Sep 10, 2026 Legislative Session

[00:00:01]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

[ ROLL CALL]

CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL. LEGISLATOR GREENE.

HERE. LORIGO. HERE. MILLS. HERE. TODARO. HERE.

BARGNESI. HERE. DUPRE. PRESENT. GILMOUR. HERE.

KOOSHOIAN. HERE. MEYERS. HERE. SAINT JEAN TARD.

HERE AND VINAL. HERE. ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. PLEASE RISE FOR THE INVOCATION, WILL BE LED BY LEGISLATOR TODARO.

WELL, IT'S GREAT TO SEE MY COLLEAGUES AFTER OUR SUMMER RECESS.

AND TOMORROW MARKS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACKS.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE TWIN TOWERS, AT THE PENTAGON, AND ON UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 93 IN SHANKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[ PUBLIC COMMENT]

AND WELL, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I'M REQUIRED TO FILE THESE REPORTS AS IT PERTAINS TO ANY EXISTING CLAIM OF ESTABLISHMENT. SO THOUGH I WANTED TO BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD HERE SO AS NOT TO LEAVE THEM UNAWARE THAT THIS WOULD BE FILED HERE, WHILE I'M STILL IN BUFFALO AND THERE ARE SEVERAL AREA AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED. BUT AS MY ATTENDANCE AT THESE FACILITIES THAT ARE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES HAS VARIED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED FOR THIS IDR PANEL REQUEST WITH A PORTFOLIO OF FACILITIES THAT COULD BE INVOLVED. AND SO FOR THIS TO GO ON WITH THE PRESENT INTENT THAT IS OUTLINED HERE IN THE LETTER AGAIN.

SO THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT DOES DATE BACK TO 2019.

BUT AS WE'RE ALL WELL AWARE, THE COMMUNICATION STILL WITHIN THIS PRESENT EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION HERE THAT WE HAVE UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP. SO IF I COULD JUST.

YOU.

[ MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MAJORITY LEADER. LUCY.

OKAY. SORRY. OH. I'M SORRY. OKAY. PUBLIC HEARING.

[00:05:01]

[ MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS:]

WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0 CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE TO AMEND TO INCLUDE ET AL SPONSORSHIP.

SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER TO INCLUDE ET AL SPONSORSHIP.

WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR DUPREE. LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD.

ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 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.

SECOND BY LEGISLATOR GILMOUR. ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? WE HAVE A SECOND BY THE LEGISLATOR ON THE QUESTION.

THE CHAIR IS RUSTY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. OKAY. THE MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED.

THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT THERE. LOCAL LAWS.

[ LOCAL LAWS:]

LOCAL LAW 7-1 WILL BE SENT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE UNDER MY AUTHORITY AS CHAIR.

COMMITTEE REPORTS. THERE ARE NONE. LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS.

[ LEGISLATOR RESOLUTIONS:]

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. SECOND BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

INTRO 16-2 FROM LEGISLATOR DUPRE. MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. THANK YOU.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER.

WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR DUPRE AND LEGISLATOR GREENE ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED. INTRO 16-3 FROM LEGISLATOR GILMOUR.

MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL FROM MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR VINAL ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

INTRO 16-4 FROM LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD. MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER, SECOND FROM LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

INTRO 16-5 FROM LEGISLATOR MEYERS. 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 FROM LEGISLATOR TODARO ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS APPROVED.

COMMUNICATIONS DISCHARGE FROM COMMITTEE. THERE ARE NONE.

SUSPENSIONS OF THE RULES. THERE ARE NONE. COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:]

COMMUNICATION 16E-35. MAJORITY LEADER. MOVE FOR MEETING CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. WE HAVE A SECOND BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATION 16E-36. MAJORITY LEADER.

MOVE FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAJORITY LEADER FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION APPROVAL. SECOND BY LEGISLATOR LORIGO ON THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? 11 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THE ITEM IS APPROVED. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS.

[ COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS:]

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PEOPLE AND OTHER AGENCIES. COMMUNICATIONS 16M-1 THROUGH AND INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS 16M-10, AS INDICATED. I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

[ PUBLIC COMMENT:]

AGAIN, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT. KEEP YOUR REMARKS TO THREE MINUTES LONG.

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

ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE BEGIN? OKAY, OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS TODD HERIAGE.

