Apr 10, 2025 Legislative Session

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ALRIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. OBVIOUSLY I'M SURE EVERYBODY HEARD TIM'S DOWN HERE TODAY.

HE'S HAVING A FAMILY EMERGENCY, SO I'M GOING TO STAND IN TODAY.

SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THE JENNIFER TODAY. THE INDICATION IS GOING TO BE LED BY BARGNESI PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE BY ST.

JEAN TARD TITLE. TABLE ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE.

ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THERE ARE NONE.

THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL. THERE ARE TWO PRESENTATIONS, ONE FOR MYSELF AND ONE FROM LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

THE FIRST PAGE IS AS INDICATED. PAGE TWO AS INDICATED.

PAGE 3 AS INDICATED DOWN TO [INAUDIBLE] ONE. COMMITTEE REPORTS, REPORT NUMBER FIVE FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.

LEGISLATOR BARGNESI . ALL SET. REPORT NUMBER FOUR FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE DUPRE.

YEAH. EXCUSE ME.

WE INTEND TO SEPARATE ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

WHICH IS WHAT? THAT IS 6E-16.

WHICH IS WHAT? YOUTH SERVICES DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

IS IT? [INAUDIBLE] REQUEST FOR RESTRUCTURE? OH, OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S FINE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEP. REPORT NUMBER FIVE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU. THAT BRINGS US TO LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS.

INTRO 7-1. ARE WE GONNA DO THIS, TIM OR. NO. OKAY.

THIS IS FOR THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE EIGHT YEAR REVIEW MODIFICATIONS OF THE SOUTHEAST AGRICULTURE.

NUMBER 15 WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL. PAGE FOUR.

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. COMMUNICATION 7019 WILL BE REFERRED AND FILED.

INTRO 7-2 WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL. COMMUNICATIONS FROM OFFICIALS, AS INDICATED DOWN TO COMMUNICATION 7E-7.

THAT'S THE STATE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE PRIVATE SALE OF BONDS OR NOTES BY NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT.

SOME OF THE CONTOURS HERE, OFFICER. NO? IT'S UP FOR APPROVAL.

SEVEN. COMMUNICATION. 7E-8 THROUGH TEN, AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATION 7E-11. ALTERATION IN THE CONTRACT WITH NORTHERN RED INK IS UP FOR APPROVAL.

I THINK COMMISSIONER DAN EVANS IS HERE. [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU.

MR. CHAIRMAN.

YES. GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE WITH MY PARTNER FROM THE ERIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE CONTRACT AND RFP WENT OUT WITH NORTHERN RED.

NORTHERN RED FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND FOR YOU. IS A VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS.

THEY'VE HAD PRIOR CONTRACTS WITH US HERE IN ERIE COUNTY.

SOME OF THE RESUMES, THEY DO THE TRAINING FOR THE FBI.

THEY HAVE DONE TRAINING FOR THE ERIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S AS WELL AS THE SECRET SERVICE. PHILADELPHIA A VAST ARRAY OF THINGS WITHIN THEIR BACKGROUND.

WE ARE JUST SEEKING APPROVAL OF THAT CONTRACT FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO? OKAY. YOU'RE FOR APPROVAL.

THANKS FOR COMING. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO PAGE FIVE.

COMMUNICATION 7E-12 CONTRACT WITH THE ECIDA FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS ON THE FORMER BETHLEHEM STEEL SITE.

FUTURE CASTLE OR. I'M SORRY. MARKS HERE. MARK.

GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU, MR. COMMISSIONER OR MR. CHAIRMAN. TODAY WE'RE SEEKING LEGISLATIVE AUTHORIZATION TO CONTRACT WITH THE ECIDA TO PARTIALLY FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO NEW ROADS ON THE FORMER BETHLEHEM STEEL SITE.

THIS IS PART OF THE COUNTY'S ONGOING EFFORT TO REDEVELOP THE FORMER BETHLEHEM STEEL PROPERTY AND DEVELOP NEW SHOVEL READY SITES IN THE COUNTY, WHICH WILL AID IN THE ATTRACTION AND RETENTION OF BUSINESSES IN YOUR COUNTY.

THE ROADS WILL EXTEND RIDGE ROAD AND STEELWORKERS WAY WEST INTO THE SITE, WHICH WILL OPEN UP THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE SITE, WHICH TOTALS ABOUT 65 ACRES. IT ALSO PROVIDES PUBLIC ROAD ACCESS TO THE WESTERN PART OF THE SITE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

THE RIDGE ROAD EXTENSION WILL ALSO PROVIDE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO ROUTE FIVE WITH DEDICATED EAST WEST ONRAMPS.

THE PROJECT IS ALSO PARTIALLY FUNDED BY $1.2 MILLION GRANT FROM NEW YORK STATE.

ANY QUESTIONS? GREENE. THANK YOU.

DO YOU HAVE.

YOU KNOW, SINCE WE.

GOT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT POTS OF.

MONEY HERE.

DO.

YOU HAVE A TIMELINE ON WHEN YOU EXPECT THIS TO BE COMPLETED? YEAH. SO IT'S PRESENTLY OUT TO BID NOW. SO WE WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR.

YEP.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THIS IS FOR APPROVAL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ONE IS COMMUNICATION 7E-13, AUTHORIZATION TO CONTRACT THE WITH ERIE COUNTY FUR COMPANIES.

JASON HURLEY.

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THIS IS FOR OUR AMBULANCE DIVISION TO HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO CONTRACT WITH FIRE COMPANIES TO RECOUP PERSONNEL COSTS.

OFTENTIMES, A FIRE COMPANY WILL RESPOND TO A CALL FIRST, AND THEY ONLY HAVE BASIC LIFE SUPPORT CERTIFICATION WITH THEIR STAFF THAT ARE THERE, OR I SHOULD SAY, VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE THERE AND THEN WHEN ERIE COUNTY ARRIVES ON THE SCENE YOU KNOW, WITH A PARAMEDIC, THEY HAVE THE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT CERTIFICATION THAT COULD BE NECESSARY TO HELP IN THESE LIFE SAVING EMERGENCIES.

THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO ESSENTIALLY HAVE A PARAMEDIC JOIN ON THE TRANSFER OF THE PATIENT ON THE FIRE COMPANY'S VEHICLE ITSELF, SAVING TIME AND NOT DISRUPTING THE PATIENT TO TRANSFER THEM TO ANOTHER VEHICLE.

