Clinton County Legislature approves resolutions, hears request to fund special election and holds executive session on opioid litigation

The Clinton County Legislature met March 28, 2018, in the Legislative Chambers at 137 Margaret Street in Plattsburgh and approved Resolutions #243 through #260, the body announced. Chairperson Harry McManus called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m., and the Legislature carried a motion to accept the minutes of its March 14 regular session.

Former Area 3 legislator Samuel Dyer, now supervisor of the Town of Beekmantown, told the Legislature he resigned his seat in January expecting the Legislature would make an appointment rather than hold a special election. Dyer asked the Legislature to consider using unspent funds that would otherwise have covered his salary for January through March 2018 to help offset the cost of the special election held earlier that week. County Administrator Michael E. Zurlo said the request will be discussed at the Finance Committee meeting on April 10.

Committee reports covered routine scheduling and program updates. Legislator Simon Conroy said the Economic Development and County Operations Committee heard a presentation from Trent Trahan of the Industrial Development Agency and recommended Resolution #243 (County Clerk’s Office) for the full agenda. Legislator Christopher Rosenquest said the Finance Committee was polled on Resolution #244 and will review Tobacco Settlement funding applications at its April 10 meeting; the application deadline is April 4. Airport Director Chris Kreig updated the Plattsburgh International Airport Committee on Upstate Airport Initiatives and discussed interior terminal parking-lot road work and a proposed Memorandum of Agreement with Customs and Border Protection for the Federal Inspection Station; the committee recommended Resolutions #245–#249 for the agenda.

Deputy County Administrator Rodney Brown reported three requests for proposals for management services of Clinton County Public Transit were received earlier that day. Legislator Jonathan Beach noted that Resolution #250 would authorize a contract between the Office of Emergency Services and Motorola Solutions, Inc.

County Attorney James Coffey asked the Legislature to enter executive session after the regular meeting to discuss the status of opioid litigation; the body later moved into and out of executive session. The meeting record shows the Legislature entered executive session at 7:25 p.m. and exited at 7:37 p.m.; the session adjourned at 7:38 p.m.

Votes at a glance: The transcript records that Resolutions #243 through #260 were approved. Where detail was provided in committee reports or the meeting record: #243 (County Clerk’s Office) was placed on the agenda following an Economic Development Committee recommendation; #244 was polled by the Finance Committee and relates to matters the committee reviewed; #245–#249 were recommended by the Airport Committee in connection with airport projects and a potential MOA with Customs and Border Protection; #250 concerns authorization of a contract with Motorola Solutions, Inc. for the Office of Emergency Services. The transcript does not provide full text, movers or seconders, or a roll-call tally for each resolution in the record beyond the general approval statement.

The Finance Committee will consider Samuel Dyer’s request about election funding at its April 10 meeting, and Sylvie Nelson, executive director of the Workforce Investment Board, is scheduled to appear at the Legislature’s April 11 session. The meeting record notes several upcoming committee meetings and deadlines, including the April 4 deadline for Tobacco Settlement funding applications.