Lewis County legislators approve $2.47 million in claims, appoint elections commissioner and authorize tax-foreclosure withdrawals

The Lewis County Board of Legislators approved several resolutions and authorized an executive session during its meeting.

The board voted to audit and allow claims totaling $2,466,050.33, a roll-call item recorded as Resolution No. 159‑2025. One legislator recused themself before the vote, noting payments were made to their office for expense reimbursements; another legislator recorded an abstention. The board recorded nine votes in favor and one abstention; the motion carried.

The board also approved Resolution No. 162‑2025 appointing Ramona L. Carpenter of Lowel, New York, as the Republican commissioner of elections to fill an unexpired term. The appointment was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote.

Members introduced Local Law No. 6‑2025 under Resolution No. 169‑2025; legislators noted a grammatical correction in Section 4(c) that will be fixed before the public hearing and final vote. The introduction carried.

Resolution No. 172‑2025, described as a late resolution, authorized withdrawal of delinquent tax foreclosure parcels in the town of New Bridal and the village of Port Leiden for county purposes. That resolution carried on a voice vote.

Before adjourning to an executive session, the board voted to enter executive session to discuss contract negotiations; the motion was moved by Tom Osborne and seconded by Herb (last name not specified) and carried. A member stated there would be no further business following the executive session.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 159‑2025 — Auditing and allowing claims in the amount of $2,466,050.33. Outcome: approved (roll-call: 9 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain; one recusal recorded). Mover/second: moved (mover not specified), second: Josh (as recorded in the meeting). Notes: legislator recusal noted for payments to their office for reimbursements; recorded roll-call present in transcript. - Resolution 162‑2025 — Appointment of Republican commissioner of elections (Ramona L. Carpenter). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Mover/second: mover not specified; second: Andrea (as recorded in the meeting). - Resolution 169‑2025 — Introductory Local Law No. 6‑2025 (grammatical correction to be made before public hearing). Outcome: introduced (carried). Mover/second: moved (mover not specified); second: Josh (as recorded). - Resolution 172‑2025 — Authorizing withdrawal of delinquent tax foreclosure parcels in the town of New Bridal and village of Port Leiden for county purposes. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Mover/second: moved (mover not specified); second: Jess (as recorded). - Motion to enter executive session to discuss contract negotiations. Outcome: approved. Mover: Tom Osborne; second: Herb.

The board handled the business items by a combination of roll call and voice votes; detailed tallies were provided only for the auditing-and-allowing-claims item. Several procedural seconds and voice votes were recorded in the transcript but not all mover/second pairs were named on the record.

The meeting record shows the board accepted the consent packet of routine resolutions with a motion by Tom Kalmus and second by Jeff (last name not specified) prior to the individual roll-call items.

Ending The board moved into executive session to discuss contract negotiations and indicated no further public business would occur after the closed session.