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ALL RIGHT. WELCOME TO MEETING NUMBER NINE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

[PUBLIC SAFETY]

[00:00:04]

CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL. YES. LEGISLATIVE GREENE.

HERE. TODARO. HERE. DUPREE. PRESENT. KOOSHOIAN.

HERE. MYERS IS PRESENT AS EX-OFFICIO MEMBER. QUORUM PRESENT.

THANKS. ON PAGE ONE, ITEMS 1 THROUGH 5 WILL REMAIN TABLED UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

AND THEN WE TURN TO PAGE 2. ITEM NUMBER 6. WE HAVE KRISTEN WALDER HERE TO SPEAK ON INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES GRANT UPSTATE FAMILY DEFENSE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, 2NS AMENDMENT. KRISTEN, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN.

GOOD MORNING. LEGISLATORS, GOOD MORNING. THE ERIE COUNTY TASK FORCE, WITH INPUT FROM NEW YORK STATE ILS, HAS RECOMMENDED MAKING LEGAL AID A FAMILY COURT DEFENSE PROVIDER WITH RESPECT TO ARTICLE 10 PETITIONS.

ARTICLE 10 ARE ABUSE AND NEGLECT PETITIONS. AND THIS WOULD BE REPRESENTATION FOR THE PARENTS IN CHILD WELFARE MATTERS.

THIS RESOLUTION WILL AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO UPDATE ITS ARTICLE 18 B PLAN TO INCLUDE LEGAL AID AS A FAMILY COURT PROVIDER FOR ARTICLE 10 PETITIONS, AND IT WILL ALSO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO ACCEPT FUNDING FROM NEW YORK STATE ILS TO HELP LEGAL AID WITH START UP FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF ROUGHLY $2 MILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THEY, BEING ILS, WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE PRIOR AGREEMENT TO STREAMLINE THE CONTRACT PROCESS.

AND SO THIS WOULD BE A TOTAL OF $3.75 MILLION.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

AND WHAT STEPS ARE THERE FOR MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE REALLY QUALIFY? IT WILL BE INCOME DEPENDENT. IT'LL BE SIMILAR TO WHATEVER THE ASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM IS DOING RIGHT NOW FOR ARTICLE 10 REPRESENTATION AFTER THE TASK FORCE WAS IMPANELED DUE TO THE HOURLY WAGES INCREASING FOR ACP PANEL ATTORNEYS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOME OF THE FAMILY COURT WORK WOULD BE BEST TO SHIFT TO LEGAL AID.

I PRESUME THEY WILL GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS THAT THEY DO FOR REPRESENTING ON CRIMINAL MATTERS AS THEY WOULD FOR FAMILY COURT MATTERS WHEN DETERMINING REPRESENTATION, BUT WHAT THE EXACT PROCESS IS, YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE TO ASK.

AND I KNOW THAT JOHN GILMORE IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT HE ALWAYS BRINGS UP THAT THAT HE FEELS LIKE PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY CHECKING TO SEE.

ON THE INITIAL ARRAIGNMENTS, THEY'RE SEEING EVERYBODY REGARDLESS. AND SOMETIMES THAT'S IT.

BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THEY. LIKE, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING IN HERE? LIKE INSTEAD OF GIVING THE MONEY CART, YOU KNOW, CART BANK WITH NO STRINGS, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING IN THERE ABOUT AUDITING TO SEE OR THEM TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THE PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE? THERE IS AUDITING LANGUAGE IN OUR CONTRACTS WITH LEGAL AID AND ACPE.

AND HAVE WE EVER AUDITED THEM FOR ELIGIBILITY ISSUES? I BELIEVE WE HAVE. THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY BETTER ANSWERED BY THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE WOULDN'T DO THE INITIAL AUDIT.

IT WOULD BE DONE BY THE PEOPLE GIVING THE FUNDING. LIKE WHEN WHEN WE PAY, DOES SOMEBODY GET ANY PROOF THAT.

YEAH. TO SEE HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT. AND THEN WOULD THIS.

BY USING THE. USING LEGAL SERVICES IS THAT TO PREVENT LIKE THE OVERBILLING? ARE THEY ON A JUST A FLAT FEE OR HOW IS THERE DIFFERENCE? LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS ARE HIRED SALARY ATTORNEYS BY LEGAL AID AS OPPOSED TO APPOINTED ON A PANEL THROUGH ACP.

AND THEY HAVE. SO I KNOW LIKE THAT THEIR CASELOAD IS A LOT LOWER THAN REGULAR ATTORNEYS.

I'M JUST TELLING LIKE, AS FAR AS BECAUSE THEIR CONTRACTS ARE SUCH LESS.

SO WOULD IT. HOW WILL WE BE PROTECTED, THE TAXPAYER, SO THAT THEY WERE NOT OVERBILLED BY THAT? IS MY POINT IS LIKE PEOPLE WERE SO SHOCKED AT THE.

I WAS SHOCKED AT THE, YOU KNOW, OVERBILLING ON THE SIDE COUNSEL FOR SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE.

BUT ON THIS HERE, WILL IT ACTUALLY. HOW ARE WE ENSURING THIS ACTUALLY IS GOING TO SAVE US MONEY? WELL, I THINK PARTLY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING ON AN HOURLY WAGE, IT'LL JUST BE A SALARIED ATTORNEY.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO WORK WITH ACP TO BUILD OUT A FAMILY COURT UNIT AND, YOU KNOW, COMMENSURATE WITH THE NUMBER OF CASES TO THE NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS WILL BE HIRED. BUT I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE INTERNAL PROCESSES WITH NATE PATTERSON AS THE NEW HEAD OF LEGAL AID.

[00:05:03]

AND SO I'M SURE SHE'D BE HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THAT, WHAT SHE PLANS TO DO INTERNALLY.

I JUST CAN'T SPEAK FOR HER AT THIS TIME. WITH THE NUMBER OF CASES WE HAVE AND THEIR ASSIGNMENT LISTS, LIKE WHAT WILL BE. IS THAT $2 MILLION YOU'RE THINKING IS GOING TO BE THE COST OF THIS? OR IS THAT JUST THE INITIAL ESTIMATE? WHAT DO YOU.

I BELIEVE THE $2 MILLION IS BEING USED AS SEED MONEY TO START THIS.

THEY PLAN TO BUILD OUT A SPACE THAT'S IN THE SAME BUILDING THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY IN.

AND THEN TO START WITH ONBOARDING A FEW ATTORNEYS AND SALARIED POSITIONS.

AND THEN THE IDEA BEING THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

AND THEN STARTING JANUARY 2027, THEY WOULD START HANDLING CASES IN FAMILY COURT.

SO WHEN WILL WE KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL COST IS GOING TO BE? LIKE IF IT'S 2 MILLION OR $60 MILLION, OR WHAT WOULD IT BE? WELL, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT A BUDGET TOGETHER.

BUT I THINK THAT THIS, AGAIN, IS JUST BEING USED AS SEED MONEY TO GET THEM GOING.

AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH PATRICIA WORTH AT ILS AND THEY'LL BE SUBMITTING BUDGETS TO THEM.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I KNOW NEW YORK STATE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS KNOWING THAT THEY WILL BE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FUNDING. IN A WAY, THEY'VE BEEN PROVIDING THE FUNDING ALL ALONG.

IT'S JUST SHIFTING SOME OF THE FUNDING FROM ACP OVER TO LEGAL AID.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANKS.

THANK YOU AGAIN. SIMILAR TO THE PRIOR RESOLUTION, THIS IS ANOTHER RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO ACCEPT FUNDING FROM NEW YORK STATE'S DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES TO HELP IMPROVE PUBLIC DEFENSE AND EXPENSE RELATED DISCOVERY FORM.

THE RESOLUTION WOULD ACCEPT ROUGHLY $4 MILLION FROM DCJS AND ALLOW THE COUNTY TO THEN ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT AGAIN WITH LEGAL AID AND ASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM TO HELP WITH THEIR SERVICES.

AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

NUMBER EIGHT FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. WE HAVE DAN HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MOTOROLA.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. HAPPY 250TH. YES, WE'RE HERE TODAY SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MOTOROLA FOR WHAT IS PHASE ONE OF OUR TRUNKED RADIO SYSTEM PROJECT. YOU HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION IN FRONT OF YOU, THERE WAS A FAIRLY LENGTHY PROCESS THAT WE'VE HAD TO ARRIVE AT THIS.

I HAVE WITH ME, KEVIN HUGHES, WHO OVERSEES OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND FOR PRETTY MUCH MOST OF THE COUNTY.

THE PROCESS INVOLVED EVALUATING OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO FOR OUR COMMUNICATION.

I THINK I'VE TALKED IN FRONT OF THE LEDGE MANY, MANY TIMES WITH REGARDS TO THE ANTIQUATED SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.

AND ANTIQUATED THESE DAYS COULD BE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, LESS OR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.

BUT WHAT WE DID IS WE SAT DOWN WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT, NOT ONLY COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, BUT ALSO THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS FROM OUTSIDE AGENCIES WITH REGARDS TO THE TRUNK RADIO SYSTEM.

