[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6276992,"mediaKeyId","2658353-8c77bc4dc636f0e19c624240701b2f0d","parentId",2658353,"title","Cayuga County OKs temporary engineering contracts after two public health engineers leave","audioSeconds",114,"startMs",903000,"endMs",1017000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658353-8c77bc4dc636f0e19c624240701b2f0d&start=903&end=1017","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658353-8c77bc4dc636f0e19c624240701b2f0d/thumbnail_903000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6276992/Cayuga-County/New-York/Cayuga-County-OKs-temporary-engineering-contracts-after-two-public-health-engineers-leave","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276992-96157162c8d37200f748f670c758f4fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150448&Signature=BUss6VosO~5uxim1T8M2QnSlHeLeTajzDLDeJkuVkm0V1rLQrKj4KjvuynOUTWaU1uo1cwYvveJOFjKEpNE5057iIQlj5dVmZFLzxzO~dF7ivFiCt69q1I0p4pgzQPVMwvlxz5FiwU7cqngjTXOK7sXjZQQV5IZfXogIFt2PtclMlZq1oW~DvmDdDcBxo9vEq2Sx~rM-hHfg4-HBQXfiX7jezaGFw8UMQosx3dKeiTEQ9jmwANYfsUKn65lCKnQHje3qEaU46~ttEQqUzcEvo39im9jNLHV894DdNLSczJtemvXDH~cRRnKJqfs6tmI2Vv3nbYseU9isSQBq6AWzEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cayuga County, NY","date","2025-03-12T00:00:00Z","article","Cayuga County legislators on the Health & Human Services Committee voted to let the public health director and the legislature enter short-term contracts with professional engineers to perform required septic- and public-water-system plan reviews while two environmental health staff and a public health engineer are on leave or leaving the department.

The resolution authorizes contracts to ensure state- and county-required engineering stamps and reviews continue from April through December while the department is understaffed. Public Health Director Kathleen said the department \"is anticipating approximately $30,000 would be spent toward contracting, engineer work.\" Ani Fish, the department\u0000b\u0000b\u0000s director of environmental health and a professional engineer, told legislators she prepared a table showing the typical types of reviews, average hours per review and a five-year historical average of submissions the county receives.

Why it matters: Cayuga County\u0000b\u0000b\u0000s environmental health unit must stamp and approve designs for new or modified community and noncommunity water systems and for septic-system plans. Those approvals are legal prerequisites for construction and occupancy; without an engineer\u0000b\u0000b\u0000s sign-off the county cannot authorize work that affects public water or septic systems.

What the committee heard: Staff said two environmental health employees will take temporary leave within months and a public health engineer recently resigned effective March, leaving the department short of the licensed engineering capacity state rules require. Kathleen explained the department has a professional-services line and recent performance-incentive funds that can be used to pay contractors; she said any additional transfers would return to the legislature for approval.

Committee members pressed for more procurement detail before contracts are executed. Legislator Wynne urged the department to provide a clear scope of work and sample hourly or per-project rates; staff estimated individual engineers might bill about $150 per hour and firms about $250 or more per hour. Legislator Strong suggested having the county purchasing director issue a request for proposals or collect at least three written quotes so the county can compare rates and avoid paying an exorbitant price.

Next steps and oversight: The resolution passed after discussion. Legislators directed the public health director to work with the county purchasing director, seek multiple quotes or proposals, and return with more specific scope and pricing information prior to final contracting. Staff said they will prioritize contracting with multiple individuals where possible so the county is not reliant on a single firm.

Votes and formal action: The committee approved the resolution (agenda item HH1) by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the committee transcript. Committee members recorded no formal amendment; several asked staff to gather rate quotes and draft a contract scope before executing agreements.

