Seneca County committees approve grants, contracts and appointments in multi-committee session

Seneca County supervisors across several committees on Jan. 28 approved a range of grants, contracts, appointments and procurement actions spanning health, public safety, public works and county administration.

Votes at a glance - Public Health: Approved acceptance of the New York State Department of Health performance incentive grant (award amount described in meeting as the maximum for a county of this size; the meeting referenced roughly $20,000). Outcome: approved. - Seneca County Community Services Board: Approved 2025 chair and vice-chair appointments; Dr. Lorenzetti named chair and Tammy Anhorne vice chair. Outcome: approved. - Veterans contract: Authorized a contract with a veterans support provider (transcript reference: "Veterans 1 Stop Senator" text used in meeting). Outcome: approved. - Preschool services: Authorized an agreement with Melissa Burns to provide speech-language therapy for the county preschool program to address capacity gaps. Outcome: approved. - County Infrastructure Grant Program (Empire State Development): Authorized submission of a letter of intent and pursuing an application; meeting discussion said communities applying for projects tied to 10 or more housing units may be eligible for $500,000, and certain circumstances could reach $1,000,000. Outcome: approved. - Ways & Means: Authorized purchase of a new wireless system (budgeted for 2025) and purchase of a 2025 Ford Explorer for the code enforcement office. Outcome: approved. - Budget amendments: Approved amendments to the 2024 Seneca County budget; one line-item expenditure was amended to $200,000 during the meeting. Outcome: approved. - Funds distribution: Accepted a distribution (Number 14, Grama amendment) from the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services. Outcome: approved. - Public Safety: Accepted a New York State Parks and Recreation grant for enforcement of navigation law (50% match noted; remaining funds in sheriff’s 2025 budget) and approved an updated intermunicipal agreement with Monroe County related to incarcerated individuals’ billing; Monroe raised its rate to $1.75 per day per inmate going forward. Outcome: approved. - Town-level contract: Authorized an agreement with the Town of Tyre for court security services to be provided by the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office (rates noted: $30/hour for special patrol officer, $50/hour for deputy). Outcome: approved. - Public Works: Authorized a sign shared services agreement for emergency assistance and directed issuance of a notice to bidders for on-demand architectural services. Outcome: approved. - Human Resources / Fleet: Authorized issuance of a notice to bidders for vehicle maintenance services (fleet-level procurement). Outcome: approved. - Health & Human Services staffing: Approved contract and staffing changes including abolishing a mental health clinical therapist position and creating a senior addiction counselor, and authorized hiring above the start rate for a grant-funded program director role. Outcome: approved.

Context and discussion highlights County officials repeatedly emphasized grants as a way to leverage outside funds for local infrastructure and services. On the Empire State Development program, staff noted communities supporting 10 or more units of housing could qualify for $500,000 and that increased support could reach $1,000,000 if the county can document the target project. The committee authorized a letter of intent and asked staff to pursue an application before the April 1 deadline.

Health and human services business included accepting a state performance-incentive grant the public health director said yielded the maximum award for a county of Seneca’s size and will be used for Article 6 core public health programs. The county’s public health director also briefly discussed completing his Master of Public Health and the department’s staffing and program priorities.

Public safety approvals included acceptance of a Parks and Recreation grant to help enforce navigation law and equipment costs (noted as a 50% match) and the formalization of billing and service agreements around incarceration and court security. Ways & Means discussed and approved routine purchases and a budget amendment that was corrected on the floor.

What’s next Multiple staff follow-ups were requested: submission of letters of intent and grant applications (Empire State Development and FAA-related items), completion of budget closeouts for recently finished construction projects, and requests for more detailed cost summaries in instances where the board authorized procurement but asked for ROI or cost breakdowns before additional spending.