ALLEGANY COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS
REGULAR SESSION
SEPTEMBER 26, 2011
** APPROVED **
CALL
TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Board of
Legislators was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Chairman Curtis W. Crandall.
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by former
United States Army Technician 3rd Class Leland C. Mosher.
INVOCATION: The
Invocation was given by Legislator David Pullen.
ROLL
CALL: 14 Legislators Present: Glenn Benson, Douglas Burdick, Donald Cady,
Curtis Crandall, Dwight Fanton, Karl Graves, Dwight (Mike) Healy, Theodore
Hopkins, Kevin LaForge, Aaron McGraw, Timothy O’Grady, David Pullen, Frederick
Sinclair, Norman Ungermann, Jr.; 1
Legislator Absent: Philip Curran
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES:
The Board meeting minutes of September
12, 2011, were approved on a motion made by Legislator Graves, seconded by
Legislator Fanton and carried.
The Committee of the Whole meeting
minutes of September 12, 2011, were approved on a motion made by Legislator Pullen,
seconded by Legislator Graves and carried.
PRIVILEGE OF
THE FLOOR:
Chairman Crandall presented a
certificate to Leland C. Mosher, former United States Army Technician 3rd
Class, in grateful appreciation of his service to our Country. Mr. Mosher’s service dates were from November
1942 to September 1945. Following Basic
Training at Camp Lee, VA (now known as Fort Lee), assignments
included: Camp Edwards, MA; Camp Gordon Johnston,
FL; Ascot Camp, Australia; and New Guinea.
Commendations he received included:
Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Rifle Marksman. Mr. Mosher led the Pledge of Allegiance to
the Flag at the beginning of the meeting as part of the Veterans’ Honorary
Pledge of Allegiance Program.
Chairman Crandall presented a check
to Public Health Director Lori Ballengee for Allegany County Cancer
Services. The Board of Legislators
periodically makes these donations from their Flower Fund (non-tax dollars) to
organizations that provide services they feel are very
important to Allegany County, and Allegany County Cancer Services is one of them. The funds they raise are distributed entirely
within the County. Mrs. Ballengee provided
an update on Allegany County Cancer Services, which began in 2006. All money raised goes to County residents with
cancer diagnoses, helping with expenses directly related to cancer. Each applicant receives up to $500, most
often by way of gas cards for travel to doctor visits. ACCS is having their annual major fundraiser,
the Colors for Life 300 Club Dinner, at the Wellsville American Legion on
October 15, and an invitation was extended. Mrs. Ballengee distributed information on
County cancer statistics and monetary awards made to-date by ACCS. The number of residents they have helped is
up to 176, and over $60,000 has been distributed over the last four years.
ACCORD Community Operations
Associate Director Belinda M. Knight was granted privilege of the floor and spoke
about their Domestic Violence Services.
ACCORD assists more than 200 victims annually with free and confidential
supportive services, such as emergency shelter, 24-hour domestic violence
hotline, intake and assessment, advocacy, family offense petition preparation,
risk assessment and safety planning, linkage to professional counseling
services, and case management and goal planning. Staff members serve on inter-agency
committees, and partners include Child Protective Services, Office for the
Aging, Alfred University, Allegany County Sheriff, Allegany County Court, and
local police agencies. In the past year,
their program has served an increasing number of victims. They experienced a temporary loss of local
funding for Chances, but they were just awarded a three-year grant from the
U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against
Women. The grant will allow them to
reinstate Chances, which provides very important education to women and
children of domestic violence situations.
Ms. Knight invited all present to attend their Domestic Violence
Awareness Ceremony on October 6 at 12:30 p.m. on the Courthouse lawn. She noted that all of our efforts combined to
bring about awareness of the critical issues will make a difference for those
whose lives depend on our concern and our action.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS,
COMMUNICATIONS, REPORTS, ETC.:
Copies of the following were placed on each Legislator’s desk:
1. October
2011 Calendar of Board and Standing Committee meeting dates.
2. Report of Tax Bill Corrections approved
by the County Administrator in August.
3. Report of Intrafund Transfers approved
by the County Administrator in August.
The
following communications were also acknowledged:
1. Invitation from the Greater Allegany
County Chamber of Commerce to attend the Business after Hours Event hosted by
Alfred State College on October 6 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
2. Southern Tier West Regional Planning
and Development Board 2010-2011 Annual Report.
3. Notice from the New York State
Conservation Police that there will be Region 8 and 9 Youth Waterfowl Hunting
events on October 1 and 8.
4. Public Notice from the NYS DEC that
Belmont BOCES Site No. 902016, Tax Map No. 159-1-32, located on River Road,
Amity, NY, no longer presents a threat to public health or the environment, and
the NYS DEC is proposing to delist the site from the Registry. Public comments are being received through
October 21, 2011.
