Franklin County Legislature approves series of grants, budget changes and staffing moves in August meetings

The Franklin County Legislature met Aug. 4 and Aug. 18, 2016, and adopted a package of resolutions that included grant acceptances, budget amendments, personnel changes and policy updates.

The Legislature accepted a $52,096 Public Health Preparedness/Response to Bioterrorism grant for the period July 1, 2016–June 30, 2017 and authorized appropriations and rollover of any unspent funds into 2017. It also approved additional COLA funds for several public health programs and amended the 2016 budget to expend those dollars.

Child welfare payments were adjusted: foster care rates were increased by 0.2 percent effective April 1, 2016, and clothing and diaper allowances were raised as detailed in the adopted resolution.

The Office For the Aging was authorized to create temporary part-time Community Service Aide positions to handle HEAP season demand; the Commissioner of Social Services received authorization to create and fill temporary positions in Social Services for the same operational need. The Legislature also approved $103,967 in Title V funds to support employment placements for qualifying older adults through contracts with the Department of Social Services.

Public safety and facilities items included acceptance of up to $50,000 in homeland security funding for security upgrades at the Emergency Services/911 facility and acceptance of labor-cost funds related to renovations performed by M&M Improvement Services, Inc. The County Highway Superintendent obtained legislative approval to amend CHIPS allocations and reassign projects, and the Legislature agreed to request that the New York State Department of Transportation reduce the speed limit on a section of County Route 25 in Malone from 55 mph to 45 mph if NYSDOT approves the change.

The board approved an $82,000 insurance recoveries appropriation for the Personnel Department and authorized a $931.85 payment to attorney Alex Lesyk in People v. Patrick White. The body also scheduled a public hearing for the North Country Community College tentative budget and later approved the college's 2016–17 operating and capital budgets and Franklin County's sponsor share.

Policy and personnel actions taken on Aug. 18 included adoption of a Franklin County Social Networking Policy, amendments to the county Internet and e-mail policy (adding restrictions on online gaming, unapproved file sharing and unlicensed application downloads), and renaming and updating the county’s Statement on Sexual Harassment to a Discrimination and Harassment Policy. The Legislature appointed Diane Helms to the Youth Advisory Board and approved multiple temporary part-time Community Service Aide positions to process HEAP applications.

Several grant-funded initiatives for public health were approved: a $50,000 award under the NYS Safe Harbour Initiative to develop a Child Advocacy Center and related training and services, and CDC funding for Ebola preparedness (an award of $100,000 with a current maximum reimbursable amount of $24,000) were accepted with required appropriations.

The meetings concluded with the Legislature approving conveyance of multiple county-owned parcels to municipalities for public purposes and adjourning at 12:12 p.m. on Aug. 4 and 11:59 a.m. on Aug. 18.