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WELCOME TO OUR FINAL WORK SESSION OF 2024.THIS IS OUR JOINT MEETING FOR SESSION NUMBER 23 OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.
WE WILL GO THROUGH OUR AGENDA FOR A MORE FORMAL SESSION AT 12 NOON TODAY.
TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR GREENE.
THERE ARE NO TABLED ITEMS, NO ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, AND THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, NUMBER 22 WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL.
THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS AT THIS TIME.
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 1 AND CONTINUED ON TO PAGE 2 AND CONTINUED ON TO PAGE 3 ARE AS INDICATED. LOCAL LAWS.
SORRY. LOCAL LAW INTRO 2-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING LOCAL LAW INTRO 7-1 AS INDICATED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS. REPORT NUMBER ONE FROM THE MINORITY AND WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE CHAIR DUPRE.
>> THANK YOU. REPORT NUMBER 13 FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE CHAIR DUPRE.
>> THANK YOU. REPORT NUMBER 17 FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE CHAIR GILMOUR.
>> REPORT NUMBER 15 FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE CHAIR KOOSHOIAN.
>> THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR RESOLUTION.
INTRO 23 -1 FROM LEGISLATOR MILLS AND MYERS, THE COMPROMISE OF SCHOOL TAXES PURSUANT TO THE ERIE COUNTY TAX ACT WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL TODAY.
INTRO 23 - 2 FROM LEGISLATOR GILMOUR, A REAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDING WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL TODAY.
INTRO 23 - 3 FROM LEGISLATOR DUPRE, A REAPPROPRIATION OF 2024 PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDING WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL TODAY.
INTRO 23 - 4 FROM LEGISLATOR DUPRE REGARDING AN ERIE COUNTY URBAN INITIATIVE PROGRAM.
LEGISLATOR DUPRE, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ON THIS ITEM?
>> YES. THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN.
I WILL BE PUTTING FORTH THE RESOLUTION FOR URBAN INITIATIVES TO BE PART OF THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD.
CITY RESIDENTS PAY THE SAME COUNTY SALES AND COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES AS SUBURBAN RESIDENTS DO.
BUT UNTIL URBAN INITIATIVES WERE INTRODUCED, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
SUBURBAN RESIDENTS COMMUTE TO THE CITY ON A DAILY BASIS FOR WORK, CONCERTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS, WHICH IMPACTS CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
TO BE CLEAR, THIS WILL NOT TAKE THE CITY OFF THE HOOK FOR THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY THE COUNTY THAT THE CITY OF BUFFALO IS THE COUNTY SEAT.
IT IS THE CORE OF OUR REGION AND ENSURING THAT URBAN INITIATIVES ARE A FEATURE OF ERIE COUNTY BUDGETS WILL ENSURE THAT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY REMAINS STRONG.
MY COLLEAGUES WHO REPRESENT THE CITY VOTE EVERY YEAR TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN SUBURBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING YOU TO MAKE THE SAME COMMITMENT TO PRIORITIZING URBAN AREAS AS WELL.
MAKING THIS A PART OF THE BUDGET HELPS OUR CITIES WITH LONG TERM PLANNING AND BUDGETING. THANK YOU.
THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN DOING URBAN INITIATIVES SINCE 2019.
A CONCEPT DEVELOPED BY FORMER LEGISLATOR HARDWICK AND MYSELF, THIS DEFINITELY BENEFITED THE CITIES.
I WON'T BE HERE TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION.
WE'LL SEND THIS TO FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.
BUT I DO ENCOURAGE OUR COLLEAGUES TO DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE. IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
THERE WAS A TIME WHERE I WAS LOOKING AT OLD BUDGETS.
OF COURSE, THERE AT THE TIME THERE WERE MORE LEGISLATORS WHO REPRESENTED THE CITY.
BUT THERE WAS A BUFFALO SNOW REMOVAL FUND IN A ERIE COUNTY BUDGET FROM YEARS AGO.
IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT OVER THE YEARS AS WE DECREASE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THIS BODY, WE'VE DECREASED SERVICES TO THE THREE CITIES.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNTY HELP AND SUPPORT THE CITIES AS WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SO GOOD WORK LEGISLATOR, AND I WISH YOU WELL WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
>> INTRO 23 - 5 FROM LEGISLATOR BASKIN, A REAPPROPRIATION OF 2023 - 2024 PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDING WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL.
COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE.
COMMUNICATION 15E-5 FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REGARDING SEWER DISTRICT NUMBERS 1 - 6 AND 8, 2025 CHARGES.
WE HAVE JOE FIEGL HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
>> GOOD MORNING. WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS
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AMENDMENT AND SUBSEQUENT APPROVAL FOR THIS ACTION.NOW THAT THE PASSAGE OF THE 2025 BUDGET IS INCURRED BY THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, WE CAN LOCK IN THE USER CHARGES FOR THE SEWER DISTRICTS AS WERE PROPOSED, SO WE HAVE THIS FINAL RESOLUTION THAT WE PASS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
>> NICE. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS? THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR AMENDMENT AND APPROVAL.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MR. FIEGL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, SUSPENSION OF THE RULES.
THERE ARE NONE AT THIS TIME. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIAL.
COMMUNICATION 23E-1 AND COMMUNICATION 23E-2 AS INDICATED, CONTINUING ON COMMUNICATION 23E-3 AND COMMUNICATION 23E-4 AS INDICATED.
COMMUNICATIONS 23E-5 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 23E-8.
THESE ITEMS ARE ALL UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION, AND WE HAVE DIRECTOR BILSKI FROM REAL PROPERTY TAX HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS. GOOD MORNING, SIR.
THE FOUR RESOLUTIONS ARE THE NORMAL RESOLUTIONS THAT WE'D HAVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR AS THEY RELATE TO THE PASSAGE OF THE ERIE COUNTY BUDGET.
THE FIRST ONE ALLOWS FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE MALL DISTRICT SERVICE CHARGE ROLE.
THE SECOND ONE ALLOWS FOR THE SECTION 520 EXEMPTION CHARGES.
THE THIRD IS FOR THE LEVY OF THE TOWN AND SPECIAL DISTRICT BUDGETS, AND THE FOURTH AND FINAL WOULD BE FOR THE LEVY AND APPORTIONMENT OF THE ERIE COUNTY REAL PROPERTY TAX ITSELF.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS? LEGISLATOR VINAL.
>> THIS IS A QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THE SENIOR.
YOU'RE DOING ALL THESE NOW BECAUSE YOU HEAR FROM THE TOWNS, THEIR FINAL LEVY AND SO FORTH, AND YOU'RE PUTTING ALL THAT TOGETHER.
TO GET THE NEW ONE, THIS INCLUDES ALL THE SENIOR EXEMPTIONS ON THE OLD SYSTEM?
>> BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEW SYSTEM.
THIS WOULD BE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE EXEMPTIONS THAT WERE IN PLACE AS OF 2024, YES.
>> THEN DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY POSSIBILITY THAT THERE COULD BE SOME HELP FROM THE COUNTY FOR STAFFING FOR THE TOWNS? AMHERST, THEY SAID IT WOULD GO UP BY AT LEAST 3.5 TIMES THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBILITY.
>> PRESENTLY WITHOUT TALKING AND GETTING INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THE COUNTY WIDE ASSESSING PROGRAM THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF TALKING WITH A FEW MUNICIPALITIES ABOUT, WE DO NOT HAVE THE STAFF IN MY OFFICE TO HAVE THAT OUTREACH.
WE DO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE ASSESSORS.
HOWEVER, FOR ADDITIONAL STAFFING, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF VACANCIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FILL RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THESE ITEMS WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION DURING SESSION.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, DIRECTOR BILSKI.
CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, COMMUNICATION 23E-9 FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REGARDING SEWER DISTRICT ASSESSMENT ROLES, 2025 LEVY.
>> AGAIN, ANOTHER RESOLUTION WE PASSED ANNUALLY.
THIS ONE FOR THE ASSESSMENT RULES FOR THE SEWER DISTRICTS.
WE HELD A PUBLIC HEARING LAST MONTH.
THERE WERE NO COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION.
NEXT STEP UNDER ARTICLE 58 OF COUNTY LAW IS TO PASS THE ASSESSMENT RULES.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS? HEARING NONE, THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU AGAIN, JOE.
COMMUNICATION 23E-10 AS INDICATED, COMMUNICATION 23E-11, NEW YORK STATE DOT PUBLIC UTILITY WORK AGREEMENTS FOR 2025. JOE?
>> YEAH. WHEN THE DOT GOES THROUGH WITH A PROJECT, THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES WHERE THEY NEED TO PERFORM CERTAIN WORK ON OUR SEWER ASSETS, ADJUSTING MANHOLE FRAME COVERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
FOR THEM TO DO THAT AT NO COST FOR THE COUNTY, WE NEED TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT THE STATE ASKED THAT WE PASS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
>> ANY QUESTION? HEARING NONE, THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, SIR.
COMMUNICATION 23E-12 FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REGARDING AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL DESIGN ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT AT BORDEN ROAD.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER HOAK IS HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AS WELL AS COMMUNICATION 23E-13, 14 AND 15.
GOOD MORNING, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IS REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO OUR AGREEMENT WITH BERGMAN ASSOCIATES FOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE REHABILITATION OF BORDEN ROAD.
BORDEN ROAD IS CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION FOR PHASE 2.
THIS IS ASKING FOR DESIGN FUNDING FOR PHASE 3 AND AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT.
FUNDING FOR THIS AMENDMENT IS NOT TO EXCEED $41,300.
THIS IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THERE'S ADDITIONAL WORK THAT'S BEEN
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IDENTIFIED THAT INCLUDES RIGHT AWAY INCIDENTALS, A PERMANENT EASEMENT THAT IS REQUIRED FOR ACCESS AND MAINTENANCE OF A DRAINAGE DITCH THAT'S ALONG BORDEN ROAD, SOUTH OF BUFFALO CREEK, AND ALSO INCLUDES VIDEO INSPECTION AND CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF THE CONCRETE STORM SEWER, SOUTH OF CLINTON STREET ON BORDEN ROAD.UPON APPROVAL, WE CAN EXECUTE THIS AMENDMENT AND THEY CAN CONTINUE ON WITH THE REQUIRED DESIGN SO WE CAN MOVE INTO PHASE 3.
>> ON THE QUESTION, LEGISLATOR VINAL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> SOMEONE ASKED ME LAST NIGHT, HOW LONG DO YOU ESTIMATE THE NEW ROAD PROJECT WILL BE?
>> CURRENTLY PHASE 2 WENT INTO CONSTRUCTION THIS FALL.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE TALK ABOUT THAT START A LITTLE BIT LATER BECAUSE WE WERE WAITING FOR THE FABRICATION OF THE DRAINAGE STRUCTURES.
IT'S CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL BE FINISHING NEXT YEAR, AND THEN WE CAN BID IN THE SPRING AND LIKELY PHASE 3 WILL BE STARTING IN THE FALL BASED ON THE BID AND THE DRAINAGE STRUCTURES COMING IN FOR THAT PHASE OF IT.
>> WHAT'S PHASE 3, THE SURFACE?
>> PHASE 3 IS THE THIRD SECTION OF IT.
PHASE 3 HAS BETWEEN, I'VE GOT IT HERE.
THIS IS THE PORTION THAT'S IN CHEEKTOWAGA AND SENECA.
PHASE 3 WOULD BE COMPLETE EARLY 2026.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? LEGISLATOR LORIGO?
>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTIONS.
ONE WAS THE SECTION WHERE SENECA GOING TO GET STARTED? HOW MANY PHASES ARE IN THIS PROJECT?
>> PHASE 3 IS THE FINAL PHASE.
>> LEGISLATOR TODARO, ALL SET.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, CONTRACTS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING SERVICES, SANDERS HILL RIDGE ROAD.
>> WE'RE REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, WHICH IS UNION CONCRETE AND CONSTRUCTION, AND ALSO TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH THE DESIGN FIRM, DIDONATO ASSOCIATES.
THEY'RE THE EXISTING DESIGN FIRM THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN REWARDED AN INITIAL DESIGN.
THIS WILL BE FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION FOR SANDERS HILL ROAD BRIDGE OVER HUNTER'S CREEK.
THIS IS LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF HOLLAND.
IT'S A TOTAL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT.
THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IS $1,650,000.
THIS IS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION PHASE ENGINEERING AND FOR INSPECTION ON THIS PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT WOULD BEGIN EARLY NEXT YEAR AND WOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 2025.
>> ON THE QUESTION? HEARING NONE, THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
CONTRACTS FOR CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING SERVICES, MARYVALE DRIVE.
>> THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IS LOOKING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH LABELLA ASSOCIATES.
THIS BID WAS OPEN. THE APPARENT LOW BIDDER FOR THIS PROJECT IS NOVA SITE CONTRACTING.
WE'RE REQUESTING TO AWARD THEM THIS CONTRACT.
THIS IS FROM MARYVALE DRIVE, FROM BEACH ROAD TO CAYUGA ROAD, AND CHEEKTOWAGA.
THIS PROJECT WOULD START NEXT YEAR AND IT IS ESSENTIALLY ANOTHER DRAINAGE PAVEMENT RESERVICING PROJECT THAT WOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
>> ON THE QUESTION? LEGISLATOR, LORIGO.
>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. THE BID IN HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE 4.3 MILLION DOLLAR, BUT THE REQUEST IN THIS RESOLUTION IS OVER $7 MILLION FOR CONTINGENCY OF $400,000, WHAT IS THE DISCREPANCY WITH IT?
