Oct 23, 2025 Legislative Session

[00:00:03]

OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO ORDER SESSION NUMBER 19, OCTOBER 23RD, 2025. CLERK, PLEASE TAKE ROLL. LEGISLATOR GREENE.

[ ROLL CALL]

BARGNESI. HERE. DUPRE. PRESENT. GILMOUR. HERE.

KOOSHOIAN. HERE. MEYERS. HERE. SAINT JEAN TARD.

HERE. AND VINAL ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. OKAY. PLEASE RISE, FOR THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR DUPRE.

[ INVOCATION: Mr. Dupre]

[ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mr. Kooshoian]

[ AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR 2025]

ONE OF THE REVISIONS WAS ADDED TO ADD A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD DURING OUR SESSION MEETINGS WITH THE LOCAL LAW NOW TAKING EFFECT, WE MUST AMEND THE RULES TO ADHERE TO THE AMENDED CHARTER MAJORITY AMENDMENT.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. MAJORITY WERE.

MOVED 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. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE ADDED TO OUR NEXT SESSION.

THANK YOU. TABLED ITEMS. THERE ARE NONE ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION.

THERE ARE NONE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 18]

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM MEETING NUMBER 18.

A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

MAJORITY LEADER MOVED TO CONSIDER. SECOND. OKAY.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE ETHANOL SPONSORSHIP.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVED TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.

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

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

THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED, AS AMENDED.

THANK YOU. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. LOCAL LAWS LOCAL LAW INTRO 6-1.

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

OKAY. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE LOCAL LAW 6-1 FROM THE TABLE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL.

ROLL CALL. VOTE, PLEASE. ON THE MOTION TO TAKE LOCAL LAW INTRO 6-1 2025 FROM THE TABLE.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. NO. LORIGO. MILLS. TODARO.

NO. BARGNESI. YES. DUPREE. YES. GILMOUR. YES.

KOOSHOIAN. YES. MEYERS. YES. SAINT JEAN TARD.

YES. AND VINAL. YES. 7 TO 4. OKAY. CARRIED. THE MOTION CARRIES.

LOCAL LAW 6-1 IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE TO APPROVE THE LOCAL LAW. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LOCAL LAW BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? ROLL CALL. VOTE ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE LOCAL LAW INTRO 6-1 OF 2025.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. NO. LORIGO. EXPLAIN MY VOTE.

I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK.

I'LL DEFINITELY BE A NO ON THIS. I THINK THIS CHANGE IS VERY RIPE FOR CORRUPTION AND WE DIDN'T GET THE ANSWERS REALLY THAT WE ASKED FOR.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AND WE HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ROCK SALT, THIS DOESN'T JUST AFFECT ROCK SALT PURCHASE. THIS CHANGES HOW PURCHASING HAPPENS ACROSS THE COUNTY. AND FOR THAT REASON, I'M VOTING NO.

THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR MILLS. TODARO.

BARGNESI. YES. DUPREE. YES. GILMOUR. YES. KOOSHOIAN.

MEYERS. YES. SAINT JEAN TARDE. YES. AND VINAL.

[00:05:03]

AND NUMBER TWO IS THAT THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC BIDDING IS TO MAKE IT SO THAT IT'S FAIR TO EVERYONE.

HAVING SOMETHING VAGUE LIKE BEST VALUE IS THE TOTAL OPPOSITE OF FAIR AND OPEN, AND JUST IT MAKES IT GIVES UNLIMITED POWER TO THE PERSON WITH NO RECOURSE BECAUSE ANYTHING IS BEST VALUE.

AND THE OTHER THING IS, IS THAT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT IT WILL HURT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND WILL HURT AND JUST HELP MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS, WHICH WE ALREADY GIVE TOO MANY CONTRACTS TO MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS AS WELL AS OUT OF TOWN NATIONAL CORPORATIONS.

