[00:00:04] GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO ORDER. MEETING NUMBER FOUR OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, FEBRUARY 26, 2026. CLERK, PLEASE TAKE ROLL. [ ROLL CALL] LEGISLATOR GREENE YEAH LORIGO YEAH MILLS YEAH TODARO HERE BARGNESI YEAH DUPRE PRESENT GILMOUR YEAH KOOSHOIAN YEAH MEYERS HERE ST. JEAN TARD HERE AND VINAL. YEAH. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. PLEASE RISE FOR THE INVOCATION TO BE LED BY LEGISLATOR GREENE. MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE TO BE LED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING. WE NOW WILL HAVE SOME STUDENTS FROM THE PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL WHO ARE GOING TO SING FOR US. COME ON UP, PLEASE. (INAUDIBLE) THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THAT WAS AWESOME. GREAT JOB. [ PUBLIC COMMENT] OKAY, I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WE ASK THAT ALL SPEAKERS KEEP THEIR COMMENTS RELATED TO ANY MATTER INVOLVING THE COUNTY RELATIVE TO TODAY'S SESSION AGENDA. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND... ALL SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. THE CLERK WILL RING THE BELL. THEY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? PROVIDE THE MEMBERS BEFORE WE START THIS PERIOD. OKAY, OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS TODD IRIACHI. WHAT'S THE TIME? [00:05:11] IT'S DEFINITELY A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW UNDER. THAT'S RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR AFFORDING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THIS ITEM OF THE BODY. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY SUPPORT FOR 26. INTRO 4-5, OR MONTHLY FISCAL STATUS REPORTS, AS INTRODUCED BY THE MINORITY CAUCUS. THIS RESOLUTION WAS INTRODUCED DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS OF LAST YEAR, BUT ULTIMATELY LACKED THE NECESSARY SUPPORT FROM THE MAJORITY CAUCUS. I'M STILL PERPLEXED AS TO WHY THIS RESOLUTION DID NOT GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEE IT ON THE AGENDA ONCE AGAIN. AND I'D LIKE TO USE AN EXAMPLE FROM MY OWN LIFE AS TO WHY I THINK REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SHOULD COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT IT THIS TIME AROUND. I THINK IT OFFERS A COMPELLING ANALOGY AS TO WHAT ERIE COUNTY SHOULD DO AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE SO-CALLED ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL TO AFFECT NEXT YEAR. MY DAD PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER FOUR YEARS AGO THIS WEEK. I BELIEVE HIS DEATH WAS ONE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY PREVENTED, AND FRANKLY, I'M STILL ANGRY ABOUT THAT. YOU SEE, MY DAD WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LATE STAGE OF COLON CANCER AFTER NEVER HAVING BEEN SCREENED. AND WHEN I ASKED HIM WHY HE WAS NEVER SCREENED, HE CLAIMED THAT HE WAS TOO BUSY. MY DAD WOULD NEVER ADMIT TO BEING TOO SCARED. A COLONOSCOPY CAN BE AWKWARD, UNCOMFORTABLE, AND INVASIVE. UNFORTUNATELY, MY FATHER HAD TO ENDURE ALL THOSE EMOTIONS ANYWAY FOLLOWING HIS DIAGNOSIS. AND IF HE HAD BEEN SCREEN-READ, ADVISED BY HIS DOCTOR, I BELIEVE HE WOULD STILL BE HERE TODAY. NOT ONLY DID MY FATHER LOSE HIS LIFE, BUT OUR FAMILY SEEMS TO HAVE LOST ITS GUIDING LIGHT. HE WAS OUR ROCK, OUR FOUNDATION, AND HIS SORELY MISSED. BUT MY PURPOSE FOR MENTIONING SOMETHING SO INCREDIBLY PERSONAL TO YOU THIS MORNING IS TWOFOLD. FIRST, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY SCREENINGS TO ANYONE, ESPECIALLY MEN OVER THE AGE OF 45, WHO HAVE LONG BEEN PUTTING OFF THIS LIFE-SAVING MEASURE. SECONDLY, MY FATHER'S INACTIONS, I THINK, CAN BE COMPARED TO THE ACTIONS OF THIS LEGISLATURE NOT ADDRESSING THE ROLLOUT OF THE SO-CALLED ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL. TO BE SURE, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S BILL IS A CANCER, BUT IF YOU ARE NOT DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY IT, YOU WILL KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS. A TEAM OF DOCTORS SITS AT THE READY, IN THIS CASE THOSE FROM THE OFFICES OF THE COUNTY COMPTROLLER AND BUDGET DIRECTOR, TO PROVIDE THE RESULTS OF SCREENINGS. THEY LIST THE MONTHLY FISCAL STATUS REPORTS TO BETTER DIAGNOSE AND TREAT THIS CANCER. WILL THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION SO THAT THEY ARE BETTER PREPARED TO FACE THE FISCAL CHALLENGES OF THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BUILD? OR WILL THEY WAIT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE WITH MY FATHER? PLEASE DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE. LIKE MY DAD, PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, CONTINUING ON, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD? ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD? LAST CHANCE, ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. TABLE ITEMS, [ Rules of the Legislature for 2026 ] RULES OF THE LEGISLATURE 2026, MAJORITY LEADER. WE ARE ON TABLE ITEMS, RULES OF THE LEGISLATURE 2026, MAJORITY LEADER. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE THE RULES AND THE LEGISLATURE FROM THE TABLE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VANDEN HEIDE ON THE QUESTION. LEGISLATOR VANDEN HEIDE. THE QUESTION THAT? ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO CHANGE THERE WAS TO GIVE MORE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND IT WAS AGREED. SO THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE TO COME IN AND TALK. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. THERE IS NO ON THE QUESTION FOR DISCHARGE. THERE'S NO ON THE QUESTION. OH, OKAY. I'M SORRY. THAT WOULD JUST BE GOOD. OKAY, SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION TO DISCHARGE THE MAJORITY ORDER. WE HAVE A SECOND FILE OF THE SECOND ITEM. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY, THE RULES OF THE LEGISLATURE IN 2026 ARE NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. MAJORITY LEADER, MOVE TO APPROVE THE 2026 RULES OF THE LEGISLATURE. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RULES [00:10:01] OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR 2026. MAJORITY LEADER, WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THE LEGISLATURE. ON THE QUESTION, ON THE QUESTION MARK. LET'S HEAR ABOUT IT. THE ONE THING THAT HE WANTED TO CHANGE ON THIS, THE RULES, IS TO GET MORE NOTICE. .OF. PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND INSTEAD, WE'RE AGREEING SORT OF FORMALLY TO DO THAT, AND SO I'M VOTING IT BASED ON THAT AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE INFORMALLY GOING TO BE TRYING TO GIVE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF PUBLIC HEARINGS, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO IS, I DO WANT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO THIS. TO ASK FOR MORE PLAIN LANGUAGE ON WHAT'S BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS ALL AROUND THE STATE, IS HAPPENING MORE. NO, IT IS IN PLAIN LANGUAGE OF WHAT THE RULES AND THINGS, WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON IS GOING TO BE ABOUT. BUT I AM SUPPORTING THIS TODAY ON THOSE ASSURANCES. OKAY, WE ARE STILL ON THE QUESTION LINE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11-0. CARRIE, UNANIMOUS. PLEASE. RULES OF THE LEGISLATURE OF 2026 ARE NOW APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 3E-31 WILL REMAIN ON THE TABLE. ITEMS FROM RECONSIDERATION IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING, THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING. [ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 3] MAJORITY VOTE. MOVE FOR A MEETING CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR A MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE LEGISLATIVE FINAL. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11-0. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. [ PUBLIC HEARING: Transfer Tax & Road Revenue, March 3rd at 2:00PM] PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 3RD, AT 2 P.M. REGARDING THE TRANSFER TAX AND ROAD REVENUE. MISCELLANEOUS [ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:] RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 1 CONTINUE ON TO PAGE 3. MAJORITY VOTE. MOVE TO CONSIDER. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE LEGISLATOR. VINYL. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CALL IT A CONCERN. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISLED RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE AT ALL SPONSORSHIP. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO INCLUDE AT ALL SPONSORSHIP BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE LEGISLATOR. ST. JUDE AND TURNER. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MAJORITY LEADER? MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATURE VINYL. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION BY LEGISLATURE DUPREE AND LEGISLATURE ST. JEAN TOWERS. BLACK HISTORY MONTH, YOU HAVE THE DAYS. HELLO EVERYONE. WE ARE GOING TO BRING UP FRANK'S MAN OF MAY, BROTHER, JOEL PARKER, AND PASTOR TIM NEWKIRK UP HERE. SO, AS WE CLOSE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON DIFFERENT AREAS. THAT USUALLY DOESN'T GET US IN THE LIGHT, SPECIFICALLY MEDIA. WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHALLENGER, WHO HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1963. WE HAVE A CRITERION, A NEWSPAPER IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE PASTOR HERE WHO HAS A PODCAST SHOWING DIFFERENT AREAS OF MEDIA. SO FOR US, WE WANT TO NOT ONLY HONOR YOU ALL, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING TRAILBLAZERS. THANK YOU FOR REPORTING ON THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY FROM 1963 TO CURRENTLY. SO TODAY IS NOT ONLY PUTTING THE SPOTLIGHT ON YOU, BUT THANK YOU FOR CONTINUOUSLY DOING THAT. AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN BUFFALO, I REMEMBER GOING TO THE STORES AND SEEING THE CHALLENGERS. WE'RE WALKING THROUGH JACKSON AVENUE. YOU'VE SEEN THAT THERE IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY. SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. I'M GOING TO PASS THE MIC TO LEGISLATOR DUPREE TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS. I WANTED TO SECOND WHAT MY PARTNER, LEGISLATOR ST. JEANS, WAS SAYING. YOU GENTLEMEN, YOU JUST WANTED SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS. BUT WHAT Y'ALL DO ON PRINT, ON MEDIA, ON ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS. LIKE, YOU DO A PODCAST, BUT THEN YOU'RE ON WOPO. DIDN'T SHOW UP WITH A FEDERAL PUBLIC COMMUNITY. YOU GENTLEMEN DO SO MUCH, YOU WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO JUST HONOR YOU. WE DO SEE IT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOTICED. WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW HOW YOU LOOK. SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE GREAT CAUSE OF YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY. WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE SOME PROCLAMATIONS THAT SIGNED BY A LEGISLATOR TO CREATE ONE. AND SO I'M JUST [00:15:01] GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT JUST A LITTLE BIT. SO THE BUFFALO CHALLENGER, AS I MENTIONED, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 70 YEARS. THAT IS INCREDIBLE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CHALLENGER HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR, SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD SAY, BLACK MEN. YOU'LL SEE ARTICLES OF WHAT'S GOING ON LEGISLATIVELY, BUT THEN ALSO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY. AND NOW I SEE THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA FROM INSTAGRAM, SO I SEE IT, WE APPRECIATE IT, SO THAT'S THE FIRST ONE. SO I KNOW JOE PARKER'S HERE. I KNOW JOE VERY WELL, SO I'LL GIVE YOU THAT ONE. AND THIS IS FOR, FOR ME, I GET THE HONOR OF TALKING ABOUT THE BUFFALO CRITERIA NEWSPAPER, WHICH HAS BEEN, ORIGINALLY BEEN INVOLVED, AND THEY DO GREAT THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S SOMEWHERE I GO TO WHEN I WANT MY COMMUNITY TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THAT'S ONE OF THE PLACES THAT WE NEED TO GO TO. SO I WANT TO THANK THE MEN WITH THE FAMILIES FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND WHAT YOU BRING IN HERE, BECAUSE IT'S A REAL FAMILY THING. AS YOU'RE UP HERE, YOUR DAUGHTER'S BACK HERE, HELPING OUT. SO IT'S LIKE, WE JUST APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO KEEP THAT ALIVE AND KEEP MOVING. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING BY GETTING THEM UP HERE. SO THANK YOU. AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR IMPACT STANDS BEYOND THE CREDIT PAGE, ORGANIZING COMMUNITY EVENTS, FORUMS, DISCUSSIONS, AND SHOWCASING LOCAL ARTISTS AND WRITERS TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AWARENESS AND CELEBRATE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE. I WANT TO THANK YOU. ALSO, I WANT TO KNOW, A HUNDRED YEARS, AM I CORRECT? A HUNDRED YEARS. AND YEAH, USUALLY FRANK IS BEHIND THE CAMERA, SO WE'VE GOT HIM UP HERE, WHICH IS GREAT. AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY, HE'S NO STRANGER, PASTOR, TO THIS CHAMBER, BUT... WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE NOT ONLY YOUR COMMUNITY WORK THAT YOU DO, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S A PLATFORM. EVERYONE'S GOING TO PODCASTS. AND YOU REALIZE THAT. SO WE DECIDED TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE LISTEN TO ON. SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS RADIO PODCAST, FEATURING IT ON WOFFO. WOFFO IS ONE OF OUR RADIO STATIONS, OUR BLACK-OWNED RADIO STATIONS. PROBABLY A COUPLE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE BLACK-OWNED, WOMEN-OWNED. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING YOUR SHOW ON WOFFO AND ALL THAT YOU DO. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS. JOE, I GUESS YOU'RE POINTING AT JOE. YEAH, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS PROCLAMATION. WE HAVE TRIED ALWAYS TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN IT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LOT AROUND. DIFFERENT THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE YEARS. WE'RE IN THE UPSWING AND CHALLENGER IS HERE TO HELP EVERY COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY THE EAST SIDE, AND WE'D JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU. WE'RE VERY TOUCHED. I'M JUST HERE REPRESENTING, BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR CHALLENGER FOR 20 YEARS. THIS IS MY ANNIVERSARY ALSO IN REGARDS TO SALES AND MARKETING. I'VE BEEN IN MARKETING FOR 45 YEARS. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND FOR THESE TWO RIGHT HERE. I WORK WITH THE PERSON OF ADVERTISING AND MOSTLY POLITICIANS, AND THEY JUST DO IT SO MUCH IN THE COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE THE BOTH OF THEM. >> TO THE LEGISLATORS AND THE CRITICS, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 100 YEARS AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES TO PLEAD OUR OWN CAUSE. SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WRITE HISTORY, TO HAVE HISTORY IN OUR PEOPLE, AND WE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. IT MEANS A LOT WHEN PEOPLE FROM YOUR OWN COMMUNITY RECOGNIZE YOU. BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPER VALUABLE. THANK YOU, LAWRENCE, AND THANK YOU, I'D LIKE TO THANK BOTH LEGISLATORS. YOU DO AN AWESOME JOB IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU'RE SO CONNECTED TO OUR COMMUNITY. YOU CANNOT STOP YOUR RELENTLESS VIGILANCE. YOU'RE DEFINITELY VIBRANT WHEN IT COMES TO COMMON POLICIES AND PEOPLE'S WELFARE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO YOU, GYC MINISTRIES. WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH BOTH OF YOU GUYS. WE WORK TOGETHER ON VARIOUS PROJECTS. AND TO THIS WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY, PRESENT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS. I WOULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED ME BEING ON A RADIO OR PODCAST. AND I WAS REALLY OFFENDED BY SOCIAL MEDIA. I WAS AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE EARLY STAGES, ALMOST 15, 16 YEARS AGO. I MET A HOMELESS GUY IN NORTH CAROLINA [00:20:01] WHO WAS DISABLED, AND HE WAS AN ARTIST. AND HE WAS VERY STRONG AND SPIRITUAL, AND HE WAS EDUCATED. AND HE HAD TOLD ME ONE TIME, I WAS TELLING HIM I WAS GOING BACK TO BUFFALO TO A HOME. HANDLE BUSINESS AND BE BACK IN MY COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN GONE LONG ENOUGH. AND HE SAID, I IMAGINE YOU, AND I JUST KNEW ON RADIO, I IMAGINE YOU AND VISUALIZE YOU GOING ACROSS THE AIRWAVES. AND I MIGHT NOT. IT'S NOT ME, I WOULD NEVER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT ME. I'M NOT THE TYPE TO BE ON RADIO, HE SAID. I SEE YOU DOING RADIO, I SEE YOU DOING BROADCASTING, AND I SEE YOU TOUCHING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT. AND WHEN I LEFT, I WENT AND CAME BACK TO BUFFALO, AND IT PRICKED ME. AS THINGS WENT ON, AS I DID BUSINESS, AND I WAS A BUSINESS PERSON IN BUFFALO, THE RADIO CAME TO MY MIND. BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE CAME TO MY SHOP AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS. SO