>> THE INITIAL ESTIMATE BEFORE THE BIDS WERE OPEN WAS FOR THE 7.8, AND THE BIDS CAME IN AT SUCH A WIDE RANGE.
THE ESTIMATE IS JUST THE ESTIMATE.
ALTHOUGH THIS ONE WAS FOR $4.3, WE DID RECEIVE BIDS THAT WERE AS HIGH AS $5.9.
IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, WE WOULD USE ANY OF THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR ANYTHING THAT CAME UP IN THE CONTRACT IF THERE WAS A DRAINAGE OR SANITARY CONFLICT, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD GO BACK IF WE DIDN'T USE THE WHOLE AMOUNT.
>> THAT'S JUST A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
I WOULD BE PUTTING INTO THE RESOLUTION THIS $3 MILLION MORE ROUGHLY THAN THE BID IS, I THINK WE SHOULD AMEND THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY OVERAGES, JUST LIKE WE USUALLY DO, YOU GUYS COME BACK HERE AND WE FIGURE IT OUT.
I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE THAN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER BUDGETING THIS PROJECT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WAS JUST PUT INTO THE RESOLUTION.
>> THE BIDS SOMETIMES THEY COME IN HIGHER, SOMETIMES THEY COME LOWER, THIS ONE CERTAINLY HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A GAP AS FAR AS HOW LOW THEY DID COME IN, AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GIVEN TO THE TIME HERE THAT WE'RE BIDDING AND THE APPETITE FOR WORK FROM CONTRACTORS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A LOWER BID.
BUT LIKE I SAID, GIVEN SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS AND NOT KNOWING WHAT CONFLICTS WE MIGHT SEE IN INFRASTRUCTURE CONFLICTS, WE MAY NEED TO USE AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT.
THE IDEA THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO USE THE 4.3 SOMETIMES THERE EXTRAS IN THE PROJECT THAT ARE UNFORESEEN UNTIL THE PROJECT BEGINS.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE HAVE 4.3 IT IS THE BID THAT WE RECEIVED, THEN ORIGINALLY WE HAVE $7 MILLION HERE ON CONTINGENCY FOR $400,000.
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IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE BID IN THE RESOLUTIONS.WE'RE AUTHORIZING A LOT MORE MONEY THAN THE BID CAME IN.
CAN WE AMEND THIS RESOLUTION AND GET IT TO REFLECT THE BID THAT CAME IN? YOU GUYS SAID THAT YOU RECEIVED THE BIDS ON THE 1ST AND THIS WAS SUBMITTED ON THE 13TH.
YOU GUYS HAD THE BID AT THAT POINT.
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH AUTHORIZING SO MUCH MORE IN A RESOLUTION THAN IT IS ACTUALLY REFLECTED IN THE BID BECAUSE THEN IT'S $3 MILLION OVER.
WHY ARE WE PUTTING TOWARDS THIS PROJECT? I UNDERSTAND THINGS GO POOF, BUT ISN'T THAT WHAT THE CONTINGENCY SHOULD BE FOR?
>> ISN'T THAT WHAT THE CONTINGENCY SHOULD BE FOR?
>> THE CONTINGENCY, YEAH, IS GENERALLY 10% OF THAT.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING AMENDING IT TO THE EXACT AMOUNT THAT THE BID IS FOR?
BECAUSE THE $7 MILLION DOESN'T REFLECT WHAT THE BID IS, AND THEN THIS $400,000 I'M GUESSING IS BASED OFF THE $7 MILLION.
BUT IF THE BID IS COMING IN AT $4 MILLION, WE HAVE IN THE RESOLUTION $7 MILLION, AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER CONTINGENCY OF $400,000, WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY OVER ALLOCATING THIS PROJECT.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE THAT AMENDMENT IF WE HAVE SUPPORT FOR THAT JUST SO IT REFLECTS WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN FRONT OF US.
>> TO THE EXACT BID AMOUNT? I THINK THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY BE HARD PRESSED IF THERE ARE ANY EXTRA AND IT DOES GO A LITTLE BIT OVER, THEN WE'D HAVE MAYBE A DELAY DURING CONSTRUCTION.
>> BUT THERE'S STILL A CONTINGENCY.
CONTINGENCY WOULD STILL BE COLLECTED. THAT'S WHAT IT'S USUALLY DONE.
THAT'S WHY JUST THAT SEVEN MILLION DOESN'T REFLECT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OTHER SUPPORT IF I CAN TURN OVER.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT BIDS, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS.
IT IS LIKE GET RID OF NAIL GEL ON THE WALL.
IN THIS CASE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT SOME REALLY NICE BIDS.
I ALSO DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN TOO LOW BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW THESE THINGS WORK.
MY CONCERN IS, IF WE STAY AT THE 7.8 OR WHATEVER IT IS, THE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE THOSE OVERRIDES.
BUT IF WE MAYBE GO TO A MORE PALATABLE NUMBER, WHICH STILL HAS SOME CONTINGENCY IN THERE, MAYBE AROUND FIVE MILLION, IS THERE A DOWNSIDE TO THAT?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CONTRACTOR WOULD BE ADDING AN EXTRA SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ORIGINAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED.
I GUESS MY CONCERN FROM THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF FACTORS THAT HAVE THE FINAL COST FLUCTUATING AND A LOT OF THEM ARE IDENTIFIED WHEN THEY GET INTO CONSTRUCTION.
WE'VE SEEN IT ON OTHER PROJECTS.
TO IMMEDIATELY RESTRICT THAT WITHOUT BEING IN CONSTRUCTION MIGHT CAUSE DELAYS.
COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE SOME DELAYS FOR US.
>> WHICH IS WHY WE PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA FUND ROOM BEYOND THE CONTINGENCY HERE AT FIVE MILLION.
>> THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION FOR ME.
I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE CURBED THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE TO MEET THE EXACT BID AMOUNT.
I'M NOT REALLY CERTAIN WHAT CHALLENGES COULD BE PRESENTED WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE PROJECT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN IT STARTS.
>> LEGISLATIVE [INAUDIBLE], DID YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS?
>> COMMISSION, JUST TO CLARIFY A FEW THINGS.
THE BID WAS SENT OUT AT ESTIMATED SEVEN MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE BID SPECS WERE SENT OUT AT SEVEN MILLION, IT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE.
IT'S A STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR EVERY CONTRACT.
FOR YOU TO AMEND IT, IT CAME BACK AT FOUR POINT WHATEVER IT WAS.
>> THE LOWEST CAME BACK AT 4.3.
THE HIGHEST BID CAME BACK AT 5.9.
>> [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE FOUR POINT. THAT'S A POSITIVE.
FIRST OF ALL, LET'S CLARIFY THAT. IT'S A POSITIVE.
WE ESTIMATE SEVEN CAME BACK AT FOUR. THAT'S A POSITIVE.
I'M NOT SURE LEGALLY YOU CAN CHANGE IT BECAUSE YOU SENT OUT A BID PACKAGE AT SEVEN.
WHATEVER THE BIDS COME BACK AT IS WHAT THEY COME BACK AT.
IF THEY WERE OVER YOUR SEVEN, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE.
BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.
I DON'T SEE THE POINT IN AMENDING WHAT THE BID IS.
THE BID'S FOUR MILLION WITH THE 400,000.
>> WELL, THE OTHER CONCERN THAT I WOULD BRING UP IN THE BID PROCESS.
WE DID JUST OPEN THESE DECEMBER 5, AND SO WHEN WE SAY THIS IS THE APPARENT LOAD BIDDER, THERE'S A LEGAL PROCESS.
THERE'S A TIMETABLE OF WHEN WE HAVE UNTIL AWARD.
THIS HAS GOT TO GO THROUGH EEO, THIS HAS GOT TO GO THROUGH LEGAL.
THIS DOESN'T TYPICALLY HAPPEN,
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BUT IF FOR SOME REASON WE HAVE TO MOVE TO ANOTHER BIDDER, THEN THAT PRICE CHANGES.IT JUST WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT RESTRICTING AND AMENDING MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO SOON TO DO THAT UNTIL THIS PROCESS IS [OVERLAPPING]
>> [OVERLAPPING] SURE YOU COULD DO IT BIGGER BECAUSE YOU SENT OUT THE BID WITH THE ESTIMATED WAY.
I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY, WHAT'S THE POINT? THE BID'S FOUR MILLION. IT WAS JUST AN ESTIMATE.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THE 7.9 WAS ON THE ACTUAL BID.
>> THE BID IS SET WHAT WE THEORETICALLY BUDGETED FOR.
IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHEN THE BID PACKAGES COME OUT TO THE CONTRACTORS, THEY INCLUDED THAT WITHIN THE BANK PACKAGES TO THE CONTRACTOR.
THAT'S THE STANDARD PROCEDURE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR POINT IS.
WHAT'S THE POINT OF CHANGING THE ESTIMATE?
>> IT APPEARS THAT WE'RE SEVERELY OVER BUDGETING FOR THIS PROJECT.
WE ESTIMATED IT WOULD BE SEVEN MILLION, IT CAME BACK FOUR.
THAT'S HOW YOU WANT EVERY BID TO COME BACK. UNDER BUDGET.
WE HAVE $3 MILLION SITTING THERE FOR THIS PROJECT.
>> BUT IT'S NOT MONEY SPENT. WE'RE NOT SPENDING THAT.
>> WHERE DOES IT GO? IS MY QUESTION.
>> IS THIS A BONDED PROJECT? COMMISSIONER, ARE WE BONDING THIS OR DOING THIS OUT OF BUDGET? ARE WE BONDING THE SEVEN?
>> SURE. NO, COMMISSIONER, I UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS.
WE BOND THE SEVEN MILLION AND YOU ONLY USE THREE, IT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE. IT'S NOT USED.
>> BUT THEN WE [INAUDIBLE] MONEY
>> NO, WE DON'T BORROW. WE DON'T WITHDRAW THE MONEY FROM THE BOND, AND WE DON'T USE THE BOND.
SO IF YOU BOND SEVEN AND YOU USE THREE, WE ONLY GET CHARGED THE THREE.
>> I'M LOOKING AT THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE THIS ABOUT HUNTER'S CREEK.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE BIDS CAME IN, HOW MUCH CLOSER IT IS TO THE ACTUAL AMOUNT THAT WAS BID OUT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY PASSING A RESOLUTION FOR.
THEN TO SEE THE NEXT RESOLUTION WHERE WE HAVE A BID FOR $4 MILLION, THEN WE'RE AUTHORIZING $7 MILLION.
>> WELL, WE'RE NOT AUTHORIZING THE SEVEN MILLION FOR THIS ONE.
THIS IS SHOWING THE FUNDING THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATE, BUT THE BID CAME OUT AT 4.3.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR, IS WHAT THE APPARENT LOW BIDDER IS COMING OUT.
>> WE'LL PUT THIS ITEM UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT, SLOPE STABILIZATION OF NORTH FOREST ROAD.
>> EXCUSE ME. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IS SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DESIGN FIRM, GREENMAN PETERSON INCORPORATED, GPI, TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT CONTINGENCY.
THE CONTRACT AND CONTINGENCY ARE FOR THE SLOPE STABILIZATION OF NORTH FOREST ROAD.
THIS IS ALONG THE STREAM BANK OF ELLICOTT CREEK, AND THE TOWN OF AMHERST.
PARDON, I'M SORRY. THIS PROJECT IS NECESSARY TO ADVANCE THE DESIGN, THE SLOPE STABILIZATION ON NORTH FOREST ROAD, AND THIS STREAM BIT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN THAT AREA FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
THIS FUNDING IS INCLUSIVE OF DESIGN, RIGHT AWAY ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION.
IT'S BEEN MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH A FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT.
THE ENTIRE COST OF THE PROJECT IS 1.6 MILLION.
THIS IS FOR THE DESIGN WORK FOR GPI TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT FUNDING.
>> ANY QUESTION? THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
>> IS IT THE ENTIRE PORTION OF NORTH FOREST THAT'S ADJACENT TO THE CREEK?
>> NO. THIS WOULD BE FOR A SPECIFIC AREA ON NORTH FOREST.
>> DOES IT STAY IN THE VICINITY OF STONE ROAD? HOW LONG IS THAT? WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN THE VICINITY OF STONE ROAD? JUST RIGHT AROUND THAT INTERSECTION?
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, COMMUNICATION 23 E-16.
THIS IS UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION, CONVENIENCE OF SANDRIDGE WATER TANK.
COMMISSIONER GARY. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER GARY.
>> GOOD MORNING, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG ARDUOUS PROCESS THE SANDRIDGE WATER TOWER IN THE TOWN OF ALDEN.
BACK IN 1984, THE ERIE COUNTY AND ERIE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO PUT A WATER TOWER IN ALONG WITH SOME WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE TOWN OF ALDEN.
PRIMARY PURPOSE IN THE BEGINNING WAS TO FEED THE WENDY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND THE ERIE COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
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WE'VE BEEN IN A LEASE MANAGE AGREEMENT WITH THE ERIE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY SINCE THEN.EVERY FIVE YEARS, WATER TOWERS ARE INSPECTED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THERE'S ALWAYS LITTLE ITEMS. THIS NOW BEING 40-YEARS-OLD, THERE WAS SOME PAINTING ON THE EXTERIOR AND SOME SAFETY STUFF WITH THE LADDERS AND RAILS ON THE WATER TOWER.
THE ESTIMATE WAS ABOUT $2.5 MILLION.
