[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6514545,"mediaKeyId","5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5","parentId",5029085,"title","Legislature confirms appointments to planning, railroad authority and land bank; one land-bank vote recorded as opposed","audioSeconds",682,"startMs",262000,"endMs",944000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5&start=262&end=944","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5/thumbnail_262000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6514545/Chautauqua-County/New-York/Legislature-confirms-appointments-to-planning-railroad-authority-and-land-bank-one-land-bank-vote-recorded-as-opposed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514545-666645cd6e6a143b0a7a96e14f0a181c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200063&Signature=KdCUh2YlED4qUBsuLUMYTT-97ZmrK4WuRshKHNoP1yovenQF8gXRUNR9NOn3XJLMjhJj5evfPmyobNxH5xgpOXkDaV-o7TUydMt2lbiTSInkXfNlb7nS7M4HEFdfbbeNuMc6ehTAy3~AtA5msFtQkfAYqoOxswliHG4KYRQSII3s7edmNBQExz4p7xkKF~G6p7PAq~2Ws6pIB0uPL3CxWyQUYgVCO93siYcZ~5Db9OLfTTZjPI8VOl253S0W542qZAp51j4zxS1FIGUj6qsTNDz5QdeC1X~LfMf3whldvCPCcppFToBd4Vkk9ng~jT-XhFvWl8B9vuqxbnfnr5OwYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chautauqua County, NY","date","2025-06-19T11:12:21Z","article","Chautauqua County legislators on June 18 confirmed a slate of board appointments, voting to approve a planning board appointment, amended appointments to the Southern Tier Extension Railroad Authority (STERA) board and reappointments to the Chautauqua County Land Bank.

The planning and economic development committee confirmed an appointment to the county Planning Board after planning staff described the nominee as a good fit and said the county executive made the nomination. Planning coordinator Rebecca Wurster told the committee the appointment filled an open seat; committee members asked for the nominee’s resume to be supplied to the record. The committee voted “Aye” to confirm the appointment.

The committee also approved appointments to the Southern Tier Extension Railroad Authority after an amendment by substitution. Mark Geiss, deputy county executive for economic development and chief executive officer of the Industrial Development Agency (IDA), described the recommended nominees, including Rose Strandberg, a project manager at the IDA who Geiss said is working on a grant involving the railroad. A founding STERA board member spoke at length about the authority’s history, the importance of maintaining the line west of Cummins, and concerns that lack of maintenance has reduced rail traffic. After a motion to amend by substitution was seconded and approved, the committee voted to carry the amended resolution.

The committee reconfirmed members of the county land bank board. One legislator registered a formal “nay,” arguing that Jamestown — the county’s largest municipality and the area the speaker said has “horrendous housing problems” — lacked direct representation on the land bank board. County officials and the land bank chair responded that the land bank has focused a majority of its demolitions and rehabs in Jamestown and that the board coordinates countywide work despite membership geography. The reappointments carried with one recorded no vote.

No further formal actions were recorded on those items at the meeting.

Ending: Committee chair Harmon closed those agenda items and the meeting moved on to other business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning & Economic Development Committee Meeting 06/18/25","oneSentenceSummary","Chautauqua County legislators on June 18 confirmed a slate of board appointments, voting to approve a planning board appointment, amended appointments to the Southern Tier Extension Railroad Authority board and reappointments to the county land bank.","taxTitle","Chautauqua County, New York","taxId",14530,"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},6514535,"Legislators debate planning vs. development roles, budget priorities and charter duties",3178,65000,3243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5&start=65&end=3243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5/thumbnail_65000.jpg","/articles/6514535/Chautauqua-County/New-York/Legislators-debate-planning-vs-development-roles-budget-priorities-and-charter-duties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514535-7001c35622da86c4fc75bcd2be5ba66a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200063&Signature=EyG5HpdCuRSlOfXmrdt7xK0ESbWnMj2sBkCOVh6N98Tb9GNM3rAeqiUe4szJjbIYUXeXfc6-yoMi9~MLDxbBj4uW7YaTWTs~Rr1kk1-1KhD7Le1chefb6WzMb7s8h24bpEzSqVNjSphGFBcGnMGNJVu-Toc2RbPCVRirNHMYnHzjXtTp7xNw0XX7tldo5QgVwwzwaKrPeOL82jTOGsFzEkFYDf1Yna2VDjZHQxT2UNQpsMn0UkHlZnW4DYXMmgMlw3Cd~J~PIL7QBKxifbuhCMYLr7rQUOL7EDnL3u8MN-wfIgZpQMJIVVPUeW9jmyK5Ir6cWV1KpM44LqSx6vbJ6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislators and planning staff spent a large portion of the June 18 meeting debating whether the county legislature should adopt detailed goals, objectives and performance measures for planning and development that the executive would use when preparing the 2026 tentative budget.