BY ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FIRE COMPANIES, WE'RE WERE ABLE TO RECOUP SOME OF THE PERSONNEL COSTS OF OUR PARAMEDIC JOINING ON THESE CALLS.

JEANNE? [INAUDIBLE] , HOW WILL THE NO PHONE BILLING BE DONE? I'M SORRY, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? CAR ACCIDENT CASES. HOW WILL THE NO FAULT BILLING BE DONE THEN, BY THE FIRE COMPANY OR BY THE COUNTY? I'M SORRY, I.

CAN'T HEAR.

YOU. HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

YEAH, SO WITH THE IN A CAR ACCIDENT CASE, THE COST OF THE AMBULANCE AND THE EMERGENCY CARE FOR THE AMBULANCE IN GENERAL, THEY. I THINK THEY CONTRACTED WITH A FIRM IN LANCASTER TO DO THE BILLING.

SO FOR BILLING, IT'S ALWAYS HAS TO BE BILLED BY THE TRANSPORTING COMPANY.

SO IN THIS CASE, IF IT'S A VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY DOING THE TRANSPORTATION, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BILL AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO ENTER AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM IN ORDER TO RECOUP SOME OF THE PERSONNEL COSTS WE HAVE.

WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BILL SEPARATELY. IT'S ALWAYS A TRANSPORTING COMPANY THAT HAS THE RIGHT TO BILL IN NEW YORK STATE. IS THERE A WAY.

THAT NOT FOR THE MEDICAID ONES? I'M TALKING FOR THE NO FAULT INSURANCE ONES.

THAT'S IN GENERAL, ALL BILLING HAS TO BE DONE BY THE TRANSPORTING AGENCY.

I KNOW THAT MOST OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES DON'T BUILD NO FAULT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO BUILD.

IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU COULD DO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR COMPANY BUILT FOR THEM? BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM WITH ALL THE AMBULANCE? THEY DON'T.

I KNOW FOR A FACT THEY DON'T. THERE'S ONLY TWO THAT BILL IN THE WHOLE REGION, AND NONE OF THEM ARE ERIE.

NONE OF THEM ARE.

I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK. AS FAR AS I KNOW, WHEN WE WERE GOING TO SET UP THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND ITS BILLING, IT HAS TO BE THE TRANSPORTING AGENCY THAT ACTUALLY BUILDS THE FURY COUNTY ARRIVES ON THE SCENE AND DOES THE TRANSPORTATION.

WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BILL FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF THE PATIENT, BUT IF A FIRE COMPANY INSISTS ON TRANSPORTING.

I GET THAT. WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF THE AMBULANCE COMPANIES IN ERIE COUNTY THAT THE THE FIRE COMPANY DOES IT, THAT THEY DON'T BILL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A HUMAN BEING TO ACTUALLY DO THE BUILD PROPERLY AND TO SEND IT IN.

SO THEY KIND OF JUST LET THAT GO AND WAVE THE BILL.

AND LIKE IN AMHERST, THERE'S A COUPLE OF COMPANIES THAT ARE CHARGING QUITE A BIT FOR THE FIRE SERVICE, BUT THEY DON'T BUILD FOR THE WORK THEY DO. SO I WAS WONDERING, IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU COULD REACH OUT TO THE BILLING COMPANY THAT DOES YOUR OTHER BILLING FOR THE NO-FAULT, WHICH I THINK IS THIS COMPANY IN LANCASTER, AND THAT ASK THEM IF THEY COULD COOPERATIVELY BILL SO EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT BILLING FOR THE COUNTY, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO RECOUP PART OF IT, IF THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, DO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD HELP THOSE COMPANIES SO MUCH, AND MAYBE THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, MOTIVATE THEM TO BUILD ALL THEIR SERVICES, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE ONES THAT YOU GUYS AREN'T COOPERATING WITH, YOU KNOW, WOULD REALLY HELP THE AREA.

YEAH, SURE. NO, I'LL HAVE TO FIND OUT. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A CASE BY CASE BASIS WITH EACH FIRE COMPANY.

SO I KNOW WE'VE SPOKEN TO THREE THAT DO BILL.

SO. OKAY.

YEAH.

MY QUESTION. JEANNE MIGHT BE TOWARD YOU. ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES HAVE A RIGHT TO RECOUP MONEY THROUGH THE NO FAULT INSURANCE, OR DON'T DO IT? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? UNDERSTOOD. I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT BEFORE. SO THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO A PORTION OF REIMBURSEMENT? I DON'T KNOW.

ALL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES.[INAUDIBLE] THE ONES ONLY.

SO THEY'RE ONLY PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION. RIGHT, JASON? IS THAT THE CLARIFICATION? YEAH.

IT'S ONLY TRANSPORTATION. [INAUDIBLE] TRUE.

UNDERSTOOD. SO THERE'S FREE MEDICAL CARE AND TRANSPORTATION? MEDICAL CARE.

[INAUDIBLE]. SO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION WAS IT'S ONLY TRANSPORTATION. BUT IF A VOLUNTEER SHOWS UP ON THE SCENE AND GIVES A PROVIDES FIRST AID,

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[INAUDIBLE]. AND I'M KIND OF OFF THE SUBJECT HERE. JASON. IT'S NOT YOU. I'M FASCINATED BY THIS BECAUSE I GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION IS THESE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES ARE AWARE OF THIS.

[INAUDIBLE]. PROCEDURES AND SO FORTH AND VARIATIONS OF THAT. SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO DO THAT SERVICE.

[INAUDIBLE]. I UNDERSTAND, I'M JUST I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN RECOUP SOMETHING AND THEY CHOOSE NOT TO.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. NO, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I'M JUST LEARNING HERE AS YOU'RE SPEAKING.

SO THAT'S INTERESTING. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS UP TO SOME OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN MY DISTRICT, JUST TO SEE IF THEY'RE AWARE THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT ON CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND TAKE IT FROM THERE AND GET THEIR TICKET.

IT'S JUST INTERESTING. THANK YOU.

AND I WILL ADD TO THAT THAT THERE WAS A RECENT CHANGE BY NEW YORK STATE TO START BILLING FOR PRE-HOSPITAL CARE THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE TRANSPORTATION.

SO IT COULD BE A SITUATION WHERE FIRE COMPANIES AREN'T AWARE OF THAT MEDICAID CHANGE. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD PROVIDE THE INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH FIRE COMPANIES.

