The Chautauqua County Administrative Services Committee approved a series of budget amendments, grant acceptances and property transfers Tuesday, including a one-time $78,184 amendment to furnish the county law office, acceptance of two election grants, and transfers of foreclosed properties to the county land bank and Industrial Development Agency.

County Attorney Anna Morgan and Deputy Director of Finance Sam Zafuto presented a request to amend the 2025 Building and Grounds budget for the Law Department’s new office at 95 East Chautauqua in Mayville. "The resolution in front of you is for the one-time cost... we're asking for $78,184 to fully equip, furnish, and complete the build out for the new legal building," Zafuto said. The cost covers custom furniture for 22 offices and door-control keypads estimated at about $25,000; the committee was told security cameras are not included in the current request and would require a future budget action.

The Board of Elections sought and received committee approval to move budget lines to purchase an envelope sealer and to accept state grant funds for vote-by-mail and election grants. Deputy Director Zafuto said the envelope sealer’s cost was revised from $8,000 to $7,099; the committee also authorized acceptance of a 2025 vote-by-mail grant and a 2025 election grant from New York State, both of which the county has included in the tentative 2026 budget.

The committee approved an amendment to a quit-claim deeds resolution listing parcels sold at auction where bidders have paid in full, and it addressed one bidder who paid in full on one parcel but left $50 deposits on two additional parcels before deciding not to complete those purchases. Kimberly, director of real property tax, explained the deposits are understood to be nonrefundable; the committee agreed the bidder may keep the fully paid parcel while the deposits on the other two would be retained and the unsold parcels would be returned to auction or offered to backup bidders.

A proposed transfer of tax-foreclosed properties to the City of Dunkirk was tabled for further questions. The committee approved transferring a group of foreclosed properties to the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation; Mark Geiss, deputy county executive and Land Bank chair, said the parcels the land bank typically receives are demolition candidates or side lots that can cost $25,000 to $35,000 each to raze. "These properties... are demo properties," Geiss said. "They typically cost between $25,000 and $35,000 each to demo." He said the land bank attempts negotiated sales after cleanup to recover some costs.

The committee also approved transferring a tax-foreclosed property to the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency related to the Lancaster/Kroskey Pierogies property. The amended resolution specifies the IDA will pay $30,674.52 in back taxes before possession so the county can recover a portion of loans the IDA and the county had previously extended to the business.

All approved measures passed by voice vote in committee; the transfer to the City of Dunkirk was tabled. No recorded roll-call tallies were provided in the committee transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes approval: carried (voice vote).
- Resolution to amend 2017 Government Reduction Initiative (rename/expand): carried (voice vote).
- Resolution amending 2025 Building & Grounds budget for Law Department build-out: carried (voice vote); requested amount $78,184 to furnish 22 offices and purchase door controls; security cameras excluded.
- Board of Elections budget reclassification to purchase envelope sealer: carried (voice vote); equipment cost $7,099.
- Authorize acceptance of 2025 vote-by-mail grant: carried (voice vote); grant period extends into 2026.
- Authorize acceptance of 2025 election grant: carried (voice vote).
- Quitclaim deeds amended to add additional auctioned parcels in bold and handle partial deposits: carried (voice vote); committee agreed to retain deposits on parcels where bidders backed out.
- Authorize transfer of tax-foreclosed properties to City of Dunkirk: tabled for further questions.
- Authorize transfer of foreclosed properties to Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation: carried (voice vote).
- Authorize transfer of tax-foreclosed property to Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (Lancaster/Kroskey Pierogies): carried (voice vote); IDA to pay $30,674.52 in back taxes prior to taking possession.

Next steps: approved amendments and transfers will be forwarded according to county procedures for final recording, budget adjustments or subsequent legislative approvals where required. The tabled Dunkirk transfer will return when outstanding questions are resolved.