Sherri Bensley

Key agenda items for the session include a proclamation for Developmental Disability Month and reports from various committees. The Ways and Means Committee agenda features several items requiring action, such as 2025 budget transfers/amendments, contract renewals and awards involving maintenance, HVAC, and the assignment of a lease for a communications tower. The committee will also address surplus equipment from the Old Courthouse, grant acceptance, and amendments to the 2026 salary schedule for Public Health, along with appointments and funding agreements. The Human Services Committee agenda includes approving a 2025 Memorandum of Understanding and a funding agreement with the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. A non-consent item involves the County Audit for March 11, 2026. A travel request for Public Health staff to attend a conference in Los Angeles was also noted.

The Public Service Committee meeting agenda focused on several departmental matters. Discussions included budget amendments and financial support for the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, as well as budget amendments and grant applications for the District Attorney's office, specifically related to the Criminal Justice Discovery Reform Grant. The agenda also covered a contract extension for the Public Defender, budget amendments for the Sheriff's Office concerning remaining 2025 grant funds, and prisoner housing contracts. Further items involved permission to apply for 2026 Office of Victim Services Grants for both the Genesee Justice Program and the Justice for Children Advocacy Center. The Office of Emergency Management planned to adopt the Genesee County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan and renew a contract with Tetra Tech, Inc. The Department of Public Works agenda was extensive, addressing donation acceptance, multiple special events including a 5k/10k Trail Run, Music in The Park, and the World Aerobatic Championships, various grant applications for park and airport improvements, consultant agreements for architecture services, budget amendments, fund transfers, and awarding bids/establishing capital projects related to several bridge replacements (Silver Rd, Junction Rd, Griswold Rd) and road maintenance. Finally, the Chair's report included an appointment to the Soil & Water Conservation District and an reappointment to the Fish and Wildlife Management Board.

The meeting included the opening of a public hearing concerning Local Law Introductory D of 2025, which relates to the salaries of County Officers. Several proclamations and commendations were presented to Chairwoman Rochelle M. Stein and Legislator Gary T. Maha, who are noted as retiring. Key agenda items involved numerous resolutions from the Ways and Means Committee concerning 2025-2026 equalization tables, tax levies, budget amendments, contract renewals (including GCEDC), and policy adoptions (GC-042 and GC-080). The Human Services Committee addressed contract renewals for various agencies, including the Office for the Aging, and reappointments. The Public Service Committee addressed two items regarding a Smart Growth Plan Report and a crime lab agreement renewal. Resolution 57, related to the Countywide Water Supply Program, was moved to non-consent status and subsequently amended and approved. The public hearing regarding Local Law Introductory D of 2025 was closed. Other non-consent items included the adoption of Resolution 76 (Local Law D), the appointment/salary amendment for the Public Defender, and the County Audit for December 10, 2025. Numerous budget and contract amendments for Mental Health services with various providers (GLOW OUT, Living Opportunities of DePaul, The Mental Health Association, Spectrum Health & Human Services, WNY Heroes Inc., and UConnectCare) were approved, along with reappointments to the Community Services Board. Public Health resolutions involved new contracts for Sexual Health Clinic Services, an appointment to the Board of Health, and contracts with Credible Mind and Randox Laboratories. Budget transfers and amendments related to opioid abatement funds and Medical Exam & Coroners expenses were also processed. Finally, several reappointments to the Office for the Aging Advisory Council and a service agreement with RTS-GENESEE were approved.

The Ways and Means Committee meeting included an amendment to the agenda to add a resolution regarding the 2026-2027 Rules for the Genesee County Legislature. Key discussions involved a presentation of the annual report by the Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, and approval for budget transfers for Utilities and Shredding expenses for the 2025 budget year. The committee also addressed a discrepancy in AG Chargeback amounts for the towns of Elba and Oakfield, leading to a recommended amendment of Resolution No. 563-25. Furthermore, the committee recommended approval for awarding a contract for public relations and advocacy services regarding large-scale solar development to the Martin Group. Several out-of-state travel requests for conferences, including the NACo Conference and the NACCHO Preparedness Summit, were approved. Referrals from the Human Services Committee included several 2026 Budget Amendments and a 2025 Budget Transfer related to Mental Health and Public Health funds. Finally, changes to the legislative rules for 2026/2027 were discussed and approved for placement on the next Legislature Agenda.

The agenda for the session included proclamations and commendations, reports from committees and special assignments, and communications/petitions. Key items under communications involved multiple travel out-of-state requests for conferences, including the NACo Conference and the NACCHO Preparedness Summit. The consent agenda featured numerous resolutions covering budget item transfers, amendments to 2026 Tax Warrants, contract awards for Public Relations and Advocacy Services related to solar development, and various budget amendments for Community Mental Health Services and Public Health. Other resolutions addressed the 2026-2027 Rules for the Legislature and a contract amendment for Mental Health services. A non-consent item scheduled for discussion was the County Audit for February 11, 2026.