OKAY. SO THIS IS NEW.

YEAH. THERE IS A PART THAT'S NEW ON THE MEDICAID FRONT WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY BILL FOR I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED TREATMENT IN PLACE, BUT NO TRANSPORTATION NEEDED.

OKAY. SO IT'S NEW. SO THEY COULD BE TRYING TO WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND IT CURRENTLY.

OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. IT'S GOOD INFORMATION. NO, THANK YOU JEANNE.

THANK YOU. JASON, [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU. CHAIR.

YOU KNOW, JASON, I'M JUST TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THIS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A FEW OF US ARE, YOU KNOW.

UNDERSTANDING.

HOW THE MONEY FLOWS. WOULD YOU.

BE.

WILLING AT ALL TO MAYBE PUT THIS IN FOR A BROADER DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE JUST SO WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE FROM VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO KIND OF COME UP.

WITH THE BEST CASE SCENARIO. I MEAN.

I GUESS, IS THERE ANY.

SENSE OF URGENCY ON THIS OR CAN WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THIS? WE WOULD BE LOSING OUT ON RECOUPING ANY PERSONNEL COSTS OF CALLS THAT ARE BEING ANSWERED RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE UP TO ALMOST A THOUSAND CALLS ALREADY FOR THE YEAR.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET AGREEMENTS IN PLACE. WE KNOW WE HAVE COLD IN OR.

I'M SORRY, EDEN AND BOSTON EMS READY TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T WE AREN'T ABLE TO GET ON THEIR VEHICLES NOW IN ORDER TO DO THIS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PART OF THIS WOULD BE RECOUPING PERSONNEL COSTS AND MAKING SURE THE LIABILITY IS STRAIGHTENED OUT. SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, OF THE IMPORTANCE FOR, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE.

OF THOSE 1000 CALLS, HOW MANY HAVE INVOLVED TRANSPORT? 64% FOR THE YEAR. WE'RE UP TO 64%.

OF THOSE ARE TRANSPORTS AND WE'RE NOT BILLING ANY OF THOSE RIGHT NOW.

IF WE'RE TRANSPORTING THEM, WE'RE BILLING. IF THE VOLUNTEER COMPANIES ARE TRANSPORTING, AND THERE'S A SITUATION WHERE WE COULD JUMP ON THE VEHICLE TO HELP OUT AND THEN RECOUP PERSONNEL COSTS, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING YET.

WHAT WOULD THAT.

NUMBER.

BE? I WOULD HAVE TO ASK SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT. I ONLY HAVE OUR TRANSPORTING NUMBERS BECAUSE WE'RE THE AGENCY THAT COLLECTS THAT.

OKAY.

SIR.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. JASON. THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS, HOW DO WE KNOW IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A DOUBLE BILLING? IS THERE A WAY TO.

ONLY THE TRANSPORTING AGENCY HAS THE RIGHT TO BILL.

WE ARE COLLECTING MONEY DIRECTLY FROM, IN THIS CASE, A VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY.

SO THEY WOULD BILL THEY WOULD GET THEIR MONEY, AND THEN THEY WOULD GIVE US, YOU KNOW, THE UP TO $500 FOR OUR PERSONNEL JUMPING ON THE RINK. SO THERE'S NO DOUBLE BILLING OF THE PATIENT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO BILL DIRECTLY AS IT IS ONLY THE TRANSPORTING AGENCY.

AND THEN FOR CASH FLOW REASONS, IF THE VOLUNTEER COMPANY HAS NOT RECEIVED THE FUNDS, ARE WE EXPECTING PAYMENT UPON AN INVOICE OR ARE WE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THEY GET PAID TO FLOW THAT.

THAT WOULD BE WORKED OUT IN THESE AGREEMENTS? YOU KNOW, THE FINAL DOLLAR AMOUNT TO START, I BELIEVE, IS GOING TO BE IN THE 250, $250 RANGE, $500 RANGE AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS WHILE THEY WAIT FOR PAYMENT? YOU KNOW, DO WE GIVE THEM A 90 DAYS WINDOW TO PAY US OR THINGS LIKE THAT? THAT WOULD ALL BE WORKED OUT IN THE AGREEMENT DEPENDING ON THE PLAYER COMPANY.

OKAY. THAT AGREEMENT CAN BE WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THAT PARTICULAR.

CORRECT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. THANKS.

I STILL HAVE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM FIRE DEPARTMENTS THEMSELVES, TOO.

[00:15:05]

NEXT ITEM IS COMMUNICATION 7E14. OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY.

BUDGET TRANSFER. JASON.

ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS A BUDGET TRANSFER OF $20,000 FOR THE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY TO PURCHASE MORE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID MANUALS.

THEY HAVE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE TO THEIR PROGRAM.

THEY'VE TRAINED OVER 1400 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, FROM CHURCHES TO CULTURALS TO OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY JUST MOVING SOME MONEY AROUND TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING.

THE REQUESTS ARE THERE TO PROVIDE THIS TRAINING.

THEY ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MENTAL HEALTH. THEY'RE CERTIFIED TRAINERS AND THEN THEY ALSO WILL HOPEFULLY BE DOING TRAINING OF TRAINERS BEYOND THIS YEAR.

QUESTION.

SO, JASON, YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS TRAINING HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2022.

CORRECT. AM I IS THAT RIGHT? 2024, I BELIEVE. OH NO. I'M SORRY. 2022 YOU'RE RIGHT.

OKAY. SO I JUST WANTED TO VERIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

SO ARE THE TRAININGS CURRENTLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW? AND ALSO, WHERE ARE THE LOCATIONS? LIKE, WHAT DISTRICTS ARE THIS THESE TYPE OF TRAININGS HAPPENING? HOW MANY PEOPLE GET TRAINED? SO IF YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME OF THAT.

SURE. MAKES SENSE.

HEALTH EQUITY RUNS THE SCHEDULE. THEY USUALLY TAKE THE REQUESTS DIRECTLY FROM ORGANIZATIONS.

TYPICALLY, A CLASS IS 24 PEOPLE, GIVE OR TAKE.

THAT'S JUST THEY PREFER IN TERMS OF GIVING QUALITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO THAT NUMBER.

IT'S AN EIGHT HOUR TRAINING. YOU CAN DO TWO FOUR HOUR DAYS OR ONE EIGHT HOUR DAY.