IN 2020, WE WERE GOING TO ENTER INTO A CAPITAL PROJECT TO DO THAT AS A COUNTY FACILITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WORLD STOPPED OBVIOUSLY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
COMING IN FULL CIRCLE NOW WITH ARP FUNDING AND SOME GREAT NEGOTIATIONS BY OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, KRISTIN WALDER.
THE COUNTY ONLY HAS TO USE $1 MILLION.
TURN IT BACK TO ERIE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY, AND IT'S NO LONGER AN ERIE COUNTY ASSET, IT'S GOING TO BE SOLELY ERIE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY'S WATER TOWER AFTER COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.
UPDATE ON THE BIDS TO ERIE COUNTY WATER DID THE DESIGN AND BIDDING RECENTLY.
THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER CAME IN ABOUT 1.9 MILLION, THAT TWO OTHER BIDS, 3.4 AND 3.8 MILLION.
THAT WORK IS GOING TO BEGIN THROUGH THE WINTER.
THEN ONCE THE TRANSFER OF MONEY AND THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE, IT'S NOW IN ERIE COUNTY WATER ASSET NO LONGER WITH THE ERIE COUNTY, ALONG WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GOES WITH IT.
>> ANY QUESTION? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS SERVICE TO ERIE COUNTY, COMMISSIONER GARY. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
COMMUNICATION 23 E-2017 AND COMMUNICATION 23 E-18. GOOD MORNING, TRACY.
>> MORNING, CHAIRWOMAN. MORNING LEGISLATORS.
I'M HERE BEFORE THIS HONORABLE BODY REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER IN A CONTRACT WITH MORRIS MASONRY RESTORATION LLC.
THEY WERE THE LOWEST RESPONSIBILITY ON THE BUFFALO IN ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, INTERIOR MARBLE COLUMNS REHAB AND MISCELLANEOUS REPAIRS PROJECT.
SCOPE OF WORK WILL INCLUDE RECONFIGURATION OF THE EXISTING MARBLE COLUMN BASES AND READHERING THE ACTUAL MARBLE SLABS.
IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE REPAIR OF A DOORWAY ON CLINTON STREET THAT WAS DAMAGED BY WATER AND RESEALING, ONCE THE WEATHER CHANGES.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE RAILING REPAIR ON OAK STREET, AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURAL BASES, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE INSTALLING A POLAR TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE THAT WAS DAMAGED BY A CAR ACCIDENT.
TOTAL COST SERVICE CONTRACT AWARD IS $160,000, WHICH INCLUDES A CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENCY OF $22,123.
>> THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. ANY QUESTIONS? THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, TRACY.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
THANK YOU. COMMUNICATION 23 E-18, INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES GRANT.
THIS ITEM IS UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
WE HAVE KRISTIN WALDER HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
YOU HAVE THE NEXT THREE ITEMS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] HAPPY HOLIDAYS. YOU JUST PRESS THAT BUTTON IN THE MIDDLE OF OVER THERE, THE ONE [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU.
THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU REQUESTS AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES, TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,910,255.
THIS IS FOR DISTRIBUTION NUMBER 14.
IN ADDITION, THE RESOLUTION REQUESTS AUTHORIZATION TO SUBCONTRACT WITH ERIE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATIONS AID TO INDIGENT PRISONER SOCIETY AND THE LEGAL AID BUREAU OF BUFFALO TO DELIVER THE SERVICES THROUGH THE GRANT FROM NEW YORK STATE.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. LEGISLATIVE [INAUDIBLE]
>> WITH THE HIGHER LIMITS LEGALLY FOR ELIGIBILITY, WHAT EFFORTS ARE MADE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE? BECAUSE I KNOW THE LAWYERS SOMETIMES ONCE THEY GET IT, THEY DON'T ADDRESS ELIGIBILITY.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT, THE ORGANIZATIONS WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER IT.
THIS IS JUST TO APPROVE THE FUNDING
[00:30:03]
FROM NEW YORK STATE TO TRANSFER IT TO THE TWO BODIES.I THINK WE'VE ADDRESSED THIS IN THE PAST, AND MAYBE MICHELLE PARKER HAS COME IN TO TALK ABOUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE THAT'S GIVEN BY THE ATTORNEYS TO THE POTENTIAL CLIENTS OR DEFENDANTS AT THE TIME OF REPRESENTATION.
BUT I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE SPECIFICS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT OUR DEPARTMENT WHO HANDLES THEM.
>> IS THERE ANY ACCOUNT, LIKE ANY AUDITING AS FAR AS THE SEE ABOUT ELIGIBILITY AND THE AMOUNT OF THE LEGAL BILLS, THAT THEY'RE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AMOUNT OF THE WORK, OR WHATEVER? THE [INAUDIBLE] PARTS ON THE ELIGIBILITY THAT THE PEOPLE GETTING THE FREE SERVICES ARE REALLY ELIGIBLE AND THAT THE CHARGES FOR IT ARE WITHIN BOUNDS.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING FOR THE ELIGIBILITY COMPONENT IS THAT BOTH ORGANIZATIONS DO HAVE THE POTENTIAL CLIENTS FILL OUT ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONNAIRES AT THE TIME, EITHER OF ARRAIGNMENT OR POST ARRAIGNMENT, TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY.
THEN ON THE BACKEND, AS PART OF THESE GRANT AGREEMENTS, WE ENTER INTO THE SUBCONTRACTS WITH THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND BEING ASSIGNED COUNSEL AND LEGAL AID.
THAT IS PART OF THOSE SUBCONTRACTS, WE DO HAVE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WHERE IT'S USUALLY ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, BOTH ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE QUARTERLY REPORTS AS TO HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT, WHICH IS ALSO SHARED WITH ILS AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHICH, HELPS TRACK HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT, HOPEFULLY APPROPRIATELY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
>> I MEAN, DOES ANYBODY LOOK AT IT MORE LIKE, WHEN YOU GIVE A BILL TO A REGULAR CLIENT, THAT THEY LOOK AT IT AND SOMETIMES QUESTION IT OR WHATEVER.
I JUST WONDERED IF ANYONE, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT LIST OF HOW MUCH INDIVIDUAL CASES THAT THERE WAS SUCH LARGE AMOUNTS ON SOME WITH WEIGHTLESS EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS VERSUS CLIENT PUT INTO THE TRIAL THEMSELVES.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE MONITORS IT AT ALL.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE MONITORED BY THE ORGANIZATIONS THEMSELVES.
I WILL SAY FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE, JUST IN THIS PAST BUDGET CYCLE, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WE'VE HIRED AN ACCOUNTANT IN OUR OFFICE.
BUT WE DO HAVE AN ACCOUNTANT ON STAFF NOW WHO IS MONITORING THE REPORTING.
ADDITIONALLY, WE DO HAVE A WORKING GROUP RIGHT NOW THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE FUNDING AND HOW REPRESENTATION IS BEING PROVIDED AND THE MONEY IS FLOWING, AND I CAN SAY THAT.
I KNOW THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE ONGOING RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S TWO LEGISLATORS THAT ARE PART OF THE COMMITTEE, AND THAT IS AN ONGOING PROCESS AT THIS TIME.
>> IS THAT PROCESS PART OF DECIDING WHETHER WE'LL GO TO A PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE?
>> THERE'S NO DECISION MADE ON IT YET?
>> DO YOU THINK THE DECISION WILL BE MADE BEFORE THE END OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION'S TERM?
>> I WOULD IMAGINE SO, BUT I'M NOT THE CHAIRPERSON OF THAT COMMITTEE, SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THEM.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM, MISS WALDER, COMMUNICATION 23 E-19.
AGAIN, THIS RESOLUTION IS A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THAT THE LEGISLATURE AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,461,972.83.
>> ILS HAS MADE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ERIE COUNTY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION PROVIDED TO INDIGENT CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE HURRELL-HARRING SETTLEMENT REFORMS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? KRISTIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE IN THE ERIE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
APPRECIATE IT. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU HAPPY HOLIDAY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
>> CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, COMMUNICATION 23E-20 FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REGARDING DECALS AND THE COUNTY CEO REP ON THE SENIOR GOING PLACES VAN.
COMMISSIONER ANGELA [INAUDIBLE] IS HERE TO SPEAK, GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER.
[00:35:05]
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, LEGISLATURE.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SENIOR SERVICES, SEEKING APPROVAL TO PAY $9,600 TO APEX GRAPHICS FOR THE WRAPPING OF THREE NEW MINIVANS FOR OUR GOING PLACES TRANSPORTATION FLEET.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COMMISSIONER, WHAT HAPPENED HERE? IT SEEMS LIKE THE WAY AT LEAST THE EXPLANATIONS ARE WRITTEN, THAT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WERE KNOWN AND JUST NOT FOLLOWED.
IS THAT AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED?
>> I DON'T WANT TO SAY THEY WERE KNOWN AND NOT FOLLOWED.
WE HAVE A NEW PROJECT COORDINATOR IN THE TRANSPORTATION THING.
APEX GRAPHICS HAS LONG HELD THE CONTRACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SENIOR SERVICES FOR WRAPPING.
BUT WE HAVEN'T, AS YOU ALL KNOW, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET NEW VEHICLES IN SEVERAL YEARS.
THE PROJECT COORDINATOR WAS UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE STILL UNDER CONTRACT WHEN HE SENT THEM OVER FOR WRAPPING.
WHEN THE PO CAME IN, IS WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING, HE HAD NEVER GONE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE STEPS TO SEND IT DOWNSTAIRS BEYOND THAT, AND SO HE SENT IT OUT.
WHEN THEY CAME BACK IT WAS THAT THERE IS NO LONGER A [INAUDIBLE] TRACK.
WE NEED A NEW BID, AND THAT'S WHEN WE REALIZED BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO THREE VANS, IT WENT ABOVE THE $5,000, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE OVER HERE SEEKING THIS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AN ERROR ON MY DEPARTMENT.
WE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THIS. I SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THIS MYSELF.
BUT WE WERE UNDER A MISUNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS STILL AN ONGOING CONTRACT THAT HAD EXPIRED DURING THE TIME THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE VANS FOR WRAPPING.
IN ADDITION, WHAT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS ONE IS THAT THESE ARE THE FIRST THREE VANS OF THIS BODY TYPE THAT WE'RE WRAPPING.
APEX HAD DESIGNED NEW GRAPHICS TO GO ON THE MINI VAN.
BECAUSE OF THAT ONGOING COMMUNICATION, THE PROJECT COORDINATOR HAD UNDERSTOOD THIS THAT WE WERE MOVING FORWARD INSTEAD OF GETTING WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS THE THREE ESTIMATES GOES DOWN TO PURCHASING OUT FOR INFORMAL BID, AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE ERROR HAPPENED. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, LEGISLATOR [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU FOR OWNING THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT [INAUDIBLE].
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I DO JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS THAT THE LAST WES CLAUSE OF THIS RESOLUTION, I KNOW IT'S THE RESULTS THAT ARE ACTIONABLE.
THE LAST WES CLAUSE, IT DOES A BIT OF A JOB OVER EXPLAINING WHY THE LEGISLATURE WAS DIVERTED, SAYING IT WOULD BE INEFFICIENT.
WHOEVER IS THE PROJECT MANAGER, I THINK IT'S REALLY CLEAR THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PROJECT MANAGERS IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS HONORABLE BODY NEEDS TO BE RESPECTED AS THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF GOVERNMENT AND THAT WHETHER IT'S INEFFICIENT OR NOT IT IS THE PROCESS AND IT IS THE LAW, IF YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING IT, I HOPE THAT THIS IS AN ANOMALY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS. THIS IS NOT THE WAY THAT WE OPERATE.
THIS HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF OUR OWN FRUSTRATION AND EMBARRASSMENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ONE ABOUT THESE MINIVANS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE AWESOME, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE WONDERFUL.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME DIFFICULTIES IN THE EXPENSES OF MAINTAINING THE LARGER VANS, WHICH IS ON THE MUNICIPAL ENTITIES WHEN THEY'RE HOLDING THE VAN.
WE'RE HOPING THAT THE MINIVANS WILL BE EASIER.
THIS IS JUST BROUGHT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THIS ISN'T HOW WE OPERATE, AND WE DO FULLY RESPECT THE LEGISLATURE AND WE RESPECT ALL THE SUPPORT AND REALLY HELP THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US TO PUT FORWARD THESE IDEAS AND GO FORWARD WITH HELPING OUR OLDER ADULT POPULATION.
I'M SORRY IT HAPPENED THIS WAY, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE DEPARTMENT WE'VE ALL TALKED IT THROUGH.
WE'VE ADDED ANOTHER SAFEGUARD IN OUR OWN PROCESSING BEFORE WE GO FORWARD, JUST BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AND WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED.
I DON'T WANT IT TO EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
IT HASN'T HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY THAT I'VE BEEN COMMISSIONER, BUT THE WAY THAT I SEE IT IN THE DEPARTMENT AND AS BEING THE COMMISSIONER, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE MAKE A MISTAKE THAT WE LOOK AT HOW WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, AND WE ALWAYS INTEND TO FOLLOW THE PROCESSES EVEN WHEN WE MAKE THE MISTAKE.
>> APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> ANY OTHERS? LEGISLATOR TODARO.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. COMMISSIONER, I'M NOT PICKING AT YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, AND TRY TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THIS BODY CAN IMPROVE ON A PROCESS.
I KNOW YOU DON'T SPEAK FOR OTHER DIVISIONS.
