Sep 26, 2024 Legislative Session

[00:00:01]

OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO THE WORK SESSION FOR SESSION NUMBER 16.

TODAY THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY MYSELF.

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM PREVIOUS MEETING, THERE ARE NONE.

MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

MEETING NUMBER 15 WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL.

WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS TODAY.

ONE WILL BE BY LEGISLATOR TODARO AND HIS SERVICE AND SMALL AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND THE SECOND WILL BE LED BY CHAIRWOMAN ON THE REMEMBRANCE OF MARK MORTENSON.

SO GETTING TO MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE AS INDICATED.

MOVING ON TO PAGE TWO AS INDICATED.

LOCAL LAWS INTRO 2-1 AND 3-1 AS INDICATED.

INTRO 5-1 WILL BE RECEIVED AND FILED ON MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

AND PAGE THREE INTRO 5-2 IS AS INDICATED.

[INAUDIBLE] 6-1 WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE LANGUAGE ACCESS LAW THAT WILL BE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH AT 6 P.M..

COMMITTEE REPORTS ENERGY ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE IS ALL GOOD.

FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT.

COUCHE IS NOT HERE.

SOMEBODY WANT TO APPROVE THAT? ALL GOOD. FINANCE MANAGEMENT.

YEAH. BY LEGISLATIVE REMARK.

THANK YOU. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, REPORT NUMBER TEN, LEGISLATIVE GILMOUR.

ITEM REPORT NUMBER 13 FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, LEGISLATIVE GILMOUR.

AND REPORT NUMBER 14 FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LEGISLATIVE GILMOUR.

OKAY. REPORT NUMBER TWO FROM THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

LEGISLATIVE BARGNESI.

THANK YOU. REPORT NUMBER TWO FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.

LEGISLATIVE VINAL.

I'M SORRY, I READ IT WRONG.

I'M SORRY. I'M KIND OF NEW AT THIS.

OKAY. VERY GOOD. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS.

INTRO 16-1, CALLING FOR THE FORENSIC AUDIT FOR THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WILL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

INTRO 16-2.

REAPPOINTMENT OF PUBLIC BENEFIT.

MONEY WILL BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. THERE ARE NONE.

COMMUNICATION FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS ON PAGE THREE, AS INDICATED ON PAGE FOUR.

16E-33 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 16 E-19 AS INDICATED ON PAGE FIVE COMMUNICATIONS 16-20 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 16E-30 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM DEPARTMENT 16 E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 16-3AS INDICATED.

ON PAGE SIX IN COMMUNICATION 16-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 16.

M3, AS INDICATED HERE.

ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE NONE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY WANT TO BRING UP? BEFORE WE GET TO THE MEETING.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. OH, YOU'RE ALL GOOD.

OKAY. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

WE'LL SEE YOU AT 12:00.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

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

[ ROLL CALL]

SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2024.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. THANK YOU.

TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY MAJORITY LEADER MYERS.

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

MR. MEYERS. MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE, MADAM CHAIR.

AMEN. MRS. MADRIGAL.

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

ON WITH OUR AGENDA. TABLED ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE.

ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

THERE ARE NONE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 15]

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? 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2ND AT 6 P.M.

[ PUBLIC HEARING]

INTRO 61A LOCAL LAW FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE ERIE COUNTY LANGUAGE ACCESS ACT, AND THERE WILL BE A COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM NEXT

[00:05:08]

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

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO CONSIDER THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER THE ITEM MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? 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. I MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE AUDIT.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

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

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0.

OKAY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU. I MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED, MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

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

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

WE WILL NOW PAUSE IN OUR AGENDA FOR TWO PRESENTATIONS.

THE FIRST PRESENTATION WILL BE THE HONORING OF ONE OF OUR TRUSTED AND BELOVED COLLEAGUES, LEGISLATOR FRANK TODARO, ON HIS SUCCESS AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND ENTREPRENEUR IN ERIE COUNTY.

I'M GOING TO ASK THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR VINAL, AND OUR MAJORITY LEADER TO JOIN ME AT THE DAIS, AS WELL AS LEGISLATOR TODARO AND ANY GUESTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE WITH YOU TODAY.

SO. YEAH.

WE AS A BODY SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED AS A LEGISLATOR, HAVE DONE MORE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

AND WE WERE THAN ANY OTHER CAST OF LEGISLATORS IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT HISTORY.

WE WERE TRULY INSPIRED IN THE MIDST OF COVID 19 TO GO A LITTLE BIT ABOVE OUR OBLIGATIONS, AS IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES TO OVERSIGHT OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND INCLUDE SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR CARE AND IN OUR AGENDA.

THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM.

BACK TO BIZ PROGRAM, THROUGH ESTABLISHING WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF LEGISLATOR VINAL, A SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS THE STOREFRONT REVITALIZATION PROGRAM THROUGHOUT COVID. AND THEN WE ALL WORKED VERY HARD IN OUR COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WERE PRIORITIZED IN ERIE COUNTY.

AND I'M SO PROUD OF THAT.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I THINK WE HAVE BEEN SO PROACTIVE AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AS LEGISLATORS, WITH FRANK TODARO BEING AT THE CHIEF, ONE OF THE CHIEF LEGISLATORS WHO FALL WITHIN THAT CATEGORY.

SO IT IS OUR HONOR, AH LEGISLATOR TODARO TO HONOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S LEGACY IN SMALL BUSINESS HERE IN ERIE COUNTY.

I'M JOINED BY SOME OF OUR FELLOW COLLEAGUES WHO WILL TAKE TURNS IN READING A PROCLAMATION THAT WE WISH TO PRESENT TO YOU HERE.

SO I'LL READ THE FIRST COUPLE OF STANZAS, AND THEN I'LL HAND IT OVER TO THE CHAIRWOMAN OF SMALL BUSINESS, AND WE'LL CLOSE WITH OUR MAJORITY LEADER.

WHEREAS SMALL BUSINESS, WHEREAS SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE ENGINE OF OUR ECONOMY AND THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS FRANK TODARO HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SERVE RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT ERIE COUNTY, NOT ONLY AS A LEGISLATOR, BUT ALSO AS A SUCCESSFUL AND SINCERE BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR.

AND WHEREAS MISTER TODARO WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY BEGAN PRIOR TO GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND WHEREAS AFTER THE PASSING OF HIS FATHER, FRANK DECIDED TO STEP UP AND TAKE OVER QUEEN CITY COLLISION, A BUSINESS HIS FATHER BEGAN IN 1977.

AND WHEREAS FRANK GRADUATED FROM THE HARKNESS CAREER CENTER CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTERS AUTO COLLISION AND REPAIRS PROGRAM.

AND WHEREAS, UNDER MR. TODARO AND HIS LEADERSHIP TO, HE PROCEEDED TO GROW HIS FATHER'S SHOP AND WITHIN A FOUR YEAR SPAN FROM 1997 THROUGH 2001, THE BUSINESS GREW FOUR TIMES ITS SIZE IN SALES AND EMPLOYEES.

LEGISLATOR. VINAL.

THANK YOU.

WHEREAS FRANK WENT ON TO MERGE WITH ANOTHER AUTO BODY SHOP AND BECAME THE YOUNGEST MANAGER IN COMPANY HISTORY.