THEY RECOMMEND THE EIGHT HOUR DAY. I BELIEVE YOU COULD.

YOU KNOW, I CAN GET YOU THE INFORMATION, HELP SET UP. YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS, IT'S JUST WORKING DIRECTLY WITH HEALTH EQUITY TO BOOK IT.

YEAH. I WOULD LIKE TO GET A LIST OF THOSE LOCATIONS, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY MENTAL HEALTH IS A BIG ISSUE GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT I KNOW DISTRICT TWO, THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD JUMP ON THIS.

AND IF WE CAN SHARE SOME INFORMATION, WE PUT IT IN OUR NEWSLETTER.

CONTACT OUR NONPROFITS IN DISTRICT TWO ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU.

SURE. OF COURSE.

YEAH.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GREENE? JASON, JUST QUICK HOW YOU KNOW, THIS IS FOR A LOT OF THE PRINTING AND MANUALS AND STUFF.

HOW BIG ARE THESE MANUALS? LIKE.

TEXTBOOK SIZE, ROUGHLY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I WAS THINKING THEY'RE LIKE SMALL THINGS THAT.

WE JUST.

HAND OUT. YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT GET A SAMPLE, BUT THIS IS MUCH MORE IN DEPTH.

CORRECT? IT'S THE ACTUAL MANUAL. IT'S ABOUT A SMALL TEXTBOOK. AND THEY'RE PURCHASED DIRECTLY THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEP.

ONE MORE THING. CAN YOU ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOME OF US SOME MANUALS? BECAUSE WE ALL MOSTLY HAVE DISTRICT OFFICES AND THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

THANK YOU.

SURE.

ALL RIGHT. SETTING ME UP FOR APPROVAL. COMMUNICATION.

7E-15. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENT.

JASON.

ALL RIGHT. AND LASTLY, THIS IS A PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENT FOR TWO DIFFERENT POSITIONS.

THE FIRST ONE IS ONE OF OUR SUPERVISORS SANITARIANS.

IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION. CURRENTLY, THEY'RE ON JUULS SETTLEMENT FUNDS, AND WE'D LIKE TO MOVE THEM TO YOUTH TOBACCO.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT JEWISH SETTLEMENT FUNDS ARE A NARROWER WINDOW IN SCOPE OF WHAT THEY ENFORCE AND REGULATE, WHEREAS IF WE MOVE THEM TO THE STATE GRANT THAT WE HAVE FOR YOUTH TOBACCO, THEY'RE ABLE TO OVERSEE BOTH TOBACCO AND VAPING.

NEW YORK STATE HAS MODIFIED THEIR LANGUAGE TO INCLUDE VAPING.

SO WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS SUPERVISOR TAKE ON MORE IN TERMS OF YOUTH TOBACCO AND THE JUUL SETTLEMENT, FUNDING. COMPONENT OF DUTIES AND THEN THE SECOND PART OF THIS RESOLUTION IS DELETING A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT POSITION AT OUR 608 WILLIAM CLINIC TO ADD A NURSE PRACTITIONER OR NURSE PRACTITIONER POSITION.

THIS IS ACTUALLY DUE TO A SMALL PERSONNEL ISSUE WE ARE HAVING, WHICH IS THAT WE HAVE PA'S AND NP'S WORKING SIDE BY SIDE DOING THE SAME JOB.

LEGISLATOR YOU WERE THERE FOR A TOUR AND HEARD ABOUT THIS.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY'RE IN TWO SEPARATE BARGAINING UNITS GIVING THEM TWO DIFFERENT PAY SCALES.

THE PA'S HAVE ONE ACTUALLY ABRUPTLY QUIT OVER THIS DISCREPANCY IN PAY THAT'S CAUSED, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS TO KIND OF BE IMPACTED AT OUR CLINIC.

WE WANTED TO START SWITCHING THROUGH ATTRITION, THE PA'S TO NPS TO AVOID ANY COMPLICATIONS IN OPERATIONS.

THERE'S ABOUT A $30,000 PAY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PA'S WHO ARE IN CSCA VERSUS THE NPS, WHO ARE IN WISEMAN.

AGAIN, THEY'RE DOING THE SAME JOB. THEY WORK SIDE BY SIDE, UNDERSTANDABLY SO.

IT'S CAUSED SOME TENSION AMONGST THE PA'S AND NP'S EMPLOYEES DUE TO THIS PAY INEQUITY.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO START ADDRESSING IT BY, AGAIN, ATTRITION, DELETING PA'S AS THEY BECOME VACANT AND TURNING THEM INTO NP'S.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, JASON. THAT'S SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN I FIRST STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WITH THAT DISCREPANCY AND THE ISSUE WITH THAT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR ADDRESSING THAT. THANK YOU.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THE BILLING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NURSE PRACTITIONER VERSUS THE PA? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ISN'T. JOE MAY KNOW BETTER, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING THERE ISN'T BECAUSE WE BILL IT ALL UNDER, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S VACCINE

[00:20:06]

AND THEY'RE ALL UNDER THE CLINICS ORDERS OF THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER OR THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

ANOTHER ISSUE THAT.

WE SEE AT THE CLINIC IS THAT A NURSE PRACTITIONER IS ABLE TO DO MORE.

IN OUR FAMILY PLANNING CLINIC. WE'RE SEEING PA'S THAT APPLY FOR THE POSITION, BUT THEY'RE EITHER NEW GRADS OR INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK IN ER'S OR GENERAL PRACTICE PHYSICIAN OFFICES. SO AN NP WE TEND TO FIND THEM THAT HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE WITHIN FAMILY PLANNING.

THANK YOU.

THANKS.

OKAY. THIS ITEM WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL. THANKS, GUYS.

COMMUNICATION 7E-16 AND 7E-17 AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATIONS 7E-18 WILL BE UP FOR APPROVAL.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS AS INDICATED.

PAGE SIX AS INDICATED. AND WE'LL SEE EVERYBODY AT 11:30.

THANK YOU. YEAH, SURE. GO AHEAD. EVERYBODY I'VE GOT ABOUT 41 KIDS COMING IN FROM AKRON PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR MY CITIZEN OF THE MONTH. WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE PIZZA PARTY.

THEY WANT TO COME IN. I ORDERED PIZZA FOR THEM.

YOU'RE ALL WELCOME TO TONS OF FOOD AND STAFF, EVERYBODY.

