Cayuga County HHS committee approves four staffing, health and prevention measures

The Cayuga County Legislature Health & Human Services Committee approved four resolutions on staffing and public-health funding, including acceptance of settlement money from an attorney general action against retailer Jewel and authorization for a preschool audiological services contract.

The committee unanimously approved: filling a Social Services attorney position (HH 1); filling six Help-designated caseworker positions (HH 2); a contract with BOCES for audiological services for the county's 3-to-5 preschool program (HH 3); and accepting roughly $397,000 from the Jewel settlement to support youth vaping prevention and related public-health activities (HH 4).

The votes came after departmental presentations explaining the scope and constraints of each item. The social services items were presented as personnel housekeeping to restore and expand existing staffing. Kathleen Cuddy, representing the health department, described HH 3 as a contract to obtain specialized audiology assessments and fittings for preschool children; she said City BOCES is one of the few regional providers able to deliver that service and that the service typically requires one or two visits.

On HH 4, Cuddy said the county's health department is slated to receive about $397,000 under the attorney general's settlement with Jewel. Officials said the payment will be split into multiple installments (the department expects an initial set of three payments totaling about $147,000, then annual payments around $49,000 afterward), and that the AG's office is expected to send written stipulations describing permissible uses. Cuddy said the AG's office has indicated the funds are intended for prevention and education directed at youth and young adults to discourage initiation of vaping and support cessation efforts.

Committee members asked whether funds would be routed through schools; Cuddy said schools would receive a separate allocation and the county health department's allocation is distinct. She also said the AG's office has not yet prescribed a formal work plan submission requirement but will audit spending. Committee members asked about staffing and whether accepting the funds would require new hires; Cuddy said she did not anticipate adding staff specifically for the program but would address staffing in upcoming budget discussions.

All four resolutions carried.

Votes at a glance: HH 1 — Authorization to fill a Social Services attorney position (passes). HH 2 — Authorization to fill six caseworker positions through the HELP program (passes). HH 3 — Authorize public health director to contract with City BOCES for audiological services for 3-to-5 preschool program (passes). HH 4 — Accept funds from Jewel settlement for vaping prevention and youth-focused programming (passes).