AND WHEREAS, HE THEN WORKED WITH COLLISION FROM 2001 TO 2009 AND WOULD PROCEED IN SO, SAY, TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH AND

[00:10:04]

WHEREAS FRANK ACQUIRED SMITH'S AUTO BODY AT 555 PEARL STREET IN 2011, THEN CHANGED THE NAME TO COLLISION MASTERS, WHICH I'VE BEEN A CUSTOMER OF MANY TIMES.

AND WHEREAS, DUE TO ESTABLISHING A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AND SEEING AN INCREASE IN CLIENTELE, FRANK MOVED HIS BUSINESS TO 210 SOUTH PARK IN THE DISTRICT OF LEGISLATOR GILMOUR AND REHABBED THE BUILDING UNTIL HE SOLD THE BUSINESS ON SEPTEMBER 6TH OF THIS YEAR.

AND WHEREAS FRANK TODARO HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSIONATE AND ON THE SIDE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH HARDSHIPS OF ANY KIND.

SO I'M GOING TO BRING US HOME.

YES. WHERE ARE WE GOING? ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. OKAY.

WHEREAS A YEAR LATER, FRANK DONATED A CAR TO A FAMILY WITH A YOUNG CHILD GOING THROUGH CANCER TREATMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GEICO.

PUNT, WEST HERR AUTOMOTIVE GROUP AND THE NATIONAL AUTO BODY COUNCIL.

AND WHEREAS IN 2022, FRANK DONATED A VEHICLE TO A DISABLED VETERAN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH USAA AND CHEVROLET.

AND WHEREAS LEGISLATOR TODARO GIVES THE UTMOST PRAISE AND GRATITUDE TO HIS MOTHER AND WIFE AND TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF HIS ENDEAVORS AND CREDITS THEM WITH HIS SUCCESS.

AND WHEREAS THIS HONORABLE BODY DESIRES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS FRANK TODARO, WHO ENHANCED, REPRESENT AND CHANGE OUR COMMUNITY BY WAY OF ACTION. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED WITH GREAT ADMIRATION THAT THIS HONORABLE BODY ACKNOWLEDGES AND HONORS FRANK TODARO FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. LOVE THE SELFLESS WORK AND DEVOTION TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY AS A HARD WORKING, SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN.

FOR BEING SUCH A BLESSING AND A ROLE MODEL.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET HIM TO STAND.

THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. YEAH. RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS AWARD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN MY BACKGROUND THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A HELPFUL GUY.

IF I SEE SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS ANYTHING, I WOULD HELP THEM.

I TRY TO DO IT MORE OFF THE RADAR, DOWN LOW, BECAUSE I NEVER WANTED TO BE RECOGNIZED OR ACKNOWLEDGED BECAUSE I FELT THAT WAS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

AND TODAY, IT'S NOT HAPPENING THAT WAY.

IT'S I'M HONORED TO BE PUBLICLY AWARDED THIS, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

EVERYONE, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE BEEN IN THIS CAPACITY IN MY LIFE WITHOUT MY MOTHER, FRANCESCA, MY WIFE CECILE, MY TWO ROCKS, YOU KNOW, FROM HIGH SCHOOL, TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO GRADUATION, MY LIFE CHANGED. MY DAD WENT IN FOR SURGERY, AND THE SURGERY DIDN'T GO WELL.

SO HE WAS IN A NURSING HOME FOR 14 YEARS BECAUSE OF THAT SURGERY.

BUT MY MOTHER, I HAD THE CHOICE.

COLLEGE. I WAS SIGNED UP OR TO THE WORKING WORLD.

AND I HAD TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AS THE OLDEST ELDEST SON WENT TO WORK, TOOK OVER MY DAD'S COMPANY AND DIDN'T LOOK BACK.

I JUST FOCUSED ON MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS.

EVERY DECISION IN EVERYONE'S LIFE CREATES THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT FOR THE LONG TERM IT WAS NEVER A SHORT GAME.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT, WHAT WOULD I DO AT THIS POINT TO MAKE MYSELF BETTER AS A PERSON IN THE FUTURE? AND YOU KNOW, I GOT TO A POINT WHERE MY BUSINESS THRIVED AND I CAN GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND BE A LEGISLATOR.

AND I WAS ELECTED AND HONORED TO DO THIS JOB AND STAND BEFORE THIS BODY AND MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY.

I WANT TO INTRODUCE NICHOLAS, WHO IS WEARING MY THE COMPANY THAT PURCHASED MY NO LONGER COMPETITIVE.

RILEY, LUCY AND GIOVANNI, AND MY MOTHER FRANCESCA AND CECILE, EVERYBODY INTRODUCED.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS VERY MUCH.

MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOMMENDATION AND EVERYONE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND LOVE YOU ALL.

[00:15:02]

OKAY, WE HAVE.

ALL HAD TO MOURN THE SUDDEN LOSS OF THE LEADER OF OUR GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL CULTURAL ASPECTS OF THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, WATSON WAS A CHAMPION FOR CULTURAL EXCURSIONS AND EXPERIENCE IN THE ARTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY OVER HIS TENURE.

HE LED SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ESTABLISHMENTS AND I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN SAYING THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE HIS SERVICE AND DEDICATION.

AND SO WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HONOR HIS LIFE.

WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY MR. MORRISON'S HUSBAND.

COULD YOU PLEASE COME UP AND JOIN US KURT I'VE ALSO SERVES AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR CENTER.

WE ARE JOINED BY AARON GRAJEK, WHO IS THE INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE WEST CENTRAL GARDENS AND LEGISLATORS APPOINTEE TO THE BOARD OF THE BOTANICAL GARDENS AND GROUNDS.

AND OUR BOARD MEMBER.

PLEASE JOIN US.

MAJORITY LEADER AGREED TO JOIN ME.

YOU ARE WELCOME AS WELL.

BUT OUR HEARTS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO HONOR MARK AND HIS BEAUTIFUL SMILE.

AND I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE MARK MORNING CALLS, HIS BEAUTIFUL SMILE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, HIS LOVE FOR SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS ALMIGHTY GOD, IN HIS INFINITE WISDOM, ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2024, REMOVED FROM OUR MIDST MARK MORTENSON, WHO'S WHO IN WHOSE DEATH WE HAVE LOST, A LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, SON, VALUED AND RESPECTED CITIZEN, AND WHOSE FAMILY HAS LOST A LEADER, KIND AND DEVOTED MEMBER.

AND WHEREAS MARK MORTENSON EARNED HIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY AT FULTON.

AND HIS MASTER'S DEGREE AT WOODBURY UNIVERSITY.

AND WHEREAS, PRIOR TO JOINING THE BOTANICAL GARDENS IN MARCH OF 2022, MARCH SERVED AS AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER IN AS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP ROLES SUCH AS VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, A DUAL ROLE AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE RICHARDSON CENTER CORPORATION, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LIPSEY ARCHITECTURE CENTER OF BUFFALO.