COME ON BY. THE KIDS ARE JUST EXCITED TO BE DOWNTOWN.

THEY THINK THIS IS THE WHITE HOUSE, SO WE'LL FAKE IT, BUT COME ON OVER.

THEY SHOULD BE HERE IN 30 MINUTES AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE PIZZA AND WATER. SO EVERYBODY'S WELCOME.

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

MEETING NUMBER SEVEN OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE APRIL 10TH, 2025.

CLERK. PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL.

[ ROLL CALL]

OKAY. THANK YOU. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE.

THANK YOU. LET'S SEE. TABLE ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE.

ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS? THERE ARE NONE. MEETINGS OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 6]

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE PROPER SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO 0.

THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. PUBLIC HEARINGS? THERE ARE NONE.

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE TO CONSIDER.

PROPER MOTION. CONSIDER PROPER SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO.

0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MOVE TO AMEND. TO CONCLUDE ET AL. SPONSORSHIP.

OKAY. THAT'S PROPER MOTION. PROPER SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.

THE PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE. PROPER. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO 0.

OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. WE NOW HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS.

ONE BY MYSELF AND ONE BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

I THINK I'M GOING FIRST. CORRECT. AND? CAN I HAVE ANN AND NICOLE, PLEASE.

IS ATTACHED TO ME.

THIS IS ANN MCINTOSH AND NICOLE KASSELL. WHEREAS ON EMPOWERED WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS DAY, WE CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE AN IMPACT AS ENTREPRENEURS AND WHEREAS AND MCINTOSH AND NICOLE KASSELL, OPEN ALCHEMY WINE AND BAR, A BOUTIQUE WINE BAR IN THE CENTER OF THE VILLAGE OF HAMBURG, IN AUGUST OF 2018. WHEREAS ALCHEMY WINE BAR FOCUSES ON QUALITY WINES AND SMALL PRODUCERS AROUND THE WORLD.

[00:25:04]

WHEREAS THE COMPANY LAUNCHED INTO THE WINE CENTRIC TRAVEL BUSINESS BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

WHEREAS ANN AND NICOLE CONTINUE TO BE A FORCE IN THE WINE INDUSTRY TODAY AND THEIR EXAMPLE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY WILL FLOW THROUGHOUT GENERATIONS TO COME.

IT'S RESOLVED THAT THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE DOES HEREBY HONOR AND MCINTOSH NICOLE CASTLE DURING EMPOWERED WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS DAY, AND SINCERELY APPRECIATES THEIR LOVE FOR LIFE AND DEVOTION TO HAMBURG AND ERIE COUNTY.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATORS WISHES ANN MCINTOSH AND NICOLE CASTLE THE BEST OF HEALTH AND MORE SUCCESS IN THE YEAR TO COME.

I'D ALSO POINT OUT THAT I LIVE EIGHT HOUSES FROM THIS PLACE AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE, SO I'M HAPPY THEY'RE STILL GOOD GUYS. YEAH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. HI, EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR GILMORE, FOR HAVING US IN ERIE COUNTY FOR RECOGNIZING US TODAY.

NICOLE AND I HAVE BEEN ON A MISSION TO MAKE OUR HOMETOWN OF HAMBURG FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY. ONE DAY AT A TIME. FOR ME, BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR, ESPECIALLY AS A WOMAN, ISN'T ALWAYS EASY.

THERE'S A LOT OF BATTLES THAT NEED TO BE WON ON A DAILY BASIS THAT START RIGHT AT HOME EVEN BEFORE THE WORKDAY BEGINS.

AS A MOTHER OF TWO, AGES FIVE AND SIX, A WIFE, A DAUGHTER, A FRIEND AND AN ENTREPRENEUR, THE UNRELENTING PRESSURE ON WOMEN IN 2025 IS EVER PRESENT. I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DO EVERY DAY WITHOUT HELP FROM MY MOTHER, MY HUSBAND, MY NANNY. WHEN THEY SAY IT TAKES A VILLAGE, IT REALLY DOES.

MY HOPE IS THAT THERE ARE GIRLS AND WOMEN WHO WILL DARE TO DREAM, WHO WILL PUT PEN TO PAPER AND POP OPEN THAT LAPTOP AND MANIFEST WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO BUILD AND CREATE.

EDUCATE YOURSELF AND ABOVE ALL, HAVE THE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN DO IT.

IT STARTS WITH YOU. AND JUST TO TOUCH ON THE UNRELENTING PRESSURE OF WOMEN.

GIVE YOURSELF A LITTLE GRACE. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY.

I THINK WE'RE ALL DOING THE BEST WE CAN. AND I TRY TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN SPEAKING TO SUPPLIERS, STAFF, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. NOTHING'S PERFECT.

WE CAN JUST TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN EACH AND EVERY DAY.

AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU CAN BUILD SOMETHING MAGICAL TOO.

CHEERS.

OKAY. HI, EVERYONE. SO WE'VE CERTAINLY ALL SEEN THE NEWS AND THE CRAZY THINGS.

THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE TARIFFS. WINE HAS BEEN.

A LARGE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION SURROUNDING TARIFFS.

SO WE JUST HAVE A LITTLE STATEMENT AROUND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT.

SO WE.

STAND BEFORE.

YOU, NOT JUST.

AS A LOVER.

OF GOOD WINE.

BUT AS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES.

IN THE POWER OF SMALL BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD WINE BARS LIKE OURS AND MANY.

OTHERS.

THAT BRING.

COMMUNITIES ALL TOGETHER, ONE.

GLASS AT A TIME. SO AT FIRST GLANCE, TARIFFS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A GOOD WAY TO PROTECT AMERICAN INDUSTRY.

BUT THE REALITY IS, WHEN THE DEMAND FOR CALIFORNIA WINES OR OREGON WINES GO UP, THOSE PRICES ARE GOING TO GO UP AS WELL.

SO AT THE CORE, THESE TARIFFS INCREASE THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS NOT JUST FOR WINE BUYERS LIKE OURS, BUT FOR REALLY BARS AND WINE BARS AND RESTAURANTS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

EU WINES FROM FRANCE, ITALY, SPAIN, SOME THAT YOU MIGHT DRINK AND LOVE AREN'T JUST INDULGENCES, THEY'RE STAPLES ON OUR MENUS. AND PART OF THE AMERICAN DINING CULTURE, PATRONS EXPECT A DIVERSE SELECTION OF MANY WINES FROM EUROPE OFFER QUALITY, TRADITION AND VARIETY THAT JUST SIMPLY CAN'T BE REPLACED.

