Nov 07, 2024 Legislative Session

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GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO OUR WORK SESSION FOR OUR FORMAL SESSION OF MEETING NUMBER 19, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2024.

WE'LL GO THROUGH OUR AGENDA FOR OUR 12 NOON SESSION.

TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN.

THERE ARE NO TABLED ITEMS, NO ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM OUR PREVIOUS MEETING.

AND THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL.

PUBLIC HEARINGS.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH AT 6 P.M.

IS THE ERIE COUNTY 2025 TENTATIVE PUBLIC BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.

AND THAT'S OUR FORMAL MEETING WHERE THE AGENCIES KIND OF COME IN AND TALK TO US ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR APPRECIATION, AND HOW THEY ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET BEFORE WE DO OUR DILIGENCE.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS.

ON PAGE ONE AND CONTINUED ON TO PAGE TWO ARE, AS INDICATED LOCAL LAWS LOCAL LAW INTRO 2-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING LOCAL LAW INTRO 7-1 ONE AS INDICATED.

COMMITTEE REPORTS. REPORT NUMBER 13 FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR KOOSHOIAN.

REPORT NUMBER 16 FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR.

ALL SET. THANK YOU. AND REPORT NUMBER 16 FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR. ALL SET.

THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS.

INTRO 19-1.

OUR ANNUAL DESIGNATION OF TOURISM PROMOTION AGENCY WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL TODAY.

AND INTRO 19-2 REGARDING A RESOLUTION REGARDING A MODIFYING OUR AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL TODAY.

COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NONE.

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES FROM LEGISLATOR TODARO WE HAVE A TRANSFER OF PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDING AND MEMBERS, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE TIMELINESS OF THREE SUSPENSIONS THAT I AM INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR SUPPORT AND ALLOWING TO BE SUSPENDED IN.

THEY ARE REGARDING THE BUFFALO BILLS NEW STADIUM.

THEY ARE BEING FINISHED RIGHT NOW, AND THEY WILL BE CIRCULATED TO YOU IN BETWEEN OUR BREAK BETWEEN WORK SESSION AND FORMAL SESSION.

I WAS UNAWARE OR CONFUSED ABOUT THE TIMELINESS OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE'S MEETING, AND THEY ARE MEETING EARLY NEXT WEEK, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THESE SUSPENSIONS SUBMITTED.

I'LL HAVE THEM TO YOU TO REVIEW.

BUT IN SHORT THE FIRST SUSPENSION WAS BORN OUT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH LEGISLATOR GREENE OVER THE LAST YEAR.

HE AND HIS NAME IS ON IT SO FAR, AND IT IS ASKING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO RELEASE HIS INTENTIONS FOR A POLICY REGARDING THE NEW STADIUM, ERIE COUNTY HOSPITALITY CENTER, THAT COMMUNITY SUITE THAT ERIE COUNTY WILL HAVE THE OVERSIGHT OVER.

I THINK IT'S HIGHLY TIMED THAT OUR HONORABLE BODY GET INCLUDED ON WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR INCLUSION, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITY INCLUSION WITH THE UTILIZATION OF THAT SUITE.

THE SECOND SUSPENSION DEALS WITH ASKING THE BUFFALO BILLS TO SUBMIT TO THIS HONORABLE BODY, HOW MANY SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE THEY UTILIZED TO DATE THAT ARE LOCAL IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW STADIUM DEAL? AND WE DO KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT REQUIRES THEM TO USE SMALL BUSINESSES IN POST CONSTRUCTION IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE STADIUM, TOO.

SO IF THEY HAVE ANY PLANS ON HOW THEY PLAN TO UTILIZE SMALL BUSINESSES AND POST CONSTRUCTION, AS WE ALL KNOW, WE ARE LESS THAN 24 MONTHS AWAY FROM THE GOAL OF OPENING UP THE NEW STADIUM AND THEN THE FINAL SUSPENSION THAT I'M INTERESTED IN GETTING YOUR SUPPORT ON AND HAVING EVERYBODY PARTICIPATE IN IS A RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE BUFFALO BILLS TO RELEASE A APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO APPLY FOR THAT $3 MILLION A YEAR THAT GETS ALLOCATED AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT.

