Seneca County supervisors approve package of routine purchases, budget and grant actions; authorize FAA grant application for airport apron

The Seneca County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 11 approved a group of routine administrative items — including purchases, budget amendments, grant acceptances, contracts, and appointments — and authorized the county to apply for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant to design and construct the northern portion of the apron at Finger Lakes Regional Airport.

The actions were taken largely by voice vote with little discussion. Several items were approved unanimously; one item was sent back to committee. The board also voted to enter an executive session under the Public Officers Law to discuss personnel matters and expected to take action.

The most substantive item with external funding implications was authorization to apply for and, if awarded, accept an FAA grant to support design and construction of the northern portion of the apron pavement at Finger Lakes Regional Airport. The motion passed by voice vote; no dollar amount or grant timeline was specified during the meeting.

Other approvals included an amendment to the 2024 Seneca County budget, acceptance of a distribution from the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services, acceptance of a New York State Department of Health Performance Incentive Program grant and related public health budget amendment, and authorization to issue notices to bidders for on‑demand architectural services and for vehicle maintenance service. The board authorized several contracts, appointed members to local bodies and made personnel adjustments in county departments.

The board approved an amendment to the municipal cooperative agreement with the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, adopted policy language related to employer responsibility for safety and health, and authorized hiring above the start rate for a program director position in the health department. The board also authorized acceptance of a grant from New York State Parks and Recreation to support county enforcement of navigation law by the sheriff’s department.

A personnel-related item was passed sending one matter back to committee for further work. At the meeting’s end the board voted to enter an executive session under the Public Officers Law §105 (personnel) with the county attorney present; the chair indicated action was expected after that session.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in meeting order): 1) Approval of minutes (Jan. 14, 2025) — approved by voice vote. 2) Authorize purchase of a new wireless system and authorization to purchase a 2025 Ford Explorer for the code enforcement office — approved by voice vote (details not specified). 3) Amendments to the 2024 Seneca County budget — approved by voice vote (amounts not specified). 4) Acceptance of distribution number 14 from the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services — approved by voice vote. 5) Acceptance of the New York State Department of Health Performance Incentive Program grant and amendment to the Feb. 2025 public health budget — approved by voice vote. 6) Appointments to the County Community Services Board (CSB) — approved by voice vote (appointees not specified in discussion). 7) Contract with Veterans One Stop Center to support the Seneca County Veterans Service Agency — approved by voice vote. 8) Agreement with Melissa Burns to provide speech-language therapy services for the preschool program — approved by voice vote. 9) Highway superintendent authorized to sign shared service agreement for emergency assistance — approved by voice vote. 10) Issue notice to bidders for on-demand architectural services — approved by voice vote. 11) Designate annual 30-day period to request inclusion of properties in the agricultural district — approved by voice vote. 12) Abolish mental health clinical therapist position and appropriate and fill a senior addiction counselor position in the Mental Health Department — approved by voice vote. 13) Approve 2025 amendment to the municipal cooperative agreement for the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium — approved by voice vote. 14) Adopt/advise policy 101.502 (employer responsibility for safety and health) — approved by voice vote. 15) Authorize hiring above the start rate for the program director position in the Health Department effective immediately — approved by voice vote. 16) Issue notice to bidders for sealed bids for vehicle maintenance service — approved by voice vote (applies across county departments, per discussion). 17) Send item (listed as item 26) back to committee (motion to return to committee passed) — approved by voice vote. 18) Accept grant from New York State Parks and Recreation for enforcement of navigation law by the Seneca County Sheriff’s Department — approved by voice vote. 19) Update intermunicipal agreement with Monroe County for housing Seneca County incarcerated individuals — approved by voice vote. 20) Enter into an agreement with the Town of Tyre for court security services performed by the county sheriff’s department — approved by voice vote. 21) Authorize the county to apply for and accept an FAA grant for design and construction of the northern portion of the apron pavement at Finger Lakes Regional Airport — approved by voice vote. 22) Approve appointment of Ralph Lott to the Seneca County Funding Corporation — approved by voice vote. 23) Motion to enter executive session under Public Officers Law to discuss personnel matters with the county attorney present — approved by voice vote; chair said action is expected following the session.

Ending: The meeting moved into executive session for personnel matters; the board did not announce final outcomes of any personnel actions on the public record during the Feb. 11 meeting. Several routine procurement and grant steps require later administrative follow‑up (bid solicitations, grant application/acceptance steps) before implementation.