Mar 09, 2023 Legislative Session

[00:00:03]

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

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

THIS IS MEETING NUMBER FIVE OF THE LEGISLATURE, MARCH 9TH, 2023.

MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL?

[ROLL CALL]

PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE.

AMEN. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.

THE PLEDGE WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATIVE GILMOUR.

THANK YOU. ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

TABLED ITEMS, THERE ARE NONE.

ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION, THERE ARE NONE.

MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

[MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - Meeting No. 4]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM MEETING NUMBER FOUR.

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

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

PUBLIC HEARINGS, THERE ARE NONE.

[MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS]

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE TO CONSIDER. SECOND.

PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE ET AL SPONSORSHIPS.

SECOND. A PROPER MOTION TO MAKE ET AL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.

SECOND. PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED.

NOW WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM LEGISLATOR JOHNSON TO HONOR THE DISTRICT ONE CITIZEN OF THE MONTH.

COME ON, MISS ROGERS. DON'T BE SHY.

SHE SAID SHE'S A LITTLE NERVOUS.

I TOLD HER NOT TO BE NERVOUS ABOUT NOBODY WOULD BITE HER BUT TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO HONOR WENDY ROGERS.

SHE'S A MEMBER OF TRUE BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH, BUT MORE THAN THAT, IT'S A LOT OF INCREDIBLE WORK THAT SHE DOES OVER THERE.

SO I REMEMBER DURING COVID WHEN IT WAS TONS OF FOLKS, YOU KNOW, HANDING OUT FOOD, SO [INAUDIBLE] SAYING, HEY, LOOK, WE'RE GOING OVER TO TRUE BETHEL TO HAND OUT SOME FOOD.

SO I GO OVER THERE AND, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST DAY I HAND OUT FOOD, BUT SHE KEPT DOING IT CONTINUOUSLY AND CONTINUOUSLY AND CONTINUOUSLY, AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, I THINK THAT SHE NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED TODAY FOR HER EFFORTS.

MISS ROGERS IS A TRANSPLANT FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS, BUT THAT WAS OVER 30 YEARS AGO.

SO SHE'S A BUFFALO RESIDENT AND SHE'S HELD A SLEW OF GOVERNMENT JOB.

SO AS I'M READING HER BIO, I'M LIKE, OH, I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WORKED FOR THEM.

OH, AND THEN SHE KNOW FOLKS HERE.

SHE KNEW BOBBY AND EVERYBODY HERE.

SO I THOUGHT IT'D BE FITTING TO HONOR YOU TODAY AND I JUST WANT TO READ A LITTLE BIT OF THIS PROCLAMATION FOR YOU, WHEREAS SINCE MOVING TO BUFFALO FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS, MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO, WENDY ROGERS HAS RESTORED HOPE FOR MANY, PROVIDING HELP TO THE CITY'S POOREST NEIGHBORHOODS AND ESTABLISHING HERSELF AS A WOMAN OF INTEGRITY, KNOWN BY MANY AS A TRUSTWORTHY RESOURCE AND A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

THROUGHOUT HER LIFELONG SERVANT LEADERSHIP, WENDY HAS CONNECTED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND HAS SERVED AS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO MR. HERB BELLAMY, FOUNDER OF 1490 JEFFERSON AT BETHEL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AS EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND AS LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT TO CRYSTAL PEOPLES-STOKES DURING HER TENURE AS MAJORITY LEADER HERE AT THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.

INTERESTING FACTS, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT.

WHILE WORKING FOR THE MAJORITY LEADER, ONE OF HER MANY TASKS AND HER FAVORITE PROJECT WAS CREATING A KINSHIP CAREGIVERS CONFERENCE, AND THESE CONFERENCES WERE FACILITATED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN IT CAME TO PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN THE SYSTEM.

HER PASSION FOR CHILDREN IS WHY WENDY BECAME A FOSTER PARENT AND WENDY IS MULTITASKING SENSATION AND HAS MANAGED TO KEEP IT ALL IN TACT.