Legislator Fred Johnson (referred to in discussion) argued the legislature has a duty under the county charter to set goals and performance measures and that the body should require benchmarks tied to job creation and budget priorities. Johnson said he has prepared a draft of goals and benchmarks and urged committee members to discuss and adopt substantive guidance so the executive’s budget process can reflect legislative priorities.

Planning staff and other legislators responded with distinctions between planning and development functions. Planning coordinator Rebecca Wurster and Deputy County Executive Mark Geiss described the planning department’s operational responsibilities — state-mandated reviews, grant administration, waterfront revitalization plans and contract management — and said some benchmarks in prior drafts did not align with what the department can directly accomplish. Staff emphasized the department’s role in technical assistance, grant writing, environmental review and contract management; they said the county has produced numerous demos and rehabs in Jamestown and administers many contracts and programs that support local housing and economic priorities.

Committee members also discussed the 1998 county charter’s schedule for legislative adoption of goals and the executive’s tentative budget timeline. One legislator noted the charter envisions the legislature adopting financial management policy and goals by mid-June so the executive has time to incorporate those priorities before issuing the tentative budget by late September. The discussion covered trade-offs between assigning measurable productivity targets for departments and leaving spending decisions to the executive’s budget process.

No formal resolution adopting new goals was passed at the June meeting. Several members asked staff to circulate department workloads, mandated duties and suggested measurable benchmarks so the committee can consider concrete, budget-linked actions ahead of the fall budget timetable.

Ending: The committee agreed to continue the conversation and asked planning staff to provide organizational and workload information to inform any future legislative action on goals and budget priorities.","A lengthy discussion at the June 18 Planning & Economic Development meeting centered on whether the Chautauqua County legislature should set firm goals and measurable benchmarks for planning and development to guide the executive’s 2026 tentative budget.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514538,"Planning staff circulates nuclear energy resource guide; experts to brief July committee meeting",124,1677000,1801000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5&start=1677&end=1801","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5/thumbnail_1677000.jpg","/articles/6514538/Chautauqua-County/New-York/Planning-staff-circulates-nuclear-energy-resource-guide-experts-to-brief-July-committee-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514538-7009c2253d093b612864bfa89ef2bf42/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200063&Signature=bk5cK1h7uMLjXVSx8hN~deASTT2M3lDztY5unnRhSSe6CaHb2ls0tyBqgPo~viAN90uEKbCs2Ew6RIrv55GJTYib--IVsF1B~nZetxs-km34ZdtPM0BsGLljKO1yFXCqPE1OUxkNvaEHYPkPJsF3szOGnn576n30yBGUc3a48tL8i3DMHu7HQcfw7oTCV1lkWPtcGslzkXMGPZFFlNelJejtQqk3CYkuhq37IY80s-iXN60Mqt0yloMx5d7afDXuaMH~2fbnk~~Wpya-6ZIXgzC3E16HXcSVeFZt4qP39MpAA6L2jIdMl-PEZ9IKQB1VKw4DhY7vohODmPHvNM3Fng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County planning staff told the Planning & Economic Development Committee on June 18 they have compiled a nuclear energy resource guide covering small modular reactors (SMRs), microreactors, regulatory context and potential repowering of the former NRG Dunkirk site.

Staff said a NYSERDA report is in final review and an internal white paper summarizing work to date and next steps will be circulated when complete. The committee was told Dennis Elsenbeck of the law firm Phillips Lytle and Dr. Whitaker, a University at Buffalo School of Engineering faculty member identified as a nuclear expert, are scheduled to brief the committee at its July meeting.

Committee members thanked staff for the resource and discussed plans for a fuller July presentation; no policy action or votes were taken during the June meeting. Staff indicated the guide and supporting materials would be distributed to committee members when finalized.

Ending: The committee expects a fuller briefing at the July meeting with the named guest speakers and publication of the NYSERDA report and the county white paper once reviews conclude.","County planning staff distributed a nuclear energy resource guide and said a NYSERDA report and an internal white paper are nearly complete; guest experts from Phillips Lytle and the University at Buffalo are scheduled for the July Planning & Economic Development meeting.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514542,"County staff seeks to release ranked 2% occupancy-tax awards to help applicants meet state funding deadlines",112,1461000,1573000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5&start=1461&end=1573","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5/thumbnail_1461000.jpg","/articles/6514542/Chautauqua-County/New-York/County-staff-seeks-to-release-ranked-2-occupancy-tax-awards-to-help-applicants-meet-state-funding-deadlines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514542-4f1305ed6f3d3b4257c6081585441713/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200063&Signature=QTV-OtVCXp7BDjoIq0nYCQqK7g1kV3kmebKZe1WOxOryZRUSmeEa77msrYPY0lS7putToSMYt~iKwpXU0RcdVv6~mCYTjyQ6iJr5eQ6jJ4JVlexZnjWpVV8hMZDmos6cpMyC3NXiHk9cxO9ejlL0Nq9pNn9oJW75ecrRQq6I5tHKNEI4MYECByHy5fiDKbKvToDnIuz-0o6VKMIQ9yYKbWWuZ-4pBVv20vjm8c2NoRAzmdczwy0c1bgyFnrJvoLlAAtae4pCjH0-hk44tLqGEz1LCgRnHR1CBXrnTMv1Fc4H~9r7Wr9Z8rvv5NIugJRHmBcJ9n6nu-ermHEFJQ9j1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County planning staff told legislators on June 18 they want to release a tentative, ranked list of applicants for the county’s 2% occupancy-tax grant program so applicants can use that information when applying for New York State consolidated funding later this summer.