PROCLAMATION:
Chairman Crandall
proclaimed October 2011 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urged all
citizens to actively participate in the scheduled activities and programs
sponsored by the Allegany County Domestic Violence Consortium and to work
toward improving victim safety and holding perpetrators of domestic abuse
accountable for their actions.
RESOLUTIONS:
RESOLUTION
NO. 137-11
Offered by:
Ways and Means Committee
WHEREAS, a check in the amount of $5,133, representing the
settlement less a $500 deductible on a 2002 Chevy Astro Van that was totaled as
the result of a motor vehicle accident on August 23, 2011, has been offered by
NYMIR in settlement of such damage, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED:
1. That the amount of $5,133 from NYMIR,
representing the settlement less a $500 deductible on a County vehicle that was
totaled as a result of a motor vehicle accident on August 23, 2011, is
accepted.
2. That the total sum of $5,133 is
appropriated to Account No. H5997.2 (Vehicle Purchase/Replacement), with a like
sum credited to Revenue Account No. H07.2680.00 (Insurance
Recoveries).
Moved by: Mr. Hopkins Adopted: Roll Call
Seconded by: Mr. LaForge 14
Ayes, 0 Noes, 1 Absent
(Memo:
The vehicle referenced in Resolution No. 137-11 was operated by the
Department of Public Works.)
RESOLUTION
NO. 138-11
TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM
CONTINGENT ACCOUNT
TO GRAND JURY CONTRACTUAL
EXPENSES ACCOUNT
Offered by:
Public Safety and Ways and Means Committees
RESOLVED:
1. That the sum of $3,000 is transferred
from Account No. A1990.4 (Contingent) to Account No. A1190.429 (Grand Jury – Stenographer/Transcripts) to cover the
shortfall in that account.
Moved by: Mr. Healy Adopted: Roll Call
Seconded by: Mr. Fanton 14
Ayes, 0 Noes, 1 Absent
RESOLUTION
NO. 139-11
APPROVAL OF RENEWAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE NEW YORK
STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM AND COUNTY OF ALLEGANY
FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION
OF COURT FACILITIES
Offered by:
Public Works Committee
RESOLVED:
1. That Renewal Agreement between the New
York State Unified Court System and County of Allegany, in relation to cleaning
services for the interior of the Allegany County Courthouse as well as minor
and emergency repairs to that facility for the period April 1, 2011, to March
31, 2012, is approved.
Moved by: Mr. Fanton Adopted: Roll Call
Seconded by: Mr. Pullen 14
Ayes, 0 Noes, 1 Absent
Comments regarding Resolution No. 139-11
included the following: Legislator
Sinclair questioned if the renewal agreement covers the 2012 increase in salary
for staff performing these services.
County Administrator John Margeson noted that it is covered. The State is often behind but is reliable in
making the County whole for salary and benefit expenses incurred for provision
of this service.
AUDITS:
A motion was made by
Legislator Hopkins, seconded by Legislator O’Grady and carried, that the audits
be acted upon collectively and by totals.
A motion was made by
Legislator Hopkins, seconded by Legislator Fanton and adopted on a roll call
vote of 13 Ayes, 1 No, 1 Absent, that the audit of claims, totaling $2,308,104.81,
including prepaid expenses, be approved for payment as recommended by the
County Administrator (opposed:
Ungermann). (Allegany County’s Local Dollar Share of the NYS Medicaid Program paid
year-to-date is $6,443,788.) Legislator Ungermann questioned if the
expense appearing under Bus Transportation was a pass-through amount or if
County funds were involved. County
Administrator John Margeson explained that it was 100 percent federal aid. Mr. Margeson also responded to Mr.
Ungermann’s question on County Administrator expenses.
GENERAL COMMENTS:
Legislator Ungermann
remarked on the Garlic Festival held in Cuba September 17 and 18, which was
very successful. Paid attendance totaled
4,700 on Saturday alone, and when you start adding in vendors, the number was
probably close to 9,000 overall for the weekend. He also mentioned the Civil War Re-enactment
held in Angelica September 24 and 25.
These events help the County’s economy.
Legislator O’Grady commented
on the ATV Event held at Kent Farms in Andover, with 600 riders over two days. Legislator Hopkins noted that the event would
be appearing on TV.
Legislator Fanton gave
a reminder that the Allegany County Republican Women are sponsoring a “Meet the
Candidate Night” on Thursday, September 29, at 7:00. Tickets are available from the Clerk of the
Board or at the door.
Legislator LaForge
referred to a past request by the Allegany County Vietnam Veterans for
assistance from the Veterans’ Service Agency for their Wounded Warriors’ Camp Project. He had the opportunity to visit the site and
was very impressed. Mr. LaForge wanted
to recognize Veterans’ Service Agency Director Mike Hennessy for his
involvement.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 2:37 p.m. on a motion made by Legislator Graves,
seconded by Legislator Pullen and carried.