Seneca County committees approve budget items, procurement contracts, grants, appointments and tourism support

Seneca County supervisors in multiple committee meetings moved and carried a series of resolutions and routine actions covering the county budget, public‑safety grants, public works procurement, personnel refills, tourism grants and intermunicipal public‑health agreements.

Major committee outcomes included support for the county budget, acceptance of consecutive regional hazardous‑materials grants, multiple public‑works contracts and bids, personnel refills and small tourism grants for Ovid events.

Key outcomes (motion results listed where recorded): - Ways & Means: committee members supported the "02/2024 Seneca County budget" as presented; the motion carried. - Public Safety & Criminal Justice: members authorized the sheriff to attend the National Law Enforcement Partner Conference in Orlando, Florida (June 3–4, 2025) and accepted two grants: FY‑21 and FY‑22 Regional Hazardous Materials Grants (motions carried). - Public Works: the committee approved an agreement with Air Temp for replacement of makeup air units at the Law Enforcement Center (motion carried); authorized a service and support agreement with Vertiv for the county ACDC capacitor systems and voted to amend the contract language and pricing as described in the packet (amendment and resolution carried); authorized an agreement with Waterwise Incorporated for a complete water‑treatment service program (covers LEC, courthouse, Health Building and County Office Building); rescinded resolution 116‑24 and authorized purchase of a 2025 International road tractor for the Highway Department (replacing a 38‑year‑old tractor; funds are in equipment); accepted annual bids for hot mix/asphalt concrete and stone; authorized an amended agreement with LaBella Associates on the Emergency Watershed Project to increase the contract by $87,000 (county staff said the overage was covered by a shared‑service arrangement and CHIPS funds, with no county cost); and authorized an agreement for operations and maintenance at Samson's Veterans Memorial Cemetery. - Human Resources & Government Operations: the committee approved refilling multiple vacant budgeted positions across DHS, Highway, OFA and Sheriff (list in packet), accepted a Pomeroy Foundation grant for a historical marker, approved a revision to Policy 101.209 (probationary period), approved an amended agreement with Pregdemic Partners LLC (per packet), moved the public hearing date for proposed local law B of 2025 to June 10 and later voted to withdraw item 2b and not move it forward. - Economic Development, Tourism & Housing: the committee appointed Craig Van Haman to the Airport Advisory Committee and approved three tourism grant requests from the Ovid VFW: $1,000 to advertise the Memorial Day parade (May 26), $1,000 for advertising a June 14 benefit for the Ovid Fire Department, and a $3,000 grant toward a permanent stage (materials cost about $6,000; volunteers will provide construction; the fire department will cover the balance). Committee members also discussed drafting a resolution to ask the Public Service Commission to review rising NYSEG/electricity rates and flagged creation of an Ovid Local Development Corporation being coordinated with the county LDC, IDA and planning department. - Health & Human Services (other business): the committee approved purchase of a 2025 Kia Sorento for mental‑health services, proclaimed May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month, and authorized renewal of an intermunicipal mutual‑aid agreement to provide public‑health mutual aid through the Finger Lakes Public Health Alliance (FLPHA) with Monroe and other counties.

Most motions passed with unanimous or near‑unanimous committee voice votes; committee chairs declared motions carried when the "aye" response was given. Committee members asked staff clarifying questions on several items including contract pricing, budget availability and funding sources. Staff confirmed that funds for the International road tractor were available in the equipment line and that the LaBella contract amendment would not require county funds.

Several informational items were also reported to committees. The Health & Human Services committee received an update on the county septic inspection / reimbursement program: 85 failed septic systems have been addressed so far, average reimbursement about $8,748, total distributed roughly $691,053 and remaining grant balance approximately $473,848. The Economic Development committee reported ongoing work on airport management options and an upcoming scope of work from a firm engaged to study management alternatives.

The full board will consider requested personnel actions, procurement agreements and any county resolutions when those items reach the board agenda or when staff bring back additional information as requested by committees.