HEY, TODD. COME ON UP. LONG TIME NO SEE. THERE YOU

[00:10:01]

WE'RE DOING A LITTLE SHOW AND TELL TODAY.

AND GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO THANK LEGISLATOR DUPREE FOR HIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING UKRAINIAN AMERICAN DAY BACK ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 23RD. I MYSELF AM THE GRANDSON OF UKRAINIAN IMMIGRANTS WHO FIRST MET IN A FORCED LABOR CAMP UNDER THE BRUTAL REGIME OF JOSEPH STALIN.

MY GRANDPARENTS DIDN'T SPEAK MUCH OF THEIR IMPRISONMENT, BUT I DO RECALL MY GRANDMOTHER TELLING ME HOW, AS A YOUNG GIRL, SHE WAS ATTACKED WITH A PITCHFORK BY ARMED SOVIET GUARDS WHO LAUGHED AND MOCKED HER AS SHE TRIED TO RUN AWAY.

MY GRANDPARENTS EVENTUALLY ESCAPED CAMP, FLED ACROSS EUROPE WITH A BABY, AS MY UNCLE WAS BORN IN A FIELD IN GERMANY, SAILED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND WELCOMED BY LADY LIBERTY HERSELF IN NEW YORK HARBOR.

MY FATHER WAS BORN TWO YEARS LATER IN NEW YORK CITY, AND ALL FOUR MOVED INTO A MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING ON RICHARD STREET IN BUFFALO.

THEY WOULD FINALLY MOVE INTO A HOME ON CONSTANCE LANE IN CHEEKTOWAGA, WHERE MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT TWO UKRAINIAN PRISONERS, EMACIATED, TORTURED AND SURROUNDED BY DEATH, WOULD GO ON TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM? THEY, LIKE MANY IMMIGRANTS, WERE FIERCELY LOYAL TO THEIR HERITAGE AND ALSO TO THE COUNTRY THAT GAVE THEM SO MUCH. I THINK THAT IS WORTH REMEMBERING IN OUR CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE AND THE PHOTOS I PROVIDED FOR YOU GUYS TODAY.

I WILL NEED THOSE BACK, BY THE WAY. BUT THAT'S THE VILLAGE WHERE MY GRANDPARENTS WERE FROM.

THE PURPOSE OF MY PRESENCE BEFORE THIS HONORABLE BODY, HOWEVER, IS NOT TO DISCUSS MY FAMILY, BUT RATHER HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT CAN PROTECT FAMILIES FROM THE INHERENT DANGERS OF ELECTRIC BICYCLES.

IF YOU TURN TO COMMUNICATIONS 16M-4, MY LETTER, THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OFFERS THREE GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS INVOLVING ELECTRIC BICYCLES, AND THAT IS NUMBER ONE.

EXAMINING LOCAL LAWS REGULATING THE USE OF ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND SCOOTERS AND CODIFYING THEM FOR ALL OF ERIE COUNTY.

TWO. COLLABORATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS TO CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR OUR YOUNGEST RIDERS.

AND THREE. COLLECTING DATA FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ELSEWHERE TO EXAMINE WHETHER SUCH STEPS TAKEN BY THE LEGISLATURE ARE PREVENTING ADDITIONAL TRAGEDIES.

I WISH TO ALSO MAKE A CORRECTION TO THE DATA REPORTED BY THE BUFFALO NEWS, AS SHARED IN MY LETTER.

IN MY CORRESPONDENCE WITH JACQUELINE BOUTTE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR KALEIDA HEALTH, ELECTRIC BICYCLE RELATED VISITS TO GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO IS ACTUALLY FAR WORSE THAN REPORTED.

IN 2024, THERE WERE 10 SUCH VISITS. IN 2025, THERE WERE 45.

IN 2026, THAT NUMBER HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED TO 98, AND THERE ARE STILL THREE MONTHS REMAINING IN THE CALENDAR YEAR.

IF THE GOVERNMENT FAILS TO ACT NOW ON ELECTRIC BICYCLES, WHAT WILL THAT NUMBER LOOK LIKE IN 2027? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TODD. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? LAST CALL FOR ANY OTHER SPEAKERS. OKAY. I WILL NOW CLOSE THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

[ ANNOUNCEMENTS:]

THE CLERK WILL DISTRIBUTE THE SCHEDULE. AND THE NEXT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 24TH.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ANY LEGISLATORS?

[ MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS:]

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING.

CARL MATHEIS, HANS MANN, JIM WOOD. FELLOW CLASSMATE FROM MARYVALE MIDDLE SCHOOL, CHRISTOPHER ZENT, LAURA GILLETTE, NUNZIO CASTELLI. AND ALSO MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF EARL GINGERICH, KNOWN AS SKIP. HE SERVED AS THE MARILLA TOWN SUPERVISOR FOR 12 YEARS, WHICH BEGAN WHEN HE WON A WRITE IN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER OF 2013. HE ALSO SERVED AS A COUNCIL MEMBER PRIOR TO BECOMING SUPERVISOR.

HE WAS LOVED BY MANY AND WITH SKIP, HE ALWAYS KNEW WHERE YOU STOOD.

NOT ONLY DID HE RUN A FARM AND SERVE AS A SUPERVISOR, BUT HE DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO CARING FOR HIS FAMILY IN THE TOWN OF MARILLA.

HE LOVED HIS COMMUNITY AND WAS DEDICATED TO THE RESIDENTS HE SERVED.

HE WAS LOYAL TO HIS FRIENDS, FAMILY, THE TOWN OF MARILLA AND TO HIS COUNTRY.

[00:15:04]

BORN IN BUFFALO AND RAISED IN WESTERN NEW YORK, ANDY WILLIAMS MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF, FIRST AS A MUSICIAN.

HIS BAND WAS INDUCTED INTO THE BUFFALO MUSIC MUSIC HALL OF FAME IN 2019.

HE ALSO BECAME A WRESTLER KNOWN AS A GUY WHO WAS A WARM, CHARISMATIC AND SMART WITH AN UPBEAT PERSONALITY AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

WHILE HE MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF NATIONALLY AS A MUSICIAN AND WRESTLER TO THOSE THAT KNEW AND LOVED HIM, HE WAS SIMPLY A GREAT GUY. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH HIS LOVED ONES.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. MAJORITY LEADER.

THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE, CASSIE SUNKLE.

SHE WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO CRAIG NELSON. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

LEGISLATOR LORIGO. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF RICHARD DENNIS, A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE BOSTON FIRE COMPANY.

JAY MAZURECH FROM EAST SENECA FIRE COMPANY. TYLER SCHNECK FROM SENECA HOSE DIED AT THE AGE OF 29 IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT. JANE NASON FROM THE CONCORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

REID BREEMAN, US AIR FORCE VETERAN. AND THEN A COUPLE OF PERSONAL FRIENDS.

NICHOLAS KULICK, SR. AND DANIELLE BLEEKER. THANK YOU.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR. LEGISLATOR VINAL. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN MEMORY OF VILLAGE OF WILLIAMSVILLE AND TOWN OF AMHERST RESIDENT JACK HANNI, WHO DIED, WHO OWNED EAGLE HOUSE RESTAURANT IN AMHERST AND LONGTIME ADVOCATE FOR SO MANY THINGS, INCLUDING THE RED MILL RESTORATION, WHICH IS AN ICON IN OUR AREA NOW AND DID SO MUCH FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS BUILDING BEING A STOP IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. FROM THE LEAVING BUFFALO TO THE NEXT STOP OUTSIDE OF BUFFALO WAS JACK HANNI'S EAGLE HOUSE.

SO I'D LIKE TO CLOSE IN HIS MEMORY. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR.

LEGISLATOR BARGNESI.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, LEGISLATOR. MINORITY LEADER.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. CHAIRMAN, IN MEMORY OF EILEEN O'NEILL, PAUL LEWIS SNYDER AND A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND MENTOR OF MINE, WILLIAM ROSS. WILLIAM IS FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE NIAGARA COUNTY LEGISLATURE.

HE DIED AT 92 THIS WEEK, THE LONGEST SERVING CHAIRMAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF NIAGARA.

BILL WAS KNOWN TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. HE UNDERSTOOD YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH SOMEONE ON EVERYTHING TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

HE ALWAYS SEARCHED FOR COMMON GROUND AND NEVER MADE THINGS PERSONAL.

THANK YOU. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO WENT ON TO BE WITH THE LORD.

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

SECOND. MOTION TO ADJOURN BY THE MAJORITY LEADER. SECOND BY LEGISLATOR SAINT JEAN TARD. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.