Dec 05, 2024 Legislative Session

[ ROLL CALL]

[00:00:05]

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

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

WELCOME TO MEETING NUMBER 22 OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.

DECEMBER 5TH, 2024.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? LEGISLATOR GREENE, HERE.

LORIGO. MILLS.

TODARO HERE.

BARGNESI. BASKIN HERE.

DUPRE. GILMOUR HERE.

KOOSHOIAN. MEYERS AND VINAL.

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT.

THANK YOU. TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR DUPRE.

PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE.

AMEN. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL.

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. PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS IF YOU ARE THERE, IF YOU ARE ABLE.

[ TABLED ITEMS: Report No. 1 - Finance & Management/Budget Committee, 2025 Budget & Amendment Package]

MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS, I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE YOU.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO TAKE THE REPORT FROM THE TABLE.

THE REPORT INCLUDES THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S TENTATIVE 2025 COUNTY BUDGET, AS AMENDED.

SECOND. I HAVE A PROPER MOTION TO TAKE THE BUDGET FROM THE TABLE MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS AND HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? THIS IS NON-DEBATABLE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE REPORT IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO TO SEPARATE THE PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET, ITEM NUMBER 2A, COMMUNICATION 18E-1, AS AMENDED AND APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT.

SECOND. THANK YOU.

THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS MADE A PROPER MOTION TO AMEND THE I'M SORRY, THE TO TAKE THE AMENDED ITEM UP FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE, AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

THIS IS ITEM NUMBER TWO A COMMUNICATION 18E-1, THE AMENDED AND APPROVED BALANCE OF THE REPORT.

THIS IS DEBATABLE ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT? AYE. ANY OPPOSED OF THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION IS CARRIED AND THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

MOVING ON. I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS FOR THE PURPOSES OF FURTHERING OFFERING UP AMENDMENTS FOR THE TENTATIVE 2025 BUDGET, WHICH IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO AMEND THE PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET BY DELETING BUDGET RESOLUTION NUMBER 6 IN THE 2025 BUDGET BOOK, B, AS AMENDED.

A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION IS CARRIED.

AND THE BUDGET RESOLUTION NUMBER SIX IN THE 2025 BUDGET BOOK B HAS BEEN AMENDED AS IT HAS BEEN DELETED.

MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO AMEND THE PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET BY DELETING BUDGET RESOLUTION 62 IN THE 2025 BUDGET BOOK B, AS AMENDED. SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

THIS IS DEBATABLE ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

THE MOTION IS CARRIED.

THE BUDGET BOOK, RESOLUTION NUMBER 62, IN THE 2025 BUDGET BOOK B, AS AMENDED, HAS BEEN DELETED.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO AMEND THE PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET BY DELETING BUDGET RESOLUTION 103 IN THE 2025 BUDGET BOOK B, AS AMENDED.

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

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

THIS IS DEBATABLE ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. AND THE MOTION IS CARRIED.

THE BUDGET RESOLUTION NUMBER 103, IN THE 2025 BUDGET BOOK B, AS AMENDED, HAS BEEN DELETED.

I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS FOR THE PURPOSES OF OFFERING UP A FINAL MOTION TO ADVANCE THE TENTATIVE 2025 BUDGET BEFORE THE BODY, MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.

SECOND, THE PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE TENTATIVE 2025 BUDGET, AS AMENDED, MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0.

SO NOW WE'VE AMENDED.

WE'RE FULLY AMENDED.

YOU JUST PASSED IT.

[00:05:02]

YES, I'D LIKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

OKAY. ON PASSING THE BUDGET.

LEGISLATOR GREENE.

YES. LORIGO.

YES. MILLS.

YES. TODARO.

YES. BARGNESI.

YES. BASKIN.

YES. DUPRE.

YES. GILMOUR.

YES. KOOSHOIAN.

YES. YES. MEYERS.

YES. AND VINAL.

YES. 11 TO 0.

OKAY. ITEM 2A COMMUNICATION 18E-1 2024, AS AMENDED, THE 2025 BUDGET IS THEN APPROVED, AS AMENDED.

CONGRATULATIONS MEMBERS.

