[ ROLL CALL] [00:00:06] HEY GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY I'D LIKE TO CALL SESSION NUMBER 12 JUNE 26TH, 2025 TO ORDER, MEETING NUMBER 12 OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE. CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL. LEGISLATOR GREENEE, HERE. MILLS, HERE. TODARO, HERE. BARGNESI, HERE. DUPREE. GILMOUR. KOOSHOIAN. MEYERS, HERE. SAINT JEAN TARD HERE. AND VINAL. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. THANK YOU. PLEASE RISE, THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO. [ INVOCATION: Mr. Todaro] HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS, ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR LOVE FOR US AND OUR NEIGHBORS. GRANT US GUIDANCE AND WISDOM AS WE WORK TO BETTER THE COMMUNITY YOU HAVE GIVEN US. AMEN. THANK YOU LEGISLATOR. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE LED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL. [ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Ms. Vinal] AGENDA A LITTLE BIT SLOWER TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT IN FRONT OF US. JUST BEAR WITH ME. OKAY. CONTINUING ON TABLED ITEMS, THERE ARE NONE. ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, MAJORITY LEADER. [ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 11] MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. SECOND, BY LEGISLATOR VINAL FOR MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT AT 6 P.M. [ PUBLIC HEARING: June 26th, 2025 - 6PM; Local Law Intro. 2-1 (2025)] REGARDING LOCAL LAW INTRO 2-1, THE LOCAL LAW FOR THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE, AND CONTINUED ON THE PAGE FOR, MAJORITY LEADER. [ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS: ] MOVE TO CONSIDER. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MOVE TO INCLUDE AT ALL SPONSORSHIP. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO INCLUDE AT ALL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THANK YOU. 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? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THANK YOU. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED. WE'LL NOW PAUSE FOR THE CITIZEN OF THE MONTH PRESENTATION BY LEGISLATOR SENATOR GREENE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. GOOD MORNING. SO HEROIC AND EXTRAORDINARY ACTIONS OFTEN RESULT FROM ORDINARY SITUATIONS. AS WE LIVE OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES THERE WILL INEVITABLY BE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE HAVE THE NEED FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. IN THIS HONORABLE BODY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, HAS WORKED TO SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION. WE'VE RECOGNIZED THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT, AND WE'VE ACTED AGAIN. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY WORKING AS YOU KNOW, STATE MAKES ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE WILL OPT IN AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM. BUT NOTHING BOOSTS THE VALUE AND APPRECIATION LIKE HAVING A NEED FOR THEM YOURSELF. AND THAT HAPPENED TO ME A FEW YEARS BACK, WHERE A LITTLE AFTER MIDNIGHT, A DRYER FIRE STARTED IN MY HOUSE AND IT WAS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. MY WIFE WOKE ME UP I WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND YOU KNOW, THAT LITTLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS BASICALLY THE EQUIVALENT OF SPITTING ON A CAMPFIRE, DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. 911 DIALED, FIVE MINUTES LATER, A FIREMAN BY THE NAME OF MIKE RYAN SHOWED UP AT MY HOUSE AND HE WAS CARRYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD TO BE 80 OR 100 POUNDS AND WAS IN THERE AND ABLE TO SAVE MY HOUSE, ESSENTIALLY. PROBABLY I MEAN, IT WAS 4 OR 5FT OF SMOKE COMING DOWN FROM THE CEILING. [00:05:05] AND FROM THAT DAY, THAT GUY IS THE HERO THAT, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, SAVED MY HOUSE. AND I HAVE APPRECIATION FOR THAT, THAT GOES, YOU KNOW, VERY DEEPLY. IN APRIL, BRODY HERE, WHO IS A FIREMAN, TOOK A TRIP DOWN TO FLORIDA [INAUDIBLE] HE TOOK A TRIP DOWN TO FLORIDA, AND THE FIRST THING THEY DID IS THEY HAD A LAYOVER IN ATLANTA, AND THEY GO OUT AND HAVE DINNER AT THEIR LUNCH. AND AS THEY'RE SITTING DOWN, MAN PASSES OUT AT THE BAR, NOT FROM THE ALCOHOL. AND BRODY STEPS IN AND STARTS IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW, DELIVERING FIRST AID TO THE MAN, YOU KNOW THERE'S EITHER THAT FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE, AND SOME PEOPLE CAN STAND THERE LIKE A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS, AND OTHERS CALL TO ACTION AND GO IN AND DO THE JOB. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID THERE. THE REST OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVED. AND TO THE DELIGHT OF BRODY'S PARENTS, KATIE AND MATT, THEY GOT FREE LUNCH. THEN THEY GET DOWN TO FLORIDA AND AGAIN, ORDINARY TIMES GOING, YOU KNOW, HANGING OUT BY THE WATER AS PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY GO ON A VACATION. AND THE MAN OF THE KAYAK OVERTURNS, KATIE CALLS BRODY, NEEDING SOME HELP. AND LOCAL NEWS STATION CHANNEL SEVEN DID A REPORT ON IT AND I HAPPENED TO SEE THE VIDEO AND IT, THE WORDS CAN'T DO JUSTICE TO WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB THIS YOUNG MAN DID. JUMPING INTO ACTION IMMEDIATELY FINDING A BOAT IN ORDER TO GET ROPES AND SUPPLIES TO TRY TO SAVE THE MAN. ENDS UP [00:12:33] SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER NINE FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE. LEGISLATIVE BARGNESI. MOVE FOR CONSIDERATION. [ COMMITTEE REPORTS:] SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL BY SENATOR BARGNESI. SECOND, BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 ZERO. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER TWO FROM THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. MOVE FOR CONSIDERATION. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. SECOND, BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS INTRO 12 -1 FROM LEGISLATOR BARGNESI AND LEGISLATIVE KOOSHOIAN. [ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:] REALLOCATION OF PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDS, MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, WHO IS THE SECOND? MINORITY LEADER, ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED. INTRO 12 -2 FOR THE MINORITY CAUCUS WILL BE REQUESTING THAT YOUR COUNTY PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WILL BE SENT TO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. CHAIR. EXCUSE ME. YES, SIR. PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU MAY RECALL. THAT'S THE NEXT ONE. I APOLOGIZE FOR GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF. OKAY. MOVING ON. INTRO 12 -2 FOR THE MINORITY CAUCUS SUPPORTING AN INVESTIGATION WILL BE SENT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. INTRO 12 -4 FOR LEGISLATIVE COMPROMISE OF TEXAS COUNTY TAX PURSUANT TO THE COUNTY TAX ACT WILL BE SENT TO FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIRMAN. COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE. [ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:] [00:17:54] OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. WE'RE MOVING TO COMMUNICATION 12E - 18, MAJORITY LEADER. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:] M OVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL. ON THE QUESTION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. I'M SORRY. SORRY. I'M SORRY. ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE. I'M SORRY. ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 12 E- 18. LEGISLATOR GREENEE. YEAH. EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I DON'T REALLY SEE THE VALUE IN SPENDING $25,000 TO DETERMINE THAT IT'S WARMER INSIDE DURING THE SUMMER WITHOUT AN AIR CONDITIONER. SO MY VOTE IS A NO. THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR LORIGO. E XPLAIN MY VOTE. I REMEMBER WHAT LEGISLATOR GREENEE SAYS I THINK THIS IS $25,000 IS NOT BEING SPENT WISELY, AND IT'S OUR JOB TO ACT AS THE CHECK AND BALANCE ON THIS ADMINISTRATION. AND I JUST I DON'T SEE THE VALUE WAS COMMUNICATED SO MY VOTE IS NO. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR MILLS, NO. TODARO, NO. BARGNESI, NO. DUPREE, YES. GILMOUR, YES. KOOSHOIAN, YES. MEYERS, YES. SAINT JEAN TARD. I WANT TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL EMERGENCY IS DUE TO THE HEAT WE NEED AS MUCH DATA TO PROPERLY PREPARE. AND DURING CAUCUS, WHEN I ASK THE QUESTION REGARDING RECEIVING THAT DATA SO IT CAN BE REPORTED TO THIS BODY, IT WILL BE AND WE CAN PLAN AHEAD INSTEAD OF ONE OF THE EMERGENCIES FOR US TO SCRAMBLE. SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY I'M VOTING YES ON THIS. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR VINAL. I WANT TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE AND DISAGREE WITH THE STATEMENT OF MY COLLEAGUE THAT WE KNOW THAT HOUSES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE I LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT WAS MADE 100 YEARS AGO, AND IT'S MARKEDLY COOLER INSIDE THAN OUTSIDE ON THE HOTTEST DAY BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION [00:20:05] MATERIAL, CROSS VENTILATION AND SO FORTH. AND IT'S SUBSTANTIALLY COOLING THAT'S WHY WE DON'T NEED HAVE AIR CONDITIONING. BUT IT'S THE CONSTRUCTION TODAY, THE LACK OF VENTILATION, THE WAY THAT WINDOWS ARE AND DOUBLE SEALED AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS ACTUALLY IT'S NOT NECESSARILY KNOWN IN THE OLD DAYS. PEOPLE BUILD HOUSES SO THEY WOULD BE COOLER IN THE SUMMER. NOW WE DON'T BECAUSE WE ASSUME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO AIR CONDITIONING OR WE DO RECONSTRUCTION AND AND BUILDING. SO I DO THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE STUDYING PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT [INAUDIBLE] OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT. I DON'T NEED IT. BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD SO IT'S ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND US, THEY CAN'T AFFORD AIR CONDITIONING. WE CAN SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE. SO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING. IT'S ONLY $25,000 THAT'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP SENIORS AND OLDER PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD AIR CONDITIONING AND MIGHT HAVE A BIG PROBLEM THAT MIGHT RESULT IN DEATHS LIKE THEY DID 600 DEATHS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THANK YOU. THE VOTE IS 7 TO 4. OKAY. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. MOVING ON COMMUNICATION 12E- 19, MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON. COMMUNICATION 12 E- 20, MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. MOTION CARRIES. CONTINUING ON. COMMUNICATION 12 E- 21. MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. MOTION CARRIES. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA COMMUNICATION 12 E- 22, MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION. GO AHEAD. ON THE ON THE QUESTION. SORRY. I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS BEFORE US TODAY SOME QUESTIONS WERE RAISED IN CAUCUS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF VAGUE QUESTIONS AS WE GO INTO STARTING THIS PILOT PROGRAM. WE WERE TOLD IN CAUCUS THIS MORNING THAT IN SIX MONTHS WE WOULD RECEIVE A REPORT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PILOT PROJECT, THAT THIS BODY WILL BE THE PROGRAM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMMITMENT OF MAKING AND HOLDS IT ACCOUNTABLE. THIS STARTED AS A PROJECT TO THE, YOU KNOW, TO SAVE MILLIONS BY POTENTIALLY OPENING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COST BALANCING, NOT COST SAVINGS. THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS PILOT PROGRAM WILL TURN INTO. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE SIX MONTHS WILL REALLY HAVE A FULL COMMITTEE DISCUSSION TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, TO SEE IF THIS IS THE BEST [INAUDIBLE] . THANK YOU ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. COMMUNICATION 10E- 12 E- 23, MAJORITY LEADER 23 AND 24, AS INDICATED. YES, SIR. OKAY. I'M SORRY. COMMUNICATION 12 E- 23 AND 24, AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATION 12 E- 25, MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? COMMUNICATION THROUGH THE DEPARTMENTS. COMMUNICATION 12 D-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 12 D-3 AS INDICATED. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:] COMMUNICATIONS FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN OTHER AGENCIES. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:] COMMUNICATIONS 12M-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 12 M-6 AS INDICATED. ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE LEGISLATURE WILL NOT HAVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON THURSDAY, JULY 3RD. [ ANNOUNCEMENTS:] THE NEXT SCHEDULED SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE THURSDAY, JULY 10TH. AND BEFORE WE GET TO MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS, I JUST WANT TO BRING UP LEGISLATOR SAINT TARD JUST NEEDS A MOMENT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. SO THIS IS ACTUALLY A SURPRISE CERTIFICATE. THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, I PLEDGE BECAUSE I STARTED MY CAREER AS AN UNPAID INTERN, THAT I WOULD OPEN MY OFFICE TO INTERNS FOR THEM TO LEARN PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT, [00:25:01] FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT AND REALLY ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENTER THE WORLD OF POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT. AND TODAY IS ONE OF MY INTERNS LAST DAY BECAUSE SHE ENDED UP FINDING A JOB IN GOVERNMENT. [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE. SO THE CERTIFICATE IS TO JUST HONOR YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK. DON'T DON'T BE SHY, COME ON. SHE IS INCREDIBLE. SHE HAS MULTIPLE DEGREES, AND SHE'S GOING TO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT FOR OUR COUNTY. SHE'LL BE WORKING WITH A CONGRESSMAN, SO SHE'S GOT SOME BIG THINGS HAPPENING. BUT I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU ON YOUR LAST DAY. DON'T CRY [APPLAUSE]. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS AT ALL SO I'M A LITTLE SHAKY. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO THE LEGISLATOR. I FEEL LIKE I WOULD NOT BE ANYWHERE RIGHT NOW IF IT WAS NOT FOR HER. SHE REALLY SHOWED ME HOW TO DO A LOT OF THINGS. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO HER AND TO TESS [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS. LEGISLATOR TODARO. THANK YOU CHAIR. [ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:] I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF THOMAS CAVALIERI AND JAMES MCNAMARA. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. WHAT MINORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN [INAUDIBLE] APPROPRIATE . BUT THE MOTHER OF CARLOS [INAUDIBLE] PASSED AS CHAIRMAN OF GOP COUNTY AND ALSO JOHN W BRADLEY FROM NEW YORK. [INAUDIBLE] HE'S A MARINE WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM AND COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 527 IN [INAUDIBLE] NEW YORK. I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF MY AUNT PATRICIA GILMOUR. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE GOING ON. THANK YOU. THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN BY MAJORITY LEADER SECOND BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. WE STAND ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.