I APPRECIATE THAT THE BUFFALO BILLS SUBMITTED TO US A REPORT OF THEIR FIRST SPENDING, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE PROCESS THAT THEY ARE USING IS THEY ARE IDENTIFYING PROJECTS THEMSELVES AND THEN ALLOCATING THAT $3 MILLION TO THE COMMUNITY AS THEY SEE FIT.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT FUNDING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO APPLY TO IT FOR THEIR SPORTS PROGRAMS, FOR THEIR YOUTH PROGRAMS, FOR THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOR FOOD INSECURITY, FOR POVERTY INITIATIVES.

AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL OF YOU ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, I THINK, TO ALL OF US AND ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, IF THE BUFFALO BILLS ALLOWED FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AT LARGE TO ACTUALLY HAVE AN APPLICATION THAT THEY CAN APPLY FOR THAT $3 MILLION A YEAR AND BE CONSIDERED.

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BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET THEM GOING BECAUSE THAT COMMUNITY BENEFITS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS MEETING EARLY NEXT WEEK, AND I THINK THEY ONLY HAVE ONE MORE MEETING THIS YEAR.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD START GETTING OUR AS A BODY, GETTING OUR VOICE BACK INTO THIS COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT AND HOW THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, MINORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN AND CONSENSUS STATE SENATOR.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

THANK YOU SIR. CAN WE GET [INAUDIBLE] TO ESTABLISH A TIMELINE FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS TO GET DONE? BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE WE'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ON THIS.

I JUST GET THAT FEELING, THAT UNEASY FEELING THAT WE SHOULD BE FURTHER AHEAD THAN THIS THAN WE ARE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO SUGGEST SOME KIND OF A TIMELINE.

YES, SIR I DEFINITELY THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE ON TIMELINE EVEN IF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, BY DECEMBER, YOU KNOW, 31ST OR 15TH OF THIS YEAR OR THE PASSAGE OF OUR BUDGET WHEN WE VOTE ON THE BUDGET, WE HAVE SOME PLANS OR SOME UNDERSTANDING FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] ADMINISTRATION AND THE BUFFALO BILLS ON WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE TO BE INCLUSIVE OF OUR CONSTITUENCY.

I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT I CIRCULATE THE DOCUMENTS AND ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO ADD TO IT.

I'M OPEN TO AMENDMENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S LANGUAGE THAT REPRESENTS ALL OF OUR VOICES.

ANY OTHER MEMBERS WANT TO COMMENT? I'LL MAKE SURE OUR STAFF GETS THOSE OUT TO YOU GUYS IMMEDIATELY.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU CHAIR.

YEAH. PARTICULARLY I WANT TO ADDRESS YOUR THIRD ONE THERE REGARDING, YOU KNOW, A PROCESS IN PLACE AND JUST [INAUDIBLE] WHAT YOU'RE MENTIONING.

THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN BOSTON WHEN THEY DID SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE BRUINS ARENA, WHERE THEY DID HAVE A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT.

THE PROCESS FOR HOW THAT WAS GOING TO BE DOLED OUT WAS NEVER PUT IN PLACE.

AND 20 YEARS LATER, NO MONEY EVER GOT DISTRIBUTED.

IT ENDED UP IN A COURT BATTLE AND EVENTUALLY IT ENDED UP THE COMMUNITY ENDED UP WINNING, AND THEY ENDED UP, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO PUT IN SOME PUBLIC RINKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, INVESTING WITHIN THE CITY.

BUT THE REASON THAT EXISTED AND THE REASON THAT PROBLEM TOOK PLACE WAS BECAUSE THE PROCESS WAS NEVER PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT PUT IN AND PUT INTO WRITING, AND SO THAT THE COMMUNITY DOES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PARTNERED WITH THE BILLS AS OPPOSED TO THE BILLS THAT ARE JUST DICTATING, YOU KNOW, HEY, WE SENT, YOU KNOW, ONE PLAYER TO A SCHOOL AND THE VALUE OF THAT IS $75,000.