Ending: Department staff told the committee they will return with the procurement details requested and will seek a mix of individual engineers and firms to cover reviews from April through December while recruitment and staffing decisions continue.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cayuga County Committee Meeting - Health & Human Services (March 12, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Cayuga County legislators on the Health & Human Services Committee voted to let the public health director and the legislature enter short-term contracts with professional engineers to perform required septic- and public-water-system plan reviews while two environmental health staff and a public health engineer are on leave or leaving the department.","taxTitle","Cayuga County, New York","taxId",68314,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6276987,"Votes at a glance: Cayuga County HHS Committee passes multiple public-health and social-services resolutions",2632,2452000,5084000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2658353-8c77bc4dc636f0e19c624240701b2f0d&start=2452&end=5084","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2658353-8c77bc4dc636f0e19c624240701b2f0d/thumbnail_2452000.jpg","/articles/6276987/Cayuga-County/New-York/Votes-at-a-glance-Cayuga-County-HHS-Committee-passes-multiple-public-health-and-social-services-resolutions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6276987-5d8a0bc55ca032bd28a8fb132cbe1b75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150448&Signature=XQChYKZ2kqfAUDHvu-QoNGLHPwfhE8YT3yvSQbFkwYzIqmj19zyNayZXXeC4wIw-lf9dPAET2amDqGNDw9js3qPhu-l3EyfAoFMzzXUxlPrmEyc~EyE66GhyZ6ajEonx4CaxUeGI78qmQ2XAGZ4C3xeyu1zkzGqYZCRZTC48EV4wTbWf2te2u-4b3BLnUBEnvncCy0gU09AbceXClwj2UQxCZX6Z1SaHN4XaeSGs~RV8tjqGG0e1WlsNJGMs0nmcFjiQv-b1tzWqIsOY0NPYtrw0cvaqV-fH50GgZT-Val9VVT9rXt8T9tRHt4HwNYeDxUILMbVSMU4je~-0kn2C-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cayuga County Legislature\u0000b\u0000b\u0000s Health & Human Services Committee approved a series of resolutions on public health, social services, and community programs during its meeting. Multiple items were passed by voice vote; committee members asked for follow-up details on procurement, budgets and program metrics for several items.

Summary of actions (agenda numbers as discussed in committee):

- HH14: Reallocate $4,500 in unclaimed 2024 Youth Bureau funding to Northern Cuba Little League after Southern Cuba Little League did not claim awarded funds. Committee approved the reallocation; county staff said the funds must be claimed to New York State by March 31.

- HH1: Authorize chair and public health director to contract with professional engineers for required septic- and public-water-system reviews while staff are on leave or vacant; committee approved and requested procurement scope and rate quotes before contracting (see separate article).

- HH2: Authorize recruitment/filling of a Women, Infants and Children (WIC) competent professional authority position (board nutritionist) to provide certification flexibility when a fully credentialed nutritionist cannot be found. Committee approved; staff noted the WIC program is nearly fully federally funded and the third Whereas clarifies actions should funding be discontinued.

- HH3: Authorize an intermunicipal agreement with Onondaga County Health Department for provision of the tuberculosis control program; committee approved and staff said Onondaga offered a reasonable rate and infectious-disease expertise.

- HH4: Authorize purchase of a vehicle for the public health department (budgeted); committee approved. Staff said the new vehicle is expected to allow older vehicles to be reassigned or auctioned; vehicle purchases may be reimbursed under state aid rules depending on timing.

- HH5: Authorize a budget modification in the WIC program to move salary/benefit funds into professional services to contract temporary help during vacancies; committee approved.

- HH13 (caregiver support): Add a licensed social worker to caregiver support services to provide short-notice, in-home counseling for caregivers; committee approved.

- HH15: Authorize filling a specified position (late request) to avoid delay in making a pending job offer; committee approved.

- HH7: Authorize a two-year contract with county mental-health provider for qualified residential treatment program (QRTP) reviews and assessments required by federal/state rules; committee approved.

- Transitional housing contract (labeled HHH in transcript): Renew contract with Cayuga Health Network for transitional housing (five family units and five single efficiency units). Staff reported 28 referrals to date, 7 current enrollments and five successful discharges to permanent housing; committee approved renewal.

- HH9 (burials): Authorize contract with Fort Hill Cemetery for burial of indigent individuals; committee approved; the contract provides up to $975 per plot.

- HH10: Authorize filling a child-welfare caseworker vacancy; committee approved. Staff reported multiple vacancies across child welfare and emphasized recruitment needs.

- Vehicle and fleet items for Social Services: Two vehicles authorized for the Department of Social Services (budgeted and eligible for partial reimbursement); committee approved.

What legislators asked for: For several procurements and contracts (notably the engineering contracts and transitional housing metrics), legislators directed staff to provide scopes of work, sample rates or utilization data and to work with the county purchasing director before final contracting.

Votes and process: Most items were approved by voice vote during the committee meeting. The committee did not record roll-call tallies for each resolution in the transcript; when members raised objections those were recorded. Where an item was budgeted staff noted whether state aid or grant funding will cover all or part of the cost.

Ending: Committee chairs and department staff said they will return to the legislature with requested procurement details, budget transfer needs, and program metrics as follow-up to several of the approvals.","The Cayuga County Legislature\u0000b\u0000b\u0000s Health & Human Services Committee approved a series of resolutions on public health, social services, and community programs during its meeting; most items passed by voice vote with requests for follow-up procurement and budget details.","actionData","errors"]

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Cayuga County OKs temporary engineering contracts after two public health engineers leave

Votes at a glance: Cayuga County HHS Committee passes multiple public-health and social-services resolutions