[00:00:06]
OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, MEETING NUMBER TWO OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE JANUARY 22ND, 2026. I WILL NOW HAVE THE CLERK PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL.
[ ROLL CALL]
LEGISLATOR GREENE. HERE. LORIGO. HERE. LEGISLATOR MILLS, NOT PRESENT.LEGISLATOR TODARO NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.
DUPREE. PRESENT. GILMOUR. KOOSHOIAN. MYERS. HERE.
SAINT JEAN TARD. HERE. AND VINAL. QUORUM PRESENT.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. PLEASE RISE FOR THE INVOCATION LED BY LEGISLATOR DUPREE.
THANK YOU. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE.
THANK YOU. OKAY, I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND ALL SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
THE CLERK WILL RING THE BELL WHEN THERE'S 30S LEFT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? OKAY. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SECOND TIME. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? ONE MORE CALL FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
OKAY. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[ TABLED ITEMS: Rules of the Legislature for 2026]
ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 1]
MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND 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. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE ARE NONE. MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE AND CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE.
[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]
MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO CONSIDER. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED 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 ALCOHOL SPONSORSHIP.
SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO INCLUDE ALL SPONSORSHIP BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
MAJORITY MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. SECOND. OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I AM UP HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE PASTOR TIM NEWKIRK AS MY ERIE COUNTY CITIZEN OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 2026. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE UP HERE HONORING A MAN WHO DOES SO MUCH FOR THE COMMUNITY, FROM SHOWING UP TO WHEN THERE'S PROBLEMS, TO MENTORING KIDS TO SHOWING UP TO CLEAN UP. YOU ARE JUST THERE WHEN THE COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU AND YOU DO SO MUCH FOR ME.
FOOD DRIVES THE GIVEAWAYS AND YOU DO SO MUCH WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOWING.
BUT I JUST NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE DO NOTICE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
YOU'RE THERE WHEN THINGS GO BAD. YOU'RE SHOWING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM, AND THERE ARE COUNSELING PEOPLE, MAKING SURE WE DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY. AND I APPRECIATE YOU.
FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] ISSUES, THE ISSUES THAT [INAUDIBLE] PARK TO ISSUES OF JUNETEENTH.
YOU'RE THERE. YOU EVEN DOWNTOWN SOME DAYS HELPING OUT WITH THE KIDS.
SO THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING DOWNTOWN. YOU'RE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO'VE DONE SO MANY THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S MY HONOR TO STAND UP HERE WITH YOU, TO HONOR YOU WITH THIS. I WON'T READ THROUGH THE WHOLE THING, BUT I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THE PARTS OF THIS PLAQUE THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. WHEREAS PASTOR TIM NEWKIRK HAS BEEN KNOWN AS AN
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ARCHITECT AND BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND POWERS THAT BE. WHEREAS AN ORGANIZER AND A MENTOR THAT GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BY SPONSORING EVENTS THAT ALIGN WITH THE CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO, NEWKIRK HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE EVENTS AND TIMES TO GET TOGETHER FROM HIS SKILLS AS A LEADER, AS A PASTOR, HE JUST KNOWS SO MUCH FROM YOUR CONTRIBUTION DURING THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION OF HOPE AND A SOURCE OF STRENGTH FOR MANY IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE PASTOR NEWKIRK HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE ROOMS THE MOMENT HE WALKS IN WITH HIS POSITIVE SPIRIT AND EFFERVESCENT PERSONALITY.PERSONALITY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE DOES HEREBY HONOR PASTOR TIM NEWKIRK AS THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATOR OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY 2026 AND RECOGNIZE HIS EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND UNSELFISH SERVICE, PROUDLY REPRESENTING HIS FAMILY, THE CITY OF BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY. AND ALSO, IT JUST FEELS SO GOOD TO KNOW THAT A PERSON THE SAME STREET I GREW UP ON AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENS TO US. PEOPLE CAME FROM OUT THERE TO DO GOOD.
SO I'M PROUD TO STAND UP WITH SOMEBODY A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN ME, BUT NOT TOO MUCH, WHO FROM THE SAME PLACE, DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS. SO THANK YOU, SIR. SAY A COUPLE WORDS.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M JUST I'M HONORED TO BE ON THIS PLATFORM.
I TAKE IT IN MY HEART, IN A SPECIAL WAY, AS A PASTOR, AND I TALK ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL THINGS IN GOVERNMENT, AND I'M ALWAYS DRIVEN BY BEING ABLE TO BE A BLESSING TO THE COMMUNITY, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON YOUR LEVEL, TAKING SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF OF MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND THOSE WHO I WORK WITH, DEALING WITH ALL THE ISSUES.
I'M JUST A LITTLE OLD VESSEL TRYING TO BE USED BY GOD.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN MY LIFE AT AN EARLY AGE, I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD SCRIPTURE, ALTHOUGH I WASN'T A SPIRITUAL PERSON. BUT WHEN I HAD ENOUGH GUTS AND ENOUGH COURAGE TO READ ISAIAH 9:6 ABOUT JESUS BEING A CHILD BORN AND THE SON IS GIVEN AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REST UPON HIS SHOULDERS, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO MAKE THAT A PART OF MY STRUGGLE IN MY LIFE, TO PUT THIS GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY ON MY SHOULDERS AND DO THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALL THE BIG JOBS TO DO, TO JUST BE THE LITTLE WHEEL INSIDE THE WHEEL.
SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS PLUG. I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT I CAN CONTINUE TO BE THE LITTLE WHEEL INSIDE OF THIS BIG WHEEL THAT RUNS GOVERNMENT, COUNTY, CITY AND STATE. SO I JUST THANK YOU ALL AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE IT.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOU.
VERY NICE PRESENTATION. OKAY. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, LOCAL LAW INTRO 1-1 OR LOCAL LAW
[ LOCAL LAWS:]
1-1 AS INDICATED. LOCAL LAW INTRO 2-1 WILL BE SENT TO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.COMMITTEE REPORTS. THERE ARE NONE. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS.
THERE ARE NONE. COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE.
[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]
MAJORITY LEADER. [INAUDIBLE] COMMITTEE.OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER AND SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 9 TO 0.
[INAUDIBLE] I'M SORRY. GIVE ME ONE MINUTE.
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ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE. ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 18-3.LEGISLATOR GREENE. YES. LORIGO. LEGISLATOR MILLS NOT PRESENT.
LEGISLATOR TODARO NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.
YES. DUPREE. YES. GILMOUR. YES. KOOSHOIAN. YES.
MYERS. YES. SAINT JEAN TARD. YES. AND VINAL. YES.
[ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:]
MADAM CLERK INTRO 2-1. MAJORITY LEADER. OKAY.WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. OH, WE HAVE TO DO AN AMENDMENT. DO WE HAVE THE AMENDMENT? YES. THE AMENDMENT SHOULD BE ON YOUR DESKS. THIS IS JUST CHANGING TO THURSDAYS AT 1 P.M..
OKAY. WE HAVE THE 60. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD, A SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION TO AMEND.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION TO APPROVE, AS AMENDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR GREENE ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.
[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]
COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS. COMMUNICATION 2E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 2E-20 AS INDICATED.COMMUNICATION 2E-21 MAJORITY LEADER. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. 9-0. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 2E-22 MAJORITY LEADER.
[INAUDIBLE] NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.
APPROVAL FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER. SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED. 9-0. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 2E-23 MAJORITY LEADER.
ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED. 9-0. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 2E-24. MAJORITY LEADER.
[INAUDIBLE] 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? OPPOSED? 9 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 2E-25, MAJORITY LEADER.
[INAUDIBLE] OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR DUPREE ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 9-0. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 2E-26, MAJORITY LEADER.
[INAUDIBLE] OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL. ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED. 9-0. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 2E-27. MAJORITY LEADER.
[INAUDIBLE] OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. 9-0. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 2E-28, MAJORITY LEADER.
[INAUDIBLE] OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD ON THE QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. I'M SORRY.
9-0. OKAY, THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS APPROVED.
COMMUNICATION 2E-29, MAJORITY LEADER. [INAUDIBLE] OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE OPPOSED? 9-0. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM DEPARTMENTS.
[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS: ]
COMMUNICATION 2D-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 2D-5 AS INDICATED.COMMUNICATIONS FROM PEOPLE IN OTHER AGENCIES.
THERE ARE NONE. I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE SECOND COMMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[00:15:02]
DURING THE SECOND SESSION, WE ASK THAT SPEAKERS KEEP THEIR COMMENTS RELATED TO ONLY INVOLVING MATTERS INVOLVING THE COUNTY.PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL SPEAKERS LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THREE MINUTES.
THE CLERK WILL RING THE BELL WHEN THERE'S 30S LEFT.
ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? ANY SPEAKERS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTARY LAST TIME? ANY SPEAKERS FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? OKAY, I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]
THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT THURSDAY, JANUARY 29TH.THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AND THE NEXT SCHEDULE FOR THE LEGISLATURE IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS?
[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]
PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS. LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD.THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF MOTHER MRS. THELMA L ROBERTS. I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS HITTING MY DISTRICT REALLY HARD.
SO SHE DECIDED AT A YOUNG AGE TO CREATE THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT COALITION, WHICH IS STILL STANDING.
IT HAS 40 MEMBERS. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT SHE MADE IN THE DISTRICT AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAD A VOICE NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVED. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO MISS.
HER AND HER HUSBAND. I WOULD SAY THEY WERE THE POWER DUO AND THEY WERE A POWER COUPLE.
HE WOULD ALWAYS COMPLAIN ABOUT PEOPLE LITTERING, AND SHE WOULD ALWAYS BE THE ONE MAKING SURE THAT THE ELECTORS KNOW THAT SHE WANTS A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. SO I'M GOING TO MISS HER. I THINK OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SAD, BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT SHE'S GOING ON TO A BETTER PLACE.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO ADJOURN IN HER MEMORY. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
I'D LIKE TO REMEMBER [INAUDIBLE] WHO DIED ON JANUARY 17TH AT AGE 58, LEAVING HIS WIFE ROCHELLE, AND THREE KIDS. SHE WORKS AT THE WHITE PEOPLE INC AND THEY'RE COUSINS OF OUR FAMILY.
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU.
CHAIRMAN. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEMORY OF CHARLES [INAUDIBLE] .
I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. LEGISLATOR LORIGO. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF THOMAS MALCZEWSKI.
I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. A. MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE WITH THE LORD.
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED. WE STAND ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.