Franklin County Legislature approves grants, policy and personnel changes in July sessions

The Franklin County Legislature met in Malone on July 3 and July 18, 2019 and unanimously approved a slate of resolutions to accept grants, amend budget lines, create and reassign positions, adopt a county transportation policy and transfer county property for local redevelopment.

Chairman Donald Dabiew opened both sessions and Clerk Penny A. Premo recorded roll and minutes. During the July 3 meeting the Legislature approved financial items including acceptance of $30,337.57 in drug forfeiture funds reported by the District Attorney and insurance recovery of $34,882.57 to repair wireless backhaul equipment. The Legislature also accepted indigent defense funding—Distribution #8 of $225,966 and a Hurrell‑Harring statewide expansion award of $198,732.68—and appropriated those amounts to the public defender/assigned counsel budget to cover expert witnesses, investigator services and related costs.

The board approved multiple personnel and administrative actions: it authorized the County Manager to extend a Radio and Paging Systems maintenance contract with Well's Communication, Inc. on a month‑to‑month basis while an RFP is completed; created a full‑time Public Health Educator position (Competitive Class, Grade 14, base salary $49,341) and abolished a prior mix of public‑health coordinator/part‑time educator positions; and authorized payment of $19,796.25 to Alice Hyde Medical Center for audited Preschool Special Education therapy vouchers from 2018 to be paid from 2019 funds.

Public‑safety items included creation of Per Diem Special Patrol Officer positions to serve under contract at local school districts (Brushton‑Moira, St. Regis Falls and Chateaugay), with school districts responsible for salaries and associated fringe costs. The Legislature also approved procurement actions to piggyback Broome County's bid for radio communications equipment to repair wireless infrastructure and purchase additional point‑to‑point links for county events.

On infrastructure matters the Legislature amended capital and CHIPS budgets: it created a CHIPS project for the Kimpton Road Bridge with $200,000 appropriated and amended funding for the County Route 28 over Trout River project (P.I.N. 775381) to add $130,000 in project expense carried by state and federal reimbursements for design work.

The July 18 session included adoption of a county Complete Streets Policy directing Franklin County to plan and maintain roads, bridges and transit assets to serve people of all ages and travel modes “to the greatest extent possible.” The board also set a public hearing for July 18 on a proposed Community Development Block Grant Microenterprise application and authorized submission of an application seeking up to $200,000 to support local small‑business creation and expansion.

The Legislature reappointed members to multiple local boards and commissions, including Ralph Bennet to the Rainbow Lake Water Protection Board and appointments or reappointments to the Community Services Board, Youth Advisory Board and Ethics Board. It also authorized transfer of county Parcel #6.13‑10‑7 to the Town of Fort Covington under a memorandum of understanding that holds outstanding taxes in abeyance until resale to support an economic‑development remediation project.

All recorded votes on resolutions were adopted unanimously as noted in the minutes. The July 3 meeting adjourned at 12:04 P.M.; the July 18 meeting adjourned at 11:45 A.M.

Votes at a glance: Resolution summaries and outcomes - RES 180: Reappointment of Ralph Bennet to Rainbow Lake Water Protection Board — adopted unanimously. - RES 181: Accept drug forfeiture funds ($30,337.57) — adopted unanimously. - RES 182: Authorize County Manager to extend Well's Communication contract month‑to‑month — adopted unanimously. - RES 183: Appropriate insurance proceeds for wireless backhaul repairs ($34,882.57) — adopted unanimously. - RES 184: Accept ILS Distribution #8 ($225,966) — adopted unanimously. - RES 185: Accept Hurrell‑Harring expansion funds ($198,732.68) — adopted unanimously. - RES 187: Amend North Country Community College capital wording and approve county share for capital project — adopted unanimously. - RES 189: Accept AHI DSRIP additional funding ($7,600) — adopted unanimously. - RES 190: Piggyback Broome County bid for radio communications equipment — adopted unanimously. - RES 191/212: Set public hearing and authorize CDBG Microenterprise application (up to $200,000) — adopted unanimously. - RES 192/210: CHIPS and bridge project budget amendments (Kimpton Rd Bridge $200,000; CR 28 Trout River project $130,000 design allocation) — adopted unanimously. - RES 193/206: Accept Public Health bioterrorism preparedness funds and correct expense lines — adopted unanimously. - RES 194: Create full‑time Public Health Educator position, abolish prior positions — adopted unanimously. - RES 195 (amended by 211): Authorize payment to Alice Hyde Medical Center ($19,796.25) — adopted unanimously. - RES 196/197/201: Create Per Diem Special Patrol Officer positions for Brushton‑Moira, St. Regis Falls and Chateaugay school districts — adopted unanimously. - RES 198: Establish Return The F.A.V.O.R. veterans ID/discount program — adopted unanimously. - RES 200: Approve North Country Community College/CSEA contract (Sept. 1, 2019–Aug. 31, 2022) — adopted unanimously. - RES 208: Reject auction bid for Town of Chateaugay parcel (Parcel ID #61.14‑2‑5) — adopted unanimously. - RES 213: Amend SNAP bonus funding to $50,000 (correction) — adopted unanimously. - RES 214: Reappoint Kay Santamoor to Community Services Board — adopted unanimously. - RES 215: Authorize conveyance of Parcel #6.13‑10‑7 to Town of Fort Covington under MOU — adopted unanimously.

What happens next: Several items require further administrative steps (RFP for radio services; county and town execution of MOU for property conveyance; grant administration and appropriation coding). Public hearings and any contract approvals noted in the resolutions will follow the normal county procedures.