IS THERE A MASTER LIST OF VENDORS THAT ARE APPROVED? DO YOU LOG IN TO SEE A LIVE LIST, OR DO YOU GET AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR? HERE'S YOUR APPROVED MASTER LIST JUST SO I HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING.
MOVING FORWARD, EVERYONE MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN APPROVE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I AGAIN, CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
BUT WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SENIOR SERVICES WHEN WE HAVE A ONE OFF TYPE THING LIKE THIS IS WE LOOK FOR THREE ESTIMATES OF COMMUNITY VENDORS THAT WOULD OFFER SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
[00:40:08]
WE DON'T HAVE A VENDOR THAT DOES THESE DETAILS.APEX GRAPHICS HAD BEEN UNDER THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT WITH SENIOR SERVICES.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER VEHICLES THAT GO THIS WAY, BUT WE DO SOMETIMES IF WE NEED MAINTENANCE OR THINGS WILL REACH OUT TO FLEET, AND THEY HAVE AN APPROVED LIST OF VENDORS THAT WAY.
WE TYPICALLY GET THREE ESTIMATES FROM ANY VENDORS, WE SEND THOSE DOWN TO PURCHASING.
PURCHASING REVIEWS THEM WITHIN THE PURCHASING POLICIES, AND THEN IF AN INFORMAL BID PROCESS IS WARRANTED.
AT ANY LEVEL, THE PURCHASING THEN SENDS IT OUT AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THE THREE VENDORS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY TOUCHED BASED LIST ARE AWARE THAT THE BID HAS GONE PUBLIC SO THAT THEY CAN SUBMIT THOSE ESTIMATES THROUGH THE PROCESS IF THEY NEED TO.
IN THIS INSTANCE, THAT WASN'T THE WAY THAT IT WAS DONE THIS WAY BECAUSE OF THAT MISUNDERSTANDING, BUT THAT IS HOW WE OPERATE MOST TIMES.
SOME THINGS DO HAVE APPROVED VENDORS LIST, WHETHER WE'RE ON SOURCE WELL CONTRACTS OR OTHER THINGS, BUT A LOT OF THE MORE NUANCED OR SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PROCESSES, WE JUST REACH OUT TO LOCAL VENDORS AND GO FORWARD FROM THERE.
>> I JUST WANT TO GIVE A GRASP HOW YOU GUYS ACTUALLY OPERATE AND THEN SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO ON OUR SITE TO JUST IMPROVE IT AND MOVE ON.
THE DIVISION OF PURCHASING IS A WEALTH OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THESE NUANCES THAT I DO NOT KNOW OR UNDERSTAND.
I GENERALLY DEFER TO JUST SEND IT DOWN TO THEM AND LET US KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO PROPERLY.
IN THIS ONE INSTANCE, IT DIDN'T GO THAT WAY.
BUT YOU'RE IN IDEAL WORLD SIMILAR TO THE WAY THE LEGISLATURE SETS, THE NEWSPAPERS AND THINGS FOR PUBLISHING, IT IS GREAT.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR PURCHASING TO SAY THAT THAT WOULD BE OKAY IN ANY OTHER AREAS BECAUSE I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW, BUT I DO THINK THERE IS TO PROVE VENDOR LIST IS HELPFUL IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
>> ON OUR SIDE, WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT EVERYTHING.
>> WE WANT TO VERIFY THAT WHOEVER'S BEING EMBEDDED HAS THE PROPER WORKERS COMPENSATION LIABILITY INSURER [INAUDIBLE]. THAT'S ALL I HAD.
>> AS A COUNTY TAXPAYER, I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE DILIGENCE OF THIS BODY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING PROPERLY.
>> HEARING NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. THANK YOU.
>> HAPPY HOLIDAYS. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, COMMUNICATION 23E-21 FROM CENTRAL POLICE SERVICES.
WE HAVE COMMISSIONER ROSS HERE TO SPEAK DOWN THE ITEM.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER. HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD MORNING TO THE HONORABLE BODY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
I COME BEFORE YOU THIS BODY, THE REQUEST OF AUTHORIZATION TO CONTRACT WITH HEXAGON TO INSTALL CONFIGURE, AND REPLACE OUR COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
AN RP FOR THIS PROJECT WAS ISSUED IN JUNE OF 2023.
IN SEPTEMBER, WE CHOSE HEXAGON TO OFFER A CLOUD-BASED SUITE TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 7 MILLION IN EXISTING FUNDS FOR PHASE 1.
ANTICIPATE 4.8 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO BECOME AVAILABLE IN 2025 FOR PHASE 2 IMPLEMENTATION.
OUR CURRENT CURRENT CAD CHARMS SUITE IS HOMEGROWN, AND HAS BEEN A ROD COURSE FOR 22 YEARS.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW US TO MAXIMIZE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY POTENTIAL AND REQUIRES MAINTENANCE OF UPDATED AND EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT.
THE TIMING OF THIS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLOUD-BASED SUITE THAT WE'VE CHOSEN SHOULD ALLOW US TO INTEGRATE SEAMLESSLY WITH ERIENET WHEN IT GOES NIGHT IN 2016.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> ANY QUESTIONS LEGISLATOR TODARO, THE LEGISLATOR VON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANKS FOR BEING HERE COMMISSIONER.
>> QUESTION I HAVE IS, HOW MANY PHASES I SEE YOU STATED THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO?
>> ANYTHING FURTHER FROM THAT AT THIS POINT THAT YOU'RE EXPECTING?
>> NO. WE ANTICIPATE A 16-24 MONTH ROLLOUT FOR THIS PROJECT.
THE INITIAL PHASE ALLOWED US TO START THE PROJECT, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO FINISH IT OFF WITH THE FUNDING.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME ANY OTHER COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY THAT'S USING [INAUDIBLE] ON RIGHT NOW?
>> WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THEY'LL BE COVERING EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE. WE ARE THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> OH, YES. WE HAVE WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
>> IS THAT BEEN FOR MULTIPLE YEARS THAT THEY'VE BEEN USING IT UTILIZING THAT SERVICE?
>> YES. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE CHOSE THEM IS THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DEAL WITH LARGER CAPACITY POPULATIONS.
>> NEW YORK CITY, SYRACUSE, ROCHESTER.
>> WAS THIS BID OUT? WAS THERE A BIDDING PROCESS FOR THIS?
>> THERE WAS AN RFP FOR MULTIPLE VENDORS WE REACHED OUT.
[00:45:01]
THEN THERE WAS A VENDING PROCESS THAT WE ULTIMATELY CHOSE HEXAGON.>> WAS THIS THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER?
>> FOR THE CLOUD-BASED VERSION THAT WE CHOSE, YES.
>> THEN IS IT BASED ON THE GEOGRAPHIC CONFIGURATION? MEANING IS, IF YOU ONLY DID THE AREAS THAT YOU PLEASED, WOULD THAT DECREASE THE COST?
>> I DON'T THINK THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE BECAUSE BASICALLY WE ARE THE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR ALL THE COMPUTER DISPATCHING, IT ALL COMES THROUGH US IN ERIE COUNTY.
I CAN'T SEE OTHER JURISDICTION WITHIN ERIE COUNTY GOING ANOTHER DIRECTION.
>> DOES IT GO ALONG WITH THE CHARMS SYSTEM? IS IT STILL GOING IN WITH THAT?
>> IT'S GOING TO REPLACE CHARMS, BUT THEN WE ARE GOING TO MIGRATE THE DATA FROM OUR CURRENT CHARMS INTO THIS NEW RMS SYSTEM.
>> A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN THERE WAS DISPARATE TREATMENT AND STOPS VERSUS GIVING TICKETS LIKE STOPS BY RACE AND GIVING TICKETS BY RACE AND SO FORTH, THAT SOMEONE FROM CENTRAL POLICE SERVICES THOUGHT THAT THE CHARM SYSTEM COULD BE USED TO FOLLOW THAT AS TO THE CALLS IF YOU PUT THE 911 CALLS WITH THE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE TICKETS? LIKE THE IDEA OF SOME PEOPLE SAY, LIKE THAT THEY FEEL THAT THERE'S DISPARATE TREATMENT.
LIKE IN AMHERST A LOT PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY A LITTLE BIT.
IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD BE DONE THERE SO THAT YOU COULD CHECK TO SEE EITHER TO PROVE THAT THERE ISN'T DISPARATE TREATMENT, AND HERE'S THE PROOF OF IT OR SAYING, YEAH, THERE IS THAT WE DIDN'T REALIZE IT, AND THEREFORE WE'LL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
>> WELL, I HAVE MARLENE HOFFMAN HERE, WHO IS OUR TECHNICAL PERSON FROM INFORMATION SERVICES.
>> I KNOW THE DATA WILL BE IN THERE.
THE MECHANISM IT WILL TAKE TO RETRIEVE THAT TO PROVE WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW THAT LOOKS, BUT I KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE ALL THE DATA.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO DO BECAUSE IT WOULD EITHER LIKE EVEN THE PRIOR CHIEF OF AMHERST WAS VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF YOU WERE WORKING ON IT WHEN WHEN HE RETIRED.
BUT TO SAY THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO NOT HAVE DISPARATE TREATMENT.
THE PRIOR CHIEF SAID HE WOULD ACTUALLY REALLY LIKE THE DATA TO PROVE THAT THEY AREN'T.
IF THEY ARE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE DOING ALL THIS TRAINING, AND THEY ARE TO HAVE PROOF THAT, LIKE, HEY, WE ARE STILL DOING SOMETHING WRONG, LET'S CHANGE IT.
WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING IT TO SORT OF FIGURE OUT HOW THAT DATA COULD BE RETRIEVED? BECAUSE ONCE THERE'S A TICKET, YOU CAN RETRIEVE THE DATA.
BUT WHEN THERE'S NOT A TICKET OR THE TYPE OF STOP VERSUS THE TICKET THAT DIFFERENCE OF LIKE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE TICKETS AND SO FORTH.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE ENGAGING WITH ALL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION.
AMHERST [INAUDIBLE] IS SAY LANCASTER OR EVERY AGENCY WILL BE SENDING PEOPLE TO HELP US BUILD THIS OUT TO GIVE THEM THE PRODUCT THAT THEY NEED.
IF THAT'S A PIECE, WE ABSOLUTELY WILL LOOK TO TRY TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN.
>> HEARING NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE SERVING YOU WITH YOU.
>> HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU.
>> COMMUNICATION 23E-22 FROM LEGISLATOR BASKIN.
THE 2025 SCHEDULE OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL BE RECEIVED, FILED AND PRINTED UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.
COMMUNICATION 23E-23 FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF REGARDING A PART TIME PISTOL PERMIT POSITION.
WE HAVE CHIEF DONOVAN AND CHRIS HERE TO SPEAK ON IT. MORNING, CHRIS.
>> MORNING, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THIS RESOLUTION AND REQUESTS AUTHORIZATION FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO CREATE SEVEN PART TIME POSITIONS.
THESE INDIVIDUALS WOULD INVESTIGATE PISTOL PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
THIS BODY IS AWARE THE NEW YORK CITY PENAL LAW REQUIRES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS OF PISTOL PERMITS AND TO GIVE THOSE TO THE LICENSING OFFICER OF ERIE COUNTY.
THIS RESOLUTION WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT MORE EFFICIENTLY AND WITHIN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
THE ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF THE POSITIONS $310,932.
>> IF 2025 VACANCY SAVINGS DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR THAT COST, THIS RESOLUTION FURTHER CREATES A SALARY RESERVE IN THE LIKE AMOUNT.
THAT MONEY COMES FROM UNANTICIPATED 2024 COUNTY REVENUES FROM THE COUNTY WIDE ACCOUNTS.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> WHEN THE COST OF THE PERSONNEL HAS RAISED OVER 50% SINCE THE SHERIFFS BEEN IN OFFICE. NUMBER 1.
NUMBER 2, IF YOU LOOK AT JUST THE PERSONNEL COST, IF YOU TAKE ALL OF THE TAX BILLS OF THE COUNTY TAXES, OVER 50% IS THE SHERIFFS OFFICE JUST FOR
[00:50:01]
NOT COUNTING THE HELICOPTER AND THE LEASE AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS, BUT JUST IN PERSONNEL COSTS.THEN ON TOP OF THAT A LOT OF TIMES IT WAS OVERTIME.
I JUST AND I KNOW THAT DURING COVID, THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE PISTOL PERMITS, LIKE PEOPLE I DID THE AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT, OR WHATEVER, THERE WAS A DELAY BY THE TIME I GOT CALLED, BUT THE MORE RECENT ONES, THERE WASN'T MUCH OF A DELAY.
I JUST DON'T SEE WHEN WE APPROVED SO MANY MORE POSITIONS BACK COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE SHERIFF SAID HE WOULDN'T HAVE MORE POSITIONS.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S BEEN NO EFFORT WHATSOEVER TO SEE IF THERE'S PEOPLE THERE THAT COULD SPEND A COUPLE OF HOURS A DAY DOING THIS WORK AS OPPOSED TO HIRING ALL NEW PEOPLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE RED FLAG, COULD THEY SPEND TWO HOURS A DAY DOING THIS? BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE MORE INDICATION OF POSSIBLE ISSUES.
WHY HAVE SEVEN ADDITIONAL PEOPLE AFTER SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT JUST SO IT'S JUST HAS INCREASED SO MUCH.
I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THE INCREASE IS JUST LIKE ASTRONOMICAL.
