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Franklin County Legislature unanimously adopts dozen routine resolutions, sets Oct. 29 budget hearings
Summary
At a 10‑minute Oct. 15 meeting the Franklin County Legislature approved a slate of budget amendments, grant acceptances and personnel actions, set public hearings on the 2021 tentative budget and a local law to override the tax levy limit for Oct. 29, and appointed a county historian.
The Franklin County Legislature met Oct. 15, 2020, in the Legislature Chambers in Malone and by Webex. Chairman Donald Dabiew called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m., led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Clerk, Penny A. Premo, recorded all members present (Legislators Dabiew, Lauzon, Janisewski, Dumas and Ellis in person; Lockwood and Maroun by Webex).
The Legislature adopted a series of resolutions covering personnel recognitions, budget amendments and contract authorizations. It accepted a $15,000 STOP DWI Crackdown Enforcement Grant and amended 2020 budget accounts to record the revenue and related enforcement program spending. The Legislature also authorized establishment of a $500 petty‑cash fund for the Community Services Employee Assistance Program and recorded a $664.87 transfer of excess funds into revenue and appropriations. Additional federal salary‑sharing revenue totaling $28,547 was accepted and reflected in Mental Health Administration accounts.
The Legislature set two public hearings for Oct. 29: a 4 p.m. hearing on the county’s tentative 2021 budget and a 4:15 p.m. hearing on a proposed local law to override the 2021 tax levy limit, citing Section 20 of the Municipal Home Rule Law to meet the public‑notice requirement. Officials said both hearings will be held in person and via Webex with additional teleconference locations in Harrietstown and Tupper Lake.
State aid adjustments affecting Community Services programs prompted budget and contract amendments. The Legislature approved amended revenue and appropriation entries tied to revised State Aid letters from the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports and the NYS Office of Mental Health, and authorized the County Manager to sign amended contracts after County Attorney review.
Other actions included appointment of Kip Cassavaw as Franklin County Historian for a two‑year term ending Dec. 31, 2021; authorization to create a Case Services Aide position (Grade 5, base $31,162) funded by a $213,000 Emergency Solutions Grant for homelessness prevention and rapid re‑housing; and restructuring in the Conflict Defender’s office to create a part‑time clerk position (17 hrs/week) and abolish a full‑time clerk upon the part‑time hire. All motions were adopted unanimously.
Votes at a glance
• RES 223 — Employee recognition (Oct. longevity awards). Mover: Legislator Maroun. Seconder: Legislator Janisewski. Outcome: adopted unanimously (Dabiew, Lauzon, Janisewski, Dumas, Ellis, Lockwood, Maroun — yes).
• RES 224 — Chargebacks to towns for erroneous taxation. Mover: Legislator Janisewski. Seconder: Legislator Lauzon. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 225 — Set public hearing on 2021 tentative budget (Oct. 29, 4:00 p.m.). Mover: Legislator Janisewski. Seconder: Legislator Ellis. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 226 — Set public hearing on local law to override the 2021 tax levy limit (Oct. 29, 4:15 p.m.). Mover: Legislator Janisewski. Seconder: Legislator Ellis. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 227 — Accept STOP DWI Crackdown Enforcement Grant ($15,000). Mover: Legislator Ellis. Seconder: Legislator Dumas. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 228 — Establish petty cash fund for Employee Assistance Program ($500) and amend budget (+$664.87). Mover: Legislator Dumas. Seconder: Legislator Lauzon. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 229 — Amend 2020 budget to accept additional federal salary sharing revenue (+$28,547). Mover: Legislator Dumas. Seconder: Legislator Lauzon. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 230 — Amend budget & contracts for Community Services following revised State Aid (Citizen Advocates; St. Joseph’s). Mover: Legislator Dumas. Seconder: Legislator Janisewski. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 231 — Additional State Aid adjustments for multiple programs and authorization to sign amended contracts. Mover: Legislator Dumas. Seconder: Legislator Ellis. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 232 — CHIPS highway budget reallocation ($15,000: decrease for County Route 8; increase for County Route 60). Mover: Legislator Lauzon. Seconder: Legislator Ellis. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 233 — Appointment of Franklin County Historian (Kip Cassavaw, term to Dec. 31, 2021). Mover: Legislator Lauzon. Seconder: Legislator Ellis. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 234 — Create Case Services Aide position (Grade 5, base $31,162) funded by Emergency Solutions Grant ($213,000); authorize filling while grant funds exist. Mover: Legislator Dumas. Seconder: Legislator Lauzon. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
• RES 235 — Create part‑time clerk (Conflict Defender office, 17 hrs/wk) and abolish a full‑time clerk upon hire; funding/reevaluation tied to grant. Mover: Legislator Ellis. Seconder: Legislator Lauzon. Outcome: adopted unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. following a motion by Legislator Dumas and a second by Legislator Lauzon. The Legislature did not record any roll‑call divergences; each listed resolution was adopted with all members voting in the affirmative.