BUT HAVING THE PROCESS IN PLACE AND KEEPING OPEN TRANSPARENCY IS REALLY WHAT OUR JOB IS.

THANK YOU. I AGREE LEGISLATOR.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THOSE GET OUT TO YOU GUYS.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

COMMUNICATION 19E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION, 19E-13 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATION 19E-14 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 19E-23 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNICATION, 19D-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 19D-5 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATION. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES.

COMMUNICATION 19M-1 AND COMMUNICATION 19M-2 AS INDICATED.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR? OKAY. WE WILL RECONVENE AT 12 NOON FOR OUR FORMAL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WELCOME TO OUR FIRST OF MANY BUDGET HEARINGS.

TODAY WE HAVE SENIOR SERVICES.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER ANGELA MARINUCCI FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SENIOR SERVICES.

FIRST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ACCOMMODATING THIS.

I APOLOGIZE THAT I WILL BE OUT OF TOWN NEXT WEEK, BUT THIS WAS VERY IMPORTANT I WANTED TO BE HERE TO SPEAK OUT OF OUR BUDGET, SO I APPRECIATE THE TIME.

SENIOR SERVICES IS INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF OUR PROGRAMS. AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE 2020 CENSUS DATA THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED STARTING NEXT YEAR, WE'VE SEEN A 24.7% INCREASE SINCE THE 2010 DATA AND OLDER ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 60 IN ERIE COUNTY.

SO WE ARE PROVIDING MORE SERVICES, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ON NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT WE'RE EXCITED FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO DEPARTMENT REQUESTS? THERE ARE THIS YEAR, YOU'LL SEE IN OUR BUDGET BOOK THERE IS AN INCREASE OF JUST ABOUT $2 MILLION IN HOME DELIVERED MEALS.

WE USED $1 MILLION OF ARP FUNDING LAST YEAR TO OFFSET OUR FOOD COSTS, AND WE'VE SEEN A $1.6 MILLION INCREASE WHEN WE'RE

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AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT IS OUR MOST VULNERABLE OLDER ADULT POPULATION.

WE HAD ANTICIPATED AND HOPED FOR A MIGRATION OF SOME OF OUR OLDER ADULTS WITH THE CHANGE IN MEDICAID QUALIFICATIONS THAT THEY WOULD BE MOVING TO MEDICAID SERVICES, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A DELAY IN SOME OF THOSE PROCESSING.

AND OUR NUMBERS HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW.

SO WE NEED TO FIRST AND FOREMOST, PRIMARILY MAKE UP THAT $1 MILLION OF ARP FUNDING AND ALSO TO COVER THE INCREASES IN WHAT WE ANTICIPATE FOR NEXT YEAR. BUT WE'RE NOT JUST LAYING EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE.

WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS ON WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT HOME DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM MORE ECONOMICAL.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE.

I'VE ENGAGED NUMEROUS DIRECTORS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THE COUNTY OF NIAGARA CURRENTLY HAS STARTED A WAITLIST PROGRAM.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SENIOR SERVICES WOULD REALLY LIKE TO DO, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE WAITING FOR FOOD. SO WE'RE EXPLORING OPTIONS OF CHANGING TO A ONE HOT MEAL FOR THOSE THAT ARE HAVE MORE CAREGIVER SERVICES AT HOME, INSTEAD OF THAT TWO MEAL LOWERING COST SOME WAY THAT WAY. LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS SO THAT THIS ISN'T A CONTINUED INCREASE.

THE INCREASE IS ALSO TONY WILL TELL YOU THAT WE THROUGHOUT COVID AND WHAT WE WERE OFFERING, WE DEPLETED OUR ROLLOVER FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS.

SO WE ARE STARTING AT ABOUT $400,000 LOWER THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY START WITH A BASELINE.

SO THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THAT BIG INCREASE.

