Oct 09, 2025 Legislative Session

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. MEETING NUMBER 18 OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE,

[00:00:05]

LEGISLATOR. GREENE. HERE. LORIGO. HERE. MILLS.

HERE. TODARO. HERE. BARGNESI. HERE. DUPRE. PRESENT.

GILMOUR. HERE. KOOSHOIAN. HERE. MEYERS. HER. SAINT JEANNE TARD.

HERE. AND VINAL. HERE. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. THANK YOU.

[ INVOCATION: Mr. Gilmour]

A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

[ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mr. Meyers]

THANK YOU. OKAY, CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA TABLED ITEMS. THERE ARE NON.E ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 17]

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

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

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO CONSIDER. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL.

ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CONTINUING ON. MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE TO [INAUDIBLE] INCLUDE AT ALL SPONSORSHIP.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO ADD AT ALL.

SECOND, BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVED TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

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

THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED, AS AMENDED.

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0.

THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NO. 12, FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD, SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE.

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

REPORT NO. 12, FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. [INAUDIBLE]. SECOND.

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

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

REPORT NO. 9, FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

LEGISLATOR DUPRE. THANK YOU CHAIRMAN. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

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

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

REPORT NO. 9, THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN. MOVE TO CONSIDER [INAUDIBLE].

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL BY LEGISLATIVE KOOSHOIAN.

SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTION.

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

LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS. INTRO. 18-1, FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS SUPPORTING THE AM, EVERY VEHICLE ACT.

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE MINORITY LEADER. LEGISLATOR TODARO, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, I WOULD. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR? THANK YOU.

CHAIR. THE AM RADIO FOR EVERY VEHICLE ACT. HERE BEFORE US TODAY IS A LEGISLATION THAT IS HAS STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN BOTH CONGRESS AND ALSO THE SENATE.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO MAINTAIN AM RADIO CAPABILITIES AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN ALL VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT RECOGNIZES THAT AM RADIO RELIABILITY DURING NATURAL DISASTERS AND ALSO WHICH IS ALSO AM RADIO ACCESS

[00:05:05]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE ARE STILL ON THE QUESTION.

LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO ASK THE CO-SPONSOR THIS.

IT'S IMPORTANT. BUFFALO IS KNOWN FOR A LOT OF WINTER STORMS AND HAVING AN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS IS TRULY IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE CO-SPONSORS. WE HAVE EVERYBODY WHO'S ON THERE.

YOU HAVE MYSELF, A LEGISLATOR BARGNESI LEGISLATOR DUPRE, THE MAJORITY LEADER, LEGISLATOR BARGNESI, CORRECT? YES. LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN, DO YOU WISH TO BE ON THIS? SURE. YES. OKAY, OKAY. OKAY. SO WE'RE STILL ON THE QUESTION.

ANY OTHER MEMBER LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? LEGISLATOR VINAL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

I'M GOING TO VOTE ON IT, BUT WITH, THE NOT WITH FULL THROATED SUPPORT IN THE SENSE THAT I DO THINK IT'S SORT OF IN GOING TOO DEEP INTO LETTING THE MARKET DECIDE BETWEEN THE MANUFACTURER AND THE CONSUMER, WHEN IT REALLY IS RIGHT NOW IS AFFECTING, YOU KNOW, ONE SET OF CARS. IT'S OUT OF REACH FOR MOST AMERICANS.

SO I THINK IT'S AD PRICE TO THAT TO MAKE IT LESS SO.

BUT I WOULD VOTE FOR IT OTHER THAN COURTESY TO MY FELLOW LEGISLATORS AS A SUPPORT OF IT.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN INTRUSION.

THANK YOU VINAL. WE'RE STILL ON THE QUESTION. LEGISLATOR LORIGO, THE FLOOR.

I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE BIPERSON SUPPORT ON THIS. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATOR VINAL'S COMMENTS.

I DO THINK IN A WORLD THAT IS MOVING MORE TOWARDS ELECTRIC, ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK STATE, WHERE IT'S BECOMING, YOU KNOW, A BURDEN ON FAMILIES AND WINTER STORMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION.

I UNDERSTAND LEGISLATOR VINAL'S CONCERN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE VEHICLES THAT THIS EFFECT MIGHT BE ON THE HIGHER PAY SCALE FOR HIGHER PRICE RANGE. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE DO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE MANUFACTURERS ARE MOVING TOWARDS ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND HYBRIDS.

AND THE, YOU KNOW, FIRST CLAIM THAT THIS REALLY WAS A HINDRANCE DUE TO THE BATTERIES AND MOTORS HAS BEEN KIND OF DEBUNKED.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, GETTING BACK TO A PLACE WHERE WE ARE HOLDING MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING THIS COMMUNICATION THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, LIKE LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD SAID ABOUT YOU KNOW, IN THIS AREA, IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M EXCITED TO VOTE FOR IT.

BUT I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT ACROSS THE AISLE AS WELL.

THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0.

THE MOTION CARRIES, AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

INTRO. 18-2, FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS, DESIGNATION OF COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR INMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE MINORITY LEADER. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]

I HAVE ONE DISCHARGE TO DISCHARGE, COMMUNICATIONS 16E-23, FOR THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE HIGHMARK STADIUM UPDATED SEQR.

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

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

ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM. SECOND. 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. MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. THERE ARE NONE. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

COMMUNICATION 18E-10, FROM THE COUNTY CLERK WILL BE SENT TO THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

COMMUNICATION 18E-11 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 18E-21 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS. COMMUNICATIONS, 18D-01 AS INDICATED.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

COMMUNICATION, 18M-01 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 18M-06 AS INDICATED.

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

THE NEXT SESSION WILL BE. THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23RD.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

LEGISLATOR LORIGO. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE A MEMORY OF A [INAUDIBLE] WILLIAMS. HE WAS JUST 14 YEARS OLD AND RECENTLY DIED OF A TRAGIC BRAIN CANCER.

[00:10:03]

AND I KNOW HIS CLASSMATES AND FAMILY ARE FEELING THE LOSS.

LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN. [INAUDIBLE]. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

MINORITY LEADER. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT BRIAN TEAGUE, THE BOSTON FIRE COMPANY.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO WENT ON TO BE WITH THE LORD.

OKAY. WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN BY MAJORITY LEADER.

SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. WE STAND ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.