AND WHEREAS, MARK LED THE TRANSFORMATIONAL EFFORTS AT THE BUFFALO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND TIFF NATURE PRESERVE AND HELD LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT THE ARC ERIE COUNTY, A NONPROFIT AGENCY THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN, ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND WHEREAS TO THOSE WHO WORKED WITH MARK AND SAW HIM AS A VISIONARY LEADER WHO EMBODIED THE SPIRIT OF WILD WONDER, WELCOME PHILOSOPHY, ENRICHING THE EXPERIENCE OF EVERY GUEST WHO VISITED THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.

MINORITY LEADER MARK WILL BE BEST REMEMBERED FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, AS HE STRIVED TO BE THE BEST THAT WAS SEEN ACROSS HIS RESPONSIBILITIES TO WARRANT THE GENEROSITY, DEDICATION AND MAKING A LASTING IMPACT ON ALL WHO HAD KNOWN HIM.

[00:20:01]

AND WHEREAS, IT IS THE SENSE OF THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY TO HONOR AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF MARK MORTENSON, WHOSE DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY SHALL BE REMEMBERED AS AN INSPIRATION WORTHY TO BE ADMIRED AND HONORED.

AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE DOES HEREBY MOURN THE PASSING OF MARTIN MORTENSEN AND PAUSE IN DELIBERATION TO RECOGNIZE THIS PRAISEWORTHY LIFE FOR HIS LOVE OF FAMILY, OR HIS COMMITMENT TO AND DEVOTION TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE LEGISLATURE EXPRESS ITS SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES TO THE MORTENSEN FAMILY, HIS FRIENDS, CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND THE BUFFALO BOTANICAL GARDENS AS MANY FRIENDS, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT HE HAS RECEIVED HIS ETERNAL GLORIFIED REWARD IN HEAVEN.

HAVING HEARD THE WORDS OF THE MASTER WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.

AMEN.

AMEN. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OH, YES.

YOU KNOW.

I JUST.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

WHEN MARK AND I MOVED TO BUFFALO, ALMOST A LITTLE OVER A LITTLE LESS THAN 20 YEARS AGO, HE MOVED HERE BECAUSE WE HAD ADOPTED OUR FIRST CHILD.

AND MY BULK OF MY FAMILY WAS IN BUFFALO.

AND I CAME HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY.

AND HE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RAISING A SON.

I WAS WORKING AT UNIVERSAL AT THE TIME, AND HE HAD JUST SAID, WE NEED TO PUT OUR CHILD FIRST.

AND HE LITERALLY SHUTTLED ME ONTO A FLIGHT, A RED EYE FLIGHT TO BUFFALO, TO BUY A HOUSE, WHICH I DID WITHIN WITHOUT HIM EVER SEEING IT.

AND HE DIDN'T CARE THAT HE NEEDED TO SEE IT.

AND HE GAVE UP HIS JOB.

TO COME TO BUFFALO.

AND WHEN HE GOT HIS JOB AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, I JUST SAW HIM LIGHT UP BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT HE COULD DO AND HE COULD BRING TO BUFFALO.

AND FROM THAT MOMENT FORWARD, HIS ENTIRE LIFE FIRST WAS DEDICATED TO HIS FAMILY, BUT THEN TO THE CULTURALES OF BUFFALO, AND IT TRULY WAS HIS PASSION.

AND ALONG THE WAY, WE ENDED UP ADOPTING FIVE MORE CHILDREN, AND MARK CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS PASSION BEING THE CULTURALS AND EVERYTHING HE DID.

HE ALWAYS PUT ABOUT 120%, 200% OF HIMSELF INTO IT BECAUSE HE KNEW THE IMPORTANCE THAT THE CULTURALS PLAYED IN ERIE COUNTY.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME THING ABOUT MARK, HIS BRIGHT SMILE, HOW HE FELT SO WARM.

AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS ALWAYS SO FUNNY.

AND HE, YOU KNOW, IT MUST BE A REAL JOY AT HOME.

AND I'D ALWAYS HAVE TO REMIND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE CHANGED HIS CLOTHES AND WE WOULD EAT DINNER.

WE WOULD WALK THE DOG AND HE'D JUST START WORKING ON HOUSE PROJECTS.

AND IT WAS JUST AN ORDINARY INDIVIDUAL.

MY HUSBAND, MY CHILDREN'S.

DAD. BUT NEVER ONCE DID HE HOLD IT OVER MY HEAD.

I MEAN, WE USED TO JOKE THAT HE WAS ALWAYS PART OF THE GREAT APE, AND I WAS THE LESSER FIVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD BICKER SOMETIMES IF ONE OF THE KIDS WAS SICK.

[00:25:06]

AND INEVITABLY, SOMETIMES HE WOULD STAY HOME.

AND I USED TO WE TALKED ABOUT THIS TODAY AND I WOULD THINK TO MYSELF, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NO BETTER THAN ME.

I HAVE A JOB, TOO.

BUT AFTER ALL OF THESE ACCOLADES AND EVERYTHING, AND PART OF ME I THINK PERHAPS HE WAS JUST SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN ME.

BUT HE'S GOING TO BE.

I TRULY FEEL HE'S GOING TO BE MISSED IN BUFFALO.

IT IS RARE TO HAVE A CHAMPION OF THE CULTURALS.

WHO, HE COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING.

HE COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE THAT HE WANTED TO BE, ANY JOB.

BUT HE PICKED THE CULTURAL AND HE PICKED THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, HE PICKED THE RICHARDSON, HE PICKED THE SCIENCE MUSEUM.

AND SO I HOPE HIS MEMORY, HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON.

AND I HOPE THIS BODY WILL EMBRACE THE LOVE THAT MARK HAD FOR THE CULTURAL.

NOT THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS UP LIKE A SPEECH, BUT I KNOW THAT'S WHAT MARK WOULD HAVE WANTED.

AND HE WANTS TO SEE THIS PROJECT AT THE GARDENS COMPLETED BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS GOAL TO SEE THE EXPANSION COMPLETED.

AND THEN HE WANTED TO RETIRE.

SO I THINK HE'S TAKEN AN EARLY RETIREMENT.

BUT THE GOAL IS TO STILL SEE THIS EXPANSION COMPLETED, AND I HOPE THAT WE SEE IT DONE IN MARK'S HONOR AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY.

SO THIS MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO MYSELF, TO MY FAMILY, AND TO MARK'S MEMORY AND LEGACY.

SO THANK YOU.

I'LL BE BRIEF. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH MARK FOR TWO YEARS AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, AND IT'S MY MISSION TO PUSH EVERYTHING HE WANTED FORWARD.

AND I LITERALLY FEEL HIS HANDS PUSHING ME.

HE WAS A JOY, A FORCE.

SO MUCH FUN.

IF YOU KNEW HIM, YOU WERE HAVING FUN OR LAUGHING IN MEETINGS.

NOTHING WAS EVER DULL.

SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN CARRY THAT ON FOR HIM.

AND I WILL JUST LEAVE YOU WITH HOW MUCH HE AFFECTED PEOPLE.

AND A QUOTE THAT I FOUND THE OTHER DAY FROM ONE OF HIS IDOLS THAT I THINK HE PRETENDS TO KNOW PERSONALLY.

MISS DOLLY PARTON.

IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WITHOUT A SMILE, GIVE THEM YOURS.

AND THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE.

