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Franklin County Legislature unanimously adopts series of budget, contract and program measures
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Summary
At its March 5, 2026 meeting the Franklin County Legislature unanimously approved a package of resolutions including state and federal aid for community services, opioid-settlement spending, a $50,000 county commitment to a Marchiselli road project, broadband contracts and seasonal highway hires.
The Franklin County Legislature met in regular session on March 5, 2026, and unanimously adopted a series of resolutions authorizing budget amendments, contracts and program expenditures across community services, public works and economic development. Chairman Greg Janisewski opened the meeting at 11:30 a.m.; the body adjourned at 11:49 a.m.
The most consequential items included acceptance of New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) aid and federal salary-sharing funds for Community Services, opioid-settlement spending approvals, and transportation funding commitments. The board authorized acceptance of OMH State Aid totaling $336,731 to expand the Assisted Outpatient Treatment program and approved a $65,579 federal salary-sharing grant for Community Services payroll-related purposes.
Using opioid-settlement dollars, the Legislature authorized up to $9,392.20 for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for the courthouse and an adult center, up to $50,000 in scholarships for North Country Community College, and up to $1,000 for a traffic-safety breakfast. The board also approved a one-time $25,000 increase to a contract with St. Joseph’s Veterans Community Residence to be funded from Opioid Stewardship funds.
On infrastructure and procurement, the board committed $50,000 in county funds to advance preliminary design work for a federal-aid (Title 23) guide-rail replacement project on County Route 24 (PIN 7808.36) and authorized the Highway Superintendent to execute required agreements with the New York State Department of Transportation. The Legislature also authorized obtaining bids for wireless remote traffic signals using CHIPS funds ($70,000), and approved the creation of multiple temporary seasonal highway positions for the 2026 construction season with specified grade and base-salary levels.
In economic development, members authorized continuing and new contracts with Airosmith for broadband work (including payment of a $12,093.75 invoice and a contract for remainder of MIP Phase I) and approved a set of small-business grant awards (up to $5,000 for several local recipients and up to $3,750 for Saranac Lake ArtWorks). The Legislature also extended a contract with Saranac Lake Development Corp. through Oct. 31, 2026 and authorized a contract with Dr. Jill Weiss to conduct an economic impact study for up to $12,500.
The meeting record shows the board approved routine administrative measures: payment of retroactive invoices (Chargepoint, Burnham Reporting), a budget reallocation for CHIPS line items, a reduction in OASAS aid affecting Citizen Advocates' outpatient clinic (a $242,078 decrease), and a transition of Club Houses contracts from Citizen Advocates, Inc. to Community Connections (net $223,451 reallocation). The Office for the Aging was authorized to solicit bids for a walk-in freezer and refrigerator for the Brushton Moira Adult Center using rolled-over funds requiring no county match.
All motions reported in the minutes passed unanimously with all members present voting in the affirmative. The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Greg Janisewski at 11:49 a.m.
Next procedural steps noted in the minutes include contract execution pending County Attorney review where specified and procurement actions to proceed where bidding authorization was granted.