SO WE STARTED GENERATING SOME IDEAS. WE HAD A CONSULTANT ON BOARD WHO FORMULATES OUR TACTICAL INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATION PLANS THAT HAS TO BE REFRESHED AND UPDATED. SO AS PART OF THAT REFRESHING, AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH REGARDS TO COMMUNICATION, DEVELOPMENT. AND THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, THE STATE, BUT ALSO NATIONWIDE.

SO WE ACTUALLY ENGAGED THEM AS PART OF THE CONTRACT PROCESS TO TAKE A LOOK AND COME UP WITH IDEAS BASED ON THE COUNTY AND WHAT THEY KNOW WITH OUR TACTICAL INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATION. AND THEIR SUGGESTIONS HELPED US GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RFP, WHICH ULTIMATELY LED US TO THE SELECTION OF MOTOROLA.

SO IT'S BEEN A LENGTHY PROCESS. I DO WANT TO THANK MY TEAM, NOT ONLY OUR TECHNICIANS THAT HAVE PUT A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY AND EFFORT INTO THIS AND EVEN MORE TIME, ENERGY AND EFFORT CARRY FORWARD.

BUT WE ARE SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO THIS CONTRACT WITH MOTOROLA, AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. IF THEY'RE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS, KEVIN CAN HELP AS WELL.

[00:10:04]

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A BIG INVESTMENT. IS THIS A 30 YEAR, 10 YEAR? HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE SYSTEM WILL LAST? SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE WAS A REFRESH IN 2010.

SO ROUGHLY 2010 WAS WHEN WE DID THIS INITIAL REFRESH.

THIS IS A COMPLETE REVAMPING USING NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

WE CAN TELL YOU THAT AS PART OF THIS COMPETITIVE BID THAT WE RECEIVE FROM MOTOROLA, WE ALSO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.

SO THERE'S ACTUALLY. THERE'S ALSO FROM MOTOROLA.

THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF MAINTENANCE ON THIS SYSTEM IS BUILT INTO THE ACTUAL PRICE ITSELF.

AND THEN WE'VE EVEN EXTENDED THAT TO TEN YEARS OUT, WHICH, WHICH IS A FAIRLY REASONABLE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

SO THESE SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY ONCE WE GET INTO TRUNKED AND WE NOW HAVE THE ECONOMY OF SCALE BECAUSE THIS IS BASED ON A MORE OF A REGIONAL PLAN AS WELL.

SO NOW WE CAN CAPITALIZE. WE REFRESH. AND THAT ACTUALLY HELPS NIAGARA COUNTY AND SOME OF THE OTHER CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES BACK AND FORTH.

AND WHEN THEY DO THEIR REFRESH, THAT ACTUALLY HELPS US TOO.

SO THE WAY WE ENVISION IT IS THIS ISN'T JUST A NIAGARA, THIS ISN'T JUST AN ERIE COUNTY EXPENSE.

WE'RE NOW WORKING. WE HAVE MORE OF A CONSORTIUM WITH REGARDS TO THESE COMMUNICATIONS.

SO I WOULD SAY THE REFRESH CONSTANTLY NEEDS TO REFRESH AS AREAS DEVELOP.

THERE'S ACREAGE SOMEWHERE OR THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY. NOW WE NEED ADDITIONAL SERVICE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

SO IT'S A NEVER ENDING BATTLE. I'M IN FRONT OF YOU ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH REGARDS TO THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES AND IN MANY CASES, THAT FUNDING HAS ACTUALLY COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE THROUGH OUR INTEROPERABLE GRANTS.

SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF BUILDING THE SYSTEM, BUT ALSO HAVING IT MAINTAINED CURRENTLY THROUGH A SERIES OF DIFFERENT GRANTS.

AND THIS WILL GET ALL RELEVANT AGENCIES KIND OF ON THE SAME PLATFORM.

SO THE INITIAL ROLLOUT IS TO HAVE ALL OF THE COUNTY AGENCIES ON THIS SYSTEM WITH.

BUT THE CAPABILITY OF THIS IS TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND IT.

SO WE'VE NEVER GONE OUT AND SOLICITED BUSINESS, BUT MORE AND MORE NOW, A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT TOWNS, VILLAGES ARE COMING TO US AND SAYING, DO YOU HAVE A SOLUTION FOR US? THIS, WE FEEL, IS THE SOLUTION FOR THAT AND THEN CARRY FORWARD WHAT THAT ARRANGEMENT IS.

IF IT'S THE COUNTY FUNDS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM FOR TOWNS, VILLAGES AND CITIES, OR IF THERE'S SOME TYPE OF SHARED SERVICES, ULTIMATELY THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, BUT THAT'S THE INTENTION TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES OUT THERE THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS.

AS I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE MAGNITUDE, THE COST OF THIS.

FOR US TO SET UP A SYSTEM COUNTYWIDE, TAKE A MICROCOSM OF THAT.

FOR EVERY ONE OF THESE COMMUNITIES. AMHERST, CHEEKTOWAGA, TONAWANDA.

THEY'RE MAINTAINING CURRENTLY THEIR OWN SYSTEM JUST TO BE ABLE TO DO COMMUNICATION WITHIN THEIR OWN LITTLE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

SO WE SEE ULTIMATELY A TREMENDOUS SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY, PERIOD.

BUT THIS WILL. I'M JUST TRYING TO REMEMBER ALL THE DETAILS FROM PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS, BUT THIS WILL HELP COMMUNICATIONS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AS WELL? SO YEAH. SO WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE AS PART OF THIS CURRENT SYSTEM, AND NOW THE EXPANDED SYSTEM IS THE ABILITY TO.

THEIR NATIONAL INTEROP CHANNELS THAT ARE BAKED IN.

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE GRANT FUNDING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT CAPABILITY. SO IF WE HAD SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC THAT HAPPENED IN OUR REGION, PEOPLE COMING FROM THE WEST COAST HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLUG IN AND UTILIZE THOSE INTEROPERABLE CHANNELS.

SO YEAH, ANYBODY THAT WOULD WANT TO COME ON BOARD, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE AGREEMENT, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT TO BE ABLE TO COME ONTO THE SYSTEM.

SO WE SEE THE END USER COST STILL BEING BORNE BY THE MUNICIPALITIES AS THEY COME ON BOARD.

BUT THAT OVERALL MAINTENANCE AND OF THEIR OWN SYSTEMS IS WHERE THE REAL SAVINGS WILL BE.

THANK YOU.

GREENE SPOKE ON EVERYTHING. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE EVERYBODY AWARE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS.

THIS WILL BRING EVERY COUNTY AGENCY ONTO THE SYSTEM WHO USES RADIOS.

AND ALL THE TOWNS AND MUNICIPALITIES WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO OPT IN.

THEY JUST HAVE TO GET THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT. BUT IN THE END, EVERYBODY WOULD BE ON ONE.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. AND THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT.

WE DON'T GO AND SOLICIT BUSINESS, BUT WE PICK UP THE PHONE AND SOLVE OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

[ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT]

JULY 1ST, 2026. CLERK, TAKE THE ROLL. LEGISLATOR TODARO.

HERE. MILLS.

[00:15:06]

HERE. LEGISLATOR GILMORE, NOT PRESENT. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI NOT PRESENT.

CHAIR MYERS, PRESENT. QUORUM PRESENT. THANK YOU.

ITEMS ONE THROUGH 8 AND 11 ARE TABLED UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

ITEM 9 AND 10 ARE RECEIVED AND FILED. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

WE'RE ADJOURNED. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEETING NUMBER 10, JULY 1ST,

[HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES ]

2026. CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

HERE. TODARO. HERE. CHAIR DUPREE. PRESENT LEGISLATOR VINAL.

CHAIR MEYERS IS PRESENT AS EX OFFICIO. QUORUM IS PRESENT.

THANK YOU. ITEMS 1 THROUGH 3 AND 5 ARE TABLED UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

ITEM 9 IS RECEIVED AND FILED. ITEMS 4, 6, 7, AND 8 ARE ACTIONABLE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH ITEM 4. COMMUNICATION 12E-12.

AUTHORIZATION TO CONTRACT WITH CDC AND PREVENTION FOR INFLUENZA REAGENT RESOURCE.

WE HAVE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER TERRANOVA HERE TO SPEAK.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, CHAIR. COMMUNICATION 12E-12 SEEKS AUTHORIZATION TO CONTRACT WITH THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR THE INFLUENZA REAGENT RESOURCE, OR IRR.

THE IRR IS A BIOLOGICAL REAGENT REPOSITORY WHICH HOLDS OVER 1200 DIFFERENT REAGENTS THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED TO DETECT INFLUENZA, OTHER VIRUSES AND BACTERIAL DISEASES.

THE IRR OFFERS THESE REAGENTS FREE TO PUBLIC HEALTH LABS.

WE HAVE USED THE IRR PREVIOUSLY. THEY ARE UNDERGOING AN UPDATE TO THEIR USER AGREEMENT, SO THEY ASKED FOR A NEW CONTRACT.

ON THE QUESTION.

I HAD A QUESTION. ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ON IS ON WITH REGARD TO THESE.

I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU JUST REAL QUICK AND MAYBE YOU COULD GET BACK TO ME. IS THAT LIKE. ON THE.