I NAMED THE RADIO SHOW, AND I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. THANK GOD FOR KERRY. THANK GOD FOR THE MAYOR, MAYOR BROWN AT THE TIME, AND SHEILA BROWN, AND PASTOR JAMES JOHNSON. YOU NEED TO GET ON THE RADIO. YOU NEED TO BE ON THE RADIO. YOU DO A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR YOU AND KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. SO I TOOK THE ADVENTURE AND CAME ON THE WUFRO, AND I STAYED ON THE WUFRO, BUT WITHOUT AN ENEMY. BUT EVERYBODY THAT CAME ON THE RADIO WERE LEGENDS. THEY WERE LEGENDARY PEOPLE. THEY WERE PEOPLE FROM THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE. THEY KNEW ALL ABOUT BUFFALO. THEY KNEW ABOUT THE ARCHIVES, FROM THE BISON TO THE BILLS. AND THEY KNEW ABOUT THE CULTURE. AND SO WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS... EVEN WITH POLITICAL PEOPLE AND SPIRITUAL GROUPS AND MINISTRIES, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT YOU. GOVERNMENT, LAWS, CULTURE, COMMUNITY, CIVILIZATION, UNITY, AND RECIDIVISM, AND LOGISTICS, MOVING PEOPLE AROUND. SO I NAMED THE SHOW I AM LEGEND, AND MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS ME, SAID I WAS A LEGEND, BUT I'M LIKE, EVERYBODY I MEET IS LEGENDARY IN A LEGENDARY CITY. IN THE LEGENDARY WESTERN NEW YORK COUNTY. SO I JUST THANK GOD FOR BEING RECOGNIZED. I GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. I KNOW GIANTS PERFORM WITH BIG SHOES, BUT THEY ARE MY PILLARS. THEY ARE MY ARMS THAT I LEAN ON AND I TALK TO THESE GUYS AND I USE THEIR SERVICES A LOT. SO THIS IS JUST ONE MILESTONE THAT I REALLY NEED TO STAY WITH YOU SO I CAN LEARN AND BE AN APPRENTICE UP UNDER THAT WALL. THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU. (INAUDIBLE) [00:25:47] BEFORE WE GO BACK TO OUR AGENDA ITEMS, WE HAVE SOME PERFORMERS THAT ARE GOING TO COME UP TO US VERY QUICKLY. THIS ONE, I THOUGHT, WAS MARK. HE'S ON THE FLOOR. (INAUDIBLE) [00:31:11] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS VERY NICE. [ LOCAL LAWS:] CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, LOCAL LAWS, LOCAL LAW, INTRO 1-1, LOCAL LAW. INTRO 2-1 AS INDICATED. LOCAL LAW 3-1 FOR THE MINORITY CAUCUS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE ENERGY AND FIREARMS COMMITTEE [ COMMITTEE REPORTS:] UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. COMMITTEE REPORTS. REPORT NUMBER TWO FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. MAJORITY LETTER. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LETTER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR DUPREE ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER TWO FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR ST. JEAN TARD. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR ST. JEAN TARD AND THE SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER TWO FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR BART EASEY. IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR BARNETT. SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER ONE FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, LEGISLATIVE DECREE. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I'LL MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. [ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:] SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL BY LEGISLATIVE DECREE. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR ST. JEAN TARTT. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION, INTRO 4-1 FROM THE LEGISLATOR, CYNCHI TARRANT, WILL BE SENT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. INTRO 4-2 FROM LEGISLATIVE DECREE, MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR MEETING CONSIDERATION FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM THE LEGISLATIVE DECREE. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11-0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED. INTRO 4-3 FROM LEGISLATOR TODARO, MAJORITY VOTER. MOVE FOR MEETING, CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY VOTER AND WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR TODARO ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11-0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED. INTRO 4-4 FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS WILL BE SENT TO THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS THE SHERIFF. ENTRY 4-5 FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS WILL BE SENT TO THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. ENTRY 4-6 FROM THE MINORITY CAUCUS WILL BE SENT TO THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. ENTRY 4-4 WILL BE SENT TO THE ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM THE COMMITTEE. JORDAN, PLEASE. I HAVE ONE DISCHARGE TODAY. IT'S THE FIRST [ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:] FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. I MOVE DISCHARGE COMMUNICATIONS. 3E-15-2026. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO DISCHARGE THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE LEGISLATOR, VIDAL, ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11-0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATOR, MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE LEGISLATOR, VIDAL, ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11-0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. SUSPENSIONS [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:] OF THE RULES ARE KNOWN. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS. COMMUNICATION 4D-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 4D-19 AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATIONS [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS: ] FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS. COMMUNICATION 4D-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATION 4D-5 AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATIONS FROM PEOPLE IN OTHER AGENCIES. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES: ] COMMUNICATION 4M-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 4M-6 AS INDICATED. I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. DURING THIS SECOND SESSION, WE ASK ALL SPEAKERS [ PUBLIC COMMENT:] TO KEEP THEIR COMMENTS RELATED TO ANY MATTER OF ALL THE GARY COUNTY EVENTS. KEEP IN MIND ALL SPEAKERS LIMIT THEIR REMARKS [00:35:01] TO THREE MINUTES. THE TALK WILL ALREADY BE DEVELOPED. YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BY THE LEGISLATORS BEFORE WE BEGIN? WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? SECOND TIME, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, SIR. HELLO, MY NAME IS PETER FLANAGAN, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAIN ABOUT CHESTNUT RIDGE CONCESSIONS. I'M SURE MOST OF THE LEGISLATORS ARE FAMILIARIZED WITH MY NAME BY NOW. I'VE SENT MOST OF YOU SOME DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. IT'S ONLY ABOUT 35% OF WHAT WAS REQUIRED ON THE DOCUMENTS AND THE CONTRACT SIGNED. SO, BASICALLY, I'LL JUST GIVE A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT HAPPENED. EARLY MARCH, A CONCESSIONAIRE WAS AWARDED A CONTRACT WHO WASN'T EVEN A BUSINESS ENTITY YET. AND FOUR MONTHS LATER, LEGISLATION AMENDED THAT CONTRACT, GIVING HIM A SECOND CONTRACT, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS FOUR MONTHS DELINQUENT ON AGREEMENTS TO THAT CONTRACT. TWO MONTHS LATER, LEGISLATION APPROVED THAT SAME CONCESSIONAIRE. THIRD CONTRACT AT THIS POINT BEING FIVE MONTHS DELINQUENT ON THE AGREEMENT IN THIS CONTRACT. RECENTLY, ALL THREE OF THOSE CONTRACTS WERE CANCELED. A NEW VENDOR IS IN THAT SPACE AT THE CONCESSION. SO CRICKLER VENDING DOES HAVE A CONTRACT WITH ERIE COUNTY, AND IT IS IN MANY, MANY OF THE BUILDINGS. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO AMENDMENT, NO RESOLUTION, NO... A GOVERNING AUTHORITY GIVING CURRICULAR VENDING SOLE SERVICE AS THE CONCESSIONAIRE. NOW THEY MAY BE ABLE TO BE AT CHESTNUT RIDGE, BUT THERE IS A LARGE DOOR. AND THAT PART OF SERVICES AS THE CONCESSIONAIRE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS. WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE RFP PROCESS WAS COMPLETELY BYPASSED FOR ELDER MEMBERS, AND NOW COMPLETELY BYPASSED. A SECOND TIME FOR THE CONCESSIONARIES AT CHESTER BRIDGE. IT'S MIND-BOGGLING. I'VE DONE A LOT OF TIME, SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN FORMAL RFPS, AND AS I, IN LINE FIVE, IN THE NEW RFPS... I REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN THANKED AT ANY OF MY HARD WORK ON FINDING OR DISCOVERING ALL THE FLAWS, BESIDES MR. MEYER, WHO GAVE ME A T-LINE THE OTHER DAY. BUT FROM PARTS, I UNCOVERED AND HELPED THEM WITH MANY GAPS AND