May 22, 2025 Legislative Session

[00:00:02]

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO ORDER MEETING NUMBER TEN OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, MAY 22ND,

[ ROLL CALL]

QUORUM PRESENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. PLEASE RISE FOR THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

THANK YOU. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE.

LED BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.

THANK YOU. OKAY. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA.

TABLED ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE. ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION.

THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

MAJORITY LEADER MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 9]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. OKAY. THE MINUTES ARE CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE ARE NONE. MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE AND CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE.

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. OKAY. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE MAJORITY MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE ETHANOL SPONSORSHIP.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO INCLUDE THAT ALL.

AND THE MAJORITY LEADER SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS. ZERO.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED. SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED, AS AMENDED. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION LED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. DO YOU WANT TO BE HERE? TODAY? I'M TODAY, ON BEHALF OF CHAIR MYERS AND I, WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH AWARENESS DAY IN ERIE COUNTY, A DAY THAT BRINGS MUCH NEEDED ATTENTION TO A RARE AND OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD SPEECH DISORDER THAT AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY ONE IN EVERY THOUSAND CHILDREN.

CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH, OR CAS, IS A NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER THAT MAKES IT HARD FOR CHILDREN TO FORM THE SOUNDS NEEDED FOR SPEECH.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY, BUT GETTING THE WORDS OUT IS A DAILY CHALLENGE.

CAS IS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS SPEECH DISORDERS IN CHILDREN AND REQUIRES ONGOING FOCUS, THERAPY AND STRONG SUPPORT.

WE ARE HONORED TO WELCOME COURTNEY MALECKI, A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER IN THE BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND HER SON JACK, WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH DYSLEXIA.

COURTNEY'S COMMITMENT AS BOTH AN EDUCATOR AND A PARENT REFLECTS THE STRENGTH WE SO OFTEN SEE IN FAMILIES NAVIGATING THIS PATH.

HER ADVOCACY IS HELPING RAISE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

BEHIND EVERY CHILD IS A TEAM FAMILIES, TEACHERS, THERAPISTS, DOCTORS, AND NEIGHBORS ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP A CHILD FIND THEIR VOICE.

THEIR WORK IS RARELY VISIBLE, BUT IT IS AN ABSOLUTE.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL. THIS PROCLAMATION IS NOT JUST SYMBOLIC, IT'S A COMMITMENT TO INCREASING AWARENESS, EXPANDING ACCESS TO SERVICES, AND MAKING SURE THAT CHILDREN RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE.

AND IT'S A REMINDER THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE. THIS LEGISLATURE AND THIS COMMUNITY STANDS WITH THEM .

TO JACK AND THE FAMILY AND EVERY FAMILY WORKING THROUGH APRAXIA.

WE SEE YOU; WE SUPPORT YOU, AND WE THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AGAIN. I DID THIS LAST YEAR.

I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO CRY. WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR. AS YOU CAN SEE, HE'S ALL GROWN.

HE'S COME SO FAR. HE STILL HAS A WAYS TO GO, BUT THIS HELPS.

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU, MAJORITY LEADER. OKAY. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, LOCAL LAWS ENSURE 2-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING LOCAL LAW

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

COMMITTEE REPORTS. REPORT NUMBER FIVE FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

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

REPORT NUMBER SEVEN FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY LEGISLATOR.

SECOND, BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. OKAY. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER FIVE FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR DUPRE.

THANK YOU. CHAIR. MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY LEGISLATOR DUPREE, WHO IS THE SECOND I MISSED IT.

MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. OKAY. THE ORDERS ARE APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER SEVEN FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI? CONSIDERATION. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI, SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

LEGISLATOR. RESOLUTIONS 10-1 FROM LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARDE.

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

I JUST WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION.

SO WITH PARTNERSHIP ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THERE IS A POTENTIAL $103 MILLION CUT IN DISTRICT TWO FOR BAILEY AVENUE.

THIS AREA HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FOR YEARS SINCE 2018, SO WE ARE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER IN EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO FIGHT BACK, TO ENSURE THAT THE STREET GETS PAVED. WE HAVE BETTER TRANSIT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT WE INVEST IN THE EAST SIDE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR. COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE COMMITTEE, MAJORITY LEADER.

[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]

THERE'S A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? THIS IS THE DISTRICT, RIGHT? YES. THANK YOU. OKAY.

ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE DISCHARGE. COMMUNICATION 69.

. 8 TO 2. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SAFE HERE.

WE'RE MOVING TO 9-20. IS THAT WHERE WE ARE? YES.

OKAY. MAJORITY LEADER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. COMMUNICATION IS 9-21 POLICY COMMITTEE WITH THE CBS CORPORATION UNDER CONTRACT FOR A NEW

[00:10:06]

ROLL CALL. VOTE ON THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 9-20.

LEGISLATOR GREENE NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR. THERE WE GO.

EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I THINK IN OUR LAST COMMITTEE MEETING, ONE LEGISLATOR, GREENE, RAISED SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS THAT THIS COULD HAVE FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY AND CONTRACTS.

THOSE QUESTIONS STILL HAVE YET TO BE ANSWERED. SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M VOTING NO. THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR MILLS.

. THE VOTE IS 6 TO 4. SO THE ITEM IS DISCHARGED.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM. SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARDE.

I HAVE A QUESTION. HANG ON, LET ME ON THE FLOOR.

THANKS. THE REASON WHY I THINK WE SHOULD VOTE NO ON THIS FOR NOW IS MULTIFOLD.

ONE IS THAT THE REASON IS THAT THE INTERSECTION IS DANGEROUS.

IT'S DANGEROUS FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING AT CENTRAL SERVICES.

NUMBER TWO IS THE PROPONENT OF IT, STATED WHO I REALLY LIKE AND ADMIRE AND THINK HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT STATED THAT MOST ALL THE EMPLOYEES DON'T EVEN USE THEIR PARKING VOUCHERS AS OF NOW.

SO, THE THIRD REASON IS, IS THAT IT'S AN EXPENSE TO ONE GROUP OF OUR HIGHEST AMONG THE HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE IN OUR AREA, IN OUR EMPLOYEE. AND IT'S NOT UNIFORM TO ALL.

SO, I DON'T SEE WHY THE PEOPLE ARE THE HIGHEST PAID SHOULD GET FREE PARKING. NOT THAT THEY CAN'T CHOOSE TO PARK THERE AND USE THEIR PARKING VOUCHER, BUT TO HAVE A CONTRACT TO THAT BENEFITS ONE PARKING OWNER. I DON'T THINK IS IN OUR INTEREST ON IT.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE BETTER TO FURTHER DISCUSS IT AND SEE WHAT THE NEED IS AND SEE WHAT THE COST WILL BE TO THE COUNTY, AND TO SEE WHO I'D RATHER KNOW WHO GETS FREE PARKING AND WHO DOESN'T BEFORE WE GIVE FREE PARKING TO ONE PARTICULAR GROUP.

OTHER QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT I ALREADY SAID ABOUT THIS ITEM.

MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PARKING LOT. I ALSO AGREE WITH VINAL.

I KNOW WE'VE BEEN GETTING INTO MORE PARKING LOT AGREEMENTS, AND I THINK WHEN WE'RE OFFERING AN INCENTIVE ALREADY AN INCENTIVE, BUT WE DO PAY FOR SOME PARKING FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE OFFERING TO SOME AND NOT OTHERS, AND NOT ON THIS, BUT A SEPARATE ITEM WE DO NOT MOVE TO CONSIDER.

60-9. WE JUST MOVED TO DISCHARGE. I THINK WE HAVE TO CHECK THAT.

DO WE CONSIDER IT? CONSIDER. HE DID IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

YEAH. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT. HANG ON. WE'RE GOING TO LET THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES SPEAK ON THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE.

SPEAK ON THIS. YEAH, I HAVEN'T SPOKEN A LOT, BUT I JUST WANT TO LET THE MINORITY CAUCUS KNOW THAT I DID HAVE A NICE CONVERSATION WITH LEGISLATOR GREENE, WHO WAS NOT PRESENT LAST THURSDAY DURING THE FIRE DRILL.

WE HAD A CONVERSATION ALSO WITH BEN CAMP AFTER TALKING TO BRIAN ROSS AND PROVIDED HIM ALL THE INFORMATION THAT HE NEEDED.

AND HE TOLD ME AT THAT TIME THAT THANKFULLY HE WOULD VOTE YES.

OBVIOUSLY, HE'S NOT HERE, BUT I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT THE QUESTIONS THAT CHRIS GREENE ASKED WERE ABSOLUTELY ANSWERED.

I'M SORRY THAT THOSE WERE NOT RELATED TO THE REST OF THE CAUCUS.

I HAVE.

WHAT SHOULD GILMOUR [INAUDIBLE]. I'M JUST TALKING TO THE CLERK.

WE NEED A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR DUPREE ON THE QUESTION.

ROLL CALL VOTE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT.

ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION. 19-20.

[00:15:21]

THERE ARE NONE. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

COMMUNICATION 10.E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING TEN E DASH 36 AS INDICATED.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

COMMUNICATION TEN ONE AND COMMUNICATIONS TEN M-2 AS INDICATED.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS. LET'S SAY I GO TO CLOSE IN HONOR OF

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. THANK YOU. CHAIR. I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF A DEAR FRIEND, THOMAS R ZUCKER, KNOWN AS TZ. THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS A FRIEND OF MINE AND A FRIEND OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN WESTERN NEW YORK ALONE.

HE TOUCHED THE LIVES OF MANY, AND HE WILL BE MISSED.

AND I ALSO MOVED TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF HENRY CLEAR.

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. A MOMENT'S SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE WITH THE LORD.

THANK YOU. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARDE. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.