I'M ALL, LIKE, IF WE ASSUME NUMBER ONE, THE VACCINES ARE GOOD AND THAT ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF PUBLIC HEALTH, PERIOD. OKAY? AND IF WE ASSUME, NUMBER TWO, THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PARENTS THAT WILL NOT GET THE VACCINES FOR THEIR KIDS NO MATTER WHAT, THEY WILL NOT CHANGE. ALL RIGHT? SO IF WE TAKE THOSE TWO THINGS AS TRUE, THEN I WAS KIND OF.

LIKE THE STATE. LIKE A FEW. WE NEVER HAD IN NEW YORK STATE SINCERE OBJECTION EXCLUSIONS.

WE ALWAYS HAD RELIGIOUS EXCLUSIONS, WHICH PEOPLE USED.

AND I THINK KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BROADLY. AND NOW THAT A FEW YEARS AGO OR MAYBE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THE RELIGIOUS EXCLUSION GOT TAKEN OUT. AND SO KIDS HAVE NOT BEEN GONE TO SCHOOL.

BUT THEN MORE RECENTLY, JUST IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THE STATE WENT THROUGH PRETTY QUICKLY TO HAVE THAT KIDS WHO ARE UNVACCINATED CAN'T EVEN GO TO SPORTS CAMPS ANYMORE. AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS OR DAY CAMPS, BUT EVEN SPORTS CAMPS.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, IF YOU ASSUME THAT VACCINES ARE GOOD AND THAT YOU'RE NOT CHALLENGING THAT AND THEY'RE NECESSARY.

AND IF YOU ASSUME THAT THERE'S A GROUP OF PARENTS WHO WON'T EVER CHANGE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT, FORGET ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE. FOR THE KIDS OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE BORN INTO THIS FAMILY, THEY DIDN'T CHOOSE IT. THEY DIDN'T CONSENT TO IT.

IT'S JUST TO HAVE THIS GROUP BE SO TREATED, SO EXCLUSIVE, LIKE A LEPER OR SOMETHING.

I MEAN, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANY DISEASE AND THEY'RE EXCLUDED FROM EVERYTHING.

I WAS JUST WONDERING, IS THERE A WAY THAT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE CAN MEET AS FAR AS TO SEE A SAFE WAY THAT THERE CAN BE SOME? I DON'T WANT THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE GROWING UP FEELING LIKE THE GOVERNMENT IS SO AGAINST THEM AND TREATING THEM LIKE LEPERS. I MEAN, WE FOUGHT TO HAVE INCLUDED PEOPLE WHO HAD HIV SO THEY WOULDN'T BE EXCLUDED AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD A DISEASE.

THESE ARE JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED, DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANY DISEASE AND ARE BEING EXCLUDED SO MUCH.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I DON'T WANT TO GET WHERE, YOU KNOW, VACCINES ARE BECOMING, BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A RISE SINCE 2017.

SO I WAS WONDERING, IS THERE A WAY THAT I COULD HAVE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.

NOT TO. LIKE? I DON'T THINK THEY CAN'T CHANGE MY MIND THAT IT'S GOOD AND I CAN'T CHANGE THEIR MIND THAT IT'S BAD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE DOING THESE PROHIBITIONS TO PUNISH THEM OR BECAUSE IT'S PUBLICLY NECESSARY OR BOTH.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH, RIGHT? BUT I WAS WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY THAT THEY COULD MEET JUST TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT COULD BE SAFELY THAT THEY COULD HAVE LIKE OUTSIDE SPORTS OR CONTACT OR WHATEVER THAT SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE SO EXCLUDED AS TO NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO GO TO A SOCCER CAMP, YOU KNOW? EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT SICK AT ALL. SO IS THERE A WAY TO LIKE, CHECK TO SEE IF KIDS ARE SICK FOR CAMPS LIKE THAT? THAT WOULD MAKE IT THAT WE COULD LIKE THAT IF THEY BECAUSE IT'S SOME OF THEM, THAT'S THE ONLY TIME THEY HAVE LIKE A LOT OF INTERACTIONS IS AT THESE SPORTING THINGS.

[00:20:01]

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? SO MY UNDERSTANDING FROM NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS THAT THE LEGISLATION PASSED AND IS ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. SO WE ARE TOLD IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE FOR THIS SUMMER.

OKAY. SO WE ARE AWAITING TO SEE THE FINAL TEXT OF THE BILL THAT ENDS UP COMING OUT TO SEE WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE. MY UNDERSTANDING, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE FOR CAMPS THAT ARE REGULATED THROUGH THE STATE IN SOME WAY.

SO WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT LEVEL THAT IS.

I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE DAY CAMPS, DAY CARE, THAT LEVEL.

SO I'M NOT SURE HOW FAR DOWN THAT LEGISLATION WILL GO INTO REC LEAGUES.

I'M NOT SURE WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE FINAL TEXT.

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT IN EFFECT.

AND THANK YOU. THANKS.

THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THIS CHANGE, CORRECT? CORRECT. DO WE ANTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE THAT THERE WILL BE ANY INCREASE IN COST? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.

LEGISLATOR VINAL. SECOND? LEGISLATOR TODARO. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. NOW WE HAVE ITEM 6.

COMMUNICATION 12E-14. REAPPOINTMENT TO THE ERIE COUNTY HEALTH EQUITY ADVISORY BOARD.

WE HAVE DIRECTOR WOLFORD HERE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU. PRESENTING TO THIS HONORABLE BODY THE REAPPOINTMENT OF TWO MEMBERS TO THE ERIE COUNTY OFFICE OF HEALTH, OR JUST THE ERIE COUNTY HEALTH EQUITY BOARD. THE COMMUNITY APPOINTEE AND ONE OF THE APPOINTEES FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU. ON THE QUESTION? YES. I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE HEALTH EQUITY ADVISORY BOARD.

I JUST DID A QUICK SEARCH. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE HAD A REPORT IN 2025.

THE LAST ONE POSTED IS FROM 2024. WAS THERE A REPORT ISSUED IN 2025? FOR THE BOARD OR FOR THE OFFICE? FOR THE BOARD, IT LOOKS LIKE.

SO THE BOARD HAS NOT PRESENTED A REPORT. THEY HAVE ONE DRAFTED.

THE BOARD LIKE THE OFFICE WAS NEW AND THEY NEEDED TO GO ABOUT LEARNING HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT WORKS, WHAT THE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY DOES AND IS GUIDED TO DO BY LAW AND THEIR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN ADVISORY BOARD.

SO THEY TOOK THAT TIME TO DO THAT. THE CHAIRPERSON IS SANDRA REDFERN, AND SHE WOULD BE THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THAT REPORT TOGETHER AND SUBMITTING IT TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN THIS BODY.

THEY DO HAVE A DRAFT OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE THUS FAR, BUT IT IS IN DRAFT FORM.

OKAY. THANK YOU. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE VINAL.

SECOND. SECOND. TODARO. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WE HAVE ITEM SEVEN.

COMMUNICATION 12E-15. APPOINTMENT TO THE BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

WE HAVE ANGELA MARINUCCI HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. TODAY WE ARE SEEKING A NEW APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE HAS SELECTED NORA BAYNES.

SHE IS BILINGUAL AND SPANISH AND ENGLISH, AND SHE ALSO IS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE COMMITTEE.

COMMISSION, BRINGING MORE INFORMATION TO OUR BOARD FROM THOSE POPULATIONS WITHIN THE CITY AND WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA REGION.

SHE HAS A MASTER'S IN NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP, AND WE ARE THRILLED AND EXCITED THAT SHE WILL BE JOINING OUR BOARD FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

NO, THANK YOU, LEGISLATOR VINAL. I HAD TWO QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU'RE HERE TODAY.

ONE IS THAT HOW MANY OF THE GOLD CARDS ARE LEFT? SO WE'RE JUST A LITTLE OVER 300 RIGHT NOW. GIVEN OUT.

WE HAVE 1000 TOTAL. IT IS MY FAVORITE PROGRAM AND I COULD TALK ABOUT IT FOR HOURS, BUT I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE I ACTUALLY, WE WERE PREPPING FOR MID-YEAR BUDGET HEARINGS AND I SAID, I'M BRINGING PASSPORTS FOR ALL OF THE LEGISLATORS. FOR ANYONE WHO JOINS OR ATTENDS ALL 36 OPEN LIBRARIES IN OUR SYSTEM, YOU'LL GET A GOLD LIBRARY CARD AND THERE ARE ONLY 1000 IT'S GOING THIS SUMMER.

AND IT'S, IT'S A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM. MY TWO DAUGHTERS, NOT MY OLDEST, AND I JUST GOT OURS ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO.

I CAN NOW BE THRILLED FOR OTHER PEOPLE AS THEY OBTAIN THEIRS BECAUSE I WAS GETTING NERVOUS ABOUT THE NUMBERS. SO WE'RE GOOD. BUT IT'S WONDERFUL.

EVEN IF YOU CAN'T GET TO ALL 36. JUST SEEING A COUPLE DIFFERENT LIBRARIES AND GETTING YOUR PASSPORT STAMP AND REALLY ENCOURAGING EVERYBODY TO CHECK OUT HOW LIBRARIES ARE A REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIE, WHICH IS, ARE YOU KEEPING THE PERSON GETS MY, MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME, YES, SHE, SHE TEXTED ME.