FLAWS IN THEIR RFP PROCESS AND HOW THEY COME UP WITH NEW RFPS. BUT IN LINE FIVE OF THE INTRODUCTION, THE COUNTY RESERVES THEIR RIGHT TO REJECT ANNUAL PROPOSALS OR ANY PART, THEREFORE. SO WITH THE... EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST RFP PROCESS, WHAT WOULD MOTIVATE A SUCCESSFUL CONCESSIONAIRE TO EVEN FILE AN RFP IF THEY COULD JUST BE THROWN AWAY FOR NO REASON YET? ON A SIDE NOTE, THE COMMISSIONER DEPUTY WHO HANDLED MOST OF THESE RFPS THAT ENDED UP BEING DELINQUENT, A DISASTER, ENDED UP BEING... .CANCELLED. IS NOW IN CHARGE OF RFPS FOR THE YOUTH PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL SERVICES. SO I DON'T SEE HOW SOMEONE CAN HAVE A DISASTER, THREE RFPS IN ONE DEPARTMENT, AND AS SOMEONE STARTS LOOKING AROUND, BEEN OUT FOR ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT OF ERIE COUNTY, AND IS NOW IN CHARGE OF A WHOLE NEW POOL OF RFPS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A... WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS, ISN'T THAT INSANITY? SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TODAY. I'M REQUESTING THAT SOMETHING HAPPEN WITH THE CONCESSIONS AT CHESTNUT RIDGE. TWO RFPS ARE OPEN FOR ALVIN MEADOWS, GROVER, CLEVELAND. WHY NOT THE THIRD BANKRUPTCY? YOU KNOW, IT'S... I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. I'M RUNNING OUT OF STAMINA AND EFFORTS TO WANT TO DO GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, TO PROVIDE SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL [00:40:01] IN OUR HERITAGE PARK. AND IT SEEMS THAT I'M JUST BEING DENIED LEFT AND RIGHT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. YOU KNOW, IS IT THE PARK COMMISSIONER'S SOLE GOVERNING OVER THESE PARKS? I UNDERSTAND HE'S THE COMMISSIONER. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TODAY. IT WAS A LITTLE LESS PREPARED THAN LAST MEETING, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MR. PLATT. IS THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? LAST CALL? OKAY, WE'LL NOW CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENTARY AT THE END OF THE MEETING. [ ANNOUNCEMENTS:] ANNOUNCEMENTS, THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH. THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED. THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? [ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:] OKAY, PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS. LEGISLATOR BARNAZI, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF JIMMY WONG. I AGREE, TOO SOON, SUDDENLY, GREAT YOUNG MAN THAT WORKED AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU KNOW HIM, HE WILL BE BACK. SORRY, FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR. LEGISLATOR LARIGO. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF JOHN MORAN AND DEBBIE HANSON. SORRY, FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR. LEGISLATOR VIDAL. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF A DEAR FRIEND. DARRYL BYRON IRWIN, WHO DIED LAST FRIDAY MORNING. AND HE LITERALLY WON THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY'S WESTERN YARD. FOR A MAN THAT I'VE SEEN, OR WILL SEE, WHO REPRESENTED THE UNDERDOG AT ALL TIMES, AND JUST A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, I'M SORRY FOR WHAT I'VE SAID. I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF NOIR ALAM, WHO'S LOST HIS LIFE RECENTLY, SO IF WE CAN KEEP HIS FAMILY SAFE. SORRY TO HEAR YOUR LOSS, MR. MAYOR. MAJORITY LEADER, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEMORY OF THOMAS MCKINNON. SORRY TO HEAR YOUR LOSS, MR. MAYOR. LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEMORY OF DANIEL CUMMINGS AND RUTH BOLGER. SORRY TO HEAR YOUR LOSS, MR. MAYOR. LEGISLATOR TADAM. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I MOVE TO MOVE AND ADJOURN IT IN THE MEMORY OF SALVATORE FLOREZALA, LARRY PANASWITZ, ANTHONY MYERS, LORRAINE POLINO, ROMAN KOWALIK, AND CHARLES TADAM. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, THANK YOU, SIR. A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE WITH THE BOARD. THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN MOTION TO ADJOURN BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY OUR LEGISLATOR, DUPREE. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? STAND ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.