Committee votes: UPS replacement, Marshall Road Ridge bid, personnel actions and other routine measures carry; water‑rate change set for public hearing

Seneca County Board of Supervisors committee meetings on July 22 produced a number of approvals and referrals that the Board will consider in coming weeks. Committees generally carried motions by voice vote; where noted the committees forwarded items to the full Board for final action or to public hearings.

Key committee outcomes and next steps

- Public Works: The committee carried an amended resolution to apply for a Power Management grant for three dual‑port ChargePoint EV charging stations and forwarded the item to the full Board (see separate article for details).

- Public Works: Approved replacement of the office building uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Motion carried in committee and will be processed per county purchasing rules.

- Public Works: Accepted construction bid and authorized a budget amendment for Marshall Road Ridge. The committee reported Vector as the lowest bidder and noted the county is about $432,000 short of state funding for the project; the committee intends to use CHIPS funds to cover the shortfall, and the motion carried.

- Public Works (information): Project updates were provided for the OFA building remodel and the 3 Bears restoration; those were informational and did not require committee votes to proceed beyond contractor change orders.

- Human Resources & Government Operations: Approved several personnel and policy items, including positions submitted to the vacancy committee for review, abolishment of Policy 510.6, authorization to pay above the start rate for a correction officer, reinstatement of the deputy county manager position and introduction of proposed Local Law D (all motions carried in committee and will proceed to the full Board as required).

- Health & Human Services: Authorized disposal and sale of surplus weatherization vehicles, the acquisition of a replacement weatherization vehicle, and advertising for the office’s annual public hearing; motions carried.

- Economic Development, Tourism & Housing: Accepted a grant award and authorized contracts for apron design and construction at Finger Lakes Regional Airport; the committee noted that contracts will be reviewed by the county attorney before execution. The committee also reported several grant awards and planning grants for county projects (information only).

- Ways & Means: Approved several budget amendments and adopted the workers’ compensation budget for the county; committee amended dates in one resolution and forwarded amended materials to the Board.

- Water & Sewer: The committee approved a proposal to increase water rates for Seneca County Water District 1 in response to wholesale rate increases from the village of Waterloo and the county’s water supplier. The item is scheduled for a public hearing (committee discussed timing and notification requirements; hearing date provided during discussion). The committee noted the district’s low fund balance and the need to replenish funds for operations and repairs.

- Public Safety & Criminal Justice: Approved the purchase of a replacement taser and related equipment for the sheriff’s department; authorized renewal of the Romulus Central School District school resource officer agreement for the 2025–26 school year (county contribution net of school reimbursements discussed); accepted a $130,900 grant from the University of Rochester for services for people affected by substance use disorder while incarcerated; and authorized requests for proposals for inmate food service, medical services and a wellness program (all motions carried in committee).

What happens next: Most items will be placed on the Board agenda for final authorization or referred to budget/attorney review as required. The water‑rate change will proceed with a public hearing process before any final rate adoption.