ACTUALLY, YES. THE LIBRARIAN SAID THAT YOU HAD GOTTEN YOURS, BUT HER DAUGHTER IS MY BABYSITTER. WEIRD,

[00:25:02]

BUT I WAS WONDERING AS FAR AS WOULD IS THERE ARE THERE KEEPING A LIST OF WHO GETS THOSE THAT MAYBE WE COULD RECOGNIZE THOSE PEOPLE SOMEHOW? ABSOLUTELY. SO WE COULD ABSOLUTELY PROVIDE THAT TO THE LEGISLATURE.

WE ARE EACH BRANCH IS GIVEN 15 CARDS AT ANY ONE TIME.

AND AS THEY GET LOW, THAT'S HOW WE'RE TRACKING HOW MANY ARE TOTALLY OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT YOUR LIBRARY, WHATEVER CONTRACTING LIBRARY BOARD MAY BE USING IT THAT AS WELL AS OUR SYSTEM, ONE TO SEE AS PEOPLE GET THEM.

PEOPLE ARE WEARING DIFFERENT SHIRTS AND EXCITED THINGS. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACTIVATE THE GOLD CARD BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE MY NUMBER IN LIBBY, WHICH IS MY CURRENT CARD NUMBER, BUT I HAVE MINE FRAMED AND FRAMED IN MY OFFICE, SO I'M GOING TO KEEP IT THERE FOREVER.

BUT IF YOU ACTIVATE IT, WE WILL KNOW DEFINITIVELY WHO YOU ARE.

AND THEN HOW IS THE LENDING OF ITEMS GOING? LIKE SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE LENDING IN THE SOUTHTOWNS.

YES. SO OUR I, THEY CALL IT A LIBRARY OF THINGS.

IT'S SPECIFIC TO EACH BRANCH WHAT THEY ARE OFFERING.

SO THE KAYAKS THAT WILL BE AT THE NORTH COLLINS LIBRARY.

COLLINS ITSELF IS GETTING BIKES. THESE ARE THROUGH RALPH C WILSON GRANTS.

AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING. ALLOWS PEOPLE TO TAKE OUT A THING, A BIKE, A KAYAK, BUT ALSO SEWING MACHINES, TOOLS, ALL DIFFERENT THINGS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE GOING. YOU SIGN SOME LIABILITY WAIVERS, BUT IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY OR USE EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PURCHASE OR THEY DON'T WANT TO PURCHASE FOR A ONE TIME USE. SO KAYAKS JUST STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND THE BIKES ARE SUPPOSED TO HIT THE ROAD IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

SO WE'RE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED. AND I'M THRILLED THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING DIFFERENT WAYS TO EXPERIENCE.

COULD YOU PROVIDE THAT TO US INFORMATION ON THAT, THAT WE COULD CIRCULATE IT IN OUR, IN OUR, THROUGH OUR THINGS? ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. IT'S, IT'S REALLY COOL.

LIBRARIES HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE. WE HAVE 3D PRINTERS, WE HAVE A GLOWFORGE.

SO MANY AWESOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN USE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW ABOUT IT. SO WE WILL ABSOLUTELY SEND THAT INFORMATION. WE'D BE THRILLED IF YOU WISH TO SHARE IT WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANKS. I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. THE APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD, THAT IS A IS IT A PAID POSITION AT ALL? IT IS NOT A PAID POSITION. IT'S VOLUNTEER. YES. ONLY VOLUNTEER. HOW DO YOU SELECT THE APPOINTMENTS.

IS THERE LIKE AN APPLICATION PROCESS OR ARE THEY RECRUITED.

SO THERE IS AN APPLICATION PROCESS PROCESS OF SUBMITTING RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE UNDER THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION LAW, BECAUSE WE COMBINED OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO BE THE SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE CITY OF BUFFALO.

FIVE APPOINTEES ARE RECOMMENDED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO.

TEN COME FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE. ALL 15 ARE APPROVED BY THIS HONORABLE BODY HERE.

SO IT'S NOT AS LIBRARY. WE DON'T SELECT THEM.

WE GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PERSON WHO LEFT THE SEAT HAD SOME PERSONAL ISSUES, BUT SHE LOST HER SON TRAGICALLY.

AND SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE HISPANIC HERITAGE COMMISSION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I MENTIONED TO THE LIAISON THAT PERHAPS THEY WANTED TO SEEK SOMEONE THAT WOULD FILL THAT KIND OF SPOT ON OUR BOARD, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY SAY AT THE LIBRARY OF WHO IS SELECTED OR HOW THAT'S DONE.

SO EITHER BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S ON A FIVE YEAR ROLLING BASIS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. ANY QUESTION? MOTION TO APPROVE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

NOW WE HAVE ITEM EIGHT. COMMUNICATION 12 V 16 AUTHORIZATIONS TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF SUNY FOR BUFFALO STATE UNIVERSITY LEADS PROGRAM.

WE HAVE COMMISSIONER BANK. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR. I'M HERE TODAY REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR SUNY BUFFALO STATE'S LEARNING AND EVALUATION, ASSESSMENT AND DATA SYSTEM, OR LEADS PROGRAM FOR APPROXIMATELY THE PAST 25 YEARS.

LEADS HAS SERVED AS ERIE COUNTY'S PREVENTION DATA AND EVALUATION PARTNER, MAINTAINING THE LONGITUDINAL DATA AND DASHBOARD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HELPS US DEVELOP OUR LOCAL SERVICES PLAN, BUT ALSO IDENTIFY SUBSTANCE USE TRENDS, IDENTIFYING EMERGING TRENDS, AND TARGETING PREVENTATIVE POPULATIONS SPECIFICALLY WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT WITH OUR DOLLARS.

HISTORICALLY, THIS WORK WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE NEW YORK STATE OASIS PREVENTION FUNDING AS A PART OF OUR NEW YORK STATE AID LETTER.

HOWEVER, AS PART OF RECENT WORK PLAN REVIEWS, OASIS DETERMINED THAT THESE ACTIVITIES DID EXCEED THEIR SCOPE OF WHAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO FUND. AND DESPITE THAT FUNDING CHANGE, THE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT THESE SERVICES DO REMAIN ESSENTIAL, ESPECIALLY TO THE EVIDENCE BASED PREVENTION PLANNING SPACE THAT WE TRY TO OCCUPY AND ENSURE OUR PREVENTION INVESTMENTS ARE GUIDED BY RELIABLE LOCAL DATA.

THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY TAX IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REQUEST, AS WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS CONTRACT USING EXISTING FEDERAL SALARY SHARE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. FOR THOSE REASONS, I AM RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS LEADS THAT THIS LONGITUDINAL JUST IN A COUPLE OF SENTENCES LIKE WHAT HAS BEEN THE CHANGES IN ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND MENTAL HEALTH OVER THE LAST TIME THAT THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT IN ERIE COUNTY?

[00:30:04]

YEAH. GREAT QUESTION. JUST TO BE SPECIFIC, THEY DON'T ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH TRENDS SPECIFICALLY. I CAN ANSWER THAT. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH THIS WORK, WE DO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION USE, SPECIFICALLY HERE IN ALCOHOL OR IN ERIE COUNTY.

ALSO WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE INCREASE IN STIMULANT USE IN ERIE COUNTY.

I DO WANT TO STRESS, THOUGH, THAT THE ALCOHOL USE IS RELATIVELY COMPARABLE TO OH, I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING IS COMPARABLE TO OTHER I WOULD SAY MAJORS THEY CALL MAJOR CITIES, BUT CITIES ALONG THE I 90 CORRIDOR.

SO WE SEE THAT THERE ARE SIMILAR TRENDS IN CITIES WITH SUNY SCHOOLS AND SUNY SYSTEMS. SO WE'RE KIND OF REALLY LOOKING AND STARTING TO TENSE DOWN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT AND WHAT SPECIFIC POCKETS THAT'S OCCURRING WITHIN MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY INTERESTING.

MENTAL HEALTH IS COMMONLY CITED IN NEWS MEDIA AS BEING MORE FREQUENT, MORE ON THE RISE.

WE ACTUALLY SEE IN PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE INCIDENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH ON THE RISE, BUT THE ABILITY TO DIAGNOSE AND HAVE THE AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT IS SO IT'S REALLY DIFFERENT. BUT JUST TO REITERATE, THIS WORK SPECIFICALLY IS FOCUSED ON SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION DATA.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE USING IS FEDERAL.

IS THAT FEDERAL GRANT MONEY? NO. SO THIS IS THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THIS IS A FEDERALLY FEDERAL SALARY SHARE. AND THEN MARK CORNELL'S NOT HERE BECAUSE HE'LL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS FOR ME.

BUT ESSENTIALLY WE A COUPLE OF THE EMPLOYEES TIME IN THE DEPARTMENT IS CALCULATED AND TRACED BACK TO OUR TIME PERCENTAGE.

WE GIVE IT BACK TO THE FEDS AS LIKE A CALCULATION AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR TIME, THEN WE ARE DIRECTLY REIMBURSED FOR THAT PERCENTAGE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST THAT FUNDING INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. SO IT IS A TOTALLY SEPARATE POT OF FUNDING THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO FROM THE FEDS.