BUT IT IS DIRECT SERVICES TO GO TO OLDER ADULTS IN THE COUNTY.

TONY ANYTHING I MISSED.

YEAH. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

VERY GOOD. TONY SAID THANK YOU TONY.

GOOD JOB. I'M JUST CURIOUS WHERE THE INCREASE IN NEED CAME FROM.

IS THAT DID YOU SEE AN UPTICK AFTER COVID? AND ALSO, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG NIAGARA COUNTY'S WAITLIST IS? SO WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF NIAGARA COUNTY, WHICH WAS LAST ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, SHE HAD 40 PEOPLE AT THAT TIME.

SHE IS CONCERNED GOING FORWARD ABOUT AN INCREASED NEED AND AS WELL AS WE'RE ALL IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT WHAT OUR CONTRACT RATES WILL BE FOR HOME DELIVERED MEALS NEXT YEAR. SO SHE HAD 40 PERSONS AS OF LAST WEEK.

THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER HOME DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM THAN WE ARE.

THE NEED IS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

SO WHILE WE DID HAVE A 24.7% INCREASE IN OLDER ADULTS IN ERIE COUNTY, RURAL COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE HAD A HIGHER PROPORTIONATE INCREASE.

SO WE ARE ALSO BASED ON CALCULATIONS WE HAVE ANTICIPATING A GRANT DECREASE NEXT YEAR FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL BASED ON THE RE CONFIGURATION ON THE 2020 CENSUS DATA. SO WE'VE HAD A HUGE INCREASE, BUT WE WILL BE DEALING WITH LESS MONEY.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS OLDER ADULTS RECEIVED OLDER ADULT AREA AGENCIES ON AGING RECEIVED A LOT OF ARP FUNDS, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL.

BUT OUR STANDARD OLDER AMERICANS BRANDS IN NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING GRANTS DID NOT CONTINUE TO INCREASE BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE FUNDINGS ENOUGH THAT NEED DURING THE TIME BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE THE OTHER FUNDING, THE AARP FUNDING, THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO SUPPLEMENT PEOPLE AS MUCH MONEY.

SO OUR STANDARD GRANTS WERE NOT INCREASING THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT HAS INCREASED 1% PER YEAR OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WHICH HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH THE RATE OF FOOD OUTSIDE OF HOME INFLATION. AND SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT ARP FUNDING, BUT NOW HERE WE ARE.

AND SO WE'RE ALL WE ARE PART OF THE ASSOCIATION ON AGING THAT IS ADVOCATING TO THE STATE AS WELL AS TO OUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES ON INCREASING THE OLDER AMERICANS TYING IT TO CPI IN TERMS OF INCREASED FUNDING.

THAT NEEDS TO BE REAUTHORIZED THIS YEAR.

SO HOPEFULLY SOMETIME SOON FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEN THAT WILL HOPEFULLY TRICKLE ON DOWN.

BUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WAS WE RECEIVED STIMULUS FUNDS, AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER GRANTS DIDN'T INCREASE AT THE SAME RATES THEY NEEDED TO.

AND SO NOW WE'RE A LOT OF COUNTIES ARE FEELING THIS CRUNCH, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND BY NOW YOU'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT THE.

OKAY. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

LEGISLATOR MEYERS.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD MORNING.

COMMISSIONERS. JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOME COOKED MEALS, AND SO YOU SAID IT WAS $2 MILLION CORRECTLY AND YOU USED A MILLION OF ARP MONEY.

SO GOING INTO THAT YEAR WAS WAS THERE A BUDGET OF $2 MILLION? AND THEN YOU USED A MILLION OF ARP MONEY? I'M JUST WONDERING, SO.