SO THANK YOU ALL.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I HAVE THE, I SERVED AS THE EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO WORK CLOSELY WITH MARK ON SEVERAL KEY INITIATIVES.

ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT FOCUS ON ADVANCING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY.

AND MARK WAS REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.

AND WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES WHEN WE MET A FEW YEARS AGO, IS TWO MINUTES IN OUR CONVERSATION, I KNEW THIS WAS THE RIGHT PERSON. HIS PASSION IS JUST AS HE STATED.

HIS SMILE LIT UP THE ROOM AND HE WAS SERIOUS.

HIS VISION IS MATCHED BY HIS DRIVE FOR THIS EXPANSION.

HE REALLY WAS COMMITTED TO SEE THIS ONGOING EXPANSION HAPPEN.

BECAUSE WHAT IT MEANT.

HE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE GARDEN WAS WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE TO ALL.

AND AS SO MANY BELIEVE THAT HIS DEDICATION WILL HAVE A LASTING LEGACY NOT ONLY IN THE GARDEN BUT THE COMMUNITY IN WESTERN NEW YORK. AND SO I AM TRULY HONORED TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO MEET A WONDERFUL AND INSPIRING SOUL THAT REALLY WAS DEDICATED AND COMMITTED TO CHANGING LIVES NOT ONLY IN HIS FAMILY, BUT THE COMMUNITY OF BUFFALO.

SO THANK YOU.

[00:30:26]

THIS IS FOR THE COURTS AND FAMILY OFFICES.

SIGNED BY ALL OF THE LEGISLATORS.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THANK YOU, MEMBERS.

WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO OUR AGENDA.

WE ARE AT THE SECTION OF OUR AGENDA ENTITLED LOCAL LAWS, LOCAL LAW, INTRO 2-1 AND LOCAL LAW INTRO 3-1 AS

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

THE NEW VERSION OF THE LANGUAGE ACCESS.

NO. OH OH.

LOCAL LAW INTRO 5-2 AND LOCAL LAW INTRO 6-1 AS INDICATED IN MADAM CLERK, WE WOULD LIKE TO REFLECT THAT LOCAL LAW INTRO 6-1 WILL ADD LEGISLATORS DUPRE AND LEGISLATORS GILMOUR AS CO-SPONSORS OF THE BILL CONTINUING ON AND LEGISLATORS VINAL AS WELL.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

REPORT NUMBER 11 FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

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

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

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0.

THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

OKAY. THE NEXT REPORT IS REPORT NUMBER TEN FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR KOOSHOIAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

ITEM NUMBER TWO, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO SEPARATE ITEM NUMBER TWO FROM THE REPORT ITEMS NUMBER TWO AND FOUR. YES, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO SEPARATE ITEMS TWO AND FOUR FROM THE REPORT MADE BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, MICHAEL KOOSHOIAN, AND HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT MINUS THE TWO SEPARATIONS? I. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY.

THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

WHO'S GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION ON THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN SEPARATED? I'LL DO IT.

NUMBER TWO. OKAY.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE.

JUST ITEM NUMBER TWO.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TWO MADAM CLERK.

CALL] OKAY. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS APPROVED.

COMMITTEE CHAIR KOOSHOIAN.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR FROM THE REPORT.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GREENE.

ON THE QUESTION, LEGISLATOR VINAL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR ON THIS.

I WAS WANTING TO MAKE A MOTION TO JUST TABLE IT FOR 2 TO 4 WEEKS.

AND THE REASON IS, IS THAT I BROUGHT THIS UP AT THE COMMITTEE.

BUT JUST TO BRING IT UP TO THE MEMBERS OF LARGE THAT WE'RE WE APPROVED A FORENSIC AUDIT.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN AN RFP HAS ALREADY GONE OUT.

THE THINGS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS REPRESENTED TO US THAT THAT HE'S [INAUDIBLE] THAT HE WANTS TO DO IT, SO IT'S GOING TO START IMMINENTLY.

I WOULD ASK THAT THIS BE ADJOURNED BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THERE'S IT'S VERY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE IN THE SENSE TO HAVE A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM.

NOT THAT I DON'T THINK THAT IS ONE IS NEEDED.

IF THE CLERK WANTS THAT AND THE COMPTROLLER WANTS IT, I'M FOR THAT.

BUT THE WHOLE POINT OF A FORENSIC AUDIT IS THERE'S TWO POINTS.

ONE IS TO FIND SYSTEMS THAT WOULD IMPROVE, TO NOT MAKE THINGS EASY FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE MALFEASANCE.

AND THAT'S ONE ASPECT OF IT.

AND THAT IS A GOOD ASPECT.

BUT IT DOESN'T PREVENT PEOPLE HAVING MALFEASANCE OR HAVING HAD MALFEASANCE.

AND PART OF AN AUDIT IS AN AUDIT TRAIL ON THE COMPUTERS TO SEE WHEN THINGS WERE CHANGED, WHO CHANGED IT, IN WHAT WAY IT WAS CHANGED.

THE ONLY THE AUDITS THAT WERE DONE NOW WERE REALLY MORE OF A SCRATCH THE SURFACE JEN.

[00:35:04]

BUT JUST FOR THOSE THINGS, IT WASN'T A MORE BROAD AUDIT.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED A FORENSIC AUDIT.

SO TO CHANGE THE EVIDENCE OR TO ALLOW SOMEBODY TO CHANGE EVIDENCE BEFORE THERE'S A FORENSIC AUDIT, I THINK IS VERY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

AND I THINK IT'D BE BETTER FOR US TO JUST DELAY THIS FOR JUST A TABLE IT FOR UNTIL THE NEXT SESSION, THE SESSION AFTER.

AND JUST ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ONCE THE FIRM IS SELECTED TO SAY, WILL THERE BE A DIFFERENCE? BECAUSE WHEN I SAY ABOUT THE COMPUTER AUDIT TRAIL TO SEE ALL THOSE CHANGES, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU SAY DATA, THAT'S JUST SAVING THE DATA THAT'S ON THERE, NOT THE COMPUTER PROGRAM AS TO WHO MADE CHANGES AND WHAT CHANGES WERE MADE.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I WOULD JUST ASK TO PUT THAT OUT THERE, TO SAY THAT COULD WE AMEND, COULD WE JUST MOVE IT TO TABLE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME AND ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO ASK THE FORENSIC AUDITOR? HE SAYS NO, THAT THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE.

WE CAN STILL LOOK AT THE COMPUTER TRAIL, THEN IT'S FINE.

BUT IF IT'S NOT, WE'RE REALLY CHANGING THINGS THAT WE WON'T EVER BE ABLE TO RECREATE AND WE'RE ALLOWING.

WE HAVE NO IDEA IF EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED HAS BEEN FOUND.

ALL WE KNOW IS THAT ONE PERSON WAS PROSECUTED, AND THAT ONE CHECK WAS FOUND AFTER TWO YEARS, AND THAT PERSON HAS NEVER BEEN PROSECUTED.

SO ANYWAY, BOTTOM LINE IS, IS THAT I ASKED HER TO JUST BE TABLED FOR TWO WEEKS FOR THAT REASON.