AND THIS IS FOR IS THIS FOR THIS YEAR ONLY WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT, ARE WE GOING TO BE CREATIVE FOR NEXT YEARS? IS THERE ANY GRANT MONEY OTHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE APPLIED IN THE PAST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FUND THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR? WE CAN LOOK TO ASSESS THAT. BUT ONCE WE KIND OF MAKE THE DECISION TO USE THAT FEDERAL SALARY SHARE KIND OF BECOMES A NOT A FIXED COST WITHIN THAT SUBSET.

SO WE'D HAVE TO JUST MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THERE'S A SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED LINE THAT WOULD FIT THIS NEED. AND THEN WE COULD LOOK TO MOVE IT OVER, BUT WE'D HAVE TO GO SEEK OUT THAT GRANT. BUT IT'S POSSIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ABSOLUTELY AGREE. THANK YOU. JUST OFFHAND. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MEDIA REPORTS HAVE SHOWN A DECREASE IN ALCOHOL USE NATIONALLY. IS IT YOUR ARGUMENT THAT BECAUSE OF THE COLLEGES THAT WE KIND OF SEE IT, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE STATING? JUST JUST IT'S A IT'S IT I WILL CLARIFY IT IS NOT A IT'S A QUESTION THAT WE HAVE IN THE CLINICAL COMMUNITY ABOUT WHY ARE THE TRENDS DEMONSTRATING ALONG THAT I. 90 CORRIDOR AND WHAT ARE THE SIMILARITIES? BECAUSE THERE'S HUGE DIFFERENCES IN SIZE, POPULATION, DEMOGRAPHICS AMONG THOSE CITIES.

SO WE'RE THE VERY CASUAL CONVERSATION AT THE STATE CLINICAL LEVEL IS WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMONALITIES.

AND IT'S JUST AN INTERESTING COMMENT THAT THE SUNY SYSTEM HAPPENS TO BE PART OF THAT.

SO I CANNOT SAY THAT THAT IS A CAUSATION OR EVEN A CORRELATION.

WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO RULE THAT OUT. YEAH. BECAUSE WHAT I YOU KNOW, WHAT I'VE BEEN READING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, RISE IN MARIJUANA USE IS OFFSET FOR NATIONALLY.

SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THOSE TRENDS MIGHT BE CHANGING LOCALLY AND NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE NATIONAL.

SO DEFINITELY INTERESTED TO FOLLOW UP. IT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE IN ERIE COUNTY, TOO, WE DO HAVE SOME DIFFERENCE IN TRENDS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL. AS AN EXAMPLE, NEW YORK STATE, MOST FOLKS COMPLETE SUICIDE BY USE OF FIREARM IN ERIE COUNTY.

WE SEE ASPHYXIATION AS THE MOST COMMON WAY FOR PEOPLE TO COMPLETE.

SO I JUST THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING WE DO HAVE SOME INTERESTING AND DIFFERING TRENDS IN ERIE COUNTY THAT WE AREN'T ALWAYS SURE AS WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO THEM. SO IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IS THERE ANY OTHER DRUG TRENDS THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF? THE STIMULANT USE DISORDER IS SO EXCUSE ME. SO THAT WOULD BE COCAINE.

METH MISUSE OF ADHD MEDICATION IS REALLY A COMMON PROBLEM.

AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DO SEE THAT COMMON STUDENTS IN COLLEGE SETTINGS FOR STIMULANT ABUSE.

THANK YOU. YEP. MISS LORIGO. I KNOW THIS WAS FUNDING THAT WE WERE GETTING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEFORE. HAVE WE CHECKED WITH THE STATE? I MEAN, ARE THEY COLLECTING ANY SIMILAR DATA WHERE WE COULD HAVE SOME SORT OF CROSSOVER? OR HOW IS THIS BEING. THAT'S A IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. SO STATE FROM AN OPIOID.

FROM AN OASIS PERSPECTIVE, THE STATE OWNED AGENCY THAT MANAGES THE FINANCES WITH SUBSTANCE USE ARE NOT LOOKING AT LOCALIZED DATA.

THEY RELY ON OUR LOCAL SERVICES PLANS TO INFORM THEIR STATE TRENDS SO THEY HAVE.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL WILL LOOK AT SOME OF THIS. BUT THE AGENCY OASIS DOES NOT DO SPECIFIC REGIONALIZED TRENDS.

SO THEY LOOK TO OUR WHAT WE REPORT OUT AS FORMULATING THEIR STATEWIDE PLAN.

PART OF WHAT WE THINK IS WHY THEY PULLED AWAY THIS FUNDING IS BECAUSE THEY DO WANT TO START TO LOOK MORE REGIONAL TRENDS AND IDENTITY.

SO THAT IS ONE THING WE'LL HAVE TO EVALUATE IS IF THE STATE MOVES TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS ON A MORE REGIONAL BASIS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR WHERE WE'RE PUTTING OUR FUNDING? OKAY.

BUT NOT AT THIS MOMENT IF THAT ANSWERS THAT. YES. THANK YOU. MOTION TO APPROVE THE VINAL SECOND LEGISLATIVE TODARO.

[00:35:02]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED.

SECOND. ALL. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. CALL A MEETING TO ORDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING NUMBER 10TH JULY FIRST,

[ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ]

2026. CLERK. TAKE THE ROLL. LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

HERE. LEGISLATOR TODARO. CHAIR. SAINT JEAN TARD HERE.

LEGISLATOR. DUPREE. PRESENT. LEGISLATOR. VINAL.

CHAIR. MYERS. PRESENT. IS EX. OFFICIO. MEMBER.

QUORUM. PRESENT. THANK YOU. ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE ARE TABLED UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

ITEM TEN IS RECEIVED AND FILE ITEM 11 THROUGH 15 ARE ACTIONABLE.

ITEM 11 COMMUNICATION 12E-5. I HAVE TROY TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

TROY, WHERE ARE YOU? RIGHT HERE. I'M RIGHT HERE. GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE WITH TRICIA THIS MORNING SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE BERGMANN ASSOCIATES CONTRACT AND IMPROVE AN ADDITIONAL $300,000 TOWARDS THAT CONTRACT FOR THE UNFORESEEN DESIGN AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES AT THE WENDT MANSION.

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE WENDT MANSION FOR A WHILE. ONCE THAT WAS OPENED UP.

THERE'S SEVERE STRUCTURAL ISSUES. THERE'S ADDITIONAL DESIGN CONCERNS WITH NEW YORK STATE.

SO THE CONSULTANT BERGMAN ASSOCIATES HAS BEEN HAS BEEN CALLED UPON TO DO A LOT MORE WORK THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.

THESE FUNDS ARE CURRENTLY EXIST ALREADY IN THE WENDT MANSION PROJECT.

SO I'M JUST SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THEIR CONTRACT. OKAY.

ON THE QUESTION, LEGISLATOR LORIGO THEN LEGISLATOR VINAL HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT ON THE WEST BEACH PARK MANSION UPDATES TO DATE? I WOULD SAY ALLOCATED. WE WE ALLOCATED ABOUT WITH THIS 300 ADDITIONAL THOUSAND WOULD BE ABOUT 4.7.

AND WHAT WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED? I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF DELAYS AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE.

SO WHERE, WHERE DO WE STAND NOW? AND WHAT DO WE KIND OF SEE AS THE FUTURE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR? THE ENTIRE YEAR. OKAY. THE WINDOWS, NEW DOOR, NEW SIDING, NEW PIERS TO A LOT OF DAMAGE ON THE MANSION, WHICH FACILITATED THIS ADDITIONAL DESIGN AND CODE REVIEW WAS, ONCE IT WAS OPENED UP, SOME OF THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF ROCK.

AND REMEMBER THIS BUILDING, SOME OF THE EARLY 1800S, IT WAS BUILDING.

SO THEY EXTENDED THE CONTRACT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR BE DONE.

AND THIS ADDITIONAL DESIGN IS GOING TO BE INTERIOR.

OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS THAT THERE COULD BE CHANGES TO THE FUNDING REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT? I KNOW THERE'S BEEN ISSUES KIND OF ALL ALONG THE WAY ON THIS ONE. YEAH.

WELL, ONCE ONCE THIS, IF THIS $300,000 IS APPROVED, WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE OVER $500,000 REMAINING IN THERE, WHICH IS SET ASIDE FOR THE INTERIOR. AND I'M ACTUALLY TAKING STEPS OR NOT TAKING STEPS THIS YEAR FOR NEXT YEAR.

PLANNING FOR AN ADDITIONAL INTERIOR MINISTER.

INTERIOR. ONCE WE HIRE THAT, ONCE WE START THE DESIGN PHASE, WE'LL COME UP WITH A 30 TO 69% REVIEW AND TRY TO MINIMIZE THE COST.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE USED INTERNALLY, WHICH HAS CHANGED THE SCOPE.

IT'S ALSO FACILITATED THE ADDITIONAL COST ASSOCIATED FOR EDUCATIONAL CENTER PARKS ESPECIALLY.

