Thomas W. Blodgett

The session included two public hearings: one concerning an amendment to the Local Law regarding the Real Property Tax Exemption for Persons Sixty-Five Years of Age or Over, and another for Micro-Enterprise Grant Funds. Key discussions and resolutions involved creating a temporary Courier-Mail Clerk position due to an extended leave of absence. Budget modifications were addressed for various funds, including Sales Tax distribution, Child Care and Development Fund, Code Blue Program, Flexible Fund for Family Services, Shelter Arrears Eviction Forestallment (SAEF) Program, Safe Harbor Initiative, and reappropriation of Medical Reserve Corps and Disabilities Grant Funds. The Legislature also authorized agreements for PIO services with Orleans County, extended the copier services agreement with Brian Parisi Copier Systems Inc., approved Real Property Tax corrections/cancellations, and finalized staff changes in the Social Services and Health Department Nursing Divisions. Furthermore, resolutions covered the acceptance of grants for the Sheriff's Office (Cellular E911 funds, Paul Coverdell Grants, STOP VAWA), an extension for the Public Defender's CAFA grant, an amendment for the Public Defender's C4THFD29 grant, acceptance of a donation for Emergency Services, approval of the CARES UP Grant, and the settlement agreement concerning the fraudulent wire transfer related to the Niagara County Sheriff's Office/Jail plumbing project. Several agreements were approved regarding the renewal of power and energy sales with NYPA, designation of Armstrong Fluid Technologies as a Foreign Trade Zone Operator, and usage agreements for Krull Park, Oppenheim Park, and Clyde L. Burmaster Bond Lake Park.

The meeting included public hearings regarding a local law amending the Real Property Tax Exemption for Persons Sixty-Five Years of Age or Over and Micro-Enterprise Grant Funds. The agenda encompassed numerous resolutions across various committees. Key resolutions involved creating and filling a temporary Courier-Mail Clerk position, entering a Shared Services Agreement with Orleans County for a Public Information Officer, and extending an agreement with Brian Parisi Copier Systems Inc. for multifunction copiers. Numerous budget modifications were proposed, primarily in Social Services (DSS) concerning Child Care and Development Fund, Code Blue Program, Flexible Fund for Family Services, NYS Shelter Arrears Eviction Forestallment (SAEF), and Safe Harbor Initiative. The Department of Health resolutions addressed reappropriations for Medical Reserve Corps, Disabilities Grant, Lead Registry Grant, and Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Funds. The Sheriff's Office resolutions covered the expenditure of Cellular E911 funds for mobile radios, grant extensions (FY22 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvements Grant), and acceptance of the STOP Violence Against Women Act Formula Grant. Other actions included abolishing a Clerical I position and creating a Clerical II position in the Department of Health, accepting NY SCION funds by the Employment & Training Department, approving a change order for Sheriff's Office shower refinishing, and extensions for the LaBella consultant contract for the Jail Replacement Project. Legislator resolutions focused on supporting various community initiatives through Community Partnership Funding.

The meeting included the approval of the minutes from the June 4, 2025 session. The first order of business involved no updates regarding the review of financial disclosure statements. The session concluded with setting the next meeting date for January 7, 2026.

The meeting addressed a project proposal from a business in the Town of Niagara for a 50x50 foot addition to an existing single-story, pre-engineered metal building used for metal welding and CNC production. The proposer confirmed that Tom Dyer Planning Board approval had been secured. Discussion focused heavily on environmental considerations due to the site's proximity (200 feet) to the High Park Landfill. The proposer detailed the asphalt hot mix production process, emphasizing that aggregate would be screened, not crushed, and that emissions from the drying/mixing process are contained via a bag house and emitted through a 31-foot stack, with fugitive emissions also addressed. The board inquired about soil movement, ground disturbance, and adherence to DEC regulations regarding potential contaminants like chlorobenzenes and furans, noting the DEC was aware of the foundation plans but had temporarily pulled back their draft permit pending completion of this process. The proposer stated that all potential emission points, including those from the drag slat and silo loading, have been modeled, and results show emissions are within acceptable DEC standards, contingent upon required stack testing upon production commencement.

The meeting involved numerous resolutions adopted by the Legislature, primarily concerning budget modifications and contract awards across various departments. Key actions included delegating authority for real property tax refunds/corrections to the County Treasurer for 2026, restructuring the Risk and Insurance Services Department resulting in projected cost savings, and approving a waiver of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to engage Peaceprints of WNY for jail-based substance use disorder treatment services. Several sealed bids were awarded for the Sheriff's Office, including the 911 System Hardware Refresh and remediation of duct work/ceiling. Budget modifications were processed for grants such as the Police Traffic Services Grant and the SFY2025 Next Generation 911 Grant. Infrastructure & Facilities addressed capital project creations for Water District basin restoration and transmission main interconnections, approved the Niagara County Artificial Intelligence Policy, awarded contracts for bridge and road projects, and extended consultant service agreements. Additionally, the Legislature set a date for a public hearing regarding the CDBG microenterprise program.