAKE THAT ALL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. [01:35:06] ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE AMENDED. MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED. SECOND MOTION TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED. MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMORE ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED, AS AMENDED. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. LOCAL LAWS. LOCAL LAW. INTRO 2-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING LOCAL LAW. [ LOCAL LAWS:] INTRO 5-1 AS INDICATED. LOCAL LAW INTRO FIVE. DASH TWO WILL BE SENT TO THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, COMMITTEE REPORTS, REPORT NUMBER NINE FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. [ COMMITTEE REPORTS:] MOVE FOR MEDIA CONSIDERATION. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIR. IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER TEN FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE CHAIR MEYERS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION ON APPROVAL. SECOND PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER 13 FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. STEPPING IN. MAJORITY LEADER, MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR A MEETING CONSIDERATION. APPROVAL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER 12 FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR. GILMER. MOVE FOR MEETING. CONSIDERATION, APPROVAL. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR. IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR MILLS ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER NINE FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR MOVE FOR MEETING CONSIDERATION. APPROVAL. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR A MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY COMMITTEE CHAIR. GILMOUR HAS BEEN SECONDED BY SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. LEGISLATOR. RESOLUTIONS. INTRO 14 DASH ONE. [ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:] LEGISLATOR MEYERS YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. MOVE FOR AN IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL. SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION, AND APPROVAL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMORE ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED. INTRO 14 TWO AND INTRO 14. DASH THREE WILL BE SENT TO THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE. MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. [ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:] THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE TWO DISCHARGES. FIRST TO MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 1302 FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. TRANSFER OF FUNDS FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES. IT'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES, AND THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. THE MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM. SECOND PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM THAT IS BEFORE US. MOVED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMORE ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED. YES. OKAY. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR DISCHARGES MAJORITY THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SECOND DISCHARGE MOVED TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 13E-18 FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. AWARD FOOD MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT. SECOND, A PROPER MOTION OF DISCHARGE MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY. MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM. SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE. THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 1. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. ARE WE COVERED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AGENDA? SO WE CONTINUE TO MOVE ON. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:] COMMUNICATION 14E-1 AND COMMUNICATION 14E-2 ARE AS INDICATED. MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 14E-3. CORRECT. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 14E-4. MR. MEYERS. MOVE FOR MEDIA CONSIDERATION. SECOND. IT'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. MR. MEYERS COMMUNICATION 14E-5. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 14E-6 MR. MEYERS. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. [01:40:03] SECOND. MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER IS SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 14E-7 MR. MEYERS. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 14 E-8, MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVED FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND, PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0 ITEM IS APPROVED. CONTINUING ON COMMUNICATION 14 DASH NINE MR. MEYERS. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER IS THE SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 14E-10. COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION 14 DASH TEN. MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. MOVE FOR A MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ROLL CALL VOTE. ROLL CALL. VOTE. LEGISLATOR. GREENE. NO. LORIGO MILLS. FOYE MILL. YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER WAS IN HERE AND HE LAID OUT HIS 10 TO 15% INCREASE IN FEES. AND I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE. I QUESTIONED HIM ON THE ADVERTISING AND THE CHANNEL FOR PARTS OF THE COUNTY PARKS. YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED TO HIM THAT I THOUGHT MOST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY WERE THE PARKS FORCE WORST, AND HE NEEDED TO PROVIDE ME WITH WHAT THIS WAS COSTING US. ADVERTISING AND TELEVISION FOR PARKS. THAT'S COMPLETELY. I'VE BEEN HERE 19 YEARS AND THAT'S NEVER DONE. SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASE. AND I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT EXPENDITURES AND THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION. SO HAVING SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR TODARO. NO. BARGNESI. YES. BASKIN. YES. DUPREE. GILMOUR. YES. KOOSHOIAN. YES. MEYERS AND VINAL. NO. 6 TO 5. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 14. DID I GET. DID I ADD WRONG? VERY GOOD. SO. FOR SUPERVISOR. EXAMPLES AND EXAMPLES. I THINK IT MAY SAY CREATING A NEW FIELD VERSUS INCREASING FEES. OR IS IT? OBVIOUSLY I'M ASKING YOU. WE ARE VOTING ON AN INCREASE IN PARK FEES, AND LEGISLATOR GREENE HAS RAISED THE QUESTION IF WE NEED A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE TO INCREASE FEES. I THOUGHT THE RULES SAID TO CREATE A NEW FEE. WE NEEDED A SUPERMAJORITY, BUT I COULD BE WRONG. YEAH. OKAY. WE ARE VOTING TO INCREASE PARK FEES AND WE HAVE SIX YESES. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE INCREASING PARK POLICE, WE ARE WONDERING IF IN EIGHT BOOKS THE ANSWER IS OKAY. THE OPINION OF MR. BENNETT IS YES, HIS DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO SAY YES. SO WE'RE GOING TO ASSUME THAT THE MOTION FAILS. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON WITH OUR AGENDA. COMMUNICATION 14E-11 MR. MEYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. AND APPROVAL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS FAR FROM A PERFECT PROGRAM, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM. BUT IT'S FAR FROM PERFECT, AND I WILL NOT STAND IN THE WAY OF A GOOD PROGRAM DOING THE RIGHT THING. HOWEVER, HAVING SPOKEN TO THE ADMINISTRATION, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THAT SOME TIME AROUND OCTOBER IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS FOR 2025, THAT MAYBE THAT'S THE TIME FRAME TO BE DOING AN RFP FOR THIS TYPE OF SERVICE SO THAT WHEN JANUARY 2025 COMES ALONG, WE HAVE ALL OUR DUCKS IN LINE. [01:45:04] MAYBE WE CAN GET A LITTLE MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELL SAID. LEGISLATOR ON THE QUESTION. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MOTION IS APPROVED. I'M SORRY. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND WE ARE ON 14E-12, 14E-14. OKAY, SO 14E-12 IS AS INDICATED. SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO 14E-13. MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE FOR A MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 1414, MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. IT'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. IS THE SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ON THE QUESTION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. 14E-15. MR. MEYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE FOR MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 14E-16. MR. MEYERS. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. APPROVAL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 14E-17 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 1419 AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS. COMMUNICATION 14D-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 14D-8 AS INDICATED. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:] COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:] COMMUNICATION 14M-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 14 M-4 AS INDICATED. ANNOUNCEMENTS. WE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH. [ ANNOUNCEMENTS:] DUE TO THE RENOVATIONS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING ON OUR FLOOR, COMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. COMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM. THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS AND OFFICES ARE GETTING NEW CARPETS AND NEW FURNITURE. OUR NEXT SCHEDULED SESSION OF THE FORMAL LEGISLATURE WILL BE SEPTEMBER 12TH. BACK IN PERSON AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE MINORITY CAUCUS, WE WILL BE HOLDING THE MID-YEAR BUDGET HEARINGS AND THE FORMAT IN WHICH WE HELD THEM IN THE PAST. AND THE HEARINGS WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH AND SEPTEMBER 12TH. THERE HAS BEEN A SCHEDULE THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED WITH EACH DEPARTMENT, AND THE TIME THAT IT WILL, THAT THEY WILL BE PRESENT BEFORE THE BODY AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN PERSON IN CHAMBERS, SEPTEMBER 11TH, WHICH IS A WEDNESDAY AND SEPTEMBER 12TH, WHICH IS A SESSION DAY. THE SCHEDULE, YEAH, IS IN COMMUNICATION FOR 2018 AND WILL BE POSTED ON THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE WEBSITE. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS CONCERNS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS. [ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:] LEGISLATOR TODARO. MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF ERIE COUNTY DEPUTY BRIAN D CASTELLANI. I ALSO MOVED TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF RETIRED FIRE CHIEF JAMES J. CORRAL. HE WAS A FIRE CHIEF FOR BOTH THE CHEEKTOWAGA AREA AND LANCASTER FOR VERY FOR MANY YEARS. GREAT GUY. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW HIM FOR TWO YEARS AS I SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER, AND I ALSO MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEMORY OF OLIVER USUALLY THE BELOVED GRANDFATHER OF MY STAFFER DOMINIC, WHO PASSED AWAY ON JUNE 12TH. MARRIED TO HIS WIFE PATTY, FOR 60 YEARS. THEY HAD TWO CHILDREN AND FIVE GRANDCHILDREN. OLIVER AND PATTY OPENED THE FIRST JOHN AND MARY'S SUB AND PIZZA SHOP ON SHERIDAN DRIVE IN 1970. HE WAS A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF THE CUSHMAN MASONS LODGE, WHERE HE WAS GIVEN THE DEDICATED SERVICE AWARD. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. OUR HEARTS ARE WITH YOU, DOMINIC AND YOUR FAMILY. ANY OTHERS? LEGISLATOR VINAL. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF THE FORMER LEGISLATOR MICHELLE PARNELL'S UNCLE, MARIO IANNELLA, WHO DIED THIS WEEK. WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. LEGISLATOR. I WANT TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF RICK STEELEY, WHO WAS A VETERAN THAT LIVED IN THE TOWN OF CONCORD. HE WAS VERY ACTIVE IN HIS VA POST. IT IS A GREAT LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF ED COSGROVE, WHO WAS AN INCREDIBLE ATTORNEY. A WONDERFUL FAMILY THAT HE LEAVES BEHIND WONDERFUL GRANDCHILDREN. [01:50:02] WE MISS HIM DEARLY. WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR. 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. MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11-0. WE STAND ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.