Mar 12, 2026 Legislative Session

[ ROLL CALL]

[00:00:02]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE SESSION NUMBER 5, MARCH 12TH, 2026. CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. HERE. LEGISLATOR LORIGO NOT PRESENT.

LEGISLATOR MILLS. HERE. TODARO. HERE. BARGNESI.

HERE. DUPRE. PRESENT. GILMOUR. HERE. KOOSHOIAN.

HERE. MEYERS. HERE. SAINT JEAN TARD. HERE. AND VINAL.

HERE. QUORUM PRESENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

PLEASE RISE FOR THE INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN.

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.

OKAY. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, THE FIRST SESSION OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD,

[ PUBLIC COMMENT]

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND ALL SPEAKERS KEEP THEIR REMARKS TO THREE MINUTES.

THE CLERK WILL RING THE BELL WHEN THERE ARE 30S LEFT.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE START OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? OKAY. FIRST SPEAKER. TODD, DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR? WE'RE GOING TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT UP HERE.

PROGRAM. I DID NOT GET IT SUBMITTED IN TIME FOR THE AGENDA, BUT I WILL DO A FOLLOW UP FOR THE NEXT TIME.

SO THIS IS MY LETTER THAT I WROTE TO THEM. GOOD MORNING.

AS SOMEONE WHO CLOSELY FOLLOWS COUNTY GOVERNMENT, I'M GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT ERIE COUNTY COMPTROLLER'S REPORT DETAILING SEVERAL INEFFICIENCIES IN ASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM, OR ACP.

DESPITE ASSURANCES FROM THE ASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM´S PRESIDENT PETER VASILION THAT THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED IN A STRUCTURED AND OPERATIONALLY FUNCTIONAL MANNER, ENOUGH RED FLAGS WERE RAISED IN THE COMPTROLLER'S REPORT FOR MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO ASK THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO REVIEW IT FOR POTENTIAL FRAUD COMMITTED BY THE ACP´S PANEL ATTORNEYS.

I'M NEITHER AN ATTORNEY OR A MEMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT HAVING READ THE 21 PAGE REPORT IN ITS ENTIRETY, I LIKEWISE SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS AS THOSE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

IN SHORT, I THINK THE REPORT'S FINDINGS ARE PRETTY DAMNING.

REGARDLESS IF THOSE INEFFICIENCIES FOUND IN THE COMPTROLLER'S REPORT WERE DUE TO INCOMPETENCY OR CRIMINALITY, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MR. VASILION IS NO LONGER FIT TO LEAD THE ACP.

IN PARTICULAR, HE WAS ONE OF TWO BOARD MEMBERS WHO EARNED AN EXCESS OF $200,000 FOR SERVING AS ONE OF ITS PANEL ATTORNEYS.

JUST AS ANY JUDGE WOULD RECUSE HIM OR HERSELF FROM TRIAL IF THERE WERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, SOMEONE SERVING ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM, AND NO LESS AS PRESIDENT, SHOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN A CASE DUE TO A PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

THE OPTICS ALONE ARE HORRIBLE, AND FRANKLY, I HAVE TO QUESTION MR. VASILION´S QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION TO HIS CLIENTS, WHEN COMBINED NOT ONLY WITH HIS OWN PRIVATE PRACTICE, BUT ALSO SERVING AS ATTORNEY FOR THE TOWN OF PIRATES.

INDIGENT CLIENTS ARE JUST AS DESERVING QUALITY REPRESENTATIONS.

ANYONE ELSE, IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. AS YOU'RE LIKELY AWARE, THE SIGNS SAYING THE BUCK STOPS HERE ONCE ADORNED PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN'S DESK.

AS SUCH, MR. VASILION ULTIMATELY BEARS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMNING INEFFICIENCIES FOUND IN THE COMPTROLLER'S REPORT.

THEREFORE, I AM CALLING ON MR. VASILION´S REMOVAL AS PRESIDENT OF THE ASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM.

I BELIEVE SUCH ACTIONS WILL HELP TO RESTORE THE PUBLIC TRUST OF THIS WORTHWHILE PROGRAM, WHILE ALSO IMPLEMENTING ADDITIONAL PROCESSES TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S REPORT. I'M FORWARDING MY EMAIL IN ANY OF YOUR CORRESPONDENCE, WHICH IS GREATLY APPRECIATED TO THE CLERK OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE SO THAT IT MAY BE ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PROMPT REPLY.

SINCERELY, MR. TODD [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHANE SEYMOUR.

