Franklin County Legislature approves multiple budget amendments, contracts and appointments

The Franklin County Legislature approved a wide range of budget amendments, contracts and appointments at regular meetings on Dec. 6 and Dec. 20, 2018, including acceptance of several state and federal funding allocations that will support public health, social services and senior programs.

Key financial actions included the acceptance of Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) funds to Public Health Services (e.g., $14,781.37 authorized in Res. No. 302 and an additional $10,437 for Social Services in Res. No. 315) and the Commissioner of Social Services’ acceptance of Flexible Funds for Family Services (FFFS) totaling $2,606,195 for State Fiscal Year 2018–2019 (Res. No. 316). County minutes show the FFFS allocation is 100% reimbursable and must be expended April 1, 2018–March 31, 2019; $85,000 of that allocation was earmarked to support an Adolescent Life Skills Assessment and Education Program previously approved by the Legislature.

The Legislature also authorized multiple service contracts for older residents. Resolutions No. 304–306 approved two-year nutrition and senior services contracts with adult centers (Malone $168,400; Saranac Lake $92,550; Adirondack $98,550; and others listed) and contracts with Franklin County Public Transportation to subsidize senior ridership ($17,400 for calendar 2019–2020 and $5,600 for Apr. 1, 2019–Mar. 31, 2020).

Other actions included:

- Creation of a Rainbow Lake Water Protection District budget for the Lake Kushaqua Dam Project with $270,000 in revenue and expense lines authorized (Res. No. 312). - Authorization for the County Manager to enter a lease at 56 Lake Street, Tupper Lake, for the District Attorney’s office at a cost not to exceed $8,900 for 2019 (Res. No. 313). - Authorization to contract with Ellis Hospital for coroner and autopsy services with enumerated fees (Res. No. 309). - Creation of Social Services positions (Clerk, Account Clerk and Principal Account Clerk) to address workload and accounting unit restructuring (Res. No. 336). - Approval of a one-time state aid increase of $318,077 for St. Joseph’s Veterans Program to offset operational losses (Res. No. 337). - Adoption of 2019 salary schedules for the County Unit and for the Sheriff’s Unit (Res. Nos. 340–341). - Appointments and reappointments to boards: Andrea Dumas reappointed to the Industrial Development Agency; multiple appointments to the Solid Waste Management Authority Board; Gregory A. Cook appointed to fill a Solid Waste Authority vacancy; and Jay McGrath from Agri‑Mark appointed as Franklin County’s business representative to the North Country Workforce Development Board (Res. Nos. 317–319, 342–343).

Several smaller grants and donations were also accepted: $500 from the NYS Department of Health Division of Cancer Services to host an HPV documentary screening (Res. No. 328), $3,000 from the Adirondack Health Institute for two wheelchair swings to be installed in Malone parks (Res. No. 329), and modest drug forfeiture receipts appropriated to the District Attorney’s accounts per established distribution rules (Res. Nos. 314, 326).

Most resolutions were adopted unanimously or with votes recorded as "all members present voted in the affirmative," although a few appointments recorded abstentions as noted in the minutes. The Legislature adjourned the Dec. 6 meeting at 12:10 p.m. and the Dec. 20 meeting at 11:55 a.m.

Clerk Gloria J. Valone read correspondence and motions; routine procedural motions to accept minutes and place reports on file were moved and seconded by named legislators throughout the sessions.