[00:00:01] OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. [ ROLL CALL] ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS MEETING OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE. THANK YOU TO ALL ELECTEES WHO ARE HERE TODAY AS THE CLERK OF THE LEGISLATURE. I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. MEETING NUMBER ONE OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE JANUARY 2ND, 2025. I WILL NOW CALL THE ROLL. . QUORUM PRESENT. PLEASE STAND FOR THE INVOCATION IF YOU ARE ABLE, LED BY MR. MYERS. A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE. CLERK. THANK YOU. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE LED BY MR. MILLS. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WILL TAKE THE AGENDA OUT OF ORDER. [ COMM. 1E-2 MAJORITY CAUCUS Appointment to Fill Vacancy in the Second Legislative District ] IN THE NEXT ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION WILL BE COMMUNICATION 1E-2. THIS IS THE APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE VACANCY IN THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, MR. MYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. THANK YOU. THERE'S A MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION BY LEGISLATOR MYERS AND A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. THE COMMUNICATION IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. MR. MYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. MOVE TO RECEIVE FILE AND PRINT THE ITEM. THANK YOU. THE ITEM IS NOW RECEIVED, FILED AND PRINTED. MR. MYERS, BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. THE COMMUNICATION INCLUDED IN THIS PETITION, SIGNED BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND NOMINATING TASHA ST. JEAN FOR THE APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE VACANCY IN THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT. I MOVE TO RECEIVE FILE AND PRINT THIS COMMUNICATION. THANK YOU. THERE'S A MOTION BY LEGISLATOR MEYERS. DO I HAVE A SECOND? BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES, MR. MYERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. I MOVE THE NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF MISS SAINT JEAN. SECOND. THANK YOU. I WILL NOW DO A ROLL CALL. VOTE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF TASHA ST. JEAN [INAUDIBLE] AS SECOND DISTRICT LEGISLATURE. THIS WILL BE A VOTE ONLY BY THE MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS OF THE LEGISLATURE. YES. 6 TO 0. THE MOTION PASSES CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE APPOINTMENT IS APPROVED. CONGRATULATIONS TO LEGISLATORS. AT THIS TIME, I WILL CALL UPON THE NEW LEGISLATOR AND JUDGE, BETTY CALVO TORRES, TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE. IF I MAY JUST VERY BRIEFLY TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE. I'VE HAD THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING TYISHA ST. JEAN-TARDE. GROW UP. I MET HER AS AN ENERGETIC TEENAGER WHEN SHE JOINED THE MISS BORINQUEN PROGRAM, A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OF THE PUERTO RICAN AND HISPANIC DAY PARADE. SHE WAS ONE OF OUR WINNERS AND HER ENERGY, I MUST SAY, ANY OF YOU WHO KNOW THAT WOULD AGREE IT'S NEVER WANED. I'VE WATCHED HER CONTINUE ON TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO OBTAIN HER COLLEGE DEGREE, TO OBTAIN HER MASTER'S DEGREE, TO WORK IN CITY HALL ENERGETICALLY AS WELL, AND THEN BECOME A WIFE. AND TODAY, I COULD NOT BE MORE HONORED TO SWEAR YOU IN AS AN ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE. I'M JUST SO VERY PROUD OF YOU, TYISHA, PLACE YOUR HAND ON THE BIBLE RIGHT HERE. RIGHT HERE. I STATE YOUR NAME. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION. TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK. AND TO DILIGENTLY. AND TO DILIGENTLY. DISCHARGE MY DUTIES. DISCHARGE MY DUTIES. AS AN ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE. [00:05:01] AS AN ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATOR FOR THE SECOND DISTRICT. FOR THE SECOND DISTRICT. TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY JUST THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TODAY. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT THE SECOND DISTRICT. I LOVE DISTRICT TWO SO MUCH. I UNDERSTAND AS A RESIDENT WHAT WE NEED, AND I'M GLAD TO BE THAT VOICE. BUT TO BE VERY CLEAR TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SECOND DISTRICT, I RECOGNIZE THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT AND YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE LATER ON THIS YEAR. WHO DO YOU LIKE TO REPRESENT YOU? AND I WILL SAY, FROM NOW TO THEN, I WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT I GAIN YOUR SUPPORT AND ALSO YOUR, I WILL ALSO WORK SO HARD TO GAIN YOUR TRUST. AS SOMEONE WHO LIVED IN BUFFALO ALL MY LIFE, I CARRY A LOT OF THOSE VOICES AND HOPES AND DREAMS AND CONCERNS FOR OUR DISTRICT. WHETHER IT'S CREATING JOBS OR IMPROVING ACCESS FOR HOUSING TO IMPROVING OUR HEALTH CARE, I AM COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING SO MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN SO MANY OF YOU WHO ENCOURAGED ME ALONG THE WAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, BUT I DO WANT TO DO A COUPLE SPECIAL THANK YOUS. ONE TO OUR SENATOR ELECT, APRIL BASKIN. THANK YOU FOR OPENING SO MANY DOORS FOR US. ALSO, TO MY AWESOME HUSBAND WHO'S AROUND HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. ALSO, CHAIRMAN ZELLNER AND HOWARD JOHNSON. THANK YOU, GUYS, SO MUCH FOR THE CONSTANT SUPPORT. SO TO THE PUBLIC TODAY I ASK FOR PARTNERSHIP. I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ERIE COUNTY AND TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE SO MUCH. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. AND I'M SO EXCITED TO REPRESENT DISTRICT TWO. CONGRATULATIONS, LEGISLATOR. I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS AND THE ELECTION OF THE CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR 2025. [ NOMINATION & ELECTION OF CHAIR] AND I CALL UPON LEGISLATOR GILMOUR. SECOND, THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR AND A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS? MOTION CLOSED. SECOND, THERE'S A PROPER MOTION BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR AND A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. WE HAVE A PROPER MOTION AND A SECOND FOR TIMOTHY J. MYERS FOR CHAIR ON THE QUESTION. OKAY. ON THE ELECTION OF TIMOTHY J. MYERS AS CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE YEAR 2025. I WILL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. . YES, 11 TO 0. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WAS A TIME LIMIT ON NOMINATION SPEECHES TO CUT MR. GILMOUR MR. BARGNESI A LITTLE SHORT THERE. I THOUGHT THEY'D HAVE SOMETHING NICE TO SAY, BUT WELL. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. YOU KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY. IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT HERE TODAY. [00:10:03] IF YOU JUST LOOK AT SOME OF MY PREDECESSORS THAT WERE HERE. JUDGE. LORIGO. JUDGE SAVAGE. SENATOR BASKIN. SO MAYBE THERE'S A ROBE IN MY FUTURE BESIDES THE BATHROOM. BUT I HAVE TO THANK JUST A COUPLE OF PEOPLE VERY QUICKLY. I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE, WHO'S HERE TODAY, WHO SUPPORTS ME. I THINK I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN ZELLNER. HE BROUGHT IT UP TO ME ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO. MAYBE I OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT COMING DOWN TO THE LEGISLATURE AND LOOK HOW IT WORKED OUT. SO I RESPECT YOU. I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP. I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF. YOU KNOW, THIS ALL DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. [INAUDIBLE]. AMY, EVERYBODY YOU KNOW IS SO HELPFUL. THEY MAKE US STAND UP AND DO WHAT WE DO. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, WITH OUR CAUCUS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GET WITH ME? WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER. I HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MINORITY CAUCUS AND WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME GOOD THINGS DONE. SO I JUST ONCE AGAIN WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'M NOW GOING TO OPEN NOMINATIONS FOR MAJORITY LEADER. I WILL RECOGNIZE LEGISLATOR GIL MARTIN. I MOVE TO NOMINATE SECOND. OH. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. YEAH, I'M OPENING NOMINATIONS FOR THE CLERK. [ NOMINATION & ELECTION OF CLERK] I NOMINATE OLIVIA, RECOGNIZE THAT SHE'S THE NEW MAJORITY LEADER. YEAH. OKAY. LEGISLATOR GILMOUR? SECOND. OKAY. SECONDS. THERE'S A PROPER MOTION BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR AND A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. CLOSE NOMINATIONS, CLOSE NOMINATIONS, AND SECOND BY LEGISLATOR. BARGNESI IS A PROPER MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THANK YOU FOR THE PROPER MOTION. AND A SECOND. OLIVIA OWENS HAS BEEN ELECTED FOR ANOTHER TERM AS CLERK. OKAY. OKAY, WE DO HAVE TO TAKE THE VOTE FOR IT. SO, I'M THE QUESTION ABOUT. ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE, FOR OLIVIA OWENS AND HIS CLERK OF THE LEGISLATURE. . 11 TO 0. CONGRATULATIONS, OLIVIA. THANK YOU GUYS. [ DESIGNATION OF MAJORITY LEADER] OKAY, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE DESIGNATION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER. I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN. A PETITION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED. SIGNED IN ALL MEMBERS OF THE MAJORITY CAUCUS DESIGNATE JOHN GILMOUR AS MAJORITY LEADER OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE FOR THE YEAR 2025. ON THE QUESTION, OKAY, THE PETITION IS RECEIVED, FILED AND PRINTED UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. CONGRATULATIONS, MAJORITY LEADER GILMOUR. OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE DESIGNATION OF NOMINATION OF MINORITY LEADER. [ DESIGNATION OF MINORITY LEADER] I WILL NOT RECOGNIZE LEGISLATOR TODARO. I HAVE A PETITION FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS RECOGNIZING JOHN MILLS AS OUR MINORITY LEADER OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE FOR 2025. OKAY. ON THE QUESTION, THE PETITION IS RECEIVED, FILED AND PRINTED UNDER MY AUTHORITY. THE CHAIR. CONGRATULATIONS. MINORITY LEADER MILLS. [ RULES OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR 2025] MOVING ON. RULES OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR 2025 ARE TABLED UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. [ DESIGNATION OF NEWSPAPERS] NEXT ITEM UP IS THE DESIGNATION OF THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS. I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE LEGISLATOR GILMORE. IN THE NEWSPAPER. AND? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DESIGNATE THE EAST AURORA ADVERTISER AND THE LANCASTER BEE. OKAY. THE PETITIONS ARE RECEIVED, FILED AND PRINTED. [00:15:03] MOVING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. TABLED ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE. ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING. THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, MR. [ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 23 (2024)] GILMOUR MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM MEETING NUMBER 23. MEETING CONSIDERATION. APPROVAL. THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM. [ PUBLIC HEARING: Tuesday, January 14th at 6:00PM - LL Intro. 5-2 (2024), Amending the Erie County Charter in Relation to Term Lengths and Term Limits] PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 14TH AT 6 P.M. TO HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON LOCAL LAW. 5-2 AMENDING THE ERIE COUNTY CHARTER IN RELATION TO TERM LENGTHS AND TERM LIMITS. ITEM NUMBER 23. [ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:] MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO. LEGISLATOR GILMOUR MOVED TO CONSIDER. SECOND, WE HAVE A PROPER MOTION BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. PARDON ME. OPPOSED? OKAY. 11 TO 0. OKAY. AND WE'LL NOW RECOGNIZE LEGISLATOR GILMOUR FOR AN AMENDMENT. MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE ETHANOL SPONSORSHIP. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, TO AMEND, TO ADD ALL BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR. SECOND BY LEGISLATOR MILLS. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. LOOK FOR. TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED. MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED. OKAY. APPROVE. AS AMENDED BY ALEXANDER GILMOUR, SECOND LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED 11 TO 0. OKAY. LOCAL LAWS. [ LOCAL LAWS:] LOCAL LAW. INTRO 2-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING LOCAL LAW 7-1 AS INDICATED. ITEM NUMBER 25. COMMITTEE REPORTS. THERE ARE NONE. ITEM NUMBER 26, LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS. [ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:] LEGISLATOR GILMORE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. SPEAKER. MOVE FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. AND A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. LEGISLATOR GREENE, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SURE. YEAH. THIS IS JUST YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING RESOLUTION. WE'VE DONE THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES. THIS IS AN ORDER FOR THE AIRPORT OUT IN AKRON TO GET GRANT FUNDS, AND THEY NEED SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL LEGISLATURE. SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, PROCEDURE ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE. THERE ARE NONE. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. [ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:] LEGISLATOR GILMORE. YES. I HAVE THREE SUSPENSIONS. THE FIRST IS FROM CHAIR MYERS. THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE SCHEDULE FOR 2025. ON THE QUESTION. PARDON ME. OKAY. CLARK OWENS. COMMUNICATION 1-E.6. OKAY. THIS ITEM WILL BE RECEIVED AND FILED. MR. GILMORE. THE NEXT IS FROM CHAIR MYERS. IT'S 2025 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. OLIVIA CLARK OWENS, 157. OKAY. THIS ITEM WILL BE RECEIVED. FILED. MR. GILMORE. THE LAST ONE IS FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL FROM THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY CAUCUSES. IT'S 2025 LEGISLATOR RESOLUTION. CLERK OWENS. INTRO 1-2. MR. GILMORE MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION BY LEGISLATOR GILMORE. SECOND BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:] COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS. COMMUNICATION 1E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 1E-5, AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATIONS FROM DEPARTMENTS. THERE ARE NONE. COMMUNICATIONS FROM PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:] COMMUNICATION 1M-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 1M-4 AS INDICATED. [ ANNOUNCEMENTS:] ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT THURSDAY, JANUARY 9TH. THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED. THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 16TH. THERE ARE NO OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS. [ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:] PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS IF YOU ARE ABLE. LEGISLATOR LORIGO? I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF KATHLEEN MORSE. SHE'S THE GRANDMOTHER OF A FORMER STAFF MEMBER OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE AND A DEAR FRIEND, AND SHE'S SORELY MISSED. LEGISLATOR TODARO CHAIR MYERS I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM KOTANSKY. SERVED ON THE LANCASTER ROTARY CLUB FOR OVER 60 YEARS. [00:20:06] SERVED ALONGSIDE. NO OTHER MEMORIALS. WE WILL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO WENT ON TO BE WITH THE LORD. WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR. SECOND LEGISLATOR. DUPREE AND VINAL. ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED. 11 TO 0. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WE STAND ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.