SO I WOULD ASK THAT. SO I'M VOTING NO. I GUESS IT'S PASSING ANYWAY, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT THE PEOPLE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT DONE THERE, BECAUSE IT WON'T BE THIS ADMINISTRATION. THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ADMINISTRATION AND NOT THIS PURCHASER, BUT ANOTHER PURCHASER. AND IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP.

IT'S GOING TO HURT WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES, LOCAL BUSINESSES.

AND SO I HOPE THAT THAT'S TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT WHAT'S BEST VALUE.

AND GOVERNMENT ACTS IN THE ECONOMY, NOT JUST IN TAXES, NOT JUST IN TRANSFER PAYMENTS, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL WAYS IS GOVERNMENT ACTS IN THE ECONOMY AND PURCHASING, AND OUR VALUES AREN'T PURCHASING.

AND BEST VALUE IS SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE RULES THAT SAY SOMEONE'S NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE IRRESPONSIBLE.

THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. WE DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE MANDATES THAT WE STATED THAT WE WANTED SOMEONE WHO CAN PROVIDE EVERYTHING WE WANT.

IT'S PUTTING THIS UNLIMITED ISSUE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO USE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES TO BUY THINGS LOCALLY AND STAB THE BACK, STAB THE BACKS OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M VERY AGAINST IT AND I'M VOTING NO, THANK YOU. THE VOTE IS 6 TO 5. OKAY. THE LOCAL LAW PASSED.

THANK YOU. LOCAL LAW INRO 7-2. MAJORITY RULE.

LOCAL LAW INTRO 7-2 2024 FROM THE TABLE. OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE LOCAL LAW 7-2 FROM THE TABLE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL.

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

THE MOTION CARRIES. LOCAL LAW IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

MAJORITY LEADER, MOVE TO APPROVE THE LAW. SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO APPROVE THE LOCAL LAW, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR.

OPPOSED 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. LOCAL LAW 7-2 IS APPROVED.

LOCAL LAW INTRO 5-3 WILL BE SENT TO GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

COMMITTEE REPORTS REPORT NUMBER TEN FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

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. AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER 13 FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

A SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

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

REPORT NUMBER TEN FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR DUPREE. THANK YOU CHAIR. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATIVE DUPREE. SECOND, BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

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

REPORT NUMBER TEN FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION. SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN, SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER 33 FROM THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI, SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER 13 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 QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS.

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

REALLOCATION OF PUBLIC BENEFITS MONEY. MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE FOR CONSIDERATION. APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

[00:10:01]

UNDER. 19 DASH 443. OKAY. I'M SORRY. GOING BACK.

INTRO 19. DASH THREE AND INTRO 19. DASH FOUR.

AND THAT WILL BE SENT TO FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

MOVING ON. INTRO 19 FIVE WILL BE SENT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

INTRO 19 SIX AND INTRO 19 SEVEN WILL BE SENT TO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR AND INTRO 19 DASH EIGHT WILL BE SENT TO THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR, COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE MAJORITY I WILL DISCHARGE MOVE

[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO DISCHARGE FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL.

PARDON ME. OKAY. I'M SORRY. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES, AND THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

MOVE TO SECOND. OKAY. 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. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS AMENDED.

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED.

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

SECOND, BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

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

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES:]

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED. THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO SAY ON THE COMMITTEE SCHEDULE THAT HAS NOT THE SCHEDULE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET, BUT THE SHERIFF HAS AGREED TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THE GRAND BULL CASE.

SO THAT WILL BE THAT SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED WITH THE TIMES ACCORDINGLY.

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. I MOVE TO MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF THOMAS GOLDEN, DOMENICO GALLO AND JAMES CHAN.

THANK YOU SIR. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. LEGISLATOR.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF LORI FISHER.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR. MINORITY LEADER.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. OKAY. MOMENT OF SILENCE.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOTION TO ADJOURN BY MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR DUPREE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. 11-0. ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.