[00:00:01]
OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. SORRY FOR THE DELAY.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO ORDER SESSION NUMBER 17, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025. CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL. LEGISLATOR GREENE.
[ ROLL CALL]
HERE. LORIGO. HERE. MILLS. TODARO. HERE. [INAUDIBLE].HERE. DUPRE. PRESENT. GILMOUR. HERE. KOOSHOIAN.
HERE. MYERS. HERE. SAINT JEANNE TARD. HERE. VINAL.
HERE. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
OKAY. PLEASE RISE FOR THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.
THANK YOU. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
OKAY. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. TABLED ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE. ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION, THERE ARE NONE.
[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 16]
MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING. MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.SECOND BY THE MINORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
CONTINUING ON PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE ARE NONE.
[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE. AND CONTINUING ON TO PAGE FOUR.MAJORITY LEADER. 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? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION IS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
THE RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.
MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE SPONSORSHIP.
OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO INCLUDE SPONSORSHIP.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW AMENDED.
MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED, AS AMENDED.
YEAH. COME ON. ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
I WANTED TO INTRODUCE MY CITIZEN OF THE MONTH.
SO. MR. KOWALSKI, AS KNOWN THROUGH THE LANCASTER SCHOOL DISTRICT, HAS BEEN A ROCK STAR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. HE'S LEFT AN IMPRESSION THAT IS, TO THIS DAY, STILL ECHOED IN THE HALLWAYS OF LANCASTER AND THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.
IT NEVER FAILS THAT I'M IN THE COMMUNITY AND HE'S ACTUALLY THERE SOMEHOW, SOME WAY, TURN AROUND, MR. KOWALSKI IS STILL THERE. AND IT JUST IT DAWNED ON ME, HE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT WITH THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS A LEGISLATOR, I REALLY FEEL THAT HE IS MY NEXT CHOICE. AND THAT WAS, HANDS DOWN, AN EASY DECISION FOR ME TO MAKE.
AND I IT'S MY PLEASURE THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY.
JOINED BY YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER IN LAW, ELAINE AND BILL HARTMAN.
YEAH. AND THEN WE HAVE YOUR FRIEND LORI ALSO HERE WITH US.
YES. MY NIECE KIM, WHO ALSO WORKS IN THIS BUILDING.
YES. THANK YOU. SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE I'D LIKE TO READ OFF OF THE ACCOLADES THAT MR.
[00:05:02]
KOWALSKI HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO WHEREAS KENNETH KOWALSKI BEGAN HIS TEACHING CAREER IN DECEMBER OF 1984 WHEN HE WAS HIRED BY THE LANCASTER SCHOOL DISTRICT. A DAY MR. KOWALSKI RECOUNTS AS THE MOST FORTUNATE DAY OF HIS LIFE.WHEREAS OVER HIS 37 YEAR CAREER, KENNETH KOWALSKI WOULD SPEND TIME AT ALL THREE LANCASTER SCHOOLS, IMPACTING THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES.
AND UNDER HIS MENTORSHIP, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND WON SEVERAL COMPETITIONS AS MAINTAINED AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF SUCCESS, STARTING WITH THEIR FIRST PLACE FINISH IN SPRINGFIELD'S LOCAL COMPETITION IN 1991, AND EVER SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN OUTSCORED BY ANY OTHER MIDDLE OR JUNIOR HIGH BAND IN 34 YEARS.
THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. WHEREAS MR. KOWALSKI ALSO DIRECTED THE LANCASTER CARNIVAL.
KIDD STEEL BAND, WHO WON BUFFALO'S MOST ENTERTAINING HIGH SCHOOL AWARD IN 2010 AND PRODUCED SIX CDS.
AND WHEREAS, KENNETH KOWALSKI INSPIRED MANY OF HIS STUDENTS TO FOLLOW MUSIC CAREERS OF THEIR OWN, WITH SOME EVEN JOINING HIM AT THE LANCASTER SCHOOL DISTRICT, OTHER STARTING CAREERS IN PHILHARMONIC ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WORKING WITH THE SCENES AND LIGHTING SOUND FOR NATIONAL ACTS WHERE, AS A RESULT OF KENNETH KOWALSKI OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, HE WAS NAMED EDUCATOR OF THE WEEK FOR THE NEW YORK STATE AND CHANNEL TWO.
IN 2004, AND WHEN HE RETIRED IN 2021, HE WAS HONORED WITH THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC EDUCATION FROM THE ERIE COUNTY MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION AND THE BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC. DESPITE HIS TREMENDOUS PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS AND NUMEROUS PERSONAL ACCOLADES, MR. KOWALSKI HAS REMAINED HUMBLE AND CREDITS HIS STUDENTS FOR HIS SUCCESS, STATING THAT ANY MUSIC TEACHER CAN BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE BEST STUDENTS AND WHAT SOME STUDENTS CAN LEARN IN SPITE OF THEIR TEACHERS.
FOLLOWING HIS OFFICIAL RETIREMENT, KENNETH KOWALSKI REMAINS ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND INVOLVED IN MUSICAL EDUCATION OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE LANCASTER MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND MEMBERSHIP. CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN THE LANCASTER DEPEW RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS BEING ACTIVE IN THE LANCASTER YOUTH BUREAU AND SERVING AS CHAIRPERSON FOR THE LANCASTER YOUTH FOUNDATION.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE PAUSES IN ITS DELIBERATIONS TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE KENNETH KOWALSKI AS THE ERIE COUNTY EIGHTH DISTRICT CITIZEN OF THE MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? SURE. AS AS I AS MR. TODARO MENTIONED, THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE WAS BEING HIRED IN LANCASTER IN DECEMBER OF 1984.