[00:05:14]

CONTRACT AUTHORIZATIONS. THEY RECENTLY ACTUALLY JUST LAST WEEK THE DAY AFTER YOUR COMMITTEE MEETING POSTED ON THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GRANT OPPORTUNITY WEBSITE SOME INFORMATION THAT IS PERTINENT TO WHAT HAS NOW BEEN WITH THE ERIE COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PAGE PRESENTED FOR RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH, AS WELL AS SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT SERVICES FOR JUVENILES.

THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY IS BY WHAT IS CALLED THE CHILD MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE.

AND I JUST CAME ACROSS IT FROM SOME RESEARCH I WAS DOING WITH REGARDS TO THE PROPOSAL I SUBMITTED LAST MONTH THAT WAS ACCEPTED HERE BY THE CLERK. SO THEY HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE, BUT IT WAS OFFICIALLY THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THE GRANT SERVICER IS FIRST RECOGNIZED FROM THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND THEIR OFFICIAL WEBSITE, BUT I HAVE HERE THE APPLICATIONS. I ONLY INCLUDED THOUGH WHAT WE HAVE FOR THE OMB NUMBERS. SO I EXCLUDED SOME OF THEM BECAUSE IT'S AN ONLINE FILLABLE FORM.

SO EVEN THOUGH IT IS PERTINENT TO INDIVIDUALS, THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, WHICH I'VE ALSO INCLUDED HERE ARE SPECIFIC TO STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS. SO AS IT IS, AGAIN, WITH CONTRACT AUTHORIZATIONS, THEY'RE UNDER ITEMS 5E-8 AND 5E-11. I SPOKE TO THOSE MOST DIRECTLY FOR THE EXECUTIVE HERE. IT'S BROUGHT UP AGAIN TOWARDS THE END, THOUGH, WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S PORTION OF THE AGENDA. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE THIS AVAILABLE BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT AS MANY AS YOU'D BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE, THE GRANT IS CONSIDERABLE. AND IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, APPROPRIATE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. OKAY. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? IS THERE ANYBODY WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? LAST CALL. OKAY. WE'LL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. TABLED ITEMS, MAJORITY LEADER.

[ TABLED ITEMS]

ON THE MOTION TO TAKE COMMUNICATION 3E-31 FROM THE TABLE.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. YES. LORIGO NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR MILLS.

YES. TODARO. YES. BARGNESI. YES. DUPRE. YES. GILMOUR.

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

YES. AND VINAL. YES. THE VOTE IS 10 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

COMMUNICATION 3E-31 IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 3E-31.

ROLL CALL VOTE. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAJORITY LEADER. SECONDED BY THE MINORITY LEADER.

ROLL CALL VOTE, CLERK. ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 3E-31.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. YES. LORIGO. NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR MILLS.

YES. TODARO. YES. BARGNESI. YES. DUPRE. YES. GILMOUR.

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

YES. AND VINAL. YES. VOTE IS 10 TO 0. OKAY. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

COMMUNICATION 3E-31 IS APPROVED. ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION.

THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING. MAJORITY LEADER. I MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Meeting No. 4]

[00:10:04]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE ARE NONE. MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE ONE.

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD 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 ET AL SPONSORSHIP.

YES. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO INCLUDE ET AL SPONSORSHIP BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE 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? 10 TO 0. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED.

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

[ COMMITTEE REPORTS:]

MOVE FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR VINAL AND SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 10-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER TWO. THE FINANCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE LEGISLATOR.

[INAUDIBLE]. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR [INAUDIBLE], SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER 2. THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR DUPRE.

THANK YOU, CHAIR.

THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 10-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER 3 FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

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? OPPOSED? 10-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER 3. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR DUPRE ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED.

REPORT NUMBER 1. THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI, SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. 10-0THE REPORT IS APPROVED. LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS.

THERE ARE NONE. COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE.

[ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:]

THE FIRST ONE'S FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 24E-15-2005.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0 THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM. OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THE ITEM IS APPROVED. GO AHEAD. THIS WAS THE OKAY, WE'RE ALL SET. OKAY. MAJORITY LEADER. THE SECOND DISCHARGE IS FROM FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 3E-9-2026. OKAY.

IS THAT.

I'M SORRY. 40-9. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO DISCHARGE 40-9 FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECOND BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD.

ON THE QUESTION. YES. ON THE QUESTION OF LEGISLATOR VINAL.

I WOULD VOTE AGAINST MOVING TO DISCHARGE IT BECAUSE I'VE JUST RECEIVED THIS MORNING THAT 75% OF THE 5000 PROPERTIES THAT ARE BEING FORECLOSED THAT HAVE PROPERTY TAXES OVER THREE YEARS OLD.

AND I WOULD LIKE A CHANCE FOR EVERYONE TO GO OVER THAT.

