Jun 05, 2025 Legislative Session

[00:00:03]

OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I'D LIKE TO CALL MEETING NUMBER 11 OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE JUNE 5TH,

[ ROLL CALL]

BARGNESI? HERE. DUPRE? KOOSHOIAN? HERE. MEYERS? HERE. SAINT JEAN TARD ? HERE. AND VINAL. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. THANK YOU.

PLEASE RISE, IF YOU ARE ABLE FOR THE INVOCATION TO BE LED BY LEGISLATOR GREENE.

THANK YOU, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE LED BY LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN.

AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. OKAY, CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. TABLED ITEMS, THERE ARE NONE. ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FOR THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 10]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. CARRY UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. PUBLIC HEARINGS, THERE ARE NONE. MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE AND CONTINUED ON TO PAGE THREE.

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 ZERO. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE [INAUDIBLE] SPONSORSHIP.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO INCLUDE [INAUDIBLE] BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED, AS AMENDED.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. LOCAL LAWS.

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

COMMITTEE REPORTS. COMMITTEE REPORT NUMBER SIX FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, MAJORITY LEADER.

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER EIGHT FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MOVE TO SEPARATE ITEM NUMBER TWO AND APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT.

SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD, SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY, NOW WE'RE LOOKING TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER TWO OF THE REPORT.

MR. CHAIR, CAN WE MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER TWO? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER TWO.

WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ROLL CALL VOTE. ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER TWO FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. YES, I'LL EXPLAIN MY VOTE.

DESPITE SOME POLITICAL POSTURING, THIS MONEY IS ALREADY OBLIGATED.

IT HAS BEEN STATED BY THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION THAT IT IS ALREADY OBLIGATED AND WILL STAY OBLIGATED.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES.

IT IS ALREADY OBLIGATED. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS STATED IT IS ALREADY OBLIGATED.

SO WHAT THIS IS, IS LARGELY POLITICAL POSTURING.

BUT IN THE LAST RESOLVED CLAUSE, IT ALSO STATES THE OPPOSITION TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S TAX LEGISLATION.

IF WE OPPOSE THAT, THEN WE ARE SUPPORTING AN INCREASE IN TAXES ON ALL OUR CONSTITUENTS, AN INCREASE, YOU KNOW, THIS LEGISLATION ALSO INCREASES THE SOLE DEDUCTION OF $40,000, WHICH IMPACTS ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

FOR THOSE REASONS, I OPPOSE THIS. THANK YOU. YOUR VOTE WAS A YES? NO. LEGISLATOR LORIGO. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE.

I VOTED NO ON THIS IN COMMITTEE. I THINK THE PROJECT ASIDE, I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.

LIKE LEGISLATOR GREENE SAID, MONEY HAS BEEN OBLIGATED AND CONFIRMED IS OBLIGATED. SO I JUST DON'T WANT TO CAUSE ANY, YOU KNOW, CONCERN OR FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY UNJUSTIFIED.

[00:05:02]

LEGISLATOR MILLS. NO. LEGISLATOR TODARO. I´LL EXPLAIN MY VOTE.

I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN LANGWORTHY.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED. IT HAS NOT BEEN PUT BACK ON THE TABLE AND TALK ABOUT THIS.

IN 2019 UNTIL NOW, IT'S UNTOUCHED. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD AS WELL.

I AM A NO. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. DUPRE.

YES. GILMOUR? YES. KOOSHOIAN? YES. MEYERS? YES.

SAINT JEAN TARD? YES, I WANT TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE AS THIS IS MY RESOLUTION.

SO THE BIGGEST ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT, BECAUSE I'VE STARTED BEING INVOLVED WITH THE BAILEY AVENUE PROJECT WHEN I WAS A STAFFER, WHEN THERE WAS NO MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND AT THIS TIME, AFTER HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH CONGRESSMAN KENNEDY, WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL NFTA.

AT THIS MOMENT, FROM $102 MILLION PROJECT, ONLY $1 MILLION IS SPENT AND THIS PROJECT IS AT RISK.

I WAS TOLD NOW, LEGALLY, NFTA CANNOT SAY THAT.

WE HAVE TO WAIT, BUT AS A LEGISLATOR, THAT REPRESENTS AN ENVIRONMENT, A COMMUNITY THAT LITERALLY NEVER GETS INVESTMENT IN. I HAVE TO USE MY VOICE. SO THIS MONEY WOULD TRANSFORM BAILEY AVENUE.

SO I UNDERSTAND INDIVIDUALS HAVE NOTHING AGAINST HAVING MONEY TO COME TO THIS AREA, BUT WITH THIS BILL, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR IT TO BE CLAWED BACK. AND I AM NOT GOING TO STAND HERE AND NOT FIGHT FOR MY COMMUNITY.

SO IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN DOWN BAILEY AVENUE, IF YOU CAME AND MENTION A CROSS STREET OF BAILEY AVENUE.

THEN PLEASE DON'T MESS WITH OUR MONEY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AND LEGISLATOR VINAL. YES. VOTE IS 7 TO 4.

THANK YOU. REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER SIX FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR DUPRE. THANK YOU. CHAIR. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR DUPRE, SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER EIGHT FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LLEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, THANK YOU.

THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER FIVE FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR.

SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES.

LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS. INTRO. 11-1 FROM THE MAJORITY CAUCUS.

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE RESOLUTION IS AMENDED, MAJORITY LEADER.

[INAUDIBLE]. WE HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. MOTION CARRIES.

THE RESOLUTION IS AMENDED, MAJORITY LEADER. [INAUDIBLE]. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL AND LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED, AS AMENDED.

COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE. MAJORITY LEADER.

[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. MOTION CARRIES.

MAJORITY LEADER. [INAUDIBLE]. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES THAT PREVIOUSLY WAS RESCINDED BY THE SPONSORS.

THERE ARE NO SUSPENSIONS AT THIS TIME. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS. THERE ARE NONE.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM PEOPLE IN OTHER AGENCIES.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

[00:10:01]

ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT THURSDAY, JUNE 12TH.

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? PLEASE RISE FOR THE MEMORIAL RESOLUTION.

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF [INAUDIBLE], WHO WAS A LONGTIME SUPPORTER AND MOVER AND SHAKER WHO PLAYED BASEBALL AND HELPED TO DEVELOP A LOT OF FIELDS THAT WE HAVE TODAY. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

MINORITY LEADER? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF [INAUDIBLE].

SHE'S THE MOTHER OF JUDGE KEN CASE. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

LEGISLATOR BARGNESI? I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF [INAUDIBLE], A LONG TIME KEN TOWN SCHOOL TEACHER, BASKETBALL COACH, AND TRACK COACH. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

[INAUDIBLE] A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE HONORED WITH [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR OF SAINT JEAN TARD. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.