WHEN WE FIRST AND I DON'T THINK I WAS HERE WHEN THIS STARTED BUT WHEN THIS PROJECT WAS FIRST STARTED, I IMAGINE THERE WAS A DESIGN STUDY THAT INCLUDED THE DESIGN OF THE INSIDE.

LIKE IS THERE LAYOUTS THAT ARE ALREADY SET FOR THE INSIDE SPACE, OR IS THAT STILL TO COME OUT OF THAT 500,000 IS THE DESIGN THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS INTERIOR DESIGN? OKAY. WE WENT OUT FOR TWO HOURS TO GET A THIRD PARTY TO HELP US FACILITATE, DRAW AND CHIP IN. BOTH OF THOSE DID NOT PAN OUT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO FOR THE RECORD.

LEGISLATOR VINAL AND THE WILLOW AND WENT BEACH.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY FINALIZATION OF ANYBODY RENTING IT? AND IF NOT, IS THERE COULD IT BE USED BY GROUPS LIKE RENT IT RENTED OUT, LIKE THE WAY WE RENT OUT THE THINGS AT DIFFERENT PARKS, LIKE THE BUILDINGS THAT I THINK COMO PARK AND THEN ALSO THE CAMPING THINGS FOR WEDDINGS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AND SO FORTH.

YEAH, THAT'S THE PLAN. WE WENT OUT ON TWO RFPS TO GET SOMEONE TO RUN A BUSINESS OPERATION, WEDDINGS, SPECIAL EVENTS. NO, NO PROPOSALS WERE PROVIDED.

SO WE SWITCHED GEARS. THAT'S WHY THIS A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY AND WE'RE GOING TO DO AN INTERIOR.

WE OPENED UP THE BIG ROOM. IT'LL BE ONE ONE FLOOR INSTEAD OF TWO TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE GRAND TO USE IT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, RENTED FUNCTIONS INTER-DEPARTMENT MEETINGS THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

OKAY. AND THEN COULD I HAVE AN UPDATE ON JUST THE WILLOWDALE OPENING FOR THE REGULAR FOR THE BACK AND FOR THE GOLF COURSE? SURE. GOOD NEWS IS REMEDIATION HAS STARTED. IT'S BEEN A LONG A LONG TIME TO GET TO THIS POINT.

[00:40:03]

WE STARTED THE SHORT GAME AREA LAST WEEK INTO THIS WEEK.

AND THE GOLF COURSE IS FOR SURE DEFINED AND NOW WE'RE WORKING ON REMEDIATION OF THE GREENS AND TEES.

AND THE PASSIVE PARK RFP WILL BE GOING OUT LATER THIS YEAR.

AND THEN AMHERST STILL HAS AN ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND TO INSTALL A RESTROOM FACILITY AND A SPECIAL EVENT AREA AS WELL.

SO IT'LL DEFINITELY LEAD INTO THE LATE 2027 RIGHT NOW, GIVING AN EXACT OPENING DATE.

I WOULD BE NAIVE TO DO SO. AND LATE 2027 FOR THE PARK OR IN THE GOLF COURSE FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR SOMETHING AT THE EARLIEST, LATE 2027 FOR THE GOLF COURSE, YOU NEED A GOOD 4 TO 6 MONTHS FOR A GOLF COURSE TO TAKE HOLD, WHETHER YOU'RE SAD OR SEED. AND OUR VENDOR RIGHT NOW IS STARTING TO REMEDIATE THE GREENS AND TEES.

THE GOLF COURSE IS DEFINED. WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT WHO'S OVERSEEING THE ENTIRE PROJECT AND OBVIOUSLY REPORTING TO THE DC, WHICH IS REQUIRED AS PART OF THE PROJECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. TROY, YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN SHE WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE COURSE. ANYTHING IN AMHERST, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

OH GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. TROY IS GOING TO BE ANY ACCESS TO THE BEACH AT WENT IT WENT BEACH. YEAH. THERE CURRENTLY IS ACCESS TO THE BEACH.

IT'S JUST NOT A SWIMMING BEACH. THE ONLY LIFEGUARDED BEACH WE HAVE IS BENNETT BEACH.

WHICH IS HONESTLY ONE OF THE PREMIER BEACHES IN WESTERN NEW YORK ALL ALONG THE SHORE.

PEOPLE COULD STILL ACCESS THE BEACH. THERE'LL STILL BE ACCESS TO WENDT BEACH, BUT WE JUST DON'T PERMIT SWIMMING THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE LIFEGUARDS AT WENDT OR BENNETT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND BY LEGISLATIVE VINAL. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. TROY.

ITEM NUMBER 12. COMMUNICATION 12, E-6. I BELIEVE I HAVE ZACH HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

ZACH. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

IS THIS I DON'T HAVE THE AGENDA. IS THIS SCHOOL 44 FOR CITY OF TONAWANDA? CITY OF TONAWANDA. THE PILOT AGREEMENT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

SO WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL FROM THIS HONORABLE BODY FOR A STANDARD MUNICIPALITY AND COUNTY PILOT AGREEMENT FOR MULTIFAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THIS IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF TONAWANDA. IT'S A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT WHICH INVOLVES THE REHAB OF 210 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AT 200 GIBSON STREET IN THE CITY OF TONAWANDA.

IT WILL INVOLVE THE PRESERVATION OF 42 BUILDINGS THAT THE TONAWANDA MUNICIPAL HOUSING AUTHORITY ALREADY HAS UNDER CONTROL, AND THE PROJECT WILL TARGET FAMILIES BETWEEN 50 AND 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

THE PROJECT IS BEING DEVELOPED BY T H, A HOMES HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND COMPANY, INC.

AND T H, A HOMES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS $141 MILLION.

THIS WOULD BE A STANDARD 15 YEAR CITY COUNTY PILOT.

THE SCHEDULE OF WHICH IS ON THE BACK OF THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS CLOCKED IN.

AND AS A NOTE, NONE OF THESE RESIDENTS WILL BE DISPLACED.

WE'VE DONE THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS BEFORE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING REHABS, WHERE THERE'S A PHASED APPROACH WHERE SOME FOLKS HAVE TO MOVE IN FOR A WEEK OR TWO TO ANOTHER UNIT AND THEN BACK INTO THEIRS. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THE QUESTION.

OKAY. GO AHEAD. LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU.

SO JUST SO I HAVE THIS RIGHT. THIS IS THE EXISTING.

SO YOU KNOW, THE BRICK BUILDINGS ESSENTIALLY JUST MULTI, THEY LOOK LIKE AN APARTMENT BUILDING, YOU KNOW, UNIT TYPE OF PLACES. THOSE ARE THE UNITS.

THERE'S NO NEW IT'S JUST REHABS. THESE ARE ALL REHABS.

AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT VERY, THESE THESE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE BUILT, USUALLY HAVE 15 OR 20 YEAR AFFORDABILITY CLOCKS.

THOSE RUN OUT, THE UNITS GET DATED, THEY'RE BROUGHT UP TO CODE ALL SORTS OF THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THIS IS A PRETTY STANDARD PRACTICE IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORLD TO MAINTAIN THAT AFFORDABILITY GOING FORWARD AND BRING THOSE UNITS UP TO, YOU KNOW, BEING SOMETHING NICE AND MODERN. YEAH.

WELL WHAT WHAT'S A YEAR? HOW MANY YOU THINK? BECAUSE THIS IS WELL BEYOND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED A LOT OF THESE IN WELL OVER 40 YEARS.

SO YEAH, THAT MAY BE THE CASE. THIS IS A VERY TIRED LOOKING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, I GOT THIS AT 670 000 PER UNIT SEEMS REALLY HIGH.

IT'S AMAZING. WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM TONAWANDA HOUSING HERE.

THEY COULD SPEAK MORE TO THE PARTICULARS OF THAT. I KNOW ARE WE DEALING WITH ASBESTOS OR ARE WE DEALING WITH SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

[00:45:10]

CONSIDERED HISTORIC BY SHIPPO AND NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION WAS FOR THE WAR EFFORT ORIGINALLY FOR MEMBERS OF THE FACTORY COMMUNITY AND THEN RETURNING GIS.

SO AS PART OF THE REHABILITATION, WE HAVE TO CONFORM TO ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

FURTHERMORE, THE FIRST SET OF BUILDINGS WERE COMPLETED IN THE LATE 40S.

SO WE NEED TO OPEN UP THE SITE AND REPLACE WATER LINES, SEWER LINES.

WE'RE BRINGING IN NEW ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE'S ASBESTOS. IT'S A COMPLETE GUT. SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE COST.

THERE'S NO WAY TO AVOID THAT. TAKING THEM DOWN WAS NOT AN OPTION SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR HISTORIC VALUE AND THE NEED TO REHOUSE ALL OF THOSE FAMILIES. SO RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS YOUR PERCENTAGE OF OCCUPANCY? THE OCCUPANCY HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO BE BROUGHT DOWN IN ANTICIPATION OF HAVING TO MOVE PEOPLE AROUND.

WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER RIGHT NOW? PRIOR TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROJECT ITSELF, THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, WE WERE ACHIEVING 95 TO 97% OCCUPANCY RATE ON THOSE EXISTING BUILDINGS.

LEADING INTO THIS PROJECT, WE HAD TO BUILD VACANCY SO THAT WE COULD NOT DISPLACE ANYBODY FROM THE PROPERTY.