THANK YOU LEGISLATOR. IT'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO TABLE ITEM NUMBER FOUR MADE BY LEGISLATOR VINAL.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SPEAK ON IT.

HOLD ON. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MOTION LEGISLATOR.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY.

THERE IS A SECOND TO TABLE THE ITEM.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK THE LEGISLATOR BRINGS UP A GREAT POINT.

I THINK WE SHOULD JUST WAIT AND SEE WHERE EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT THAT THE NEW SOFTWARE PROGRAM.

BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURE EVERYTHING BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND DON'T LOSE IT.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE.

I DON'T THINK ANOTHER TWO WEEKS ARE GOING TO SET US BACK.

THAT'S WHY I'LL SAY.

OKAY, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER SECOND TO TABLE ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

ROLL CALL VOTE MADAM CLERK.

CALL] OKAY, SO ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS TABLED AND IT IS SENT BACK TO COMMITTEE.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA REPORT NUMBER TEN FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR DUPRE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

MOTION FOR A ANSWER.

MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

OKAY. WE HAVE A PROPER MOTION MADE BY COMMITTEE CHAIR DUPREE.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0.

THE REPORT IS APPROVED. THANK YOU.

LEGISLATOR REPORT NUMBER 13 FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR. THANK YOU.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

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

WHO IS THE SECOND? IT HAS BEEN SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY.

THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER 14 FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR. GILMOUR MOVE FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

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

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0.

OKAY. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

AND REPORT NUMBER TWO FROM THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR. BARGNESI CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

IT HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0.

THE REPORT IS APPROVED. AND REPORT NUMBER TWO FROM THE COMMITTEE.

AND FOR THE COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR, VINAL MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

AND THERE'S BEEN A SECOND MADE BY THE COMMITTEE.

CHAIR HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDAS.

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

RESOLUTIONS. INTRO 16-1.

THIS IS FROM LEGISLATORS GILMOUR, BARGNESI AND VINAL.

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

LEGISLATIVE MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

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

SECOND, PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

[00:40:01]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

CERTAINLY. YOU KNOW, WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

GOING BACK AT LEAST A GENERATION AND PROBABLY LONGER.

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOME ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, TAKING IN A LOT OF MONEY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE ISSUES.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS WHERE PEOPLE GET GREEDY.

AND CERTAINLY MOST RECENTLY WE SAW THAT WITH AN INTERNAL AUDIT HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEN, YOU KNOW, THE SHERIFF HAD HIS, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATION.

AND IT LED TO CRIMINAL CHARGES.

WE CAN GO BACK, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF COURTS PRIOR TO THAT WHERE YOU KNOW, IT WAS A CLERK AT THE TIME WHERE THERE WAS OVER $1 MILLION IN UNCASHED CHECKS IN A ROOM DURING THAT TIME FRAME.

THE LEGISLATURE.

AFTER THAT AUDIT, DECIDED TO GO IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN THIS RESOLUTION, WHERE THEY HIRED CONSULTANTS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS. AND THAT WAS THE DIRECTION THEY WENT.

SO I GUESS THE GOAL IN WHAT I'M SAYING HERE TODAY IS, IF, YOU KNOW, WE RIGHT NOW, WE JUST TABLED ONE ITEM TO KIND OF MAKE SURE I THINK THAT WE ALL GET THIS RIGHT.

MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS GET TABLED FOR A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DISCUSSION REALLY ON A COUPLE OF THINGS IS, NUMBER ONE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF DOLLAR FIGURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.

RIGHT NOW IT'S SOMEWHAT OPEN ENDED WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESOLVE CLAUSE.

THE SECOND RESOLVE CLAUSE, PARTICULARLY ASSIGNING THAT TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND THE SECOND, I'D LIKE TO GET CLARIFICATION FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COUNTY CHARTER ACTUALLY SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES THE LEGISLATURE WITH INVESTIGATIVE DUTIES. AND TRANSFERRING THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT SEEMS TO BE ANTITHETICAL TO WHAT THE CHARTER REQUIRES. AND IN THE PAST, WE HAVE DONE THAT CERTAINLY WITH THE HERSHBERGER INVESTIGATION GOING BACK.

IT WAS THE LEGISLATURE THAT LED THAT INVESTIGATION.

IT WAS THE LEGISLATURE THAT CONDUCTED THAT RFP AND MOVED FORWARD.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AT THAT TIME DID GET INVOLVED AND DID HELP OUT, BUT WE WERE THE LEAD AGENCY, AS THE CHARTER RECOMMENDS THAT WE OR THE CHARTER DICTATES THAT THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

SO FOR THOSE TWO THINGS, YOU KNOW, TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHETHER, I GUESS THE THREE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO PUT A DOLLAR FIGURE ON THIS, WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S THE RIGHT PERSON TO KIND OF LEAD THIS INVESTIGATION AND WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD GO WITH A FURTHER DETAILED YOU KNOW, ACCOUNTING OF FORENSIC ACCOUNTING OR WHETHER WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH ACCOUNTANTS MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THESE PROCESSES.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS.

SO FOR THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO TABLE.

SECOND. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO TABLE.

THE ITEM MADE BY LEGISLATOR GREENE HAS BEEN SECONDED BY THE MINORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION OF TABLING THE ITEM.

A LEGISLATOR GILMOUR YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

WE TABLED THE PREVIOUS ITEM SPECIFICALLY SO WE COULD PRESERVE THE EVIDENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AUDIT WILL PICK UP ON IT.

THAT'S THE REASON WE DIDN'T GIVE THE $2 MILLION TO NEW SOFTWARE.

I THINK WE ALL AGREE.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR, WHAT, FIVE MONTHS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET THE MONEY HE NEEDS, THE SOFTWARE.

BUT WE ALL ALSO AGREED THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EXTERNAL AUDIT.

THERE'S BEEN THREE RFPS I BELIEVE IN.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS TOLD ME THAT.

I THINK THAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS HESITANT TO HIRE SOMEBODY.

HE SPOKE ABOUT A CONFLICT WITH ONE OF THE ONE OF THE RESPONDING FIRMS. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SIX MONTHS.

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? IT'S TIME TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO DO THE AUDIT, TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IN THE PAST IS LOOKED AT FOR THE PAST 3 OR 4 YEARS.

AND IF THERE HAS TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, MORE PEOPLE ARRESTED OR CHARGED THAT THAT'S DONE.

AND THEN WE PUT THE NEW SOFTWARE IN PLACE AND WE MOVE FORWARD.

I'M. YES. I'M THE.

YOU'RE A YES ON THE.

ON THE APPROVAL. YES.

ON THE QUESTION OF TABLING THE ITEM.

LEGISLATIVE VINAL. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? YES. I THINK THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE TABLED BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S SOME URGENCY ON IT.

THERE WASN'T MONEY FOR THE $2 MILLION SET, BUT IT WILL BE IN THIS COMING BUDGET.

SO WE WANT TO HAVE THAT VOTE FOR THE SOFTWARE THERE, AND WE WANT TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES TO SAY THAT SOMEBODY LEFT CHECKS ON THE TABLE UNCASHED.

THAT MIGHT BE A MISTAKE.

THAT MIGHT BE NEGLIGENCE.