I GUESS MY QUESTION IS IF IT WAS BUDGETED FOR $2 MILLION AND YOU DECIDED TO USE $1 MILLION AND THEN A MILLION OUT OF ARP MONEY, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER MILLION? SO THE OTHER MILLION, SO THE $2 MILLION YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS THAT $1 MILLION TO MAKE UP FOR THE COST IN 2024 THAT WE USE THE ARP, AS WELL AS THE INFLATION COST GOING INTO 2025 WITH INCREASED USAGE, ON ADDITIONAL CLIENTS THAT ARE ON IT, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS HAVE A ONE YEAR RENEGOTIATION RATE PER

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BUT JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER HUMAN, WHEN THOSE CONTRACTS GET RENEGOTIATED, WE'RE LOOKING AT INFLATION COSTS.

THAT'S WHAT WE USED AS OUR BUDGET AMOUNTS WHEN WE'RE SEEKING FOR NEXT YEAR, BASED ON WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE USAGE, WHAT WE ANTICIPATE AN INCREASED USAGE FOR OLDER ADULTS THAT WILL LIKELY NEED IT NEXT YEAR, AND THAT CHANGE.

SO IT'S REALLY A $1 MILLION.

JUST SO I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS RIGHT I'M SORRY.

SO THE MILLION THAT YOU DIDN'T USE GOT ROLLED OVER INTO THIS YEAR.

IS THAT. SO NO IT WAS IT HAD TO BE USED BY SEPTEMBER 30TH.

SO OUR ARP FUNDS.

NOT THE ARP MONEY, THE MONEY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT THE MILLION AND YOU DIDN'T USE, COULD YOU USE THE ARP MONEY? WE NO, WE DIDN'T USE.

SO THAT MILLION DOLLARS IS AN INCREASE IN COST.

RIGHT, TONY [INAUDIBLE].

SO WE IN 2024, WE HAD LIKE $1 MILLION OF ARP MONEY IN THE HOME DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM THAT WILL NOT BE THERE IN 2025. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING, SO WHEN YOU DID YOUR BUDGET FOR 24, YOU ONLY HAD THE $1 MILLION BECAUSE YOU KNEW THAT YOU WERE GOING TO USE A MILLION OF ARP MONEY? I SAID, AND WE AND WE WENT INTO OUR BUDGET MEETING IN 23 WHEN WE STARTED TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WE WERE HOPEFULLY 23 INTO 24 GOING TO SEE SOME OF THAT MEDICAID MIGRATION THAT DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION.

BUT WE WERE DISCUSSING IN OUR BUDGET MEETINGS THEN THAT IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE'RE USING THIS ARP MONEY, SO WE'RE NOT SEEKING IT FROM THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE AT THIS POINT. BUT WE WILL IN ORDER TO WE'LL NEED TO REPLACE IT IN THE YEARS COMING.

AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENCE IN A WAY THAT USING THE ARP FUNDS TO FACILITATE OUR CORE SERVICES.

HOW DID YOU COME TO THE $1 MILLION OF AARP MONEY FOR THAT, I MEAN, WHY DIDN'T THEY USE $2 MILLION? OR IS THAT ONLY A MILLION? I'M JUST ASKING.

BASICALLY THE ARP MONEY IT MIRRORED THE GRANT.

IT MIRRORED THE HOME DELIVERED MEAL GRANT.

SO WE WERE USING THAT MONEY IN 2022, 2023 AND 2024.

AND SO BASICALLY BECAUSE WE WERE USING THEM, WE DIDN'T NEED THE COUNTY EXTRA COUNTY MONEY TO PAY FOR THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WE HAD THAT THE WHAT I CALL THE COVID MONEY.

AND WE USED IT FOR THE THREE YEARS.

BUT IT THE GRANT ENDED THE COVID MONEY.

WE SPENT IT ALL AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

IT WILL BE SPENT ALL AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2024.

AND WHAT HE MEANS IS OUR C2 THREE C2 UNDER THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT MEANS IT'S ONLY MONEY THAT CAN BE SPENT TOWARDS HOME DELIVERED MEALS.

OUR C1 IS OUR CONGREGATE MONEY, SO WE ARE UTILIZING EVERY DOLLAR AND TRANSITIONING AS MUCH OF OUR.