WE WOULD MOVE THEM TO ANOTHER SECTION OF THE PROPERTY REHAB.

ONE THIRD OF THE UNITS, MOVE THOSE FOLKS BACK INTO THEIR UNITS AND THEN BEGIN THE SECOND PHASE AND THIRD PHASE.

YEAH. AND TO THAT POINT, OUR FINANCING COSTS ARE MUCH HIGHER BECAUSE WE'RE ALLOWING A LOT MORE TIME TO BE ABLE TO SYSTEMATICALLY MOVE PEOPLE, AS OPPOSED TO VACATING THE WHOLE PROPERTY AND DOING IT IN ONE COMPLETE REHAB.

SO WE'RE DOING IT IN THREE PHASES OF TEN MONTHS.

THESE PROJECTS ARE FINANCED WITH TAX EXEMPT BONDS.

THE BOND FINANCING TODAY IS RATHER HIGH. WE'RE FINANCING IT FOR THAT ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS. IT'S EVERYTHING ROLLED INTO IT THAT BRINGS THAT COST.

A LOT. YEAH. YEAH. SO NOBODY, BY THE WAY, ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED FOR THE ENTIRE.

NO ONE WILL BE DISPLACED. WHAT IS THE TIMELINE THEN? SO THREE, TEN MONTHS. TEN MONTHS. YEAH.

YEAH. WE HOPSCOTCH AROUND. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

ALL SET? OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? PERFECT. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION TO APPROVE BY LEGISLATIVE VINAL. SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR DUPREE. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ITEM 13.

COMMUNICATION 12E-7. THIS IS A PILOT AGREEMENT IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO.

ZACK, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

THIS IS AN ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECT OF BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOL 44.

THE ENTIRE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE 77 RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

THAT INCLUDES 65, WHICH WILL BE AFFORDABLE. AND WITHIN THE CURRENT BUILDING STRUCTURE, THERE WILL BE 12 UNITS BUILT IN TOWNHOUSE STYLE BEHIND OR ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY OR THE SCHOOL PROPERTY.

SO 77 UNITS IN TOTAL, OR 65 UNITS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS EARNING 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

THIS PROJECT HAS A TOTAL COST OF $45 MILLION.

THE CITY OF BUFFALO DID APPROVE THIS PILOT AGREEMENT A FEW WEEKS AGO.

ALSO, THIS PROJECT IS ONE OF THE ONES RECEIVING FUNDING THROUGH OUR MULTIFAMILY ARPA INITIATIVE.

THE 15 YEAR PILOT SCHEDULE IS AGAIN AVAILABLE ON THE BACK OF THIS RESOLUTION AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AND WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT AS WELL. ZACH. AND I'LL GO TO LEGISLATOR DUPREE AFTER.

FOR THE 65 UNITS, HOW MANY ARE TWO BEDROOM FOR FAMILIES SPECIFICALLY? BECAUSE I KNOW THOSE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WHERE WE HAVE AFFORDABLE UNITS, BUT THERE ARE ONLY ONE BEDROOM AND THAT REALLY DOESN'T HELP THE PERCENTAGES OF FAMILIES WHO ACTUALLY NEED APARTMENT THAT COULD FIT THEIR NEEDS.

24 ONE BEDROOMS, 24 TWO BEDROOMS AND 29 THREE BEDROOM UNITS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT.

PERFECT. SO IT'S A VERY GOOD MIX OF UNIT SIZES.

LEGISLATOR DUPREE. THANK YOU. SO IS THIS PROJECT CONNECTED TO THE BROADER EAST SIDE, THE BROADWAY FILLMORE REVITALIZATION EFFORT? OR IS THIS MORE OF A STANDALONE ADAPTIVE REUSE? IT IS PART OF THE BROADER GOAL. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE CITY IF THEY HAD ANY SORT OF STRATEGIC VIEW FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT.

BUT WHEN WE WERE FIRST APPROACHED, HOWEVER MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN WE HAD OUR MULTIFAMILY RFP OPEN,

[00:50:05]

THE GOAL WAS THIS IS A GREAT LOCATION IN THAT AREA.

THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING SCHOOL THAT JUST NEEDS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, REHAB AND TLC AND COULD PROVIDE A GREAT MIX OF HOUSING OPTIONS FOR THAT COMMUNITY, DIFFERENT BEDROOM SIZES, BOTH AFFORDABLE AND ALSO SOME MARKET RATE IN THERE.

SO IT IS DEFINITELY THE TYPE OF ADAPTIVE REUSE FROM A PUBLIC POLICY'S PERSPECTIVE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

NO, I AGREE. THANK YOU. ON THE QUESTION. LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATE OF THE BUILDING? RIGHT NOW I BELIEVE IT'S A CLOSED SCHOOL.

THE PROJECT SITE WORK MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE. WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES IF THEY WANT TO, BUT IT'S EMPTY, RIGHT? THERE'S NOTHING IN IT RIGHT NOW? SIR, CAN YOU COME UP TO A MIC? THANK YOU. LAWRENCE RUBIN AND DEBORAH CHADSEY OF THE KAVINOKY COOK LAW FIRM.

THESE ARE NON TAX PRODUCING PARCELS RIGHT NOW.

THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN VACANT FOR MANY YEARS. IT'S OWNED BY THE CITY OF BUFFALO, AS ARE THE VACANT PARCELS ON WHICH THE TOWNHOMES WILL BE DEVELOPED.

THANK YOU. LEGISLATOR GREENE. THANK YOU. SO IF YOU COULD JUST TOUCH BASE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 580,000 PER UNIT ON AVERAGE HERE FOR.

SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, YOU BUILD A REALLY NICE PLACE FOR 580.

SO I'M GUESSING THERE'S A LOT OF REHAB THAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

IS THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF REHAB. THERE'S A LOT OF FINANCING COSTS.

IT IS A REGULATED PROFIT SITUATION BY NEW YORK STATE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL.

AND THEY REGULATE THE DEVELOPERS PROFIT ON IT.

AND THAT PROFIT IS OF COURSE BUILT IN AS WELL.

THE DEVELOPERS HAVE TO PROVIDE PERSONAL GUARANTEES OF COMPLETION OF THE TAX CREDITS GOING TO THE TAX CREDIT INVESTOR.

SO A LOT OF THAT IS FRONT LOADED INTO THE PROJECT.

AND THIS PARTICULAR AREA OF THE CITY HAS LACKED AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE INVESTMENT FOR MANY YEARS. THIS AREA PARTICULARLY BACKING UP ONTO ASHLEY.

SO THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, AREAS THAT IS MUCH NEEDED FOR, TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SUPPORT, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME NONCONTIGUOUS, IT LOOKS LIKE PARCELS.

SO, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME. SO IS THIS? YOU KNOW. NO THE VACANT PARCELS I THINK ARE IN TWO BATCHES AND THEY'RE ALL CONTIGUOUS. IT'S NOT REALLY A SCATTERED SITE DEVELOPMENT. THERE'S A SCHOOL.

YEAH. I KNOW THERE'S ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY THERE ARE THE VACANT PARCELS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DEALT WITH IN THE BACK PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ASHLEY'S A LOT OF VACANT PROPERTIES.

SO A LOT HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN DOWN. UNFORTUNATELY THE CITY HAS A LOT OF THEM.

YEAH. AND THIS IS AN AREA THAT I THINK IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF NOT BEEN LOOKED AFTER FOR TOO LONG.

SO. YEAH, THE DEVELOPERS AND HDR AND EVERYBODY, I ASSUME THE COUNTY IS ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS IS COMPLEMENTING THE MAJOR INVESTMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE MADE IN THE BROADWAY MARKET.

SO IS THE AREAS OF LIKE PECK AND ASHLEY? IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE TALKING? NO, THIS IS IS IS FURTHER OUT BROADWAY. YEAH.

NO, I KNOW. YEAH, BUT ASHLEY RUNS PARALLEL TO BROADWAY.

SO I'M JUST WONDERING THAT BACKSIDE, IS THAT WHERE THE TOWNHOUSES ARE GOING TO GO? I IMAGINE THE APARTMENTS ARE GOING TO MAKE SENSE TO BE INSIDE THE SCHOOL.

RIGHT. BUT THEN THE OTHER? THE OTHER ONES ARE ALSO RENTAL, AFFORDABLE TO LOW INCOME PERSONS.

SO WHERE THE HOUSES WERE.

SO WHERE THE HOUSES WERE ORIGINALLY LOCATED, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE TOWNHOMES? YES. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LESLIE GREENE, I AGREE, THIS AREA HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY INVESTED IN FOR A LONG TIME.

SO THIS INVESTMENT WILL MAKE A HUGE IMPACT. SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION TO APPROVE BY LEGISLATOR DUPREE. SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR VINAL. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. ITEM 14. COMMUNICATION 12E-8.

WE HAVE TRACY TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. TRACY, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, LEGISLATORS. I'M HERE BEFORE THIS HONORABLE BODY SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO ADD ADDITIONAL FUND TO DPWS ON CALL,

[00:55:05]

SPECIAL INSPECTION AND TESTING TERM AGREEMENT.