EVERYTHING WAS SO SUPPORTIVE. ERIE COUNTY HERE, WE'VE PLAYED FROM RIGHT FROM NORTH, RIGHT.
IT'S, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID I WORKED HARD, I DID NOTHING THAT I DIDN'T GET BACK TENFOLD FROM THE STUDENTS, AND THEY GAVE ME BACK. SO IT REALLY HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO BE A TEACHER IN WESTERN NEW YORK AND IN ERIE COUNTY.
AND FRANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY THAT IS HERE TODAY AS WELL.
THAT HAS BEEN A BIG ROCK THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO CLING TO MY ENTIRE CAREER.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS, MR. KOWALSKI. NICE PRESENTATION.
VERY NICE. OKAY, CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA ON LOCAL LAWS.
[ LOCAL LAWS:]
[00:10:05]
LOCAL LAW. INTRO 2-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING LOCAL LAW 6-1 AS INDICATED.[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]
COMMITTEE REPORTS, REPORT NUMBER EIGHT FROM THE FINANCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN, SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER 11 FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SEPARATE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AND APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR OR THE MAJORITY LEADER.
ON THE QUESTION MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. MOVING ON. WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO DO LEGISLATIVE.
I'M SORRY. MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
YES. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. ROLL CALL VOTE.
LEGISLATOR GREENE. NO. LORIGO. NO. MILLS. NO.
TODARO. NO. BARGNESI. YES. DUPRE. YES. GILMOUR.
YES. KOOSHOIAN. YES. MYERS. YES. SAINT JEAN TARD.
YES. AND VINAL. YES. 7-4. OKAY. THE ITEM IS APPROVED.
THANK YOU. REPORT NUMBER EIGHT 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 BY LEGISLATIVE DECREE. WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.
SECOND, BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT IS APPROVED.
MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER SIX WITH WHAT'S BEEN PASSED OUT.
SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM NUMBER SIX WITH WHAT HAS BEEN PASSED OUT.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE ITEM IS AMENDED.
MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER SIX, AS AMENDED.
SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER SIX, AS AMENDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. 11 ZERO. THE ITEM IS APPROVED.
[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS. INTRO 17-1 FROM LEGISLATIVE TODARO RE APPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC BENEFIT MONEY.MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR TODARO ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11-0. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.
INTRO 17-2 TWO FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS WILL BE SENT TO THE ENERGY ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE.
COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE. THERE ARE NONE.
[ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:]
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. MAJORITY LEADER. I HAVE ONE SUSPENSION FROM LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.IT'S A REAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS. MADAM CLERK.
INTRO 17-3. MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11-0. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.
[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]
COMMUNICATION 17E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 17E-25 AS INDICATED.[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]
COMMUNICATIONS FROM DEPARTMENTS. COMMUNICATIONS 17D-1 AS INDICATED.[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]
COMMUNICATIONS FROM PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES. COMMUNICATIONS 17M-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 17M-3 AS INDICATED.[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]
ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON OCTOBER OR OCTOBER 2ND.THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED. THE NEXT SCHEDULED SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS?
[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]
IF NOT, PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.[00:15:06]
GIUSEPPE CARLINO, AND MICHAEL MEINECKE. MICHAEL MEINECKE WAS THE FORMER VILLAGE OF ALDEN MAYOR.AND JUST A GREAT GUY. GREAT. THANK YOU. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE IN CLOSE IN MEMORY OF SUSAN CARROLL, WHO IS THE WIFE OF 61 YEARS OF ALLEN CARROLL HAS BEEN A [INAUDIBLE] OF ADMISSIONS FOR THE LAW SCHOOL. SHE WAS A TEACHER FOR MANY YEARS.
AND JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF MARRIAGE.
HE WAS A SINGING AS A CHILD. HE LOVED A UNICYCLE, WENT TO CLOWN COLLEGE AND THEN WAS A CIRCUS CLOWN, AND THEN ENDED UP BEING CLOWN AND STORYTELLERS PERFORMER FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
FATHER OF TWO, GRAND FATHER, HAPPILY MARRIED FOR 43 YEARS.
BUT HE'S JUST AN EXAMPLE TO ALL OF US OF FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS. SO I'D LIKE TO CLOSE [INAUDIBLE]. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
LEGISLATOR LORIGO. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF DON ENGLER.
HE WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THE WEST SENECA COMMUNITY.
HE WAS A VETERAN. AND HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE BUFFALO POLICE RESERVES.
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. LEGISLATOR DUPRE. THANK YOU.
CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF MY GREAT AUNT. SHE RECENTLY PASSED AWAY.
MOTHER TO BOBBY MCRAE AND RHONDA SCOTT. AND SHE WAS A GREAT WOMAN IN THE COMMUNITY.
SHE WAS AN EDUCATOR. SHE WORKED FOR THE ACADEMY.
BE LATE 80S, EARLY 90S. WE'VE DONE A LOT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU.
CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF DONALD MALCZEWSKI.
DONALD IS THE HUSBAND OF LONGTIME ERIE COUNTY COMPTROLLER EMPLOYEE CHERYL.
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. SENATE MINORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. [INAUDIBLE] DANIEL. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO WENT ON TO BE WITH THE LORD.
THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO [INAUDIBLE]. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.