BUT STEALING MONEY IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.

THAT'S WHY YOU NEED A FORENSIC AUDIT.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S THE ONLY REASON FOR THE MOTION IS BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ISSUE AS TO WHO SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF IT AND WHETHER IT SHOULD BE THE CLERK POLICING HIMSELF OR WHETHER IT SHOULD BE SOMEONE ELSE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, EVEN THOUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WASN'T PUSHING TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN IT, I THINK THAT BECAUSE HE'S AN ATTORNEY, THAT EVERYONE HAS POLITICAL

[00:45:04]

AS HE SAID AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, HE REPRESENTS ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY.

HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE SIDES ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

AND THERE'S NO IN OUR THINGS.

WE'RE ADVOCATES IN OTHER OFFICES, BUT HIS OFFICE IS UNIQUE THAT HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE, AND I BELIEVE TRIES TO BE THAT HE TRIES TO BE.

AND THE FACT THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT, IT'S PART OF IT.

BUT HE TRIES TO BE ABOVE THE FRAY AND JUST DO IT TO SEE IF THERE'S CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, NOT FOR POLITICAL ISSUES.

SO I ASKED THAT.

I THINK THERE'S URGENCY. I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE TABLED.

I THINK THE TABLING, FRANKLY, I THINK IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO AND NO OFFENSE TO ANYBODY HERE, BUT I THINK IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO FURTHER DELAY SOMETHING.

AND I DON'T KNOW FOR WHAT REASONS.

WE DON'T KNOW, BUT FOR NOT GOOD REASONS.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT NECESSARILY I'M NOT SAYING FOR YEARS WE ALREADY DISCUSSED AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING WE DISCUSSED THE COST.

WE'VE NOW DISCUSSED WHO'S GOING TO BE DOING IT.

THERE'S ALREADY BEEN AN RFP WITH RESPONSES.

WE'RE READY TO GO ON IT.

AND THIS IS THE WHOLE THROWING THE WHOLE THING UP IN THE AIR TO TRY TO START AT ISSUE.

SO IF SOMEBODY IS ENCOURAGING SOMEONE TO DO THAT, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO'S ENCOURAGING THAT TO DO THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A GOOD REASON FOR IT.

THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR ON THE MOTION TO TABLE ITEM 16-1 LEGISLATIVE GREENE FOR THE SECOND TIME.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU KNOW LEGISLATOR, YOU DO BRING UP A GOOD POINT THAT I DID FAIL TO BRING UP, AND THAT IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ASKING WITH THIS RESOLUTION FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO LEAD AN INVESTIGATION OF FORENSIC INVESTIGATION INTO AN RFP, INTO A, YOU KNOW, AN EMPLOYEE DEPARTMENT THAT HE ALSO REPRESENTS, WHICH PUTS HIM, BUT HE'S THE ONE WHO'S MANAGING IT.

THE RIGHT, HE IS THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO MANAGE IT.

WHEN THE COUNTY CHARTER SAYS THAT, THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RFP.

THAT'S NOT REALLY IN QUESTION.

IT'S A QUESTION OF WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE LEADING THAT.

AND COUNTY CHARTER IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT IT'S THE LEGISLATORS RESPONSIBILITY TO PERFORM INVESTIGATIONS.

IT WOULD BE OUR JOB AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT RFP IS ADHERED TO.

AND YOU KNOW NOTHING AGAINST THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB WITH EVERYTHING.

I'VE WORKED WITH HIM ON THIS, BUT HE'S ALSO REPRESENTING THE CLERK IN THE SITUATION.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DELAY IT.

IT'S BEEN DELAYED FOR SIX MONTHS.

SIX MONTHS AGO I SAID THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE COMPETING RESOLUTIONS, BUT THIS BILL GOT PUSHED THROUGH AT THE TIME.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO JUST HAVE GOOD GOVERNANCE.

I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE REFERENCE WAS NOT A NECESSARILY A NEGATIVE TOWARDS OUR GOVERNOR IN THE MANNER IN WHICH HE DID IT, BUT THE FACT THAT THE PROCESSES NEEDED TO BE IMPROVED UPON SO THAT CHECKS, YOU KNOW, WERE PROPERLY, YOU KNOW, DEPOSITED INTO THE ACCOUNTS AND THAT WAS IMPROVED UPON BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF CONSULTANTS. SO MY GOAL IS REALLY TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD SO THAT WHEN WE LEAVE THAT DEPARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF US WON'T BE HERE AT SOME POINT, THAT WE ARE LEAVING THAT DEPARTMENT WITH A BETTER PROCESS THAN THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR ON THE MOTION TO TABLE.

ITEM 16-1.

MINORITY LEADER MILLS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

YOU KNOW, AT THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS LAST WEEK, I REALLY DIDN'T GET THE FEELING THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FELT COMFORTABLE DOING THIS. AND IT'S THE LEGISLATURE'S JOB NOT TO DELEGATE IT TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WHO BASICALLY HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS THE COUNTY.

THE MCCURTIS GROUP, AS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT WE TAKE CONTROL OF THIS AS A LEGISLATURE AND REVIEW THE FEES IN THE LEGISLATURE AND MOVE IT FORWARD, BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH TALENT AMONG THE MEMBERS HERE TO GIVE AN HONEST REVIEW OF THE FEES THAT HAVE COME IN. AND I THINK A LITTLE MORE DISCUSSION OF THIS AND THE COMMITTEE MEETING WOULD BE HELPFUL AND PUT US ON THE RIGHT TRACK, WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT GIVING UP ANY OF ITS AUTHORITY TO SOMEONE ELSE.

SO WE CAN DO THE RFP ON OUR OWN AND MAYBE FIND SOME MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SITTING OUT THERE LIKE A WOUNDED DUCK FOR SIX MONTHS, YOU KNOW.

AND ONE MORE DAY DISCUSSING THAT A COMMITTEE TO DESIGN SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE, I THINK IS APPROPRIATE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MAJORITY LEADER, PLEASE APPROACH.

DID YOU HAVE A LEAD ON THE MOTION TO TABLE THE ITEM 16-1, LEGISLATOR LORIGO, YOU HAD THE FLOOR.

I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE WE HAVE HAD.

THE COUNTY COMPTROLLER HAS DONE AN AUDIT.

THE STATE COMPTROLLER HAS DONE AN AUDIT.

[00:50:01]

AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS AND ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THEM.

WE TABLED TODAY ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO START ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS. AND I JUST I HAVE TO SIT BACK AND SAY WHAT IS REALLY THE PURPOSE OF THIS AUDIT? BECAUSE IF WE WANT TO START ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE, WE HAVE TO START IMPLEMENTING CHANGES.

WASTE, I MEAN, WE'VE WASTED SO MUCH TIME.

THIS BODY HAS DONE THIS WRONG ONCE BEFORE, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT WASN'T POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS BEING DONE PROPERLY.

THE MINORITY CAUCUS SAID, WE CAN'T HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE DIRECTING TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE NOW HAVE A RESOLUTION BEFORE US.

ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY CHARTER, IT'S OUR DUTY TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS.

THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE.

IN THE CASE OF COMMISSIONER DYERSBURG, WE ISSUED AN RFP.