SPECIAL INSPECTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BE PERFORMED BY A THIRD PARTY, ACCORDING TO A NEW YORK STATE UNIFORM, FIRE PREVENTION AND BUILDING CODE TO VERIFY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS BUILT EXACTLY TO PLAN, WITH A FOCUS ON STEEL, CONCRETE SOILS, FOUNDATIONS AND FIREPROOFING.

FUNDS ORIGINALLY ASSIGNED TO THIS TERM AGREEMENT ARE NEAR AN END, AND WE'RE HOPING TO ADD 75,000 MORE TO THE TERM AGREEMENT WITH ATLANTIC TESTING TO BE APPLIED FOR SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTING IN THE FUTURE.

OKAY. ON THE QUESTION. LEGISLATOR VINAL, THEN LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

HOW LONG IS THE TERM OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT? THE ORIGINAL TERM IS THREE YEARS, AND THEN WE HAVE THE OPTION FOR TWO ONE YEAR RENEWALS.

THE ORIGINAL ONE WAS FEBRUARY OF 2024. SO IN THREE YEARS, WE'D BE BACK OVER HERE TO RENEW IF WE'RE SATISFIED WITH IT.

AND THEN WHY IS IT THAT MORE MONEY ISN'T? WE ORIGINALLY PUT $75,000 IN FUNDING IN IT IN 2024.

AND IT'S KIND OF CONSTRUCTION DEPENDENT, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THESE, WHEN WE USE THAT, IT'S MANDATED BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OWN INSPECTORS.

BUT THIS IS FOR LIKE, YOU KNOW, CONCRETE SLAB INSPECTION, WELDING INSPECTIONS, THINGS THAT THEY WANT A THIRD PARTY.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TRUST ERIE COUNTY TO INSPECT EVERYTHING, ALL OUR OWN WORK.

AND THEN AS FAR AS. IS THE WORK, LIKE IS THE OVERALL, IT LOOKS LIKE THE OVERALL WORK IS JUST ON LIKE INSPECTION.

CODE ENFORCEMENT. IS THAT A SEPARATE CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER COMPANY THAT WAS DOING.

AND THEN THE FUNDING SOURCE WE ALSO USE FOR LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL. BUT THAT'S A SEPARATE THING WE HAVE.

AND THEN WHEN IT HAS IN THERE, THE MONEY AVAILABLE IS 350,000.

WHAT'S THAT MONEY EARMARKED TOWARDS? IT'S FOR THE ON CALL SPECIAL INSPECTIONS.

AND IT'S OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CODE COMPLIANCE MONEY.

SO WHEN WE HAVE ASBESTOS OR, YOU KNOW, LEAD CONCERNS, WE PULL FOR THOSE TWO REASONS OUT OF THAT ACCOUNT.

SO THEN IF THERE'S 350 IN THAT ACCOUNT, WHY DID THEY NEED SEVEN $75,000? WE ANTICIPATE USING THE REST ON ENVIRONMENTAL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL THE ABOVE GROUND PETROLEUM STORAGE SITES WE HAVE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE DECK ON THAT. THAT'S A MAJORITY OF THE MONEY, BUT THAT'S WHAT THOSE FUNDS ARE USED FOR.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANKS. LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

THANK YOU. I HAD THE SAME QUESTION JUST ABOUT THE FUNDING.

WITH THIS ACCOUNT THAT HAS $350,000 IN IT. SO WE'RE ADDING THE $75,000 TO THAT ACCOUNT? THE $75,000 IS COMING OUT OF THAT. COMING OUT OF IT.

OKAY. IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT ANY FUTURE PROJECTS SINCE WE DIDN'T SINCE THIS IS KIND OF.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUDGET MORE FOR IN THE FUTURE? IT'S IN MY CAPITAL REQUEST EVERY YEAR FOR CODE COMPLIANCE.

IT'S BUNDLED IN THERE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CODE COMPLIANCE.

THAT'S MAINLY FOR THESE TWO THINGS, THE SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL WITH THE DC AND EPA FOR MAINLY THOSE ABOVEGROUND PETROLEUM STORAGE.

BUT WHEN WE GET INTO IT IN CAPITAL PROJECTS TOO.

OKAY. THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION TO APPROVE BY LEGISLATOR DUPREE. SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 15. COMMUNICATION 12E-9.

THIS IS TRACY AGAIN REGARDING NEW YORK STATE ELECTRIC AND GAS CORPORATION FOR HIGHMARK.

YES. AND THIS RESOLUTION I'M REQUESTING THAT NYSEG BE GRANTED AN EASEMENT TO ALLOW MAINTENANCE OF THE NEW ELECTRICAL SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUFFALO BILLS STADIUM COMPLEX PROJECT.THIS SET OF ELECTRIC POLES RUNS FROM 20 A TO FE STREET ALONG ONE BILLS DRIVE KIND OF BY THE FIELD HOUSE FOR YOUR REFERENCE. IT'S DEPICTED IN SCHEDULE A THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THAT, OR EXHIBIT A ATTACHED TO THE RESOLUTION.

THE COUNTY LAND ADVISORY REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS REVIEWED THIS AND RECOMMENDED THE EASEMENT BE GRANTED PRIOR TO BRINGING BEFORE THIS HONORABLE BODY, BUT NEEDS THIS BODY'S APPROVAL TO BE EXECUTED.

OKAY. ON THE QUESTION. LEGISLATOR GREENE THEN LEGISLATOR LORIGO.

MAYBE A TIMELINE MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY OFF, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE WERE NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS A YEAR AGO WHERE WE JUST WAITING FOR CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMPLETE BEFORE THE EASEMENT? OR. I THINK IT'S FOR LIKE THE SWITCH OVER.

YEAH. AND I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHAT THE DELAY WAS, BUT THERE WAS A LONG.

AND IT IS THE SERVICE FOR THE NEW STADIUM. SO IT'S ALREADY LIVE.

SOLE PURPOSE OF DELIVERING ELECTRICITY TO THE STADIUM.

OKAY. LEGISLATOR LORIGO. I HAD THE SAME QUESTION.

I ALSO WAS JUST CURIOUS HOW WE CAME UP WITH A DOLLAR, AND I'M TRYING NOT TO LASH OUT, AS I JUST GOT A $700 ELECTRIC BILL YESTERDAY.

BUT HOW DID WE COME UP WITH GIVING THEM THIS EASEMENT FOR $1?

[01:00:06]

THAT'S THE SAME WITH NATIONAL GRID. IT'S BASICALLY THE UTILITY COMPANY STANDARD LANGUAGE, AND WE'RE EXPECTED TO JUST DEAL WITH IT.

I WISH I HAD A BETTER ANSWER BECAUSE I GET PRETTY AGGRAVATED WITH IT TOO.

WE WENT THROUGH IT WITH BOTANICAL GARDENS TOO. AND, YOU KNOW, WE GO BACK AND FORTH, LAWYERS GET INVOLVED, BUT EVENTUALLY WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO DO IT TO THE UTILITY COMPANY STANDARD.

OKAY. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. LEGISLATOR VINAL. HOW IS IT THAT LAND THAT WAS RETAINED? I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE THINKING OF. I MEAN, WE'RE RETAINING A SECTION OF LAND.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE VALUE OF THAT LAND GIVING UP 30FT? IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I MEAN, WE CURRENTLY OWN THE LAND RIGHT NOW. THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DETERMINED.

I THINK THE EASEMENT WOULD STILL BE IN PLACE EVEN IF WE SOLD THE LAND.

BUT I'M NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT THAT. I JUST KNOW WE OWN THE LAND NOW, AND THE EASEMENT HAS TO BE WITH US AND NYSEG.

SO IS THERE ANY. I MEAN, I DO KIND OF WONDER THOUGH, IS THERE ANY TALK ABOUT ACTUALLY MAKING THEM PAY THE PRICE THAT WOULD DECREASE THE VALUE OF THE LAND BY THAT EASEMENT? AND THERE'S NO LAW THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM AN EASEMENT.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT LIKE, DOES IT HAVE TO BE 30FT? AND LIKE, DOES IT HAVE TO BE FOR FREE? IT SEEMS LIKE A GIFT.

THOSE ARE THE TERMS THAT THEY OFFER AND THAT WE'RE ASKED TO AGREE TO.

I DON'T REALLY NEGOTIATE ANY OF THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE WERE TO SELL THE PROPERTY.

THAT WOULD BE. WELL, THE GHOST RUNS FOREVER WITH THE PROPERTY, SO IT DEFINITELY DECREASES, YOU KNOW, THE VALUE.

WE'VE SEEN THIS WITH LOTS OF OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.

THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE BUFFALO NEWS, I BELIEVE THIS WEEK ABOUT AN EASEMENT.

AGAIN, 30FT IN NORTH BUFFALO, SOME NEWER HOMES WHERE PEOPLE HAD BUILT SOME SHEDS.

SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE ONES WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE THE POWER AND THEY NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE POLES AND THE LINES IF ANYTHING GOES DOWN.

SO, YEAH, WE'D LOVE TO SEE THE VALUE OF THE LAND BE COMPENSATED PROPERLY, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE POWER CONSISTENTLY.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? LEGISLATOR DUPREE. SECONDED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO.

ALL IN FAVOR. ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES.

ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.