IT'S LIKE 50% INCREASE JUST SINCE THIS CURRENT SHERIFF HAS BEEN THE SHERIFF. THERE'S NO END TO IT.
>> LEGISLATOR, I THINK I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WE'VE REDUCED OUR PERSONNEL IN THE PISTOL PERMIT DEPARTMENT.
THERE WAS A LEGAL CHANGE IN THE PISTOL PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS IN 2022 OR 2023.
WE WERE AT A MAXIMUM OF LIKE 6,500.
WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST WE WERE USING THESE SEASONAL PEOPLE IN THIS POSITION.
WE'RE JUST RECLASSIFYING THEM SO THAT WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH BUDGET AND CIVIL SERVICE SO THAT WE'RE STAYING WITHIN OUR LANE HERE.
WE REDUCED. WHEN WE CAME IN HERE, THERE WERE 10 PEOPLE FROM THE JAIL THAT WERE DOING IT PLUS CIVILIANS.
WE'RE ASKING FOR SIX PART TIMES AND A SUPERVISOR.
I THINK WE'VE SAVED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY BY PUTTING THOSE JAIL PERSON OUT BACK INTO THE JAIL FOR THE REGULAR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF ALL THE MANDATIONS.
I THINK WE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON THAT.
WE HAD A $6 MILLION VACANCY SAVINGS THIS YEAR, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO BE TRANSFERRING OVER THAT 310,000.
>> YOU'RE ADDING NEW POSITIONS AND LEAVING OPEN THOSE LINE ITEMS, YOU'RE NOT REPLACING.
ARE YOU ACTUALLY REPLACING EXISTING POSITIONS AND DECREASING FROM WHAT WAS JUST PASSED ON THE BUDGET, WHICH WAS ALSO INCREASING.
>> THESE ARE GOING FROM THE SEASONAL TO THEY'RE GOING TO BE RECLASSIFIED AS PART TIME JOBS.
IT'S GOING TO BE SIX PART TIME JOBS AND A SUPERVISOR WITH A MAX OF, I THINK, $35,000 IN THAT RANGE FOR THE 310? IN MY MIND, WE'RE GOING TO BE SAVING MONEY ON THIS AND PERSONNEL COSTS.
>> ARE YOU DECREASING THOSE EXISTING VACANCY LINES, SO YOU'RE CANCELING THEM SO THEY'RE NOT REPLACED.
>> WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SEASONALS THAT WE USE FOR RESERVES.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE RECLASSIFYING THESE.
WE DON'T ALWAYS USE ALL THOSE F-77 FOR THE BILLS CAMPS AND ALL THAT OTHER EVENTS.
YES, WE'RE JUST RECLASSIFYING THESE.
>> THAT NUMBER OF JOBS WILL DECREASE, YOU'RE SAYING, THE NUMBER OF OPEN LINES.
BY KEEPING THOSE LINES OPEN AND JUST ASSUMING THEY WON'T BE FILLED, BUT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO FILL THEM.
>> I THINK COULD JUST BE SOMETHING TO DO TO THINK OF THE TAXPAYER A LITTLE BIT.
IT JUST KEEPS GOING UP AND UP EVERY YEAR.
WE JUST HAD THE BUDGET, WHICH YOU GUYS WERE THE BIGGEST INCREASE OF ANYONE.
THEN NOW IT'S A WEEK LATER, AND YOU'RE ASKING FOR SEVEN MORE JOBS.
>> WELL, WE WERE UTILIZING SEASONALS TO DO THAT ON TOP OF THE OTHER PERSONNEL THAT WE HAD.
WE FELT THAT WE COULD MANAGE THAT IN THE SIX AND THE SUPERVISOR, WHICH IS ACTUALLY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN MY MIND.
>> BUT COULDN'T THERE BE ANYBODY ELSE THAT YOU COULD FIGURE A WAY TO DO IT WITHIN THE BUDGET OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE THERE?
>> WE WERE 75 SHORT LAST YEAR IN THE JAIL.
WE'RE MANDATING PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE WOULD GET THE PERSONNEL FROM.
>> HOW DO YOU FIGURE WHEN WE ADDED HOW THOSE EXTRA JOBS, DID WE ADD LIKE 35 JOBS?
>> WE'RE DOING A PRETTY JOB IN THE JAIL NOW.
LIKE I SAID, WHEN I CAME IN 2022, AND I WAS IN CHARGE OF THE PISTOL PERMIT DEPARTMENT.
THERE WAS 10 JAIL DEPUTIES THAT WE HAD TO PUT BACK INTO THE JAIL BECAUSE OF MANDATIONS.
IT WASN'T REALLY A GOOD RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT, BUT I ALSO HAVE COMMISSIONER BRAY TO CLARIFY ANYTHING.
>> THANK YOU. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, MY DEPARTMENT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ACTIVITY IN SEASONAL POSITION LINES THAT WERE NOT TYPICAL OF A SEASONAL EMPLOYEE BY ERIE COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE RULES, A SEASONAL EMPLOYEE CAN ONLY REMAIN ON THE BOOKS FOR FIVE MONTHS OR LESS.
[00:55:04]
WE NOTICED THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD SEVERAL EMPLOYEES WHO WERE WORKING BEYOND THOSE FIVE MONTH PERIODS.WE DISCUSSED IT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND WHAT WE LEARNED WAS THAT IN A COST SAVINGS MOVE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS USING SEASONAL EMPLOYEES TO DO THIS PISTOL PERMIT WORK YEAR ROUND.
BY USING THE SEASONAL EMPLOYEES, THEY WERE USING LESS COSTLY EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF FRINGE COSTS THAT WE WOULD FOR A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE.
THIS WAS A STRUT MOVE BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
IT WAS A MEASURE THAT WHEN IMPLEMENTED DEFINITELY DOES SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
HOWEVER, THAT WAS NOT CONFORMING WITH NEW YORK STATE CIVIL SERVICE LAB.
TO RECTIFY THE MATTER, WE SUGGESTED TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT THEY TRANSFORM A COUPLE OF THEIR SEASONAL POSITIONS THAT WERE SPECIFIED FOR STADIUM DETAIL INTO NEW PART TIME POSITIONS THAT WOULD BE DESIGNATED JUST FOUR PISTOL PERMITS.
THE COST TO THESE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT GOING TO BE AN INCREASE ON THE OVERALL COST OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS USING RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS FOR THESE POSITIONS BY NEW YORK STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM RULES.
THE MAXIMUM THAT THESE EMPLOYEES CAN EARN IS $35,000 PER YEAR.
EACH ONE OF THESE POSITIONS, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THEY ARE GOING TO EARN IS $35,000.
THESE WILL BE JUST PART TIME POSITION THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK YEAR ROUND WITH THE MAXIMUM OF $35,000 PER POSITION, AND THESE WILL BE PROPERLY PUT INTO PART TIME POSITIONS RATHER THAN SEASONAL POSITIONS, WHICH WILL MAKE SURE THAT THESE POSITIONS DO CONFORM WITH NEW YORK STATE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT WHEN THEY WERE BUDGETED IT WAS SEASONAL, IT WASN'T DISCLOSED THAT THEY WERE HERE AROUND PEOPLE? OR WAS THE SALARY THAT WAS DISCLOSED IN THE BUDGET, WAS IT ACCURATE OR NOT ACCURATE?
>> I DON'T THINK THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS AWARE OF THE SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FIVE MONTH MAXIMUM.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO HOW THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROJECTED ITS COST, BUT EXTRA DOLLARS EXPENDED.
I DON'T SEE THERE BEING A INCREASE FROM USING THESE POSITIONS AS PART TIME RATHER THAN SEASONAL.
>> I'M SAYING ABOUT DISCLOSURE.
LIKE IN THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET ALREADY SHOWS,50% INCREASE.
THEN ON TOP OF THAT WE GET LIKE NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY GET, THEY SEEM TO GET MORE OVERTIME THAN THEY WRITE DOWN.
DID THEY WRITE DOWN THAT IT WAS SEASONAL THAT WAS WRITE THE PRICE FOR FIVE MONTHS, OR DID THEY ACCURATELY REPORT THIS?
>> THAT WOULD BE A BETTER QUESTION FOR THE BUDGET DIRECTOR, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY PROJECT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOURS BEING USED IN THE YEAR AND NOT PER SE THE ACTUAL POSITION USING NOW.
BUT I THINK THE BUDGET DIRECTOR WILL PROBABLY SPEAK FOR CLARITY.
>> CERTAINLY. THESE DEPUTY SERVE DIVISIONS AND THE SHERIFF'S DIVISION ARE MEANT TO BE LIMITED TO STADIUM DETAIL.
IF YOU HAD NOTICED IN SEVERAL RECENT BUDGET OR ANY REPORTS, I MADE NOTE THAT THEY HAD EXCEEDED THEIR BUDGET FOR THOSE SEASONAL EMPLOYEES AT POINT IN TIME THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE GIVEN WHERE WE WERE WITHIN THE BILL SEASON.
WE LOOKED INTO IT A LITTLE FURTHER.
WE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVEN POSITIONS THAT WERE PAID A NUMBER OF HOURS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEEDED THE BUDGET AMOUNT.
THEY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THOSE POSITIONS WERE ELIGIBLE FOR OR THE USE OF THEM AND WHERE CIVIL SERVICE RULES CAME INTO IT.
THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR TO DO THE PISTOL PERMITS, THAT THIS IS A REQUIRED ACTIVITY OR A NECESSARY ACTIVITY, THAT WE WANTED TO CORRECT THE ERROR THAT HAD OCCURRED.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A QUESTION THAT PEOPLE WANT TO PUSH THE PERMITS REVIEW.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
[01:00:01]
MY QUESTION IS, IS THAT FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION FOR SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT JUST AT LEAST SEEMS LIKE THAT THERE WAS A MISREPORTING AND A MISUSE AND NOT FAIR TO THE TAXPAYERS TO SAY, WE'RE MEETING THIS MANY FOR STADIUM DUTY.BUT REALLY, THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE USING FOR FISCAL PERMITS AND WE'RE USING IT FOR DOUBLE, AND NOW WE'RE SAVING MONEY WHEN WE'RE VOTE PRIOR, WE WERE NOT STATING IT ACCURATELY.
THE BUDGET PROCESS HAS TO MEAN SOMETHING.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE OVERSIGHT BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, LOOKS AT THE INDEPENDENT ELECTEDS AS THAT SACROSANCT THAT WHAT THEY SAY, THEY DON'T GO INTO IT SO HARD.
I THINK THAT I, FOR ONE, THINK THAT WE NEED MORE INFORMATION AS TO COMPARING THE BUDGET OF WHAT WE JUST VOTED ON, WHAT WAS REPRESENTED AS THE USE AND STATING WHAT WAS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SO THAT WE DO IT MORE ACCURATELY FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR BECAUSE I'M NOT AGAINST PISTOL PERMIT APPROVALS, OBVIOUSLY.
I DON'T. BUT I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD BEFORE THIS THIS WAS TO DO IT TO MAKE IT FASTER.
I SAID, WELL, TO MYSELF, WELL, I KNOW IT'S A LOT FASTER ALREADY COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS 2020 VERSUS LAST YEAR, WE GOT A CALL RIGHT AWAY NOT RIGHT AWAY, PRETTY CLOSE.
THAT GUY TOLD ME HE WAS THE ONLY ONE DOING THE CALLS.
IT'S BECAUSE WE WERE USING STADIUM PEOPLE FOR THIS AND NOT REPORTING IT CORRECTLY, AND IT WAS JUST DISCOVERED BY PERSONNEL AND BUDGET.
BUT I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD JUST BE, RUBBER STAMPED AT ALL IN MY OWN VIEW.
I KNOW YOU GUYS, BOTH OF YOU ARE RELATIVELY NEW ON THIS WHOLE THING, AND IT'S NOT ANYTHING ON YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING OVER AN EXISTING SYSTEM, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK SHOULD THIS BE GLOSSED OVER.
>> THE ISSUES YOU RAISED LEGISLATOR ARE ONES THAT WE'RE AIMING TO CORRECT WITH THIS RESOLUTION.
>> BUT IT WASN'T CORRECT. I JUST THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE ON IT TO SEE WHAT PARTS OF THE BUDGET.
I LOOK AT IT IF SOMEBODY'S PUTTING IN A BUDGET THAT HAS ONE THING THAT'S VERY INACCURATE AND NOT FORTHRIGHT, THEN WHAT OTHER THINGS? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO OTHER THINGS TO SAY THAT THIS IS A BUDGET THAT IS 50% INCREASE OVER JUST THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE INCREASE IN THE FRINGE, WHICH IS A SHORT TIME THING JUST TO CATCH UP WITH THE DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF YEARS, WHICH I SUPPORTED, BECAUSE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU BOTH MADE TO ME AND THE RATIONALE THAT YOU GAVE.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFERENT, AND YOU'RE NOT IN MY OPINION, HERE THE FACE OF IT TODAY, BUT IT'S NOT YOU'RE DOING PER SE.
IT WAS JUST THE MODUS OPERANDI, THAT WASN'T DISCLOSED UNTIL SOMEONE FOR AMBERS DISCOVERY.
ANYWAY, SO THAT'S WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO PUT THIS TO A COMMITTEE TO JUST VERIFY THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR A VOTE TODAY.
COMMUNICATION 23E-24 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 23E-26 FROM LEGISLATOR DUPRE WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE MWBE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS, COMMUNICATION 23D-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 23D-4 AS INDICATED.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES, COMMUNICATION 20M-1 AND COMMUNICATION 20M-2 AS INDICATED.