WE THIS BODY, WE CONDUCTED THE INVESTIGATION AND DID IT PROPERLY.

WHAT I SEE BEFORE US IS ANOTHER RESOLUTION THAT I THINK WE'RE DOING IT WRONG AGAIN, AND WE COULD BE OPENING UP THE COUNTY TO EVEN MORE RISK IF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS TAKING ON POWERS THAT BY THE CHARTER, IT'S OUR DUTY.

IT'S NOT IT'S NOT THE DUTY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

IF WE WANT TO START DOING THIS, LET'S DO IT PROPERLY.

AS WE SAID LAST TIME, THIS COUNCILWOMAN WAS DONE IMPROPERLY.

I THINK IT'S TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS THE RIGHT WAY.

IF THIS IS REALLY ABOUT FINDING SOLUTIONS IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE, RATHER THAN JUST DELAYING THINGS WITH ANOTHER INVESTIGATION, THAT'S ONLY GOING TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND NO SOLUTION, WE'RE THEN GOING TO BE LOOKING AT BRINGING ON A CONSULTANT TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, AND WE HAVE NO IDEA THE COST OF ANY OF THIS.

INSTEAD, WE'RE JUST SAYING THE SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATION WASN'T ENOUGH.

THE COUNTY CONTROLLERS ON IT WASN'T ENOUGH.

THE STATE AUDIT WASN'T ENOUGH.

IS THIS AUDIT GOING TO BE ENOUGH? BECAUSE, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE AUDITING THING STOPS AND WE START IMPLEMENTING.

IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T DO AN AUDIT, BUT THIS ALSO IS DOING IT IMPROPERLY.

WE CAN'T BE PRESCRIBING OUR CHARTER DUTIES TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SIMPLY BECAUSE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ALSO REPRESENTS THE COUNTY CLERK.

IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, LET'S DO IT RIGHT.

THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR.

MAJORITY LEADER.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I REQUEST A COUPLE OF THINGS.

OKAY. I'LL HONOR THAT.

WE WILL RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES AND COME BACK AT 105.

THANK YOU.

WE STAND IN RECESS.

ONE, WE ARE GOING TO RESUME SESSION NUMBER 16 OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.

SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2024.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. WE ARE AT THE SECTION OF OUR AGENDA TODAY.

LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS.

WE ARE ON ITEM INTRO 16-1.

THERE HAS BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO TABLE THE ITEM AND A SECOND.

WE ARE ON THE QUESTION AND I WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE MR. WILL LORENZ FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

UNLESS THERE ARE OBJECTIONS FROM ANY OF THE MEMBERS, I'LL ALLOW MR. LORENZ TO MAKE A COMMENT.

MR. LORENZ.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I WISH TO COMMENT ON TWO THINGS.

FIRST, THE SOFTWARE RESOLUTION.

I KNOW THAT THE VOTE HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AND IT'S BEEN TABLED.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO TYLER TECHNOLOGIES.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A YEAR LONG TRANSITION.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME IN AND JUST START WIPING OUT RECORDS.

SO ANY CONCERN ABOUT THAT OR IMPLICATION THAT QUOTE UNQUOTE EVIDENCE IS GOING TO GET, YOU KNOW, DELETED, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE CANNOT ACT.

WE CANNOT SIGN THE CONTRACT.

PILOT TECHNOLOGIES CANNOT SIGN THE CONTRACT UNTIL THIS HONORABLE BODY APPROVES US AND GRANTS US THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO.

THEN THE CONTRACT HAS TO GO OVER TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO BE APPROVED.

THEN IT HAS TO GO TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

THE CONTRACTS I'VE BEEN A PART OF NEGOTIATING THUS FAR IN MY TIME HERE.

THAT HAS TAKEN WEEKS AND SOMETIMES MONTHS TO GET DONE.

SO EVEN IF THIS HONORABLE BODY HAD APPROVED IT TODAY, THE SOFTWARE TRANSITION STILL WOULD NOT HAVE BEGUN UNTIL EVERYTHING IS DONE WITH THE CONTRACT.

SO THE SOONER THAT THAT VOTE IS PROPERLY TAKEN AND THE AUTHORITY IS GIVEN, THEN WE CAN ACTUALLY BEGIN THAT PROCESS.

SO I WOULD ASK THE HONORABLE BODY TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THIS IS NEXT DISCUSSED.

AS FAR AS THE EXTERNAL AUDIT, THE CLERK'S OFFICE HAS BEEN ON RECORD NUMEROUS TIMES, DATING BACK TO WHEN THE FIRST COMPTROLLER'S AUDIT BEGAN ASKING THE STATE COMPTROLLER TO COME IN. NO ISSUE WITH AN EXTERNAL AUDIT TAKING PLACE.

WHATEVER THIS HONORABLE BODY DECIDES, WHETHER THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS GOING TO BE THE ONE HEADING IT UP, WHETHER THIS HONORABLE BODY IS THE ONE TO HEAD IT UP.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ATTORNEYS SENDING EMAILS TO EACH OTHER, ASKING QUESTIONS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS A SIGN THAT SOMEONE IS TRYING TO DELAY SOMETHING.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET ALL OF THE DETAILS RIGHT.

WE HAD LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SCOPE OF WORK.

[00:55:03]

THE NEW RESOLUTION THAT WAS FILED ADDRESSES THOSE CONCERNS.

WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE'VE BEEN READY TO MOVE FORWARD AND I THANK THE HONORABLE BODY AND MADAM CHAIR FOR ALLOWING ME TO COMMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE AS THE LEGAL DEPUTY.

THANK YOU, MR. LORENZ.

I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE LEGISLATOR VINAL TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION OF TABLING ITEM 16-1.

LEGISLATIVE VINAL.

THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE LEGISLATOR VALENZA AND BEING NOMINATED AS 40 UNDER 40.

ANOTHER GOOD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.

OKAY. THEY HAVE.

BUT ON THIS ISSUE, THE CHARTER DOES ALLOW SPECIFICALLY UNDER 202, SUBSECTION EIGHT, TO MAKE SUCH STUDIES AND INVESTIGATIONS AS IT DEEMS TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY AND IN CONNECTION THEREWITH TO OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL ADVICE TO APPOINT TEMPORARY CITIZENS, AVOID BOARDS OF CITIZENS, SUBPOENA WITNESSES, ADMINISTER OATHS, REQUIRE PRODUCTION OF BOOKS, PAPERS, AND OTHER EVIDENCE DEEMED NECESSARY AND NECESSARY, AND MATERIAL TO THE STUDY OR INQUIRY.

SO IT'S NOT A NON-DELEGABLE DUTY.

IT'S SPECIFICALLY STATING THAT WE CAN SEEK OTHERS, AND THAT WOULD NOT EXCLUDE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

WE'RE NOT ASKING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO DO IT, BUT TO BE THE POINT PERSON FOR IT.

THE MAIN THING IS, IS THAT PREVIOUSLY IT WAS THE ISSUE THAT WE HAD TWO COMPETING RESOLUTIONS AND THEY WERE DEEMED COMPETING RESOLUTIONS.

AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE DID THIS TO MAKE IT SO THAT WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE RFP WAS DONE.