AND WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR WAS TRANSITION AS MUCH TO ARP FUNDING SO THAT WE COULD PRESERVE ROLL OVER TO MAKE OUR COSTS LOWER GOING INTO THE NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT IF YOU DO HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

[ ROLL CALL]

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

THIS IS MEETING NUMBER 19 OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE NOVEMBER 7TH, 2024.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? LEGISLATOR GREENE, LORIGO, MILLS, TODARO HERE.

BARGNESI. BASKIN.

HERE. DUPRE.

GILMOUR HERE.

KOOSHOIAN MEYERS.

HERE. LEGISLATOR VINAL NOT PRESENT.

QUORUM PRESENT.

THANK YOU.

TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE.

[INVOCATION] AMEN. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN.

TABLED ITEMS THERE ARE NONE.

ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, THERE ARE NONE.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 18]

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

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

SECOND. MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

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

THE MEETING MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

[ PUBLIC HEARING: Monday, November 18th at 6:00PM - Erie County 2025 Tentative Budget Public Hearing]

PUBLIC. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET.

EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY.

AND IT WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 18TH AT 6 P.M.

IN THE CHAMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

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CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

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

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO CONSIDER.

SECOND. A PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 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 IT ALL.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.

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

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

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. CARRY UNANIMOUSLY THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED.

LOCAL LAWS. LOCAL LAW 2-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING LOCAL LAW INTRO 7-1 AS INDICATED.

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

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

LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

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

REPORT NUMBER 16 FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0.

OKAY THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

AND REPORT NUMBER 16 OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

OKAY. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, LEGISLATOR GILMOUR, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR MEYERS ON THE QUESTION.

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

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

INTRO 19-1.

MR. MEYERS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

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

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. OKAY.

THE MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

INTRO 19-2.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

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

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

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

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE.

THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE.

THERE ARE NONE. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES.

[ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE FOUR SUSPENSIONS TODAY.

FIRST, FROM LEGISLATOR TODARO REAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDING.

MADAM CLERK.

INTRO 19-3.

MAJORITY LEADER.

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

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

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

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

THE SECOND SUSPENSION IS FROM LEGISLATORS BASKIN AND GREENE.

A REQUEST FOR THE NEW HIGHMARK STADIUM ERIE COUNTY HOSPITALITY CENTER POLICY PLANS.

MADAM CLERK INTRO 19-4.

THIS ITEM WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU. THE THIRD SUSPENSION IS FROM LEGISLATOR BASKIN.

A CALL FOR A FORMAL UPDATE ON THE UTILIZATION OF SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND POST CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF THE NEW HIGHMARK STADIUM.

MADAM CLERK.

INTRO 19-5.

THIS ITEM WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR, MR. MEYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

THE FOURTH SUSPENSION IS FROM LEGISLATOR BASKIN CALL FROM THE COMMUNITY ACCESSIBILITY AND THE NEW HIGHMARK STADIUM COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT ANNUAL FUNDING PROCESS.

MADAM CLERK. INTERIM 19-6.

AND THIS ITEM WILL BE SENT TO FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

CONTINUING ON WITH THE AGENDA.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

COMMUNICATION 19E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 19E-23 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

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

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? MAJORITY LEADER, DID YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT? NO. I JUST WANT TO REMIND OF THE SCHEDULE FOR HEARINGS.

WE DO HAVE A SCHEDULE FOR BUDGET HEARINGS, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN THIS CHAMBERS NEXT WEEK.

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

TUESDAY. WE START AT 9 A.M..

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

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

[00:25:05]

THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF MARK SCANLON.

HE WAS A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY.

HE WAS THE OLDER BROTHER OF MAYOR CHRIS SCANLON.

HE WAS A LIFELONG FRIEND OF MINE.

GREW UP DOWN THE STREET FROM ME AND SUDDENLY PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING.

WE ARE SORRY FOR THE MAYOR'S LOSS AND FOR OUR COUNTY'S LOSS AND FOR YOUR LOSS LEGISLATOR.

ANY OTHERS? A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

AMEN. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY.

MOTION TO ADJOURN. MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. WE STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.