Jay McCoy, Chautauqua County Watershed Corps with the Department of Planning and Development, said the ranked list would include a tentative funding line and an explicit caveat that awards depend on the 2026 county budget. McCoy said applicants need ranking information ahead of the state Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) deadline in July to leverage county awards in their state applications.

Committee members indicated support for releasing a tentative ranked list with a clear caveat that the list is contingent on final budget approval. No binding funding commitments were made at the meeting; staff emphasized the list would be informational to help applicants meet external deadlines.

Ending: Staff said they would proceed with creating the ranked list and provide the tentative cutoff and caveat to applicants.","Planning staff proposed releasing a tentative ranked list and cutoff for the county 2% occupancy-tax grant program so applicants can meet the New York Consolidated Funding Application deadline in July; committee members supported the idea with a budget caveat.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514528,"Committee introduces emergency motion urging federal support to retain Job Corps center; discussion but no recorded final vote",62,3663000,3725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5&start=3663&end=3725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5029085-1ffe43fb0835b0e0d92eb2ba807d79d5/thumbnail_3663000.jpg","/articles/6514528/Chautauqua-County/New-York/Committee-introduces-emergency-motion-urging-federal-support-to-retain-Job-Corps-center-discussion-but-no-recorded-final-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514528-3d743b5ef6c285eb8999aaaed142f2e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200063&Signature=awiHDLpn7YNMEoXphDRLEDlQLng67ToN589qGVW5-qOWQx2Qafv0TjWSdId~WEKSDkRBse4Tq7AGlJqW4rsjgxaPGdR~17n8dY~t~GLo78tm0SzN7goK7yZqUX2nCJAsFSujCYs1kVLd8rj6j1tvF9NZFwlzCrJ7H8OHVs6b54-AXhIYFgq-7c3kHo66D5zicsHgDokHVmnpXyAn-gvCapSNFg-moyGpUDRp-ckX4eq22fSvlel2MFX4qKsYOQA73FX-iNoUiU6bg1FyZtdoXJ10RPUY7Rg0dWQG-e9BO-Qxq8p5fQChrayCDHD68NfZazUx~fqh0hUmGeka9gnQIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A committee member introduced an emergency motion at the June 18 Planning & Economic Development meeting calling on county lawmakers to urge federal officials to sustain funding for the local Job Corps center.

The motion’s text, as read into the record, described Job Corps’ longstanding presence in Chautauqua County, said as many as 100 local jobs could be lost if federal funding ends, and asked the county to call on federal representatives and the president to continue federal funding. Committee members expressed broad support for keeping the Job Corps center open and for adding the committee’s names to the appeal. At least one legislator asked for measurable benchmarks from Job Corps — for example, training outcomes and cost-effectiveness — before committing full endorsement. Staff and other members said the center provides vocational training and local employment and should be preserved.

The record shows the motion was introduced and that several legislators supported it and discussed next steps, including collecting committee signatures and forwarding the request to federal officials. The transcript does not record a formal committee vote on the emergency motion before the meeting adjourned.

Ending: The motion was introduced and discussed with apparent committee support in principle; staff and legislators requested additional program metrics and a path for circulating signatures before the next formal legislative action.","A June 18 emergency motion asked the committee to call on federal representatives to maintain federal funding for the local Job Corps center, citing the potential loss of about 100 jobs in the county; committee members expressed support and asked for measurable outcomes but no formal vote was recorded during the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Legislature confirms appointments to planning, railroad authority and land bank; one land-bank vote recorded as opposed

Legislators debate planning vs. development roles, budget priorities and charter duties

Planning staff circulates nuclear energy resource guide; experts to brief July committee meeting

County staff seeks to release ranked 2% occupancy-tax awards to help applicants meet state funding deadlines

Committee introduces emergency motion urging federal support to retain Job Corps center; discussion but no recorded final vote