ANNOUNCEMENTS. DURING OUR FORMAL SESSION AT 12 NOON, WE WILL GO THROUGH THE AGENDA FIRST.
THEN WE WILL PRESENT OUR CITIZEN OF THE MONTH FOLLOWED BY THE REST OF OUR SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS THAT WE HAVE AT THE END OF SESSION. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? WE'LL RECONVENE SHORTLY FOR OUR FORMAL SESSION. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
WE ARE PREPARING FOR OUR LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE YEAR.
I'LL ASK ALL CURRENT LEGISLATORS TO TAKE THEIR SEATS AND WELCOME ALL OF OUR PREVIOUS STAFFERS AND MEMBERS.
USUALLY, WE HAVE A LIST UP HERE IF WE HAVE ANY VISITING LEGISLATORS, BUT THERE ARE MANY.
IF YOU ARE A CURRENT OR FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL, WHY DON'T YOU JUST WAVE YOUR HAND?
[01:05:03]
WELCOME TO TODAY'S SESSION.I HEREBY CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO ORDER.
[ ROLL CALL]
THIS IS MEETING NUMBER 23 OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, DECEMBER 19TH, 2024.MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLE?
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR MICHAEL KOOSHOIAN.
>> AMEN, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING IF YOU ARE ABLE TODAY'S PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR GREEN.
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.
ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, THERE ARE NONE.
MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 22]
MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> THERE'S BEEN A MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING NUMBER 22 ARE APPROVED.
CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.
PUBLIC HEARINGS, THERE ARE NONE.
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 2 AND CONTINUED ON TO PAGE 3,
[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]
MAJORITY LEADER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO CONSIDER.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE BODY.
MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE THAT ALSO.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE AMENDED.
MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MOVE TO APPROVED AS AMENDED.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS AS AMENDED, MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED. LOCAL LAWS.
LOCAL LAW INTRO 2-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING LOCAL LAW INTRO 7-1,
[ LOCAL LAWS:]
AS INDICATED. COMMITTEE REPORTS.[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]
REPORT NUMBER 1 FROM THE MINORITY WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE.COMMITTEE CHAIR DUPRE. MOTION?
>> MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIR. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
REPORT NUMBER 13 FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE CHAIR DUPRE.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIR.
>> THE SECOND WAS BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER 17 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 LEGISLATOR GILMOUR, HAS BEEN SECONDED BY THE MINORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
REPORT NUMBER 15 FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIR.
>> IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS INTRO 23-1.
[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]
MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.
>> MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
>> HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
>> SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.
INTRO 23-4 WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.
MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
>> HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.
COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE. MAJORITY LEADER.
[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I HAVE ONE DISCHARGE.
TODAY I MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 15 E-5 FROM THE ENERGY ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ERIE COUNTY SEWER DISTRICT NUMBER
[01:10:02]
1-6 AND 8, 2025 [INAUDIBLE]>> THERE'S BEEN A MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
>> HAS BEEN SECONDED BY THE MINORITY LEADER. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. MAJORITY LEADER.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO AMEND THE ITEM.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO AMEND THE ITEM MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. MAJORITY LEADER.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS AMENDED MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES.
THERE ARE NONE. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.
[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]
COMMUNICATION 23E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 23E-4 AS INDICATED.COMMUNICATION 23E-5. MR. MEYERS.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 23E-6. MAJORITY LEADER.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 23E-7. MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> THERE'S A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 23-8. MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION OF IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 23E-10 AS INDICATED.
COMMUNICATION 23E-11. MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
COMMUNICATION 23E-12. MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> COMMUNICATION 23E-13, MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> COMMUNICATION 23E-14, MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> THE PREVIOUS ITEM WAS APPROVED. PARDON ME.
PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 23E-15, MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> ELEVEN TO ZERO. THE ITEM IS APPROVED.
COMMUNICATION 23E-16, MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 23E-17, MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> COMMUNICATION 23E-18, MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS APPROVED.
COMMUNICATION 23E-19, MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 23E-20, MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> COMMUNICATION 23E- 22. MR. MEYERS.
>> I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
>> ITEM 23E-22 IS AS INDICATED.
COMMUNICATION 23E-23. THAT'S WHY I'M CONFUSED.
>> [INAUDIBLE] FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS GONE UP FROM 2020,
[01:15:03]
JUST IN PERSONNEL, FROM 125 MILLION TO A BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR OF 191.6 MILLION, WHICH IS OVER 53% INCREASE.NO OTHER DEPARTMENT IS ANYWHERE NEAR THAT, NUMBER 1.
NUMBER 2 IS THAT THE STATEMENTS WERE MADE THAT THESE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FALSELY STATED TO BE SEASONAL POSITIONS WHEN THEY WERE KNOWINGLY USING THEM ALL YEAR LONG.
WHEN THAT'S BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION TO JUST GLOSS OVER THAT, RUBBER STAMP IT, I THINK IS A DERELICTION OF DUTY.
WE SHOULD LOOK INTO IT MORE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER WAY.
WE HAVE TO START DOING SOMETHING TO CUT COSTS, OR CONTAIN COSTS, AND TO BE MORE FORTHRIGHT IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
THEY SHOULD NOT GET A PASS ON ANY OVERSIGHT.
I WOULD ASK RESPECTFULLY FOR THE CONSIDERATION.
THERE COULD BE OTHER THINGS TO USE, OR OTHER UTILIZATIONS.
WE'VE ADDED SO MANY POSITIONS.
WE'VE FOUND OUT NOW, WE ADDED SO MANY POSITIONS AND ALL THE WHILE THEY WERE USING SOME OF THOSE GUARDS TO DO THESE CALLS.
THEN ALSO USING SEASONAL, SO WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE BASED ON THE STATEMENTS OF ACTUALLY WHO'S BEEN REPLACED.
BUT WE KNOW ONE THING, THAT NOT ONE LINE ITEM HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF.
NOW, IN ADDITION TO A HUGE INCREASE THIS YEAR, HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE ALREADY GAVE THEM A WEEK AGO PRACTICALLY, OR MAYBE A LITTLE MORE, NOW WE'RE ASKED FOR SEVEN NEW POSITIONS, AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THERE BE MORE DOCUMENTATION OF IT.
WHEN I CAME IN HERE TODAY, IT WAS STATED TO US THAT THE RATIONALE WAS TO MAKE PISTOL PERMITS GO QUICKER.
IT TURNS OUT THAT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
IT'S BECAUSE THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT AND THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THERE WAS A DISCREPANCY.
HOW COME SEASONAL WORKERS ARE GETTING PAID NO MATTER WHAT SEASON, ALL FOUR SEASONS OF THE YEAR.
THEN THEY BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION AND THEY SAY, WE'VE BEEN MISAPPLYING THAT.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT WE DO A LITTLE DILIGENCE ON THIS, JUST THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF DILIGENCE.
>>DO YOU HAVE A PROPER MOTION LEGISLATOR TO SEND IT TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE?
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION MADE BY LEGISLATOR VINAL. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO.
DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR OF SENDING THE ITEM TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I THINK THIS WOULD BE BEST SENT TO COMMITTEE.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT LEGISLATOR VINAL IS SAYING.
I DO SUPPORT MORE WORK TO GET PISTOL PERMITS THROUGH MORE EFFICIENTLY.
BUT A LOT OF THE REASONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TO US FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WERE NOT MENTIONED IN THE RESOLUTION.
I THINK WITH A COMMITTEE DISCUSSION WE CAN MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RESOLUTION TO MAKE IT MORE APPETIZING TO THIS BODY.
WITH THAT, I WILL YES TO SEND IT TO COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR MILLS.
>> THE MOTION FAILS. MAJORITY LEADER, I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR A MOTION.
>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
APPROVAL OF THE ITEM HAS BEEN SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR ON THE QUESTION. ROLL CALL VOTE.
CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.
COMMUNICATION 23E-24, THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 23E-26 AS INDICATED.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS.
[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]
COMMUNICATION 23D-1, THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 23D-4 AS INDICATED.COMMUNICATION FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES.
[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]
COMMUNICATION 23M-1 AND COMMUNICATION 23M-2 AS INDICATED.ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE NEXT SCHEDULED SESSION OF
[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]
THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE THURSDAY, JANUARY 2ND.IN THE MEANTIME, WE DO WISH EVERYBODY TO HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY.
BEFORE WE FORMALLY DO MEMORIALIZING RESOLUTIONS AND ADJOURN THIS SESSION, WE DO HAVE A FEW PRESENTATIONS WHERE WE WANT TO HONOR SOME OF OUR FORMER STAFF AND MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED THIS HONORABLE BODY OVER THE YEARS.
I'M GOING TO ASK THOSE UP AT THE DESK TO DEPART.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH LEGISLATOR FRANK TODARO, AND HONORING HIS CITIZEN OF THE MONTH.
[01:20:02]
WHAT DO WE DO? COME HERE.>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
THIS WAS THE PORTION OF THE MEETING WHEN WE GO UNPLUGGED. JUST BE READY.
AS WE KNOW, IT'S THE CHAIRWOMAN'S LAST DAY, SO I'D LIKE TO BRING UP OUR DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, AND EVERYBODY WHO'D LIKE TO PROBABLY SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS.
I'M BRINGING THEM ON UP FIRST THEN WE'LL GET STARTED.
THAT WOULD BE YOU GUYS HERE ON THIS SIDE.
>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, THE CHAIRWOMAN'S LAST MEETING HERE, AND WE'VE HAD A GREAT RUN.
I REALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF GOOD STORIES THAT I COULD TELL OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HERE, AND THEN I REALLY STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR HER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO TALK FROM THE HEART FOR A MINUTE.
APRIL HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF MINE FROM THE GET GO.
WE CALL OURSELF BATMAN AND ROBIN BECAUSE WE DON'T LOSE.
BUT WE WORK REALLY GOOD TOGETHER.
SHE'S A LOYAL PARTNER IN GOVERNMENT.
SHE'S NOT GOING AWAY. SHE STILL REPRESENTS THE GREAT TOWN OF CHEEKTOWAGA, SO I'M GOING TO BE SEEING HER.
I MIGHT BE SEEING HER MORE NOW, AND SHE'LL TAKE MY CALLS.
[LAUGHTER] BUT IT'S JUST BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE FOR ME TO WORK ALONG WITH HER.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HER.
SHE'S A TRUE FIGHTER. THIS IS WHAT A PUBLIC SERVANT LOOKS LIKE, AND THIS IS WHAT A PUBLIC SERVANT FIGHTS LIKE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.
>> WITH THAT, I'LL LET EVERYBODY COME UP ONE AT A TIME AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE AND THANK APRIL BASKIN.
WHEN SHE STARTED EARLY ON, I SENT HER A TEXT SAYING THAT I THINK SHE'S REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FUTURE OF OUR REGION, AND THAT THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT WITH HER INVOLVEMENT, AND HER LEADERSHIP, AND HER SERVICE, AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN THE FUTURE. THANKS.
>> I'VE ONLY HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH THE CHAIRWOMAN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT I'VE LEARNED A LOT.
I'M ALSO VERY LUCKY ENOUGH TO KNOW HER BEFORE I WAS IN THIS POSITION.
SHE HAS BEEN A GREAT LEADER AND A LOT OF GREAT THINGS AND SHE'S TAUGHT ME A LOT IN HIS JOB.
SHE'S ONE OF THE FIRST PERSON TO SHOW ME THAT WE DO CONFERENCE CALLS WITH THE STAFF AT SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING TO GET STUFF DONE.
SHE HELPED ME SEE HOW THESE THINGS WORK AND HOW TO WORK GETS DONE.
SHE IS A REAL PUBLIC SERVANT AND SHE GETS STUFF DONE, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.
I'M PROUD TO HAVE LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS FOR YOU, SO THANK YOU.
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE LEAVING. [LAUGHTER] I'M STILL SHOCKED THAT YOU'RE LEAVING.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE NEVER LEAVING THIS PLACE.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS YOUR CORNERSTONE.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO GET TO KNOW YOU AND WORK WITH YOU.
YOU ARE EXACTLY WHAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO REPRESENT THEM.
YOU ALWAYS BRING FORTH YOUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU REPRESENT, AND YOU COME FULL FORCE, AND YOU TAKE NO PRISONERS.
THAT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU REPRESENT IS WHAT EVERYBODY NEEDS.
IF EVERYBODY WAS MORE LIKE YOU, GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE A BETTER NAME.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOU MOVING FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE HALLS ARE GOING TO BE LIKE WITHOUT YOU.
IT'S GOING TO BE VERY QUIET. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANKS, SAM. APRIL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, ERIE COUNTY.
I THOUGHT YOU'D BE CRYING BY NOW, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET THERE.
[LAUGHTER] NOW, SERIOUSLY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO ERIE COUNTY.
YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT CHAIRWOMAN.
FOR US YOU'VE BEEN A GOOD EXAMPLE TO ME ON HOW TO CONDUCT OURSELVES HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE. WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE DO TO HELP YOU THERE, PLEASE, I'LL SOLVE IT UP HERE. THANK YOU.
[01:25:03]
>> NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP THE MINORITY LEADER.
>> FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING THIS LAST SESSION FOR APRIL.