THEY LIMIT CONSUMER CHOICE. IT'S A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE FOR US.

PEOPLE COME TO WINE BARS TO EXPLORE, TO DISCOVER AND TARIFFS ULTIMATELY SHRINK THAT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO CUT BACK ON OUR IMPORTS, OFFERING FEWER WINES AND A NARROWER VIEW OF THE GLOBAL WINE SCENE.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT WHY PEOPLE COME TO A PLACE LIKE ALCHEMY OR WALK THROUGH OUR DOORS.

THEY LOOK FOR A DIVERSE EXPERIENCE. IT THREATENS OUR LOCAL JOBS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WINEMAKERS OR WINE BARS OVERSEAS, IT'S ABOUT THE SOMMELIERS, BARTENDERS, DISTRIBUTORS, IMPORTERS AND THE COUNTLESS SMALL BUSINESSES THAT RELY ON A THRIVING WINE SCENE TO FOR THEIR BUSINESSES TO THRIVE.

WHEN SALES DROP, JOBS ARE LOST, WHEN COSTS SPIKE, HOURS ARE CUT, AND THESE TARIFFS DON'T PROTECT JOBS, THEY ARREST THEM. LET'S NOT FORGET THE RIPPLE EFFECT FROM WINE IMPORTERS AND TRANSPORTERS TO GLASSWARE VENDORS AND FOOD VENDORS.

THIS INDUSTRY IS SO DEEPLY CONNECTED AND WHEN ONE PART SUFFERS, THE WHOLE CHAIN CAN FEEL IT.

SO TONIGHT, I HOPE WE CAN ALL RAISE A GLASS TO COMMON SENSE TARIFF LAWS.

LET'S KEEP OUR WINE LIST DIVERSE, OUR PRICES FAIR AND OUR COMMUNITIES STRONG.

[00:30:01]

THANK YOU.

THANKS. IF YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF IN THE VILLAGE OF HAMBURG, I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S THE PLACE TO BE.

MAKE SURE YOU STOP IN AND GIVE ME A CALL. WE'LL MEET YOU UP THERE.

JOHN BARGNESI.

OKAY. HOPE AND HER MOTHER.

COME ON. COME ON. OKAY.

YOU COULD EITHER STAND HERE OR DO YOU WANT TO SIT UP HERE SO YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT BETTER? WHAT DO YOU THINK? IT'S UP TO YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS HONOR [INAUDIBLE] AND HER MOTHER, BRIGITTE.

NOW, BEFORE WE GET STARTED AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YOUNG LADY HAS DONE.

THERE'S ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO DO AND BEAR WITH ME ON THIS.

IN THE AKRON SCHOOL SYSTEM, THERE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THAT IS READ EVERY MORNING WITH THE PLEDGE.

I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY ON IT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE OF THE STUDENTS COME UP AND READ IT. A NATIVE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT IS A STATEMENT THAT RECOGNIZES AND RESPECTS THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY INHABITED AND CARED FOR THE LAND IN WHICH THEY LIVE.

IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THEIR LAND.

THESE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE ONGOING EFFECTS OF COLONIZATION.

THEY CAN SERVE. THEY CAN SERVE AS A WAY TO HONOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, THEIR TRADITIONS, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LAND AND SOCIETY.

THE FIRST STEP IN FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING, DIALOG, AND RECONCILIATION.

THE AKRON SCHOOL COMMUNITY INCLUDES THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT AS PART OF THEIR DAILY MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS.

I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS UNTIL I STARTED READING ABOUT THIS FINE YOUNG LADY, AND I'VE LEARNED THAT MANY DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT ERIE COUNTY DO THIS NOW.

SO I ASK YOU ALL TO RISE, PLEASE. AND WE HAVE TWO STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO READ IT FOR US.

STATE YOUR NAME SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO YOU GUYS ARE.

I'M LUCAS FORESTELL. I'M JORDAN [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. CAN.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE GATHERED ON THE TRADITIONAL LANDS OF THE TONAWANDA SENECA PEOPLE.

WE HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE LAND AND TO THE SENECA PEOPLE AS THE CARETAKERS THROUGHOUT THE GENERATIONS. WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE TONAWANDA SENECA NATION WITH THE SPIRIT OF RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING.

THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO OUR MAIN EVENT.

SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, YOU ARE MY CITIZEN OF THE MONTH FOR ALL OF ERIE COUNTY.

I CHOSE YOU. THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, ISN'T IT? BECAUSE YOU'RE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? YOU'RE PRETTY HUMBLE. YOU'RE PRETTY HUMBLE, TOO. JUST SO YOU KNOW.

THIS IS HOPE. SHE WAS ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.

I REACHED OUT TO SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, AND THEY SENT ME MANY COPIES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO HAVE, ALONG WITH DOVE. THAT IS THE SPONSOR. THEY'RE VERY PROUD OF HER.

AND THEY ACTUALLY WANT A COPY OF THIS. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO POST IT ON THEIR WEBSITE, BUT THEY SAID GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOU.

SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND NOW. HONOR IS AN EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG LADY WHO HAS TRULY MADE HER MARK IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS AND BEYOND.

RECENTLY FEATURED ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR HER IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN WRESTLING.

AS THE NEW YORK STATE GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP, HONOR HAS DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND HARD WORK.

SHE HAS EMBODIED THE GO GETTER, ALWAYS PUTTING THE EFFORT TO PUSH HERSELF FURTHER NO MATTER THE CHALLENGE.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST HER ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT THAT SET HER APART.

SHE IS KIND, RESPECTFUL AND ALWAYS READY TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO ANYBODY IN NEED.

WITH HER INFECTIOUS ENERGY, SHE INSPIRES THOSE AROUND HER TO BE THEIR BEST AND HER GENUINE FRIENDSHIP MAKES HER A BELOVED PERSON IN ANY ROOM.

HONORS FUTURE IS LIMITLESS, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT SHE WILL CONTINUE TO SHINE BRIGHTLY,

[00:35:02]

SO WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY. WHERE IS OUR? DOES ANYBODY HAVE IT FOR ME? UNDERNEATH. SEE? GOOD THING I HAVE PEOPLE HERE.

ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS FOR YOU. I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU HOLD THIS.