THEY'RE READY TO HIRE AND LET'S HIRE AND LET'S GET GOING.

AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS SAID THEY'RE WILLING TO DO IT, NO MATTER WHO IS ONGOING DOING OF IT.

AND WE'VE ALL AGREED ON BOTH SIDES THAT IT'S NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.

IT'S JUST TO GET TO ANY RESOLUTION ON BAD ACTS THAT OCCURRED BEFORE THE ATTORNEY THAT'S HERE WAS EVEN PRESENT WORKING THERE.

SO I WOULD ASK THAT IT NOT BE TABLED AND TODAY.

THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR I'M GOING TO CALL THE QUESTION.

MADAM CLERK ROLL CALL VOTE.

ITEM 16-1.

MOTION TO TABLE.

OKAY.

MOTION FAILS ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

WE HAVE PROPER MOTION AND A SECOND.

ROLL CALL VOTE, MADAM CLERK.

LEGISLATOR. GREENE.

YES. EXPLAIN MY VOTE AGAIN.

I WANTED TO SEE US GO TO COMMITTEE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE I KNOW, LEGISLATOR GILMOUR REFERENCED A $1 MILLION, BUT WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A DOLLAR FIGURE IN THIS.

I THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD.

YOU REFERENCED $1 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE $2 MILLION FOR THE SOFTWARE.

OH, OKAY. SO I THOUGHT YOU REFERENCED THE DOLLAR FIGURE FOR THIS RESOLUTION IN A SCOPE OF HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO PAY.

THERE IS NO RESOLUTION.

THERE ARE NO PROVIDED HERE AS FAR AS THE SCOPE.

SO UNTIL WE HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO SPEND, THIS COULD BE, YOU KNOW, A $500,000 AUDIT.

THIS COULD BE A $20 MILLION AUDIT.

WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

AND UNLESS WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE A COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND GET A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS IS GOING TO COST AND HELP HERE AND NO.

LEGISLATOR LORIGO EXPLAIN MY VOTE FOR THE REASONS I ALREADY STATED.

I JUST I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS TODAY.

YOU KNOW, THIS THIS BODY HAS ALREADY PASSED ONE RESOLUTION.

TWO RESOLUTIONS THAT DID IT WRONG.

AND WE HAVE AS A LEGISLATOR, VINAL SAID, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT THIS INVESTIGATION LIKE IT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

IN THE CASE OF THE FORMER SOCIAL SERVICES COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION OR AN AUDIT AND GO ABOUT DOING THAT PROPERLY.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES THAT.

I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE NEED TO START IMPLEMENTING CHANGES AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

AND IT DOES RAISE THE QUESTION OF, IS THIS ABOUT HOW MANY AUDITS WILL BE ENOUGH? WE HAVE TWO AUDITS AND AN INVESTIGATION ALREADY.

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START TO MAKE THE CHANGES? WHEN WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS SAYING THAT THEY NEED NEW SOFTWARE AND WE'RE SAYING, NO, YOU CAN'T GET THE NEW SOFTWARE.

I REALLY I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS HONORABLE BODY IS SAYING TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE THAT WE JUST WANT ANOTHER AUDIT DONE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO START MAKING THE CHANGES THAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE NEEDS.

I WOULD LOVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO COME TO A SOLUTION WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY START ADDRESSING THE ISSUES, RATHER THAN JUST IT FEELS LIKE THIS IS JUST ANOTHER KICK OF THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

WE NEED TO START DEALING WITH THE ISSUES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US.

MY VOTE IS NO.

THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR MILLS TODARO I'M A NO.

AND I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN THAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS BODY I DON'T WANT TO WAIVE AT ALL.

I FEEL THAT IT'S OUR DUTY AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MPS ARE OCCURRING UNDER OUR CONTROL, AND TO HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ISSUING RFPS IS JUST NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE ALLOWING TO HAVE HAPPEN.

[01:00:07]

OKAY. INTRO 16-1 IS APPROVED.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

INTRO 16-1, TWO FROM LEGISLATORS BARGNESI AND GILMOUR A REAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDING.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

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

SECOND. 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 MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE.

THERE ARE NONE. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES? THERE ARE NONE. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS.

COMMUNICATIONS 16-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS 16D-3 AS INDICATED.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

ANNOUNCEMENTS. WE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT WEEK ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3RD.

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

OUR NEXT SCHEDULED SESSION WILL TAKE PLACE ON OCTOBER 10TH.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? OKAY. PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

THANK YOU. I WANT TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF CHARLES PRIORI AS WELL AS STANLEY PEJIC.

STAN WAS A 48 YEAR MEMBER OF THE UNION FIRE COMPANY AND HE IS SORELY MISSED.

WE HAVE LOST LEGISLATOR.

LEGISLATOR, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF ROSALIA GIUGLIANO, WHO DIED ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, AND WHO'S A BIG FAMILY IN SAINT BENEDICT'S AND WAS A PRINCIPAL OF SAINT MARGARET'S SCHOOL AND JUST A BELOVED EXTENDED FAMILY AND A WONDERFUL WOMAN.

WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS LEGISLATOR.

LEGISLATOR MILLS.

CLOSE IN MEMORY OF EDWARD RYAN.

AND ALSO, I JUST RECENTLY SAW IN THE PAPER THIS MORNING THE PASSING OF OUR FORMER DPW COMMISSIONER, JOHN LOFFREDO, WHO WAS VERY INFLUENTIAL, I THINK, IN DPW IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO, TOO.

AND HE CAME BACK AND HELPED US OUT WHEN WE MADE A CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF PERSONNEL.

AND IT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD TO WORK WITH.

AND IT'LL BE IT'LL BE MISSED.

THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR.

LEGISLATOR GREENE.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO STATE I DO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND LEGISLATOR COMMENTS EARLIER ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SMALL BUSINESS.

I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE IN THE MEMORY OF MARY CELINE AARON.

SHE WAS A LONGTIME BUSINESS OWNER RUNNING SHEPPARD'S BROTHER FUNERAL HOME IN CLARENCE, AND SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE ONES THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU WERE.

NO MATTER WHAT HELP YOU NEEDED AND HONORING YOUR LOVED ONES, SHE WAS ALWAYS THAT PERSON THAT WENT OUT OF THE WAY TO HELP YOUR FAMILY AT A TIME OF NEED.

SO I'D LIKE TO CLOSE WITH HER MEMORY.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO CLOSE THE MEMORY OF RON WICK.

RON WAS A US AIR FORCE VETERAN, 54 YEAR MEMBER, INCLUDING CHIEF OF THE RAPIDS VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, AND ALSO THE MAN WHO PUT A FIRE OUT IN MY HOUSE ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT 15 YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD SLEEPING TWINS ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND A STOVE ON FIRE.

AND HE SAVED MY CHILDREN.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE TO HIS MEMORY.

AND WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS LEGISLATOR.

LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF JOHN WASHINGTON.

HE WAS THE OWNER OF IVY LEAGUE CONSTRUCTION, A SMALL BUSINESS IN TONAWANDA.

JOHN WAS A VIETNAM VETERAN WITH THE PURPLE HEART AWARD AND WILL BE BURIED IN ARLINGTON.

I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

AMEN. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GREENE.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.