Chemung County Legislature approves package of resolutions, schedules CDBG hearing and urges levee certification

Members of the Chemung County Legislature approved a large package of resolutions and related motions during a regularly scheduled meeting, combining multiple items into consent groups and passing each by voice or roll call vote.

The package included authorizations for contract task orders at the Elmira Corning Regional Airport, purchase agreements for county departments, applications to several New York State grant programs, personnel position creations and several procurement awards. The Legislature also called for a public hearing on a Community Development Block Grant application and passed a resolution urging state and federal agencies to evaluate and certify flood-control levees in Chemung County.

Why it matters: the resolutions authorize spending, contracts and grant applications that shape county operations across public safety, transportation, public works, health and social services. Several applications seek state grant funds that could fund infrastructure and planning efforts; others create county positions or extend vendor agreements that affect service delivery.

Most important approvals and authorizations

- The Legislature voted to combine and adopt grouped resolutions (listed in transcript as Res. 25-3-18 through 25-3-22; 25-3-23 through 25-3-50; 25-3-52 through 25-3-67; and 25-3-68 through 25-3-70), with Res. 25-3-51, 25-3-371 and 25-3-372 standing alone as specified on the floor. The combining motion was made by Mr. Buren and seconded by Mr. Pickering and was carried by the body.

- The Legislature approved multiple items affecting the Elmira Corning Regional Airport, including task orders No. 9 and No. 10 with McFarland Johnson and a contract with Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP; these items were listed among the grouped resolutions sponsored by Mr. Marjesen.

- The Legislature authorized a purchase agreement with Motorola Solutions on behalf of the Chemung County Office of Fire and Emergency Management and accepted an application for funding from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services on behalf of the Chemung County Probation Department.

- The body approved agreements and grant applications for public health and social services, including agreements with Eco Testing Services, LLC (Chemung County Department of Health), GST BOCES (Departments of Social Services and Mental Hygiene), Finger Lakes Community Health (Department of Social Services) and an application for family-centered case management funds from the New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance; these items were sponsored by Mr. Donovan.

- Multiple Public Works items were authorized, including supplemental agreements with the New York State Department of Transportation and with Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C., and agreements with LaBella Associates, Fisher Associates and CNS Engineers as listed in the Public Works block (sponsor: Mr. Strange for that block).

- The Planning Department was authorized to apply for several state grant programs: NYS DEC Water Quality Improvement Grant, Climate Smart Communities grant (NYS DEC), the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and Environmental Protection Fund grant programs (NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation), a recreational trails grant, and an Access to Home grant from NYS Homes and Community Renewal; the Planning Department also had an item listed for the NYS Department of State Appalachian Regional Commission Grant Program.

- The Legislature extended vendor agreements (including with First Transit for county transit), extended or amended purchase agreements (for the county nursing facility, buildings and grounds, IT and sewer districts), awarded bids (including a bid to Baseline King Corporation and an award of network hardware/software contracts), and authorized county departments to use Omnia Partners cooperative contracts for purchases from Lowe’s and Stericycle where noted.

- Personnel actions approved included creation of a full-time supervisor of fiscal services in the District Attorney’s Office, three full-time secretary 1 positions in the District Attorney’s Office and a full-time senior account clerk position in Public Works (sponsored by Mr. Chalk).

- The Legislature passed a standalone resolution authorizing transfers and appropriations submitted by the county executive (Res. 25-351, sponsored by Mr. Marjesen).

- The body approved a resolution calling for a public hearing related to submission of a Community Development Block Grant application to the New York State Office of Community Renewal (sponsored by Mr. Smith) and a resolution urging New York State and the federal government to evaluate and certify flood-control levees in Chemung County (sponsored by Mr. Smith).

Procedure and voting

The meeting record shows the Legislature first adopted a motion to combine specified resolutions into consent groups (motion by Mr. Buren; second by Mr. Pickering), then moved to approve the preferred agenda and the grouped and standalone resolutions (motion to approve the preferred agenda by Mr. Sturmer). Roll-call and voice votes followed; the clerk called the roll on multiple blocks of resolutions and the record shows the items passed when the roll call returned "Aye" for members present.

What was not decided or specified

The meeting transcript records the motions, sponsors and the fact that the resolutions passed, but it does not provide contract dollar amounts, detailed grant amounts, or implementation schedules for the listed agreements. Where a specific funding amount or effective date was not given in the transcript, it is not specified here.

Next steps and follow-up

- The public hearing authorized under the Community Development Block Grant resolution will be scheduled as required by the New York State Office of Community Renewal; the transcript notes only that the Legislature called for the hearing.

- Several grant applications were authorized; their approval and any resulting funding will depend on the respective state agencies' review and award processes.

Quotes

- "All in favor, aye," the presiding officer said several times while taking voice votes to carry motions.

Ending

The meeting concluded after routine business and votes; the Legislature adjourned following an approval to adjourn by voice vote.