CAN YOU HOLD THAT? YEAH, I'M GOING TO READ JUST A FEW OF THEM BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YOUNG LADY HAS DONE.

ALL RIGHT. SO HONOR SMOKE AND CITIZEN OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL 22ND.

DON'T PLAY ON THE PHONE. FOREVER. HONOR SMOKE, A FIFTH GRADER FROM AKRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, STARTED WRESTLING AT THE AGE OF SEVEN AND HAS SINCE THEN MADE WAVES IN A TYPICALLY MALE DOMINATED SPORT.

WHEREAS SINCE HER WRESTLING DEBUT, HONOR WENT ON TO WIN FIRST PLACE IN THE GIRLS DIVISION OF HER AGE WEIGHT BRACKET AND NEW YORK STATE WRESTLING ASSOCIATION FOR YOUTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SYRACUSE, WHEREAS THIS YEAR HONOR PLACED THIRD IN THE USA WRESTLING KIDS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

WHEREAS BECAUSE OF HER PERSISTENCE, SKILL, AND HARD WORK, HONOR MADE HISTORY AS THE YOUNGEST ATHLETE EVER TO APPEAR ON SPORTS ILLUSTRATED PROMOTIONAL COVER. WHEREAS HONOR PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHER YOUNG GIRLS TO JOIN THE AKRON YOUTH WRESTLING CLUB, INCLUDING HER YOUNGER SISTER, WHO SHE ACTUALLY HELPED COACH. WHEREAS HONOR'S GOAL IS TO WRESTLE IN THE OLYMPICS AND SHE ALSO PLANS TO PURSUE HER BASKETBALL AND CHEERLEADING AS HER PASSION FOR SPORTS. WHEREAS HER JOURNEY THUS FAR NOTHING SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY.

AND IT IS WITH GREAT ADMIRATION AN HONORABLE BODY ACKNOWLEDGES AND THANKS HONOR SMOKE FOR HER LEADERSHIP, SOLIDIFYING HER GENUINE CHARACTER. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE DOES HEREBY HONOR HONOR SMOKE AS THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATOR CITIZEN OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL 2025.

FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL SKILL FOR HER TIRELESS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HER WRESTLING CRAFT.

PROUDLY REPRESENTING HER FAMILY, THE TONAWANDA COMMUNITY, AKRON SCHOOL, AND ERIE COUNTY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GIVE YOU HONOR. CONGRATULATIONS.

LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. MOM, COME ON UP HERE. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO RIGHT HERE. NOW. THEY TOLD ME THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE BASHFUL AND WOULD LOVE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND MAYBE MOM WILL HELP YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? YEAH. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO STEP ASIDE AND LET YOU TAKE THE FLOOR.

OKAY.

WHEN I FOUND OUT I WAS THE YOUNGEST ATHLETE TO EVER BE ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, I WAS SUPER EXCITED. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED AND I WANTED TO SHOW THAT BEING SPORTY IS AWESOME.

NO MATTER. WHAT YOU CAN DO. WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.

I HOPE I CAN INSPIRE OTHER GIRLS TO BE THEMSELVES AND FOLLOW AFTER THEIR DREAMS. IT'S UP TO YOU.

HI, EVERYBODY. I'M HONOR'S MOM. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, THE SUPPORT IS AMAZING FROM HER CLASSMATES.

HER TEACHERS. THE SCHOOL, THE DISTRICT AND ERIE COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE SUPPORT HELPS YOUNG ATHLETES AND INDIVIDUALS LIKE HONOR CONTINUE TO STAY IN THE GAME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. ONE LAST THING.

I AM KEEPING ONE OF THESE. THESE ARE ALL FOR YOU.

YOU CAN TAKE THAT POST AT HOME, BUT I NEED YOU TO AUTOGRAPH MY COPY FOR MY OFFICE.

CAN YOU DO THAT? I BROUGHT YOU A SHARPIE. BECAUSE SOMEDAY THIS IS GOING TO BE [INAUDIBLE].

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

[00:40:03]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

OKAY. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. LOCAL LAWS.

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

BARGNESI. THANK YOU. CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO SEPARATE ITEMS NUMBER EIGHT AND NINE FROM THE REPORT AND RECRUIT APPROVE THE BALANCE.

SECOND. I HAVE A PROPER MOTION AND A PROPER SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO 0.

OKAY. THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT IS APPROVED, MISTER BARGNESI.

OKAY. I'D LIKE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. OKAY.

GOT A PROPER MOTION, A PROPER SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

HOLD ON. WE'RE ON NUMBER EIGHT. I SEPARATED. BY SEPARATION.

I BELIEVE IT'S A RESOLUTION THAT CALLED FOR US TO VOTE ON IT.

SO WE HAD TO SEPARATE OUT. SO WE'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

ALL RIGHT.

ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.

9 TO 0.

OKAY. SO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS APPROVED. LEGISLATIVE.

I'D LIKE TO APPROVE MOTION TO APPROVE NUMBER NINE, A PROPER MOTION.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. PROPER SECOND. ON THE QUESTION.

OKAY. ROLL CALL VOTE.

ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER NINE FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT.

9 TO 0.

OKAY, SO ITEM NUMBER NINE IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER 4 OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

MR. DUPRE. THANK YOU. CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO SEPARATE ITEM NUMBER FOUR AND APPROVE THE BALANCE.

THE PROPER MOTION AND PROPER SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO 0.

OKAY. THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT IS APPROVED. MR. DUPRE, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR AND PROPER MOTION PROPER SECOND ON THE QUESTION. ROLL CALL.

VOTE ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FOUR FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

[INAUDIBLE]. EXPLAIN MY VOTE JUST REAL QUICK. THIS IS GOING TO ADD A COUPLE.

HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

IN COSTS OVERALL AND I TAKE IN A TIME WHERE WE NEED.

TO BE LOOKING AT REDUCING OUR COSTS, WE SHOULD PROBABLY NOT.

BE EXPANDING OUR BUDGET.

YOUR VOTE IS NOW.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YES.

OKAY. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER FIVE.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. GET A PROPER MOTION. PROPER SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

[00:45:08]

0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. OKAY. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS.

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

MODIFICATIONS OF SOUTHEAST AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT NUMBER 15.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

GOT A PROPER MOTION. PROPER SECONDS. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO 0.

OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE. THERE ARE NONE.

[ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:]

THERE ARE TWO SUSPENSIONS TODAY. THE FIRST IS FROM LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

LETTER OF ABSENCE FOR SESSION NUMBER SEVEN.

MADAM CLERK.

COMMUNICATIONS 7E-19.

THIS ITEM WILL RECEIVE FILED AND PRINTED MAJORITY LEADER.

SECOND SUSPENSION IS FROM LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD THE REAPPORTIONMENT OF COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS.

MADAM CLERK INTRO 7-2.

MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

A PROPER MOTION. PROPER. SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANYBODY OPPOSED? MOVING ON. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

COMMUNICATION 7E-7. MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

A PROPER MOTION PROPER. SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO 0 MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 7E THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 7E-10.

AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATION 7E-11.

MAJORITY LEADER MOVED FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

I GOT A PROPER MOTION, A PROPER SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO 0.

MOTION CARRIES. COMMUNICATION 7E-12.

MAJORITY FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

THE PROPER MOTION PROPER. SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO 0.

OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIED. COMMUNICATION 7E-13.

MAJORITY MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

PROPER MOTION. PROPER. SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO 0.

MOTION CARRIES. COMMUNICATION 7014. MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

PROPER MOTION PROPER. SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ROLL CALL.

VOTE ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS. COMMUNICATION 7E-14.

LEGISLATOR GREENE.

EXPLAIN MY V OTE. JUST AS I STATED EARLIER.

I THINK.

THIS IS A TIME WHERE WE SHOULD.

STAND AND [INAUDIBLE] NO DISRESPECT, CHAIRMAN, BUT MUCH LIKE YOU KNOW, I HAVE SAID IN THE EARLIER ONE, I THINK IN A TIME RIGHT NOW WHERE WE NEED TO BE TIGHTENING OUR BELT.

WE SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT YOU KNOW, INCREASING COST.

SO MY VOTE IS TAKEN.

THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR.

6 TO 3.

ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 7E-15.

MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

THE PROPER MOTION PROPER. SECOND. ON THE QUESTION.

ON THE QUESTION. ROLL CALL.

VOTE ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE. COMMUNICATION 7E-15.

6 TO 3.

THE MOTION CARRIES. AN ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 7E- 16 AND 7E-17 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATION. 7018 MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE TO CONSIDER ITEM NUMBER COMMUNICATION 7E-18 FROM CHAIR MYERS.

APPOINTMENT FOR COMMISSIONER OF ERIE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY.

[00:50:04]

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 9 TO 0.

MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. SO. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER OF THE ERIE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY.

MAJORITY LEADER.

I NOMINATE JEROME D SCHAD FOR THE POSITION I WAS EXPRESSED DURING THE COMMITTEE.

MY REASONS THAT HE IS BY FAR THE BEST QUALITY CANDIDATE.

AND I WAS APPRECIATIVE OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES. HE'S A WONDERFUL CANDIDATE. WE HAVE A SIGNED PETITION BY OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS, DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH I'D LIKE TO OFFER PROPER MOTION.

SECOND. UPPER SECOND. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? MOVE TO CLOSED NOMINATIONS.

THERE'S A MOTION BY THE JURY. SECOND BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS ON THE QUESTION.

MOVE TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION. 7E-18 APPOINTING JEROME D SHAD TO A THREE YEAR TERM AS COMMISSIONER OF THE ERIE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY.

ANY QUESTION? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 6 TO 0.

OKAY. SO NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED. MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE TO.

APPROVE. I THINK I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. MOVE TO APPROVE.

COMMUNICATION 7E-18. OKAY. APPOINTING JEROME J.

MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION SECOND ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? 6 TO 0 . THE EDIT WAS APPROVED AND MR. SHAWN IS APPOINTED.

CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE LEGISLATOR WILL HAVE ONE COMMITTEE MEETING ON THURSDAY, APRIL 17TH AT 12 P.M.

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THERE'S PIZZA AND BROWNIES . SO COME ON OVER. THERE'S TONS OF PIZZA. DELIVERY GUY DROPPED ONE [INAUDIBLE].

COME ON DOWN. COME ON. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? JUST WANT TO SAY EVERYBODY HAD A WONDERFUL EASTER.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WILL YOU PLEASE RISE FOR MORE RESOLUTIONS?

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU. I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF NICOLE DETTMAN AND LAURA DEJESUS.

LAURA WAS A LOVING MOTHER OF BEN, MARILYN, AND SOLOMON.

SHE WAS A VERY.

TALENTED.

BUFFALO EDUCATOR AND ALSO AN.

AUTHOR.

OF CHILDREN'S.

BOOKS.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. THANK YOU. CHIEF.

AND WE HAVE A LAWYER [INAUDIBLE]. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN FAVOR OF JOHN FERLITO.

LONG TIME, WONDERFUL TRIAL LAWYER, HUSBAND OF JUDGE ALITO AND FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR HER AND FIERCE THE HELPED HER CAMPAIGN TO GET ELECTED AND JUST A WONDERFUL PERSON AND ADVOCATE FOR HIS CLIENTS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

GAVE SO MUCH TO THE BAR ASSOCIATION IN THE FORM OF THE NEW YORK STATE TRIAL LAWYERS, AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN TRIAL LAWYERS, NOW ASSOCIATION OF JUSTICE AS A LEADER THERE AND AN EDUCATOR THERE, AND THE FATHER OF JOHN, JOE, KATE AND [INAUDIBLE] CHAMPION. AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF RITA GRACE MCDERMOTT, BORN RITA GRACE ATTIA, WHO'S A MOTHER OF A HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE ELIZABETH MCDERMOTT SCHAEFER, AS WELL AS JOANNA PATRICK.

WHO ELSE? [INAUDIBLE]. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF CHI [INAUDIBLE]. CHI WAS KILLED LAST WEEK IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN FLORIDA.

ONLY 19 YEARS OLD AND A RECENT GRADUATE OF SAINT JOE'S.

HE WAS VOLUNTEERED HIS TIME TO TEACH TRACK AT MOUNT SAINT MARY'S TO YOUNG GIRLS ON HIS OWN DIME.

HE WAS BELOVED BY THE SAINT JOE'S COMMUNITY, THE MOUNT SAINT MARY'S COMMUNITY.

[00:55:04]

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? YES. IN MEMORY OF GARY WHITMAN, PATRICIA NIKKI, AND ROBERT REIFLER. THANK YOU. MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION PROPER.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THANKS, EVERYONE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.