[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6458647,"mediaKeyId","5811832-285fd60e24984a407b97bd5bf2543a81","parentId",5811832,"title","Chemung County committees approve routine contracts, grants and vendor awards","audioSeconds",122,"startMs",1852000,"endMs",1974000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811832-285fd60e24984a407b97bd5bf2543a81&start=1852&end=1974","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811832-285fd60e24984a407b97bd5bf2543a81/thumbnail_1852000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6458647/Chemung-County/New-York/Chemung-County-committees-approve-routine-contracts-grants-and-vendor-awards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458647-8c32ed179a82fe225bf28008e224c352/orig.mp4?Expires=1775852680&Signature=Y3dk5hXEAs8U0Fh~CG5pKtP0EgKNHd1bMKxAFhVOfch26ovP52~PxrYlY~At4DXVLErLP7BJB-4iGQ04R0KX4M9GcdHVe6atclhQmZgIbigNf~N2jRiIbd0Mjjr6RjyFPubMppZJcH6tDY0MC277TGOvWtIdqD7J2v1MU2fSuuGXv7wNffDuISCU24YS7icj1CDdU5Dmn1TGpT72Da0OPMiidjXCnv7pWP4bOvSdFx0QaCFHkzNmjEzbs9EdOAnFEEVdgTv86tSkejTPY22hAm7TczNl7V7JN~26nOgUAIlnat6msAEbCHsPrscWPhNYGukK4OESkFPxp8Ix909K4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chemung County","date","2025-09-22T19:01:00Z","article","Several Chemung County committee meetings considered routine resolutions and approved multiple contracts, grant applications and vendor awards with little debate.

Aviation committee
- Approved a resolution extending an agreement with Pelican Chemicals on behalf of the Elmira/Corning Regional Airport (motion made and seconded; voice vote carried).

Building and Grounds
- The committee combined four resolutions and approved them by voice vote: declaring various county property surplus; extending an agreement with United Fire Equipment Inc.; extending an agreement with a sales/service vendor for building and grounds; and awarding bids to various vendors on behalf of the Department of Building and Grounds.

Corrections and Law Enforcement
- Six resolutions were read and approved: authorizing acceptance of grant funding from the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services for the Public Advocate and Public Defender; amending an agreement with Catalyst Courts and Land Records LLC for Probation; and agreements for the Sheriff’s Office with Fenton Academy, Horseheads Central School District, ST BOCES and a city school district.

Nursing Facility and Health
- Resolutions included extending an agreement with Perry and Carroll on behalf of the nursing facility; authorizing agreements with Medline Industries LP; a purchase agreement with W.W. Grainger; amending an agreement with the New York State Department of Health for Social Services; and authorizing an agreement with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for Youth Services. All were approved by voice vote.

Highway
- The committee approved three items involving engineering agreements with Barton & Loguidice, a supplemental agreement, and a purchase agreement for road equipment; members also discussed a planned purchase of a 10‑wheel dump truck and expected delivery timelines of one to two years.

Multi‑Services
- The committee approved ten items including agreements/extensions with Verizon Wireless, Carahsoft Inc., Microsoft, Perry and Carroll, Schneider Geospatial LLC; a change order with Edger Enterprises for county sewer districts; the transfer of county real estate to the Chemung County Historical Society; and two policy resolutions supporting Congressman Nick Langley’s Energy Choice Act and urging Congress to address spam/scam/spoof phone calls.

