Jefferson County

The committee meeting focused on several key actions and updates. County Administrator and Deputy County Administrator provided an update on legislative goals for 2025, noting an 88% success rate, including the launch of a 24/7 bi-county mobile crisis line and over $1 million invested in homeless initiatives. The Committee agreed to sponsor several resolutions, including one appointing a member to the Jefferson County Long Term Care Advisory Council, accepting Supplemental Unmet Needs Funding through the Office for the Aging and amending the 2025 County Budget, authorizing an agreement for Specialized Financial Management Services with Coordinated Care Services Inc., amending the 2025 County Budget for the Community Services Preschool Program and Medicaid Billing Services, authorizing an agreement for Opioid Settlement Funds Regional Abatement and amending the 2026 County Budget, and amending the 2025 County Budget relative to Vaccines. The Public Health Department also provided a Strategic Plan Update regarding accreditation.

The session included public hearings for Local Law Intro No. 7 of 2025 (Approving the Management Compensation Plan for 2026) and Local Law Intro No. 8 of 2025 (Authorizing 12 and 13 Year Old Licensed Hunters to Hunt Deer with a Firearm or Crossbow under supervision). Key actions involved the unanimous adoption of Local Law No. 8 of 2025, establishing salary schedules for management, management confidential, and attorney employees effective January 4, 2026, with varying percentage increases. The Board also passed multiple resolutions concerning the levying of 2026 taxes and assessments for Town Budgets, Consolidated Health Districts, and Returned Delinquent 2025 School and Village Taxes. Further resolutions authorized year-end budget adjustments for 2025, levied Hudson River-Black River Regulating District Assessments, authorized agreements for the Cape Vincent Ferry Economic Impact Study, and accepted various state grants, including GIVE Grants for the District Attorney's Office and Probation Department. Budget amendments were passed for Highway Equipment replacement and transfers related to the Highway Office Complex and Employment and Training Building. Additionally, the Board adopted the 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan, authorized agreements for the demolition of an unsafe structure at 13 Market Street, amended fee schedules for the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, and authorized shared services agreements for Weights and Measures personnel with Lewis County.

The Finance & Rules Committee meeting included an update on legislative goals, reporting a 91% success rate for the year, with milestones such as settling union negotiations, implementing two-factor authentication, modernizing financial workflows, expanding polling sites, and updating short-term rental taxation laws. The Committee agreed to sponsor several resolutions related to levying 2026 Taxes and Assessments for Annual Town Budgets, 2026 Consolidated Health District Taxes, and Returned Delinquent 2025 School and Village Taxes. Further resolutions sponsored concerned directing the completion of tax rolls, authorizing year-end adjustments to the 2025 County Budget, levying Hudson River-Black River Regulating District Assessments, calling for the 2026-2027 Organizational Meeting, revising health benefit premiums, authorizing agreements for collection solution support and cost allocation plan services, and establishing a reserve fund for Parks and Forest Land. An emergency resolution was also sponsored for the demolition of an unsafe structure. Additionally, the Committee approved resolutions sponsored by the General Services Committee regarding amendments to the 2026 and 2025 County Budgets related to highway equipment and offices, grant agreements with Empire State Development, a Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Grant, and a Stop DWI enforcement grant. Health & Human Services resolutions approved concerned accepting supplemental funding for the Office for the Aging, Medicaid billing for the Preschool Program, opioid settlement fund agreements, and vaccine budget amendments. The Committee also entered executive session to discuss collective negotiations.

This joint Community Health Improvement Plan for Jefferson County, developed collaboratively by multiple health organizations, aims to improve health and advance equity. Its strategic priorities for 2025-2030 include addressing poverty, suicide prevention, reducing tobacco and e-cigarette use, preventing infant and maternal mortality, enhancing chronic disease prevention, improving oral healthcare, and fostering health and wellness in schools. The plan utilizes evidence-based interventions aligned with the New York State Prevention Agenda to achieve meaningful and equitable health improvements for all residents.

The meeting included a public hearing for the 2026 Tentative Budget, revisions and adoption of the 2026 Tentative Budget, appropriations for the conduct of county government for fiscal year 2026, and adoption of a Capital Plan for 2026-2031. It also covered certification of taxes to the City of Watertown, levying tax map maintenance charges for 2026, and amending the 2025 County Budget in relation to County Attorney Legal Fees. Further discussions and actions involved approving a mortgage tax report, authorizing a software agreement with Tyler Technologies, Inc., and amending the 2025 County Budget relative to Board of Elections expenses. Additional topics included amending the 2025 County Budget in relation to the Employment & Training Department, approving a Management Compensation Plan for 2026, setting a public hearing for the Management Compensation Plan, and authorizing a FY2022 Cybersecurity Grant Agreement. Agreements were authorized with the New York State Office of Information Technology Services and the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, along with the use of Jefferson Community College Rental Income Funds for campus revitalization. Budget amendments were made for Community College Chargebacks and the Treasurer's Office auditing fees. A local law was discussed regarding licensed hunters, and a public hearing was set for this law. The board also discussed termination of drainage easements, reappointments to various boards and committees, authorized a lease with Air Methods Corporation, and an agreement with Charter Communications. Agreements were also authorized with McFarland Johnson Inc. and Titan Roofing, Inc., along with budget amendments. The board also discussed reappointments to the Jefferson County Fire Advisory Board, an agreement with Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C., and authorized the Chairman to execute the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Operator Certification Form. Reappointments were approved for the North Country HOME Consortium (NCHC) Administrative Board and the Jefferson County Planning Board, along with budget amendments for Recycling and Waste Management Accounts and the Sheriff's Office Accident Reconstruction/Crash Data Management System. Appointments and reappointments were made to the Office for the Aging Advisory Council and the Community Services Board, and agreements were authorized with River Hospital and for use of facilities for professional services to the Medical Examiner's Office. Finally, agreements were authorized for provision of autopsy services and toxicology testing services, as well as laboratory services with Carthage Area Hospital.