[LAUGHTER] I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF YOU FIRST CAME ON BOARD WHEN I GOT MY HANDS FULL WITH THIS LADY BUT IT WORKED OUT REAL WELL.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
I CAN SAY THIS BECAUSE I SEE SOME OF MY ALUMNI IN THE AUDIENCE AND THE PEOPLE I'VE SHARED WITH OVER THE LAST 19 YEARS, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL GET 19 DOWN IN ALBANY AND HELP US HERE IN WESTERN NEW YORK.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND GOOD LUCK DOWN THERE BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND IT'S GOING TO BE HERE, I'M SURE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION OVER THE PAST MANY MONTHS THAT YOU'VE BEEN CHAIRWOMAN AS FORMER CHAIRMAN, WE'VE GOT THIS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.
ENERGIES OR BUDDIES AND PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE AND YOU LEARNED A LOT AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK I'VE BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS DOWN TOGETHER.
I THINK IT WAS MY SECOND HERE.
I WAS RUNNING MY MOUTH ABOUT SOMETHING.
I REMEMBER YOU CHASED ME DOWN THE HALL AND YELLED AT ME.
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, IT'S ME LONG TWO YEARS.
WHAT I GET MYSELF INTO? THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WE'VE FOUND A LOT OF COMMON GROUND OVER THE YEARS, AND YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT LEADER, A GREAT COLLEAGUE AND EVEN BETTER FRIEND.
I'M GOING TO MISS YOU AND I'M GOING TO WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN THE STATE SENATE, AND HOPE TO COME BACK AND VISIT.
THAT BEING SAID, WE CHIPPED IN AND GOT YOU A GIFT.
THERE YOU GO. CONGRATULATIONS.
APRIL BASKIN ERIE COUNTY DISTRICT 2 LEGISLATOR, APRIL BASK NEW YORK STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 6 B3.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS AN HONORABLE.
I DID PREPARE SOMETHING TO SAY I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GETTING A PROC ACTUALLY ASKED THAT YOU NOT DO THAT, BUT I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH.
BECAUSE LIKE MIKE SAID, I CRY EASY, I JUST DECIDED TO WRITE THINGS DOWN BECAUSE WHEN I SPEAK FROM THE HEART, I THINK I BREAK UP, AND I REALLY WANT US TO GET TO THE OTHERS IN SERVICE.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY THESE PAST FEW YEARS AS DISTRICT 2 LEGISLATOR.
I CAME INTO THESE CHAMBERS IN 2018, UNSURE OF MYSELF, STRUGGLING WITH IMPOSTOR SYNDROME AND NOT FEELING WORTHY OF BEING A MEMBER OF THIS HONORABLE BODY.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT I SPENT SERVING ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU, I AM BLESSED IN KNOWING THAT THE MERE REFLECTION OF MYSELF HAS CHANGED.
I AM MORE CONFIDENT IN MY SKILLS AND MY TALENTS, AND MY ABILITY TO LEAD BECAUSE YOU ALL ALLOWED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
AS I GAVEL OUT IN MY FINAL SESSION AS ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATOR, I ASKED THE LORD TO GRANT ME WITH THE SKILLS AND THE TRAITS THAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM EACH OF YOU OVER THE YEARS.
HERE GOES. LORD, ALLOW ME TO BE RELENTLESS IN ASKING FOR MONEY FROM MY DISTRICT, LIKE GEN VENOM.
[LAUGHTER] AS GRACIOUS AS LARRY DUPREX.
GIVE ME THE GRIT AND THE TOUGHNESS OF JOHN GILMORE.
ALLOW ME TO DRAW LIGHT ON WHAT'S RATIONAL IN EVERY SITUATION LIKE JOHN BARGNESI.
GRANT ME THE ABILITY TO BE AS CHARMING AND AS FUNNY AS MIKE ASHORIAN AND A WARRIOR LIKE PAT BURKE.
JUDICIOUS, AND CALM LIKE PETER SAVAGE, STEADFAST LIKE TOM LOGIN, A CAREER RECORD BREAKER LIKE BARBARA MILLER WILLIAMS. ALLOW ME TO SEE LIFE AS A STREAM AS JOHN BRUSSO.
I WISH TO BE AS LOVING AND AS HONEST AS ERIC WYAT.
I WANT TO BE AS WELCOMING AND I WANT TO BE WILLING TO SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE, LIKE BOBBY GRABER ALWAYS SHARED WITH ME.
I WANT TO BE LORD AS A SENATOR, AS NURTURING AS LISA SHAMIRA.
I WANT TO BE AS PREPARED FOR MEETINGS AS DR. TIM CALLAN.
I WANT MY SENSE OF HUMOR TO HAVE THE CLEVERNESS OF KEVIN HARDWICK,
[01:30:05]
AND I HOPE TO BE AS POPULAR AS HIS POLITICAL SCIENCE CLASS.ALLOW ME TO MASTER BOTH BEING PRESENT IN MY CAREER AND EQUALLY AS PRESENT WITH MY CHILDREN AS JESS SCHUSTER.
ALLOW ME TO BE AS ASTUTE AS ED RATH, AS SUPPORTIVE AS HOWARD JOHNSON.
ALLOW ME TO KNOW WHEN TO BE QUIET AND WHEN TO SPEAK UP LIKE LYNN DICTION.
ALLOW ME TO BE AS KIND AS FRANK TODARO, AS HARD WORKING AS JIM MSHASKI, AS ATTENTIVE AS JOHN CALVIN.
UNAPOLOGETIC IN MY OPINION, LIKE JOE RIGO, AND THOUGH I WILL BE A NEW MEMBER, ALLOW ME TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND GET TO WORK LIKE LINDSEY LARIGO.
ALLOW ME TO BE AS WELL RESEARCHED AS KISS GREEN, AS CREATIVE AS ADRIAN EASLEY, AND AS PATIENT AS JAKAI.
ALLOW ME LORD TO BE AS HELPFUL AS LOUIS, AND GIVE ME THE HEART OF A SERVANT LIKE YOU'VE GIVEN JEREMY SASSI DAK.
ALLOW ME TO BE SOMEONE'S HERO, LIKE AMY KOBLER HAS BEEN MINE.
ALLOW ME TO USE THE SKILLS THAT I HAVE DEVELOPED TO HELP SOMEBODY THAT CAN'T HELP THEMSELVES, LIKE JESS CALPIT, HELP ME.
GRANT ME THE ABILITY TO BE SOMEBODY'S RIGHT HAND MAN, LIKE JOHN DUA WAS MINE.
ALLOW ME TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN EVERY WAY, LIKE OLIVIA DOES EVERY DAY.
ALLOW ME LORD TO BE AS COMMITTED TO MY JOB AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE POLLING CARS.
PLEASE, LORD, ALLOW ME THE PATIENCE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE WHO LOOKS AT ME AS THEIR LEADER, THE SAME WAY THAT JEREMY DELNER MAKES HIMSELF A LEADER FOR THOSE THAT FOLLOW HIM.
MAKE ME, LORD, A FRIEND LIKE SEAN MULLIGAN HAS BEEN TO ME.
AS A NEW MEMBER, TEACH ME TO BE AS LOYAL TO MY CONFERENCE LEADER THE WAY TIM MYERS WAS LOYAL TO ME.
LORD GOD, WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK BACK ON 30 OR 40 YEARS OF SERVICE, LOOK AT MY CHILDREN, LOOK AT MY GRANDCHILDREN, AND BE PROUD OF ALL THAT I HAVE GIVEN TO MY COMMUNITY, LIKE THE LIVING LEGEND, JACK MILLS.
IF YOU CAN GRANT ME THESE CHARACTER TRAITS, GOD, I KNOW THAT I WILL BE ONE OF THE GREATEST STATESMEN THAT THIS REGION HAS EVER SEEN.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR LETTING ME SERVE WITH YOU.
>> [LAUGHTER] WE'LL NOW INTRODUCE OUR MINORITY LEADER JOHN MILLS FOR THE PURPOSES OF ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR OTHER MEMBER.
>> [BACKGROUND] RONALD BENNETT, I HOPE YOU'RE STILL HERE. [APPLAUSE].
THIS IS A LEGEND RIGHT HERE, RONALD P. BENNETT.
HE'S BEEN IN GOVERNMENT MANY, MANY YEARS, OVER 50 YEARS, AND HE'S BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE OVER 50 YEARS.
HE'S BEEN A TOWN ATTORNEY FOR MANY OF THE TOWNS IN A SOUTHERN TIER.
A JUST KNOWLEDGEABLE GUY AND HE'S HUNG IN HERE SO LONG TO HELP ERIE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
[01:35:03]
JUST AN HONOR TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION TO YOU.I'M GOING TO SHARE THIS WITH MY COLLEAGUES ALSO.
THIS IS WHEREAS RONALD P. BENNETT HAS HAD A LONG AND REMARKABLE CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDES 50 YEARS OF SERVICE, IN ERIE COUNTY RESIDENTS.
WHICH WILL CONCLUDE WITH HIS RETIREMENT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND WHERE IS RON P. BENNETT, PUBLIC SERVICE BEGAN IN HOLLAND NEW YORK WHERE HE WAS FIRST ELECTED TO OFFICE IN NOVEMBER 7, 1967, AS HOLLAND TOWN JUSTICE, AND WHERE ON NOVEMBER 6, 1973, RONALD BENNETT WAS ELECTED THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE AND BEGAN SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF HIS DISTRICT ON JANUARY 1, 1974, AND WHEREAS
>> WHEREAS, RON BENNETT LED THE REPUBLICANS EFFORT TO WIN A MAJORITY IN THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS EXISTENCE IN 1977, AND WAS ELECTED BY HIS PEERS TO SERVE AS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADER IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE WHEN THEY TOOK CONTROL IN 1978.
WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1982, RONALD BENNETT RESIGNED HIS POSITION AS COUNTY LEGISLATOR TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE RKOSKI TO SERVE AS THE FIRST ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.
>> WHEREAS IN 1987, RONALD BENNETT WAS APPOINTED COUNCIL TO THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND HAS SERVED IN THE CAPACITY SINCE, PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION, GOOD COUNCIL, AND HONEST ADVICE TO DOZENS OF LEGISLATORS FOR THE LAST 37 YEARS.
WHEREAS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERSTATE THE IMPACT HE HAS MADE ON OUR INSTITUTION OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, SERVING AS A, LEGISLATOR MAJORITY LEADER, PARLIAMENTARIAN, AND BOTH MAJORITY AND MINORITY COUNSEL.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS HONORABLE BODY PAUSES IN ITS DELIBERATIONS TO CONGRATULATE RONALD P.
BENNETT ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM COUNTY SERVICE AND THANK HIM FOR 57 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, 50 OF WHICH WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE IN ERIE COUNTY.
SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS, PLEASE.
>> JACK SAYS, CAN YOU SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS? WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO TALK TOO LONG.
I WAS FIRST ELECTED BACK IN 1973, AND THAT'S THE YEAR, RICH STADIUM OPENED.
IF YOU WANT TO START CALCULATING TIME, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
I BEAT THE ENDORSED CANDIDATE, AND I HAD 10 YEARS OF A LEGISLATIVE SESSION HERE.
MINORITY LEADER, MAJORITY LEADER AND NOW THAT'S AFTER THAT, COUNCIL.
IT'S BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTY.
I'VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE, MY BUSINESSES ARE HERE, AND THE LEGISLATURE IS A GREAT INSTITUTION.
IT HAS ITS UPS AND DOWNS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT DOES WHAT THE CITIZENS NEED, AND IT FOLLOWS THAT.
I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
I'LL ALWAYS KEEP THIS IN MEMORY.
IT'S BEEN 51 YEARS THAT I'VE HAD CONTINUOUS SERVICE TO THIS COUNTY.
IT'S BEEN MY BLESSING AND MY PRIVILEGE, AND I THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED ME.
>> MAJORITY LEADER, LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST.
THE REASON WHY WE HAVE ALL DECIDED TO HAVE OUR 56-YEAR REUNION
[01:40:04]
OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TODAY TO CELEBRATE BREAK BREAD OVER FOOD AFTERWARDS, AND IT IS TO HONOR A GREAT MAN WHO HAS BEEN A SERVANT HERE IN ERIE COUNTY FOR 39 YEARS.LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAKE SOME NOISE FOR THE ROBERT GRAVER.
>> [APPLAUSE] BOBBY, YOUR FRIENDS HERE PRESENT, AND, OF COURSE, PAST, WHO HAVE ALL COME TO CELEBRATE YOU TODAY.
WE ARE HAPPY TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS CLERK'S GAVEL THAT YOU WILL FOREVER HAVE BECAUSE YOU WILL FOREVER BE CLERK GRABER, FRIEND, AND LEADER TO SO MANY OF US.
WE ALSO HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION, WHICH SAYS FOR HIS DECADES OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE EXEMPLARY SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP THAT HAVE SO ABLE AIDED THE SUCCESS OF COUNTLESS LEGISLATORS AND STAFF, AND FOR HIS FRIENDSHIP AND TIRELESS DEVOTION TO THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.
WE, GRABER, ALL OF THESE FOLKS OUT HERE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE AND OFFER YOU OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO YOU, THE HONORABLE ROBERT M. GRABER [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO ALLOW THE MINORITY LEADER AND THE MAJORITY LEADER TO SAY A FEW REMARKS ABOUT BOBBY, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GIVE BOBBY THE DAYS, THEN WE HAVE TO FORMALLY GRABER OUT OF SESSION, AND WE INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN US AT THE RECEPTION ACROSS THE HALL.
BE PATIENT WITH BOBBY, HE HAD THROAT SURGERY RECENTLY, AND SO HIS VOICE DOESN'T SOUND THE WAY THAT YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER IT.
