[ ROLL CALL] [00:00:04] OKAY, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. SESSION NUMBER NINE OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, MAY 13TH, 2026. CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL. LEGISLATOR GREENE? HERE. LORIGO? HERE. MILLS? HERE. TODARO? HERE. BARGNESI? HERE. DUPRE? PRESENT. GILMOUR? HERE. LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN, NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR MEYERS? HERE. ST. JEAN TARD? HERE. AND VINAL? HERE. QUORUM, PRESENT. THANK YOU, CLERK. PLEASE RISE FOR THE INVOCATION. BE LED BY LEGISLATOR VIDAL. THANK YOU. THE CALL OUT BY MARY STEWART. KEEP US, O GOD, FROM ALL PETTINESS. LET US BE LARGE IN THOUGHT, IN WORD, IN DEED. LET US BE DONE WITH FAULT-FINDING AND LEAVE OFF ALL SELF-SEEKING. MAY WE PUT AWAY ALL PRETENSE AND MEET EACH OTHER FACE-TO-FACE WITHOUT SELF-PITY AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE. MAY WE NEVER BE HASTY IN JUDGMENT AND ALWAYS BE GENEROUS. LET US ALWAYS TAKE TIME FOR ALL THINGS AND MAKE US TO GROW CALM, SERENE, AND GENTLE. TEACH US TO PUT INTO ACTION OUR BETTER IMPULSES, TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD AND UNAFRAID. GRANT THAT WE MAY REALIZE THAT IT IS IN THE LITTLE THINGS OF LIFE THAT CREATE DIFFERENCES, THAT IN THE BIG THINGS OF LIFE WE ARE AS ONE. AND, OH, LORD GOD, LET US NOT FORGET TO BE KIND. AMEN. OKAY, 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. OKAY, I WILL NOW OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE PLEASE ASK THAT ALL SPEAKERS KEEP THEIR COMMENTS. TO ANY MATTER ON TODAY'S AGENDA, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL SPEAKERS ARE TO KEEP THEIR REMARKS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. THE CLERK WILL RING THE BELL WHEN THERE'S 30 SECONDS LEFT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? OKAY, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME SIGNED UP? ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK? NO? OKAY. I WILL CLOSE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THIS TIME. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA. TABLED ITEMS? THERE ARE NONE. ITEMS FOR RECONSIDERATION? THERE ARE NONE. MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS [ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING] MEETING. MAJORITY LEADER. 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? TEN TO ZERO. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE ARE NONE AT THIS TIME. RESOLUTIONS [ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:] ON PAGE ONE AND CONTINUED ON TO PAGE THREE. MAJORITY LEADER, MOVE TO CONSIDER. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATIVE VINYL. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR, OPPOSED, 10 TO 0, CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. MAJORITY LEADER, MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE THAT ALL SPONSORSHIP. SECOND, OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO INCLUDE AT ALL SPONSORSHIP BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATURE JEAN TARD. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR, OPPOSED, TEN TO ZERO, CARRIED, UH, 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? OPPOSED? 10-0. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED. LOCAL [ LOCAL LAWS:] LAWS, LOCAL LAW INTRO 1-1 AND LOCAL LAW 2-1 WILL BE RECEIVED AND FILED UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. LOCAL LAW 4-1, AS INDICATED. [ COMMITTEE REPORTS:] COMMITTEE REPORTS. REPORT NUMBER SEVEN FROM THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER SIX FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. 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, SECONDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER SIX FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR DUPRE. THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR DUPRE, A SECOND FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? THE REPORT IS APPROVED. REPORT NUMBER FIVE FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. 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 THE LEGISLATOR VINYL. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 0-0. THE REPORT IS APPROVED, REPORT NUMBER THREE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. SECOND, OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION, APPROVAL BY LEGISLATOR BARGNESI, A SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 10 TO 0, THE REPORT IS APPROVED, REPORT NUMBER SIX FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. YES, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO [00:05:01] SEPARATE ITEM NUMBER TWO AND APPROVE. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM LEGISLATOR BARGNESI TO SEPARATE ITEM NUMBER TWO AND APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE REPORT FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. OKAY, THE MOTION IS CARRIED. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER TWO. SECOND, OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER TWO, AND THE SECOND BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE. ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER TWO FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT, LEGISLATOR GREENE. YES. LORIGO. EXPLAIN MY VOTE. WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE REALITY THAT THE PENNY IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE IN CIRCULATION, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN REDUCE COSTS ON TAXPAYERS. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF ROUNDING UP. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE A PERMANENT ROUND DOWN. SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M A NO. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR MILLS. NO. TODARO. NO. BARGNESI? YES. DUPRE? YES. GILMOUR? YES. LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR MEYERS? YES. ST. JEAN TARD? YES. AND VINAL? YES. VOTE IS 7-3. OKAY, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS APPROVED. LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS ARE NONE. [ COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE:] COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGED FROM COMMITTEE. MAJORITY LEADER? OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO DISCHARGE WE HAVE MULTIPLE SECONDS FROM LEGISLATOR LORIGO. LEGISLATOR ST. JEAN TARD AND LEGISLATOR VINAL AND LEGISLATOR DUPRE ON THE QUESTION ALL IN FAVOR OPPOSED 10 TO 0 THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE MAJORITY LEADER OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE 6E-16 FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER, A SECOND, MULTIPLE SECONDS, LET'S SAY ST. JEAN TARD. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. THE MOTION CARRIES, THE ITEM IS APPROVED. MAJORITY LEADER? MOVE TO DISCHARGE. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO DISCHARGE INTRO 7-3 FROM THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. MAJORITY LEADER. OH, I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I DID NOT SEE IT. MY FAULT. LEGISLATOR VINAL, YOU'RE ON THE FLOOR. ON THIS ITEM, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO ASK MY FELLOW MEMBERS TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION. AND THE REASON IS, IS THAT... THERE'S A, WE KNOW THAT GAS TAX IS THE MOST REGRESSIVE OF ALL THE TAXES, AFFECTS POOR PEOPLE THE MOST FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, MEANING THAT IT'S PART OF, A BIG PART OF THEIR SALARY BUT ALSO THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE LUXURY OF THE MOST. FUEL-EFFICIENT CARS OR ELECTRIC CARS, ET CETERA. AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE HAD PLANNED, WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET, WE HAD PLANNED FOR A 1.5% GROWTH IN SALES TAX. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT LOW ESTIMATE, WE INCREASED OUR PROPERTY TAXES. IF WE HAD ESTIMATED A HIGHER AMOUNT OF SALES TAX, OUR PROPERTY TAXES WOULD THEN HAVE BEEN LESS. SO THAT IS AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE CAUSED BY A WAR. IT'S IT'S NOT LIKE DURING COVID, IT WAS CLASSIC INFLATION OF TOO MANY DOLLARS BECAUSE OF THE STIMULUS, CHASING TOO FEW GOODS BECAUSE OF THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE. SO THAT WAS REAL INFLATION. THIS IS A GAS TAX INCREASE CAUSED BY A WAR THAT WE'RE ALL IN, REGARDLESS OF OUR IDEOLOGY, WE'RE ALL AMERICANS. AND THE ISSUE IS THAT THAT IS A TAX THAT THE CHOICE IS WHETHER IT SHOULD GO TO THE CONSUMER OR WHETHER IT SHOULD GO TO THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS NOT EXPECTED. IT WAS NOT BUDGETED. OUR PROPERTY TAXES WERE BASED ON NOT GETTING THAT AMOUNT. AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD RECONSIDER THAT. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE EXECUTIVE, OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR, HAD STATED THAT HE DID THE ANALYSIS, WHICH WAS A FINDING OF TWO FACTS. ONE FACT WAS THAT THERE WAS NO CHANGE. THE GAS TAX WENT DOWN, AND THERE WAS NO APPARENT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE BETWEEN THE TWO. ONE WAS THERE WAS SOME FLAW AS FAR AS THAT IT WAS MORE THAN JUST DERRY COUNTY. BUT MORE FUNDAMENTALLY... IT'S, I TAUGHT THE LSAT LOGIC CLASS FOR LIKE SEVEN YEARS, AND WE TAUGHT IT AT THIS HOTEL, AND EVERY TIME WE WENT TO LUNCH AT JIM'S TRUCK STOP, COINCIDENTALLY. SO ANYWAY, THEY HAD, BUT THERE WE LEARNED, AND I KNOW FROM TEACHING THAT CLASS TO LAW APPLICANTS, THE MOST COMMON. A LOGICAL FALLACY, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT'S A FALLACY, IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CORRELATION AND CAUSATION. BECAUSE TWO FACTS OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME DOESN'T MEAN THAT [00:10:01] THEY'RE RELATED IN ANY WAY. AND IT ALSO COULD MEAN THE OPPOSITE. IT COULD VERY WELL BE TO ACCUSE SOMEBODY OF BEING A PRICE GOUGER IS, I THINK, PRETTY INSULTING, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE SAYING THE BUDGET DIRECTOR. THE ONE THING I TOLD FARNESE THAT HE LOST ME WHEN HE SAID THAT HE'LL ALWAYS CHOOSE TO GIVE MORE MONEY TO THE GOVERNMENT. SO WE'RE KIND OF GOUGING BY ACCEPTING THIS TAX THAT WE DIDN'T PLAN ON, WE DIDN'T BUDGET FOR, BUT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN OUR POCKET. SO, I ASKED PEOPLE TO RECONSIDER. IT COULD BE THAT THAT DECREASE IN TAXES MADE OTHER PEOPLE, AS THE OWNER OF JIM'S TRUCK STOP STATED, THAT THAT HIS, THAT BUSINESS IS ONE, THE ONLY BUSINESS WHERE EVERYONE'S PRICES ARE ON THEIR CORNER. SO, IF IT COULD HAVE JUST AS WELL BEEN, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO FACTS OTHER THAN THOSE TWO THAT THE GAS TAX WENT DOWN AND NO CHANGE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN THAT THAT PRICE DECREASE SPREAD BEYOND ERIE COUNTY TO COMPETE WITH THAT. IT COULD EASILY BE THAT. I DID SEE THE ARTICLE CITED BY GREEN THAT ALL THE TAX ISN'T PASSED DOWN, ALL THE TAX SAVINGS ISN'T PASSED DOWN TO THE CONSUMER. SOMETIMES IT'S 60%. IT COULD BE MORE, IT COULD BE LESS. BUT THE ISSUE IS THAT IF IT COMES AWAY FROM THE CONSUMER, 100% OF IT WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE CONSUMER. SO, EVEN THAT 60% IS A LOT BETTER THAN 100%. SO, BECAUSE IT'S REGRESSIVE, BECAUSE ON THE WAY HERE SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT HE FILLED UP HIS TRUCK WITH $100 TO FILL UP A TRUCK, AND PEOPLE ARE HURTING. GAS TAX IS HIGH. I MEAN, I MEAN, GAS IS SO HIGH, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF A WAR. IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING WE PLANNED FOR. YES, ASPHALT MIGHT BE HIGHER, AND THAT'LL BE EXPENSE TO US, BUT EVERY HOMEOWNER HAS THOSE EXPENSES. SO, THAT'S WHY I AM IN FAVOR OF VOTING TO LOWER ALL REGRESSIVE TAXES, WHICH INCLUDES PROPERTY TAXES, BUT THIS ONE, I THINK, WE SHOULD COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP AND VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS. THANK YOU. ROLL CALL VOTE. OKAY, MOTION TO APPROVE. MOVE TO APPROVE INTRO 7-3. ROLL CALL VOTE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, SIR. ROLL CALL VOTE. THANK YOU. ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE INTRO 7-3, LEGISLATOR GREENE. OH, YES. BY LEGISLATOR VINAL, THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY THAT, HERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ABOUT 10 CENT GAS SAVINGS FOR THE CONSUMERS, THE MAJORITY DOES GET PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER. WE KNOW THAT BASED ON REALLY SMART INDIVIDUALS AT WELL-RESPECTED INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. THEY CAN HEAR ME. AND THE ONLY WAY THAT IT CAN BE JUSTIFIED THAT THE CONSUMER IS NOT GOING TO BENEFIT IS IF YOU PRESENT, AS WAS PRESENTED LAST WEEK, SKEWED DATA SETS THAT DON'T ACTUALLY ANALYZE THINGS THAT WERE PRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND MUDDLE THE NUMBERS. SO WE KNOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE DID PASS THIS, THE REALITY IS THAT WHEN GAS PRICES DO GO UP, IT BECOMES A WINDFALL FOR ERIE COUNTY. EVERYTHING GOES UP IN PRICE. EVERYTHING THAT'S TAXED AT 8.75% GOES UP. AND AS WE SAW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS GOING BACK TO THE LAST GAS TAX HOLIDAY WE DID, ERIE COUNTY MADE MORE MONEY. THE REALITY AND THE NOTION THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO GET LESS MONEY OR OUR TOWNS AND VILLAGES ARE GOING TO GET LESS MONEY JUST IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE DATA. FOR THAT REASON, I'M VOTING YES. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR LORIGO. EXPLAIN MY VOTE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS BODY HAS DONE BEFORE IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE AS COUNTY LEGISLATORS CAN ACTUALLY DO TO HELP REDUCE COSTS ON OUR RESIDENTS. AFFORDABILITY HAS TO BE MORE THAN JUST A TALKING POINT. WE HAVE A CHOICE TODAY TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING TO MAKE AFFORDABILITY A REALITY FOR ERIE COUNTY RESIDENTS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS BODY MOVE FORWARD WITH ACTIONS THAT MATCH WHAT WE SAY, AND THIS IS AN OPTION TO DO THAT. I HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE THE SUPPORT AND ACTUALLY SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS IN THIS WAY TODAY. WHETHER IT'S NINE CENTS OR TEN CENTS, WE DID NOT BUDGET FOR GAS BEING ALMOST $5 A GALLON, NOR DID THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE REPRESENT. WE SHOULD DO WHAT WE CAN TO ALLEVIATE ANY COSTS WE CAN. FOR THAT REASON, I'M A YES. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR MILLS. TODARO? I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. ERIE COUNTY, ACCORDING TO AAA, ERIE COUNTY IS AT $4.50 A GALLON THIS WEEK. LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME IT WAS $3.10. THAT'S A 40% INCREASE. THIS IS THE TIME THAT ERIE COUNTY, THIS HONORABLE BODY, [00:15:01] CAN STOP THE GOUGING ON THE TAXES. THIS IS THE DAY TO DO IT, THIS MOMENT. SO I HOPE AND WOULD PLEAD TO MY COLLEAGUES TO SAY YES. I'M A YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR BARGNESI. NO. DUPREE. NO. GILMOUR. NO. LEGISLATOR KOOSHOIAN NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR MEYERS. THANK YOU. I'LL EXPLAIN MY VOTE. AS LONG AS WE'RE GONNA EXPLAIN OUR VOTES, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS GAS TAX, AND WE'VE HEARD FROM THE BUDGET DIRECTOR ABOUT TESTIMONY ABOUT THIS NOT BEING PASSED DOWN TO THE CONSUMERS, WHICH SOME PEOPLE MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE WITH. THAT'S EVERYBODY'S PREROGATIVE, THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL INDIVIDUALS AND HAVE OUR OWN VOTES. I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL SUPERINTENDENTS, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO DEFLECT OFF LEGISLATOR GREENE'S COMMENTS, BUT I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL SUPERINTENDENTS AND SUPERVISORS THAT WHEN THEY CRAFTED THEIR BUDGETS, THEY WERE BASED ON THE BEST COST ESTIMATES OF A GAS THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. AND NOBODY COULD HAVE FORESEEN THIS $1.90 MORE A GALLON, OR WHATEVER IT IS. AND THEIR FEELING IS THAT IF THEY, THEY DON'T GET THIS SALES TAX AND IT DOES GO DOWN, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE BUDGET HOLES ALL OVER BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING THAT AMOUNT OF PRICE. AND I ALSO DID COMMENT AT THE LAST MEETING, SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT I WAS JOKING ABOUT THIS, BUT REALLY I WASN'T. I'VE HEARD FROM OUR PRESIDENT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT IT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR A NUCLEAR-FREE IRAN, AND THAT ONCE THIS IS OVER, GAS IS GOING TO COME DOWN SO FAST, YOU'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP TRACK OF IT. SO FACTORING ALL THAT, I HAVE VOTED NO. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR ST. JEAN TARD. I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS, AND I KNOW I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE DATA AND COMPARING NUMBERS, I HAVE TO VOTE NO. ONE, BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION DOESN'T HAVE AN END DATE. HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THIS TAX, RIGHT? TWO, THEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEFICIT. YOU TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOLS, AND THEN I CAN ONLY SPEAK ABOUT THE CITY OF BUFFALO, WHERE I REPRESENT. WE'RE LOOKING AT AN $80 MILLION DEFICIT JUST IN OUR BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE'RE LOOKING AT A $103 MILLION DEFICIT IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO BUDGET. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS MONEY TO SALES TAX, WHICH IS A MONTHLY PAYMENT THEY PUT IN THEIR BUDGET BOOKS FOR REVENUE. AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WHY ARE WE CARING ABOUT GOVERNMENT? GOVERNMENT PROVIDES SERVICES. AND THAT'S WHY THESE NUMBERS MATTER. TRUST ME, I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE'S FEELING IT AT THE PUMP. I HAD TO SPEND $70 TO GAS UP MY CAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS SPECIFICALLY, IF THE PRESIDENT, WHICH OUR CHAIR MENTIONS, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE OVER VERY SOON AND OUR RESOLUTION DOESN'T HAVE AN END DATE, I CAN'T VOTE FOR THAT. SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY I'M A NO. THANK YOU. AND LEGISLATOR VINAL. THE VOTE IS FIVE TO FIVE. THANK YOU, CLERK. MAJORITY LEADER. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 8E-DEX-16 FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL. I'M SORRY. OH, OKAY. I'M SORRY. AND A SECOND FROM LEGISLATOR GREENE. ON THE QUESTION. I'M SORRY. BECAUSE IT GIVES UNLIMITED, THE WHEREFORE CLAUSE ITSELF GIVES UNLIMITED RIGHT TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO ENTER INTO ANY CONTRACT. IT DOESN'T LIMIT IT TO ANYTHING ABOUT INSURANCE OR REIMBURSEMENT AND THE ACTUAL WHEREFORE, THE RESOLVE CLAUSE, SO I'D ASK THAT TO BE CHANGED, AND I WAS WONDERING IF IT WAS CHANGED, AND IF IT IS, IF WE COULD HAVE THE AMENDED COPY. AND I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. I THINK THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT RESOLUTION. I THINK YOU'RE... THIS IS 18E17? OH, I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK ON THE QUESTION. DID HE MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE? YES. WE HAVE THE DISCHARGE MOTION BY GILMOUR, SECONDED BY GREENE. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DISCHARGE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. OKAY, MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO AMEND 8E-16. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND 8E-16 BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECOND BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO. ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED BY THE [00:20:01] MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS APPROVED MAJORITY LEADER MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION A E-17 FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER TO DISCHARGE A E-17 FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE MINORITY LEADER. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO AMEND 8E-17. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND 8E-17, WE HAVE A SECOND SECOND BY LEGISLATOR TODARO. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS AMENDED MAJORITY. MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER OR SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED. MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 8E-21 FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 8E-21 FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. WE HAVE A 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 COMMUNICATION 8E-21. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION UH TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 8E-21 BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR TODARO ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR, OPPOSED? 10 TO 0, THE MOTION CARRIES, THE ITEM IS APPROVED. MAJORITY LEADER MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 8E-22 FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO DISCHARGE 8E-22 FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, WE HAVE MULTIPLE SECONDS ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE, OPPOSED? 10 TO 00, THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, MAJORITY LEADER MOVE TO APPROVE COMMUNICATION 8E-22. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE 8E-22 BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE, OPPOSED? 10 TO 00, THE MOTION CARRIES, THE ITEM IS APPROVED. MAJORITY LEADER MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 8E-31 FROM FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 8E-31 FROM FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY, LEGISLATOR, MY FAULT. THANK YOU. ON THIS ONE, THERE'S ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSSED, ONE IS THE OVERTIME OF THE SHERIFF IN EXCESS OF $7.2 MILLION, AND THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN EXPENDED, SO WE'RE APPROVING THIS, BUT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING INTO THAT AND SEE WHY, AND SEE IF THAT CAN BE TAKEN UNDER WRAPS. THE OTHER IS ON THE MONEY THAT IS BEING GIVEN, THE 20 PLUS MILLION THAT'S BEING GIVEN TO LIABILITY ISSUES, DOESN'T INCLUDE THE APPROVAL. AND WE WERE TOLD SPECIFICALLY THAT THEY WOULD COME BACK HERE FOR THE APPROVAL. AND I JUST WANT THAT ON THE RECORD ON OUR CASE. AND THAT'S THE APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THAT. THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR. SO WE'RE ON THE QUESTION, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10-0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE? MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO AMEND 8E-31. OKAY, THERE IS A MOTION TO AMEND 8-31 BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR ST. JEAN TARD ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. THE ITEM IS APPROVED AND IT IS AMENDED? IT IS AMENDED. IT'S AMENDED, NOT APPROVED YET. OKAY. MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE MULTIPLE SECONDS ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 10-0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 8E-32 FROM FINANCE MANAGEMENT. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO DISCHARGE COMMUNICATION 8E-32 FROM FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR ST. JEAN TARD ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 10 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. MAJORITY LEADER, MOVE TO AMEND 8E-32? SECOND? OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO AMEND 8E-32, AND A SECOND BY A LEGISLATOR VINAL. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR, AYE, OPPOSED? 10 TO 00, THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS AMENDED. MAJORITY LEADER, MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED? SECOND? OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL. ON THE QUESTION, ALL IN FAVOR, AYE, OPPOSED? 10 TO [00:25:02] 00, THE MOTION CARRIES. THE ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED. SUSPENSION [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:] OF THE RULES. THERE ARE NONE. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS. COMMUNICATION 9E-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING. COMMUNICATION 9E-18 AS INDICATED. COMMUNICATION 9E-19 WILL BE SENT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR. [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS: ] COMMUNICATIONS FROM DEPARTMENTS. COMMUNICATION 9E-1 AS [ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES: ] INDICATED. COMMUNICATIONS FROM PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES. COMMUNICATION 9M-1 AS INDICATED. I WILL NOW OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR OUR SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO ANY MATTER INVOLVING ERIE COUNTY. WE ASK THAT SPEAKERS KEEP THEIR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. THE CLERK WILL RING THE BELL WHEN THERE ARE 30 SECONDS LEFT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE BEGIN? IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTARY? ONE MORE TIME, IS THERE ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENTARY? WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. CONTINUING ON WITH OUR AGENDA, [ ANNOUNCEMENTS:] ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE LEGISLATURE WILL CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETINGS NEXT THURSDAY, MAY 21ST. THE SCHEDULE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED. THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, MAY 28TH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? LEGISLATOR VINAL. IS THERE THE CONTROL TO COLLECT IN AN ANALYSIS OF ENTERPRISE LEASE PROGRAMS FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 18TH TO DECEMBER 31ST, 24TH? COULD THAT BE COLLECTED AND THEN SUBMITTED TO THE FLEET SUBCOMMITTEE SO THEY CAN FINALIZE THE REPORT WITH THAT BECAUSE THE ENTERPRISE LEASING WAS PART OF IT? I DON'T SEE WHY NOT. YEAH, IF IT'S IN THE BOX, I'LL GET IT TO YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. [ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:] OKAY, WE GOT THAT. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY, PLEASE RISE FOR MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS. LEGISLATOR ST. JEAN'S TARD. I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF THE 10 LIVES WE LOST ON 5/14 YEARS AGO, IF WE DON'T MIND HAVING A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, WELL LET'S DO, I'M SORRY, LET'S DO THIS FIRST. MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE 5/14. THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR TODARO. THANK YOU, CHAIR. I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF RICHARD G. KYLE, FORMER BROTHER OF MY FORMER AIDE. EXCUSE ME, BROTHER OF MY FORMER AIDE. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR. ANYBODY ELSE? LEGISLATOR DUPRE. YES. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON WHEN THE LEGISLATOR ST. JEAN TARD SPOKE ON THE 10, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY THE NAMES. IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE GO THROUGH AND EVERYTHING TO SAY THEIR NAMES. SO I WANT TO START WITH AARON SALTER JR., RUTH WHITFIELD, PEARLIE YOUNG, KATHLEEN MASSEY, HAYWARD PATTERSON, CELESTINE CHANEY, ROBERTA A. DRURY. AND ANDRE MCNEIL, GERALDINE TALLEY, AND MARCUS D. MORRISON. AND I JUST WANT TO REMEMBER THE LIVES LOST AND THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN FOREVER CHANGED. SORRY FOR EVERYBODY'S LOSS. A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE, FOR THOSE WHO WENT ON TO BE WITH THE LORD. THANK YOU. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN BY THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR ST. JEAN TARD. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THIS MEETING HAS BEEN ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.