[00:05:04]

IN THE MIDST OF HER RELOCATING TO HER HOMETOWN OF WORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, TO TAKE CARE OF BOTH HER PARENTS, WHILE THE TWO MISS OF HER OWN BATTLE WITH BREAST CANCER.

WENDY'S FAITH IN GOD AND THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF FRIENDS AND TRUE BETHEL FAMILY NEVER WAVER.

CURRENTLY, WENDY SERVES HAS SERVED FOR MORE THAN 17 YEARS AT THE TRUE BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH, HAS COORDINATED THE TASTE OF FAITH FOOD PANTRY, PROVIDING MORE THAN 10,000 MEALS WHILE SERVING HER COMMUNITY WITH HER BEAUTIFUL SMILE AND JOYOUS PERSONALITY, AND, AND I'M JUST GONNA SKIP DOWN TO THE RESOLVE CLAUSE RESOLVE THAT THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE DOES HEREBY HONOR WENDY ROGERS OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE CITIZEN MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY FOR AN EXCELLENT, EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND UNSELFISH SERVICE FOR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO THROUGHOUT ERIE COUNTY, AND I JUST PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, COMING OVER THERE SERVING WAS WAS A GREAT BENEFIT TO ME.

IT LET ME SEE THE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT LET ME SEE THE NEEDS OF THE FOLKS WHO NEEDED IT AROUND THERE THE MOST, AND IT WASN'T A BUNCH OF FOLKS DRIVING IT WAS ASKING FOLKS, A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WALKED UP TO ACTUALLY GET IT. SO IT ALWAYS TOUCHED ME WHEN I WOULD GO AROUND AND SERVE AND SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT FOLKS.

SHE HAD THE PEACEMAKERS OUT THERE SERVING.

SHE HAD PROFESSORS OUT THERE SERVING.

EVERYBODY WOULD COME AND HELP OUT AT THIS PANTRY.

SO TODAY I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME AND MOMENT TO HONOR YOU, WENDY, AS OUR CITIZEN OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] YEAH, YOU GET TO SPEAK.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESTIGE AWARD AND ALSO TO THE COUNTY.

RATHER SHY EVEN THOUGH I DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK, I'M BASICALLY A SHY PERSON, BUT OVER THE YEARS AND OVER THE YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN INTO BUFFALO, I MET A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THROUGH THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE MET, I'VE NOTICED THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IN, OF COURSE, THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, AND THAT WAS ONE OF MY PASSIONS AND THAT IS WHY I BECAME A FOSTER PARENT.

SO NOW I HAVE A GRANDSON OF MY OWN.

SO I GET TO NOURISH HIM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION.

CONGRATULATIONS, MISS ROGERS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

OKAY, CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, WE'LL NOW TURN TO PAGE FOUR AND GO TO THE LOCAL LAW SECTION, LOCAL LAW

[LOCAL LAWS]

ON TO COMMITTEE REPORTS REPORT NUMBER THREE FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

[COMMITTEE REPORTS]

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

PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

SECOND? SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR MILLS ON THE QUESTION.

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

REPORT NUMBER ONE OF THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS.

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

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER MEYERS; IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER TWO FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

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

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE REPORT IS APPROVED AND REPORT NUMBER ONE FROM THE COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

SECOND? SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, THE PORT IS THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

ONTO PAGE FIVE OF OUR AGENDA.

[LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS]

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

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

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

[00:10:03]

INTRO 5-2 FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS CALLING ON NEW YORK STATE TO CONTINUE SHARING FUNDS WITH ITS COUNTIES.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO CONSIDER.

THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO CONSIDER MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVED TO AMEND TO INCLUDE ET AL SPONSORSHIP.

PROPER MOTION TO AMEND TO MAKE ET ALL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM IS AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.

PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE IS AMENDED MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER SECONDED BY THE MINORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

INTRO 5-3 REGARDING THE REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE ERIE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND FARMLAND PROTECTION BOARD.

MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM THE COMMITTEE.

[COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE]

I MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 4E-16 FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

THIS IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH AURIGO SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES, INC..

THANK YOU, SIR. PROPER MOTION MADE BY MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 4E-16.

SECOND. PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR JOHNSON ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER DISCHARGES.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION TO 2E-3 FROM THE ENERGY ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.

THIS IS ERIE COUNTY SEWER DISTRICT NUMBER THREE [INAUDIBLE] AWTF BID OPENING.

PROPER MOTION TO DISCHARGE MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY THE MINORITY LEADER.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE BODY.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE TO AMEND COMMUNICATION 2E-3 WITH WHAT'S BEEN PASSED.

PROPER MOTION TO AMEND THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

SECOND? SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

THE ITEM IS AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 2E-3 AS AMENDED.

PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS AMENDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED. THE ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 4E-17 FROM THE ENERGY ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.

THIS IS FOR PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY.

SHELTER, REHABILITATION.

THANK YOU. PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

MAJORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MOVE TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 4E-17. SECOND.

PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

DID WE AMEND THAT ITEM? OH, THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

OKAY. CONTINUE--THAT'S THE LAST DISCHARGE? CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, THERE ARE NONE.

[COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS]

COMMUNICATION 5-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 5E-15 AS INDICATED.

ON TO PAGE SEVEN OF OUR AGENDA.

COMMUNICATION 5E-16 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 5E-23 AS INDICATED.

[COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS]

[COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES]

ON TO PAGE EIGHT OF YOUR AGENDA.

COMMUNICATION 5M-3 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 5M-6 AS INDICATED.

ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT OUR BIWEEKLY COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT THURSDAY, MARCH 16TH, AND THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AND THE NEXT FORMAL SESSION OF

[ANNOUNCEMENTS]

ALSO ON THURSDAY, MARCH 30TH, THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE CONDUCTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON LOCAL LAW INTRO 2-1.

[00:15:06]

IT WILL BE AT 6 P.M.

AND THIS PARTICULAR PUBLIC HEARING WILL NOT BE IN CHAMBERS.

THIS PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER ON ELMWOOD AVENUE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS? PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.

[MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS]

JUDGE, I MEAN, CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS REGARDING THE BUFFALO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE MEMBERS OF [INAUDIBLE].

I'VE HAD THE HONOR TO WORK FOR THEM FOR OVER SIX YEARS, AND IT IS TRUE THAT WHEN OTHERS RUN OUT, THEY DO RUN IN.

THESE PEOPLE PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK EVERY DAY TO SAVE LIVES, AND UNFORTUNATELY, FIREFIGHTER JASON [INAUDIBLE] PAID THE ULTIMATE COST.

I WILL SAY THAT IN THE LAST WEEK I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH SEVERAL FIREFIGHTERS, AND THEY'VE REALLY CIRCLED THE WAGONS AND THEY'RE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY.

I'VE SEEN IT BEFORE. THEY'LL BE THERE IN THE FUTURE TO HELP RAISE HIS DAUGHTER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FINANCIALLY SECURE, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS THE CITY OF BUFFALO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WITHOUT THEM, MANY MORE LIVES WOULD BE LOST.

THEY TRULY ARE GREAT AND TRULY ARE HEROES.

[INAUDIBLE] THE MEMORY OF JASON [INAUDIBLE] WELL SAID, LEGISLATOR.

ANY OTHER MEMBERS RESOLUTIONS? LEGISLATOR TODARO.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF [INAUDIBLE].

I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR. ANY OTHERS? OKAY, WE'LL TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE, FOR THOSE THAT HAVE GONE ON TO BE WITH THE LORD.

AMEN. MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. MOTION TO ADJOURN BY LEGISLATOR MEYERS.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR.

I'M SORRY. SECOND, MR. JOHNSON. ANY OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.