All items in the committees were advanced by voice votes; where named, chairs declared the motions carried.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Chemung County - Legislative Standing Committees","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple committee resolutions across aviation, building and grounds, corrections and law enforcement, nursing facility, highway and multi‑services were approved by voice vote; items included contract extensions, grant applications and vendor purchases.","taxTitle","Chemung County, New York","taxId",12531,"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},6458653,"Chemung County legislature advances new employee health plan (PPO 4) and approves family-option amendment",752,2194000,2946000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811832-285fd60e24984a407b97bd5bf2543a81&start=2194&end=2946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811832-285fd60e24984a407b97bd5bf2543a81/thumbnail_2194000.jpg","/articles/6458653/Chemung-County/New-York/Chemung-County-legislature-advances-new-employee-health-plan-PPO-4-and-approves-family-option-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458653-6dddf85b33bdc7801c03064b0e5db927/orig.mp4?Expires=1775852680&Signature=BhcyroJTlePfP-hyyTv-cSMZ0B5lks1MepI20AtILNypH-OJACD46jo9kdp2ggLbfWbiUrEp-Hd1-d1BTHdsqOnp1abqt-23FQPKJMUFKVFQ~cI0oFINgLJ0Cm7GPVay2T8re-zdGiFB3MGJfUb0boHUxSXTnSZCHExLdtT9d5yKpT3eamH~rMeZYLHaK9yi19lFP6nP9DROzkybvRvzd498jk-Lumc3G0UZeFS9ug5Hglf~VLDtekK1NiJ2v9Owpp0YyTNPpM5CDCa0zfAtX8GQMkEyUdyIq1Zjj5Pa1AQVviqUMup9eWNsZAjNKkQ1Zdw--9hz~L~muwjl8vHqyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chemung County Legislature heard a presentation from Chris Petros of Perry and Carroll and county staff on a proposed new health plan design (PPO 4) and then approved a motion to amend the proposal to allow part‑time elected officials to elect a family plan at the same 13% employee contribution rate offered to single‑rate employees. The main resolution establishing new health insurance rates effective Jan. 1, 2026 then carried.

Chris Petros described PPO 4 as a plan that increases the maximum out‑of‑pocket limit for employees while removing the deductible for inpatient and outpatient services, a change intended to improve cash‑flow predictability in a catastrophic event. He said the county’s overall health insurance trend has stabilized to roughly a 5–6% increase after recent years of higher claims.

Petros said PPO 4 raises the maximum out‑of‑pocket from $1,000 to $2,000 and increases office‑visit copays from $20 to $30. The plan sets fixed inpatient and outpatient cost amounts—$250 for inpatient hospitalization and $100 for outpatient visits—rather than applying coinsurance and deductible structures, which Petros said should reduce the immediate financial shock for employees who require hospitalization and subsequent follow‑up care.

Discussion focused on whether part‑time elected officials, including county legislators, would be permitted to elect a family plan under the new design. A legislator moved to amend the proposal to include a family plan option for part‑time elected officials at the same 13% of premium contribution required of single‑rate employees; the motion to amend passed on a voice vote. County staff noted the memo presented Sept. 3 was a recommendation and that a formal resolution must be drafted by the county attorney before it advances to the full legislature.

Officials also said that implementing PPO 4 for unionized employees will require collective‑bargaining negotiations. County staff said they are negotiating with five bargaining units and that the new plan design is currently intended for single‑rate employees and elected officials, with further negotiations to follow for union agreements.

