Christine Bianco

The board meeting included the approval of the agenda and previous minutes from December 17, 2025, and January 7, 2026. The reorganization of committees was tabled pending approval from the Cayuga County Legislature. The full board meeting schedule for FY 2026 was established, setting regular meetings for the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Financial matters included the approval of open invoices. The Personnel Committee approved Civil Service title changes for Administrative Assistant and Field Manager positions to include (HELP). Updates were provided on the City of Auburn Water Contract Negotiations, the completion of the Genesee Street Waterline Project, and the status of the North Street Waterline project, which awaits NYS EPA confirmation. Regarding the Cayuga Lake Protection Plan, funding via WQIP was not awarded in Round 21, but an EFC zero-interest loan application process was authorized in case the necessary vote passes. Issues with matting at the Eagle Drive/CMI Plant Sewer pump station were discussed. The Director's Report noted recent water main breaks in the Village of Cato and the Town of Brutus. The Attorney reported a scheduled meeting concerning the IDA park with the Town of Aurelius. An executive session was held to discuss contract negotiations.

Key discussion topics included committee appointments for various subcommittees, department updates, and numerous resolutions. Department updates covered a presentation on the 2025 Cayuga County Community Health Assessment, position vacancy updates, acceptance of nominations for Senior Citizen of the Year, collaboration with Empower Parkinsons, updates on fiscal work, mailing of program services surveys, and updates on youth bureau contracts and meetings. Resolutions primarily focused on authorizing contracts for rabies control services (Canine Cove and Dr. Paula Ospina), authorizing the filling of various vacant positions across the Health, Social Services (including HELP Program positions), and Office for the Aging departments. Additionally, resolutions addressed renewing lease agreements for mail equipment, accepting Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) allocations, accepting Community Development Block Grant funds from the City of Auburn for Mental Health services, and entering into a contract for Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) for Senior Citizens.

The Civil Service Commission meeting addressed several administrative and procedural items. Key discussions involved the establishment of eligible lists for positions including Deputy Sheriff and Police Officer. The Commission voted to extend certain existing eligible lists (Assistant Payroll Systems Specialist, Personnel Clerk, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Transportation Coordinator) and allowed others to expire (Emergency Medical Technician, Human Resources Associate, Regional Certification Officer). The commission also adopted new class specifications for the WIC Assistant (HELP Program) and approved new position duties statements for roles such as WIC Assistant, Watershed Coordinator, Confidential Secretary to CSE Chair, and Deputy Town Highway Superintendent.

The committee meeting addressed municipal matters submitted for consideration under New York State General Municipal Law §239-l, m, & n. The primary item reviewed was a Local Law concerning a Zoning Amendment from the Town of Victory regarding a proposed Battery Energy Storage Systems law based on the NYSERDA template. The Committee determined that this action appeared to have no intermunicipal concerns and was of local concern only.

The meeting agenda for the Judicial & Public Safety Committee included several key items. The committee addressed appointments to the Cayuga County Fire Advisory Board. Department updates covered staffing/hiring, PSAP Standards, antenna issues resolution for the Emergency Communications System, and progress on the Backup Center project, including bid timelines for UPS units and furniture. The Assigned Counsel office reported on February arraignment statistics, costs covered by ILS grants, counsel at first appearance assignments, and submission of mandated NY State Indigent Legal Services reports. The Probation department reported on heavy workloads due to staffing cuts, an officer training initiative to become an employment and training specialist, participation in an OPCA work group regarding juveniles, and successful completion of sending out all unpaid victim checks. The Sheriff's report detailed current jail population, vacant positions across Deputy Sheriff and LPN roles, efforts toward Civil Division accreditation, and ongoing facility maintenance costs. Resolutions proposed included authorizing recognition of the Cayuga County Rope Rescue Team, transferring a 1996 United Trailer to the Sennett Fire District, authorizing the Sheriff to fill multiple vacant positions (LPN, Deputy Sheriff Custody, Detective), authorizing the purchase and equipping of two new marked patrol vehicles, authorizing an agreement amendment with Global Tel*Link Corporation (VIAPATH) regarding incarcerated individuals' telephone services, and authorizing an agreement with the Auburn Doubledays to promote the STOP DWI Program.