CONTINUING. YEAH, THAT'S THE WORK.

[APPLAUSE] MADAM CLERK WAS VERY PROUD OF US.

GOOD WORK. MEMBERS PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH EVERYBODY TO GET A UNANIMOUS BUDGET.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, THERE ARE NONE.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 20 & Meeting No. 21]

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR MEETING NUMBER 20 AND MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR MEETING NUMBER 21.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY HAD TO BE TOGETHER.

SECOND. CAN YOU DO IT TOGETHER? OKAY. BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ON THE QUESTION.

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

THE MEETING MINUTES FROM NUMBER 20 AND 21 ARE APPROVED.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE ARE NONE.

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

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO CONSIDER.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS 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 MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE AT ALL.

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

IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE AMENDED.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA MR. MEYERS, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

I MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.

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

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

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS, THERE ARE NONE.

COMMUNICATION DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE, THERE ARE NONE.

SUSPENSIONS OF THE RULES, THERE ARE NONE.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

CONTINUING NOW WITH OUR AGENDA.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS, THERE ARE NONE.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT THURSDAY ON DECEMBER 12TH.

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

THERE ARE LENGTHY COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS NEXT WEEK, INCLUDING THIS BODY EXPRESSING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE BUFFALO BILLS COMMUNITY BENEFITS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON HOW THEY ARE WORKING WITH OUR PROSPECTIVE DISTRICTS ON INCLUSION WITH THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO NOT KNOW THAT IN OUR DEAL, WE REQUIRED THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THEY HAVE MADE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THE ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS, AND THAT PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED.

SEAN, HAS THAT PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THAT SCHEDULED FOR NEXT TUESDAY AT THE MERRIWEATHER LIBRARY? AT WHAT TIME? SO IT'S THERE'S ALSO A DISCUSSION ON THE RESOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN PUT FORTH BEFORE MYSELF AND MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS ON THE SENIOR TAX EXEMPTION, AND WE HAVE INVITED GUEST SPEAKERS TO TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION FOR SENIORS AGE 55 AND OLDER NEXT WEEK IN COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT, SEAN, I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE MORE DISCUSSION OUTSIDE OF THE BUFFALO BILLS CONVERSATION, THE SENIOR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.

WAS THERE A THIRD CONVERSATION? AND THEN WE FUNDED A FEW YEARS AGO, THOSE MEMBERS THAT WERE HERE, A MWBE DISPARITY STUDY AT A COST OF $1 MILLION, THIS HONORABLE BODY APPROVED. AND WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD TAKE TWO YEARS TO GET THE RESULTS.

BUT THE RESULTS ARE IN AND THE ADMINISTRATION IS PREPARED TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY AND TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE MWBE DISPARITY STUDY AS WELL.

SO LONG CONVERSATIONS AND COMMITTEES NEXT WEEK, ENCOURAGING ALL MEMBERS TO BE HERE AND TO INVITE MEMBERS OF YOUR DISTRICT WHO HAVE INTEREST IN THESE TOPICS TO BE PRESENT AT COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK.

[00:10:02]

GRABER. BUT IT WILL BE MY LAST SESSION, TOO.

AND ALSO SCOTT KROLL.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A NICE TIME OF A REUNION, 56 YEARS AGO, THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE WAS ESTABLISHED, AND WE HAVE MADE ATTEMPTS TO WORK WITH YOU, YOUR STAFF, TO INVITE LEGISLATORS AND LEGISLATURE STAFF OF THE PAST 56 YEARS, THOSE THAT WE CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH TO COME BACK ON DECEMBER 19TH.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO INVITE YOUR FAMILIES OR ANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, PLAYED A ROLE IN MAKING THIS WHAT JUDGE ARRIGO USED TO CALL AN INDEPENDENT BODY OF GOVERNMENT, PLEASE INVITE THEM BACK FOR DECEMBER 19TH.

SO THOSE ARE ALL MY ANNOUNCEMENTS.

DO Y'ALL HAVE ANYTHING [INAUDIBLE]? OKAY. HEARING NONE PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

AMEN. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOVED. MOTION TO ADJOURN BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. WE STAND ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.