On a voice vote, the legislature approved the amended resolution establishing health insurance rates effective Jan. 1, 2026. There were no recorded roll‑call tallies announced in the meeting record.","After debate over part‑time elected officials’ benefits, the legislature voted to forward a resolution establishing new health insurance rates and adopt an amendment allowing part‑time elected officials a family plan option at the same 13% premium contribution as single‑rate employees.",{"_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},6458657,"Chemung County aging office outlines Medicare outreach, transportation and benefit help",574,915000,1489000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811832-285fd60e24984a407b97bd5bf2543a81&start=915&end=1489","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811832-285fd60e24984a407b97bd5bf2543a81/thumbnail_915000.jpg","/articles/6458657/Chemung-County/New-York/Chemung-County-aging-office-outlines-Medicare-outreach-transportation-and-benefit-help","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458657-781efb17ed5beef20a56d4c432b29b46/orig.mp4?Expires=1775852680&Signature=SukgUxT5XlreeDAC9TJYKBJGQgK0tT6X5w8q1mNKdhIpgGjm-opYu8XwY~-IRU4h5T6yo9WQMH7H22YrEdyLRJfD46vt4Nrd5YPuuuk8eJfcT2djKW9S-ziQ9yRVNlrJJPcIkNpPOHxYPzLBglk8FBt3RVWLmrw5ekIK4rB6kEbFwg4QlgwnQ1ujM6~H~9eXhpXICC-SKDUS9KeH7ofxIGRjH9oX9RVNOe7Kw14vnvWp-kZjFyCgXcFJ9QWsFr6OwEFS8CVl6pd5UScGNrDtoMT4TwTHTP2dK7mdD1FH0q87T9y1JnZ5ZA0GEsfDe~M392goywOTR9IQOx157tyDMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Beth Stranges, director of Aging and Long Term Care for Chemung County, and Kim Sills, the county’s Health Insurance Information Counseling Assistance (HIICAP) coordinator with the New York State Office for the Aging, told the county legislature that demand for Medicare help spikes each fall and that the office is expanding outreach and in‑person support.

Stranges said the Department of Aging handled 12,663 contacts for services last year and that a large share of calls during the October–March period related to Medicare enrollment and plan changes. “Our goal today is just to give you a little bit of information about who we are, what we do, some of our upcoming events,” she said.

The department emphasized a whole‑person approach: staff screen visitors for programs such as the Medicare Savings Program, SNAP and HEAP in addition to helping residents compare Medicare plans. Stranges said the Medicare Savings Program can average about $185 a month in savings for eligible people, which “helps keep, like, $2,400 a year back in their pocket.”

Sills described the seasonal surge in requests and the office’s efforts to manage it. She said Medicare season effectively runs from September through March and that October 2024 was the office’s busiest month, with 1,076 calls; roughly 57% of those calls concerned Medicare. “With that volume of calls, and we’re just a small office,” she said, noting that five staff members are trained to meet in‑person Medicare counseling demand while the office employs 21 full‑time staff overall.

To address demand, the department said it will hold group teaching sessions that walk residents through Medicare.gov and will continue one‑on‑one counseling sessions. The office also plans walk‑in days; Sills recounted that one prior event left 58 people waiting in the hallway but that attendees were patient and congenial.

The county’s aging office is participating in a statewide pilot with GoGoGrandparent to provide transportation for people aged 60 and older. Stranges said New York State allocated about $15,500 for Chemung County’s participation. The county’s arrangement uses GoGoGrandparent’s contracts with local Uber, Lyft and taxi companies; the vendor handles driver background checks. The program typically allows four one‑way trips a month (two round trips), though staff said they can approve overrides for people who need medical therapies such as physical therapy. The program’s geographic limit for the county pilot is 100 miles in one direction.

Presenters warned of plan changes that could reduce or eliminate over‑the‑counter benefit cards and other supplemental benefits. Stranges said she expects increased demand for food and utility assistance if those benefits are cut. Staffers also described problems when residents enroll in plans sold by nonlocal agents: some residents were enrolled in plans that do not have participating providers in Chemung County and faced higher cost‑sharing until the department helped them switch plans.

The presenters asked local legislators to publicize the department’s packets and outreach events on social media and in constituent communications. Stranges left printed packets on scams targeting older adults from the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

The presentation concluded with an invitation to a public hearing on October 15 and an offer to supply more packets on request.","Chemung County Department of Aging described plans to expand Medicare education, one-on-one counseling and a pilot transportation option for residents 60 and older, and warned of upcoming Medicare plan changes that may reduce over-the-counter benefits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Chemung County committees approve routine contracts, grants and vendor awards

Chemung County legislature advances new employee health plan (PPO 4) and approves family-option amendment

Chemung County aging office outlines Medicare outreach, transportation and benefit help