ACCORDING TO THE CHARTER, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO DECIDE WHICH PROPERTIES ARE FORECLOSED AND WHICH PROPERTIES ARE FORECLOSED.

IT'S NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED TIME TO REVIEW WHICH PROPERTIES ARE BEING FORECLOSED VERSUS WHICH PROPERTIES AREN'T BEING FORECLOSED. SO ON THIS LIST, I GUESS I RECEIVED TODAY AND NO ONE ELSE RECEIVED IT,

[00:15:04]

BUT JUST A QUICK LOOK AT THE ONES WE RECEIVED.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF ONES ON THERE THAT HAS THE SAME THING.

CITY OF BUFFALO PROTECTING TITLE. WHEN YOU GO TO A BANK AND GO TO THE CASHIER AND SAVE A DEPOSIT FOR $1,500 CASH, SOMEBODY COUNTS THAT. AND IT'S NOT AN ATTACK ON THE CREDIBILITY OF THE DEPOSITOR.

IT'S CALLED THE CHECK AND BALANCE. AND I REALLY FEEL THAT WE NEED A TIME TO BE THAT CHECK AND BALANCE.

AND WE NEED TO DECIDE WHO SHOULD GET FORECLOSED AND WHO SHOULDN'T GET FORECLOSED.

FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE REASONS WE COULD USE IS THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT HERE, WHERE ANYONE WHO OWES OVER 3000 BY LAW CAN BE FORECLOSED THEN. WE'RE LETTING ANYONE GO WHO HAS LESS THAN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MONEY PER YEAR.

FOR EXAMPLE, HERE THEY HAVE IT AS LESS THIS YEAR AS $2,226.

BUT THERE'S NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT HAVE TONS OF PROPERTY, NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN PAID FOR THREE YEARS.

AND THEY'RE LETTING THOSE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T OWNER OCCUPIED ON ALL OF THEM, FOR SURE THAT LETTING THEM GO AND JUST WORK ON SOME OF THEM AS OPPOSED TO ALL OF THEM.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE LIST WHO HAVE THREE YEARS AND WON'T BE OVER 65 OWNER OCCUPIED.

MAYBE WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER GIVING THEM THE FULL THIRD YEAR AND WAITING UNTIL AT THE END OF THIS YEAR TO FORECLOSE NEXT YEAR IF THEY DON'T PAY.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS. ONE OF THE ISSUES, IN ADDITION TO HAVING A WHOLE BUNCH LISTING AS THE CITY, THOSE ARE ON BOTH LISTS. SO IF THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH LISTED AS THE CITY ON THIS LIST AS PERFECTING TITLE, THEN HOW CAN WE FORECLOSE ON THEM IF IT'S THE CITY? AND ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE THEM ON THIS LIST WITH THE SAME THING.

CITY PERFECTING TITLE. AND WE HAVE MONIES ATTACHED TO THEM THAT THEY OWE.

SO EITHER WE'RE MISCOUNTING ON OUR BUDGET THAT WE HAVE THIS TAX MONEY COMING IN, OR WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THAT TAX MONEY IN AND WE'RE BUDGETING AND SPENDING MONEY BASED ON HAVING TAX MONEY IN OR THIS LIST ISN'T RIGHT.

THERE'S ONE OUT HERE THAT SAYS OWNER UNKNOWN. I DON'T THINK WE CAN FORECLOSE AGAINST OWNER UNKNOWN. THERE'S ONE THAT APPEARS TO BE A SCHOOL. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO CHECK TO SEE IF IT IS A SCHOOL AND IF IT'S A NOT FOR PROFIT, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE ATTENTION AND WE NEED TO ALL GET THIS INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME. ENOUGH TIME TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT BEFORE VOTING ON IT.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M VOTING TO NOT DISCHARGE IT AND LET US HAVE A TIME TO LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE OURSELVES WHO SHOULD BE ON IT AND WHO SHOULD NOT BE.

AND BECAUSE THAT'S OUR ROLE UNDER THE CHARTER.

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

OKAY, WE'RE STILL ON THE QUESTION, BUT WE HAVE A MOTION TO DISCHARGE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER.

SECOND BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD. SO WE WILL GO TO A ROLL CALL VOTE.

OKAY. ON THE MOTION TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 4E-9 FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

LEGISLATOR GREENE. YES. LORIGO NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR MILLS.

YES. TODARO. YES. BARGNESI. YES. DUPRE. YES. GILMOUR.

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

YES. AND VINAL. THE VOTE WAS 9 TO 1. OKAY. MOTION TO DISCHARGE PASSES.

MAJORITY LEADER.

SECOND BY THE MINORITY LEADER. ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.

ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 4E-9 LEGISLATOR GREENE.

YES. I´LL EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I'M GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I THINK LEGISLATOR VINAL HAS MADE SOME GOOD POINTS HERE REGARDING THE LIST OF NON FORECLOSURES.

BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST POINT OUT THAT IF SHE DOES FIND PROPERTIES THAT MIGHT WANT TO GO INTO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED, WE CAN ALSO DO THAT AT A LATER DATE. SO IT SHOULD STILL ALLOW US TO MOVE PEOPLE.

AND FOR THAT REASON, BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT POWER, I'M IN FAVOR OF WHAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE NOW.

THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR LORIGO NOT PRESENT.

LEGISLATOR MILLS. TODARO. YES. BARGNESI. YES.

DUPRE. YES. GILMOUR. YES. KOOSHOIAN. YES. MEYERS.

YES. SAINT JEAN TARD. EXPLAIN MY VOTE. WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US IS A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PAY THEIR TAXES. I'VE MADE CONNECTIONS WITH THE OFFICE.

[00:20:01]

AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FROM NOW TO SEPTEMBER.

SO I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE REALIZE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.

AND I BELIEVE LEGISLATOR VINAL MADE A GOOD POINT.

MAYBE IF SHE FINDS SOMETHING ON THAT LIST, WE CAN BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION IN A DIFFERENT MANNER.

BUT REGARDLESS, ON THE ITEM THAT WE'RE VOTING ON NOW, THESE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF FUNDS TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO KEEP THEIR HOMES AND TO PAY THOSE TAXES BY PAYMENT PLANS OR WHATEVER THEY CAN WORK OUT.

SO MY ANSWER IS YES. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR VINAL.

I'M VOTING NO AND I'M VOTING NO BECAUSE I'M VOTING ON THESE PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE THAT I'M NOT WANTING TO PAY AN ATTORNEY TO FORECLOSE ON PROPERTIES SUCH AS 152 ROMA, WHICH IS ON PAGE 13.

THAT SAID CITY OF BUFFALO PERFECTING 327 COONS, 75 RAPPIN AND 15 WASHCLOTHS, ALL ON PAGE 20, WHICH SAY CITY OF BUFFALO PERFECTING. SO WE'RE PAYING AN ATTORNEY TO FORECLOSE AND CITY PROPERTY, SUPPOSEDLY THE SAME REASON ON THE OTHERS, INCLUDING 78 MAIN STREET, 183 HERMAN.

THESE ARE JUST THE ONES I FOUND IN THIS BRIEF LITTLE TIME I HAD GETTING IT WHEN WE STARTED OUR SESSION, WE HAD MEETINGS BEFORE. I ONLY HAD LITERALLY MINUTES TO LOOK.

SO I REALLY THINK IT'S NOT JUST ADDING PEOPLE, IT'S ALSO ABOUT SUBTRACTING PEOPLE AND WHETHER WE WANT THIS TO BE OUR THING.

WE ALREADY KNOW ONCE THERE'S SOME MISTAKES, IT OPENS THE DOOR TO THINK MAYBE THERE'S OTHER MISTAKES. THAT'S WHY I'M GOING AGAINST IT. YOU'RE VOTING NO, RIGHT? I'M VOTING AGAINST IT. OKAY. THE VOTE IS 9 TO 1.

OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM IS APPROVED. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES.

[ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:]

THIS ITEM RECEIVED FILED AT PRINTED COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

COMMUNICATION 5E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 5E-20 AS INDICATED.

COMMUNICATION 5E-21. MAJORITY LEADER.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL.

RIGHT? AM I CORRECT? YES. LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 10-0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS APPROVED.

COMMUNICATIONS 5E-22 THROUGH AND INCLUDING 5E-24 AS INDICATED.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS: ]

COMMUNICATIONS WITH PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES: ]

DURING THE SESSION, WE ASK ALL SPEAKERS TO KEEP THEIR COMMENTS RELATED TO MATTERS INVOLVING ERIE COUNTY.

AGAIN, KEEP IN MIND ALL SPEAKERS LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THREE MINUTES.

THE CLERK WILL RING THE BELL WHEN YOU HAVE 30S LEFT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE BEGIN THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? ONCE AGAIN, IS THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? LAST CALL FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. OKAY.

AT THIS TIME I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE CLERK. THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 26TH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ANYONE?

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

THANK YOU, CHAIR. I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF WAYNE SISSON, SHIRLEY HELBECK AND SUSAN KOSTNER, AND ALSO KATHLEEN PETERSON, THE MOTHER OF THE VILLAGE OF DEPEW MAYOR PETERSON.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. MINORITY LEADER.

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

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.