The Chautauqua County Administrative Services Committee approved a package of routine and substantive actions at its meeting, including a $100,000 settlement authorization, the transfer of a tax-foreclosed property to the city of Dunkirk and a correction to the county’s 2025 budget accounting.

Kristen Wright of the county law department presented the settlement resolution and said, “The resolution before you is to authorize a settlement payment of a $100,000 in a litigation case against the county of Chautauqua.” Wright told the committee the case “alleges abuse of a child in foster care in the seventies” and that the county’s legal department recommended settlement.

Committee discussion on the settlement was limited. The chairman said he has tended to follow the legal department’s recommendation in similar cases. The motion to authorize the settlement carried.

The committee also addressed a previously tabled resolution to transfer a tax-foreclosed property to the city of Dunkirk. Members voted to amend the original draft by substitution and then to adopt the amended resolution. Committee member Pierre explained the substitute brings the resolution into conformance with county policy (Resolution 44-13).

Two agenda items related to Jamestown Community College — a request to include construction of phase 1 of a proposed JCC wellness complex in SUNY’s 2026–27 capital request and a measure to establish capital accounts for a JCC YMCA wellness center — were withdrawn from the committee’s agenda by motion and second. Pierre clarified the withdrawn items will be presented to the Planning and Economic Development Committee and the Audit and Control Committee for further consideration.

Sam, deputy director of finance, described a budget correction the committee approved to reclassify an interest charge to the proper serial bond account and to correct a typographical error (removing “depreciation” from the item text). Sam said the charge had been placed in a debt service line and the amendment corrects that classification; the committee approved the amendment.

On mortgage tax distributions, Pierre compared the current distributions to the same period last year, reporting that total distributions rose 2.2% year-over-year, the city of Dunkirk’s share increased by 16.1% and the city of Jamestown’s distribution was reported as up 99.2% from the prior period. After review the committee voted to approve the municipalities’ mortgage tax distributions as presented.

With no public comment and no further business, the committee voted to adjourn.