The Seneca County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 23 approved a package of grant acceptances, contract renewals and routine procedural measures that county officials say preserve services and maintain continuity into 2025.

In Human Resources, board members voted to update Policy 101.700 (Health and Benefits) to remove language that had suggested a couple needed to be legally married for coverage. "We do recognize domestic partners for health insurance, so we do need to remove that," Laura, a county staff member, said during committee discussion. The motion was adopted by voice vote.

The Board also accepted a string of elections-related grants, including an absentee ballot prepaid postage grant extension, a technology innovation and election resource tier grant, a 2024 general election grant, a ballot-by-mail grant, and a HAVA education grant. County leaders characterized the awards as recurring assistance to the Board of Elections; motions to accept each grant were carried.

Health and human services approvals included multiple state grants to support local programs: a lead poisoning prevention grant (used for environmental investigations, sanitarian work and nurse case management), early intervention administrative funding for services such as speech and occupational therapy, and a Children and Youth Special Healthcare Needs (SHIN) administrative grant to connect families with resources. County staff said there is no local match on several of the grants. "The local government unit passes through state aid to a variety of programs in our community to support services," Margaret, a county staff member, explained. Those motions passed.

The Board accepted a $210,284 subcontract from the University of Rochester to support services for residents affected by opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders. County staff said the funds would help support transportation, mobile crisis services and peer services, and that the sheriff’s office may later accept related jail-focused funds tied to the same federal grant application. The motion to accept the funds was approved.

A contract renewal with Children’s Home of Wyoming, Inc. for non-secure youth detention services was approved; staff reported the contracted amount is $82,125 and that the county shares bed capacity with neighboring Wayne County. The Board also approved a housekeeping amendment to a contract for Dr. David Koren to cover psychological evaluations for children and families in child welfare cases.

On fiscal and procedural business, Ways & Means approved 2025 affiliate organization contracts at amounts lower than many original requests (members said the allocations align with the tentative budget). The Board ratified 2025 tax rules, authorized the extension and collection of 2025 town and county taxes, and introduced Local Law D of 2024 to set salaries for county public officers and designated senior personnel for 2025; introduction was approved and a public hearing will follow as required.

Votes at a glance: a series of committee motions and resolutions covering policy 101.700, multiple elections grants, state health grants and contracts, the University of Rochester subcontract for $210,284, the Children’s Home of Wyoming contract ($82,125), affiliate organization funding allocations, tax ratification and the Local Law D introduction were each moved, seconded and recorded as carried during the meeting.

The Board completed its year-end business and adjourned for the season. Future procedural steps noted include a final vote on the updated Rules of Order in January and follow-up committee meetings on LDC and Willard redevelopment.