BUT HE STILL HAS GATHERED HIMSELF TO GREET ALL OF US AS WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE HIS AMAZING SERVICE TO OUR FAMILIES AND TO OUR REGION. MINORITY LEADER MILLS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I FIRST MET BOBBY 19 YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME ON THE LEGISLATURE, HE WAS THE CLERK AND SOON TO BE CLERK.
I USED TO SIT IN HIS OFFICE AND LOOK AT THAT BIG CLAMPING OUT IN THERE.
[LAUGHTER] I'M WONDERING HOW LONG WOULD TAKE FOR IT TO GROW OUT OF MY OFFICE.
I'D SIT THERE AND CHEW ON SOME OF THIS CANDY AND WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND OFTEN WONDERED WHAT HE THOUGHT OF THE FACT THAT HE HAD ALL THESE DISCUSSIONS AND WAS THIS NICE TO A REPUBLICAN [LAUGHTER] BUT HE WAS AND HE'S A GREAT GUY.
HE DID A GREAT JOB AS THE CLERK.
I CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR RETIREMENT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SERVICE YOU MANAGED TO PROVIDE FOR THIS LEGISLATURE AND ALL OF OUR LEGISLATORS THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM, I KNOW YOU TOUCHED THEIR LIVES TOO.
BOBBY, I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK BECAUSE HE DID A GREAT JOB FOR US, AND THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S A TRUE TESTAMENT OF BOBBY BY ALL THE CURRENT ELECTEDS HERE, THE FORMER ELECTEDS HERE.
IT'S GENERATIONAL KNOWLEDGE, WHAT HE BRINGS, HE'S A WALKING ENCYCLOPEDIA AND LIKE JOHNS AND HE'S A VERY NICE GENTLEMAN, TOO.
BUT HE'S BEEN NICE TO ME SINCE I CAME IN THE STORE.
HE HELPS EVERYBODY. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO KNOW HIM AND WORK WITH HIM AND JUST CONGRATULATIONS BOBBY.
>> WELL. HERE, MY VOICE IS A LITTLE MESSED UP BUT I'M FINE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANKS FOR THE MANY YEARS OF ALLOWING ME TO BE A STUFF HERE.
THE HISTORY IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
JUST LOOK AROUND THE ROOM, ALL THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING, THE MAKING OF SO MANY FRIENDS OVER THE YEARS WAS WONDERFUL.
[01:45:02]
DICKS LIZ WAS THE LEGISLATURE CHAIRMAN.DAVE SWARTZ WAS THE LEGISLATURE CLERK.
JOE CRANGLE WAS THE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN, AND VICK FARLEY WAS THE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN.
RON BENNETT WAS ALSO IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT [LAUGHTER].
YOU GOT TO GIVE HER ON CREDIT.
SO MANY YEARS, AND HE WAS THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE MINORITY COUNCIL.
HE WAS ALSO THE PARLIAMENTARIAN HERE. NOW, I'M A CLERK.
AND WHEN THEY APPOINTED ME, THERE'S NO BOOK TO LEARN HOW TO BE THE CLERK OF THE LEGISLATURE.
YOU REALLY GET THROWN INTO IT.
THANK GOD RON IS OUR PARLIAMENTARIAN BECAUSE EVERY TIME THERE WILL BE A SNAFFLE AND THERE WAS A LOT OF THEM.
THEY CALL ON RON AND I LISTEN EVERY SINGLE TIME.
I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT BEING THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T FROM RON THEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS GOOD FOR THE REPUBLICAN SIDE [LAUGHTER].
THERE WAS SO MANY TIMES I LEARNED STUFF FROM HIM THAT DIDN'T HELP HIM [LAUGHTER].
RON WAS A PARLIAMENTARIAN WHEN BETTY JOY WAS OUR CHAIR.
IN FACT, OUR DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL AT THE TIME.
HE WANTED TO BE A THE DESIGNATED PARLIAMENTARIAN.
>> ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT THAT?
WE OVERRULED THEM AND WE KEPT RON AS THE PARLIAMENTARIAN WHEN WE WERE IN CHARGE.
HE WAS EXCEEDINGLY HONEST AND VERY FAIR.
YOU GOT TO GIVE RON A LOT OF CREDIT.
WHEN I WAS A KID, I USED TO LAY ON THE FAMILY ROOM RUG.
WE HAD HAD A BIG FAMILY. WE WATCHED THE NEWS.
HE COUNTY LEGISLATURE WAS ALWAYS ON THE NEWS BACK THEN.
I REMEMBER I WAS 14, I HAD A CRUSH ON KEVIN BECKWORTH OF ALL PEOPLE THAT'S FUNNY. WE USED TO SEE HIM UP.
SHIRLEY STOLARSKI, JENNIFER STOSIA.
IT WAS INTERESTING, IMAGINE THAT.
HERE I AM. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD WORK HERE.
WOULD YOU THINK THAT? BECAUSE YOU THIS IS LIKE IT'S WAY UP THERE.
RIGHT NOW, EVEN TODAY, EVERY TIME I WALK INTO COUNTY HALL, I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE I WORK HERE.
IT'S REALLY NOT THE MAJESTY OF THE BUILDING, THE HISTORY, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK HERE WHEN MARY LOU RATH WAS HERE.
THEN WHEN HER SON ED RATH WAS HERE.
OF COURSE, THERE'S ANY STAFF THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF STAFFERS HERE OR FORMER STAFFERS.
THESE JOBS ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEING RECORDED [LAUGHTER] BUT THERE ARE VOLUNTARY ASSIGNMENTS AFTER YOU LEAVE THERE [LAUGHTER] THERE'S A LOT OF THEM.
I WOULD TALK TO THE DO STAFFERS AND THEY WOULD ALWAYS SEND ME INTO MY OFFICE AND GIVE A TED TALK.
I WOULD ALWAYS SAY IT'S LIKE FRANK SAID HAT USE TO SING.
IF YOU COULD MAKE IT HERE, COULD MAKE IT ANYWHERE [LAUGHTER] BUT BEING A STAFFER, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD. I SWEAR TO GOD.
THIS PLACE KEPT ME ALIVE BECAUSE WHEN YOU WORK HERE, YOU GOT TO BE ON THE STRAIGHT NARROW.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
THERE ARE SEVERAL JOBS I REALLY LOVED IN THE PAST, BESIDE BEING A CLERK.
THERE WAS A TIME I WAS A LONG TIME HEALTH COMMITTEE CLERK, AND I REALLY THINK THAT SAVED MY LIFE.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE THE CLERK OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU HAVE TO READ EVERYTHING.
I GOT HOOKED ON HEALTH AND READING ABOUT IT AND WHEN WE HAD SOME DOWNTIME, I'D GO ON THE INTERNET.
BUT THAT WAS REALLY A GREAT THING.
[01:50:02]
WATCHING THE SWITCHBOARD WAS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE TO DO.BUT I I LOVED BACK IN THE DAY WHEN WE WERE ON 25 DELAWARE.
I WAS A SWITCHBOARD EVERY NOW AND THEN.
BUT YOU LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
PEOPLE WOULD CALL AND YOU HAVE TO DIRECT THEM OR HELP THEM OUT, ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.
THEN THERE'S THE RESEARCH, ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS THE CLERK.
YOU GET THESE WEIRD CALLS OR THESE REQUESTS AND BACK IN THE BACK ROOM, THERE'S A LIBRARY WITH THE OLD PROCEEDINGS FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE LEGISLATURE.
YOU GET THESE VERY INTERESTING REQUESTS.
THE ONE TIME, THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF A FORMER WHO SHE WAS THE FORMER CLERK.
DURING THE '40S OR '50S, SHE CALLED.
HER GRANDDAD WAS TURNING 90 OR 95, AND THEY WERE GOING TO DO A PLAQUE.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHEN HE WAS ELECTED CLERK.
I'M LIKE, GREAT. THAT WAS A GREAT ASSIGNMENT.
IT TURNED OUT THE GUY HE WASN'T ELECTED THE CLERK.
HE WAS A DEPUTY CLERK [LAUGHTER] BACK THEN, EVERY SINGLE TIME, THERE WAS AN ELECTION FOR THE CLERK.
EVEN IF THE MINORITY DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES, THERE WOULD BE AN ELECTION.
THE DEPUTY CLERK, SHE WAS STILL THRILLED.
SHE WAS SO HAPPY THAT SOMEBODY WOULD TAKE THE TIME.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WAS HOW SHE FELT ABOUT THE INSTITUTION.
IT WAS AN HONOR THAT HER GRANDDAD SERVED AS A DEPUTY CLERK OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.
THEN THERE WAS ONE TIME I HAD A REQUEST FROM PATRICK PARK OR IN THE MINORITY.
PAT WAS ON A TEAR ABOUT BRINGING NURSES INTO THE CITY'S SCHOOLS BECAUSE THERE WAS A DEAL.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WAS THE THE '30S OR '40S.
IT WAS ANOTHER GREAT ASSIGNMENT. I WENT BACK THERE.
I SWORE TO GOD AND LEARNED THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF HOW THE EERIE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS CREATED.
IT WAS IN THERE. BUT THERE WAS SOME OTHER LAW THAT HAS MADE THAT OBSOLETE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THEM. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU TOO MANY.
JUST LAST YEAR, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT CALLED THEM.
THEY WENT TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
THEY COULDN'T FIND A DOCUMENT FOR THE CREATION OF CERTAIN PARTS OF ELLICOTT CREEK PARK AND THEY WENT TO THE LIBRARY.
THE HAIL MARY WAS CALLING HER OUR CHIEF OF STAFF.
DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY THAT SOME INFORMATION WENT TO THE COUNTY CLERK OR THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING? BACK IN THE PROCEEDINGS, IT WAS RIGHT IN THERE.
IT WASN'T ASSISTING BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES LOOK IF YOU 1932, TURNS OUT TO BE 1934. IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING PLACE FOR A STAFF LIST.
OF COURSE, BEING CLERK WAS INTERESTING.
YOU'RE AT THE FRONT ROW OF HISTORY.
YOU SAY EXPRESSIONS ON THEIR FACES [LAUGHTER] BOTH WHEN THEY SUCCEED AND WHEN THEY DON'T SUCCEED OR WHEN THEY GET CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
I'LL TELL YOU MY HISTORY WITH RON BENNETT, OH, MY GOD.
BEING THE CLERK, THAT REALLY HELPED.
BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, THOUGH, SINCE 2001 OR AROUND THEN TO MAYBE 2006, I JUST HELPED PEER SERVICES, THIS PLACE HAD SOME TURMOIL.
JUST SAYING TURBULENCE, THAT WAS A WORD I WAS GOING TO USE.
PEOPLE TELL ME, YOU'RE STILL AT THE LEGISLATURE? I CAN'T BELIEVE I WAS STILL HERE [LAUGHTER] IT'S AMAZING.
BUT I GOT TO SAY I GOT TO THANK TWO PEOPLE.
I WOULD NOT BE HERE RIGHT NOW IF IT WASN'T FOR TWO PEOPLE, LEN LENIHAN AND JEREMY ZELLNER
[01:55:01]
[APPLAUSE] THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY DURING THAT CRAZY SITE WAS VERY HELPFUL, AND I WOULD NOT BE HERE AT ALL IF IT WASN'T FOR THOSE TWO.I LOVE SEEING ALL THE FORMER LEGISLATORS AND OTHER FOLKS.
THAT BRINGS BACK A HECK OF A LOT OF MEMORIES. THANKS AGAIN.
THANKS FOR THE MANY YEARS AND EVERYBODY HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY [APPLAUSE]
>> I JUST HAVE TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT MY FRIEND BOB.
I'VE KNOWN BOB A LOT LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN HERE ON THIS LEGISLATOR OVER 20 YEARS, 20 SOME YEARS, JOHN CORNEL SAID, YOU WANT TO GET TO THE POLITICS, YOU'VE GOT TO GO WITH THIS GUY.
I DID AND WE'VE BECOME FRIENDS AND EVEN CLOSER MY TIME UP HERE.
BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST LESSON BOB THAT YOU'VE TAUGHT US ALL, AND EVERYBODY THAT CAME BACK AND SAID GO BYE TO YOU WAS THE THING THAT YOU DO THAT I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY YOU CAN REALIZE.
YOU ABSOLUTELY LOVE WHAT YOU DO.
YOU LOVE THE HISTORY, YOU LOVE THE HISTORY THAT'S BEING MADE, AND YOU SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY, AND YOU DO IT VERY WILLINGLY.
IT'S CLOSED FROM YOU. WHAT YOU'VE TAUGHT US HERE IS IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, LOVE IT AND YOU LOVE IT, YOU'RE A BEAUTIFUL SOUL AND A BEAUTIFUL PERSON, AND A DEAR FRIEND. CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE]
>> GRABER, WILL YOU SIT NEXT TO ME ONE LAST TIME BEFORE I GAVEL OUT FOR THE LAST TIME? THANK YOU.
>> MAKE SURE YOU ASK ME [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU [LAUGHTER] PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS. LEGISLATOR RODRIGO.
[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]
>> I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF JANE RESORDI, THE MOTHER IN LAW OF THE HONORABLE GEORGE BOWEN.
>> SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS LEGISLATOR TODARO.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF EDWARD CASTEKI, AND ALSO JAMES K. CROSTON.
>> SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. LEGISLATOR DUPRE.
A MOMENT OF SILENCES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ON TO BE WITH THE LORD.
AMEN. FOR THE LAST TIME, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
WE STAND ADJOURNED. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> ANY OPPOSED [APPLAUSE] MERRY CHRISTMAS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.