Franklin County Legislature unanimously adopts budget reallocations, grants, staffing changes and insurance award

The Franklin County Legislature met May 21, 2026 in Malone and unanimously approved a slate of resolutions that adjusted county budgets, accepted grant funding, authorized school safety agreements, and created a full‑time assistant district attorney position.

Chairman Greg Janisewski called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m. and Clerk Heather Marlow conducted roll call; all members and districts were present. Early on the agenda the Legislature presented employee longevity awards to Jamie Gratton (Emergency Services, 30 years), Jennifer Lockwood (Highway, 10 years), Ashley Todd (Social Services, 10 years), Timmy Larry (Highway, 5 years) and Kyle Paquin (County Jail, 5 years).

The body approved Resolution No. 113 authorizing the Director of the Office For the Aging to accept and appropriate $2,000 in additional SHINE funds into the 2026 budget (SHINE revenue $2,000; contractual expenses $2,000). The Legislature also adopted Resolution No. 116 to accept an $85,600 Accelerated Transit Capital (ATC) grant; the funding will be used to construct a pole barn and purchase a bus shelter (ATC revenue $85,600; ATC expenses $75,600 and $10,000).

Major budget action came with Resolution No. 121, which amends the 2026 CHIPS allocation and reallocates $1,226,240 across county routes: County Route 8 receives $508,560; County Route 35 receives $356,640; and County Route 51 receives $361,040. The resolution decreases the general CHIPS account by $1,226,240 and directs those funds to the specified county route accounts for 2026 highway work.

On personnel, Resolution No. 120 authorizes converting the current 25‑hour Assistant District Attorney position to a 35‑hour full‑time Assistant District Attorney (Exempt Class, Management D) and permits the district attorney to fill the position using funds in the DA budget.

For school safety, the Legislature approved two related measures. Resolution No. 118 authorizes the County Manager, subject to County Attorney review, to enter into agreements between the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and Brushton‑Moira, Chateaugay, St. Regis Falls school districts and Franklin‑Essex‑Hamilton BOCES to provide Special Patrol Officers for the 2026‑2027 school year. Resolution No. 119 authorizes a similar agreement with Salmon River Central School District for a deputy sheriff or special patrol officer for 2026‑2027. Terms and conditions for these agreements are to be outlined in the contracts and require County Attorney review prior to execution.

The Finance Committee presented Resolution No. 117 setting the county auction date for tax‑sale properties on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Mo’s Pub & Grill Adirondack Room, 3357 State Route 11, Malone; Absolute Auctions & Realty, Inc. will conduct the auction.

The Legislature also awarded county insurance coverage for the policy year June 2, 2026–June 2, 2027 to OneGroup/NYMIR, with a total subscriber premium and fees of $541,732.13. Line‑item amounts were presented in the resolution; the transcript lists the full breakdown and total.

Other measures adopted without recorded dissent included Resolution No. 114 congratulating Jacqueline Latulipe on a nomination by the New York State Office For the Aging for volunteerism, and Resolution No. 115 appointing Jenna Coronel Pond (term expiring May 3, 2029) and Sophie Eldrige (term expiring May 31, 2027) to the Franklin County Youth Advisory Board. Resolution No. 122 proclaimed May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month and urged awareness of behavioral health resources, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

All motions that were recorded in the transcript were adopted unanimously; the minutes note that "all members present voted in the affirmative," but the record does not provide individual vote tallies. Legislator Lockwood moved to adjourn; Legislator Lauzon seconded and Chairman Janisewski adjourned the meeting at 11:51 a.m.