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

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 departmentbbs 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 Countybbs 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 engineerbbs 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.