Onondaga County

The meeting commenced with the approval of the January meeting minutes. The Director of Community Development provided an overview of the department's funding sources, detailing federal entitlement grants (Community Development Block Grant, HOME Grant, Emergency Solutions Grant) and competitive grants (Lead Hazard Reduction Grant). State grants discussed included the Access to Home Grant, Affordable Home Ownership Development Program (in partnership with Empire Housing Development Corporation), New York Main Street Grant, Restore Program, and the new 2024 Vacant Rental Improvement Program. The discussion also covered county initiatives, specifically the County Main Street Program, which has resulted in significant investment in various municipalities, and the County Housing Improvement Program (OHIP), including its award structure for standard and regionally significant projects. The committee also addressed specific inquiries regarding program metrics, funding allocation, eligible exterior facade improvements for the Main Street Grant, and the status of awarded OHIP projects.

The meeting focused heavily on lead poisoning prevention initiatives. Key discussion points included the funding status, specifically related to a potential infusion of $19 million and the ability to roll over funds, and operational challenges such as provider capacity for enrolled families. The committee also addressed regulatory issues affecting providers, such as the frequency of inspections. Significant time was dedicated to reviewing the Health Department's lead poisoning prevention team activities, including health and education outreach, surveillance and blood lead testing services (including use of mobile units and finger-stick screenings), and care coordination for families with children showing elevated blood lead levels. The PreK testing initiative in partnership with Syracuse City School District, which tested 531 children, was reviewed, showing low initial elevated levels, suggesting primary exposure sources are home environments. Furthermore, the role of EPA-certified inspectors in performing surface-by-surface risk assessments and identifying lead hazards, including dust wipe testing, was detailed.

The meeting commenced with the call to order and confirmation of all members present. Key discussions involved a presentation from the Commissioner of Protection regarding the wastewater and storm water management department's structure, assets (including manholes, sewers, pump stations, and treatment plants), and municipality service agreements. The committee discussed ongoing capital improvement projects, such as the comprehensive renewal project at Wel Road and rehabilitation projects. Significant attention was given to staffing shortages in the control division, particularly for plumbing inspectors, and efforts underway to hire new personnel. Additionally, capacity issues leading to backflow problems on Bronson Road were discussed, with details provided on an ongoing study expected to conclude around August of that year to inform future capital improvements. The level of surveillance, including SCADA systems, used for real-time monitoring of infrastructure was also reviewed.

The meeting began with the approval of the previous meeting's minutes. Key discussions centered on resolutions from the Department of Finance concerning the correction of six tax bill errors, five related to sewer unit charges and one related to an assessed value grievance in the town of Clay. The committee also addressed a resolution to increase the income limitation for real property tax exemptions for persons 65 years of age or older, aligning with a New York State increase. A significant portion of the meeting involved an informational briefing on the municipal bonding process, detailing the six steps from departmental requests to debt management and bond redemption. Finally, the committee considered and approved a resolution related to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for roof replacement at the Board of Elections building, followed by the authorization for $500,000 in bonds to fund that roof replacement. Several legislators expressed concern regarding the exclusion of other unanimously approved capital requests from the agenda.

The primary discussion centered on the execution of a new State Order on Consent, intended to set a five-year pathway for removing the entity from the Federal Consent Judgment (ACJ), which originated in January 1998 due to Clean Water Act violations concerning Onondaga Lake. The new order addresses recurring issues in the tributaries flowing into the lake, as the lake itself is considered clean. Key components of the five-year order include a limited project investment, continuation of partnership projects such as improvements related to I-81 progress, continuation of the green improvement fund, and a settlement agreement with ASLF. It also mandates a use attainability analysis for the three main tributaries (Harbor Brook, Lake Creek, and Onondaga Creek) to suggest revisions to water quality standards, leading toward regulation solely by typical permit requirements after ACJ closure. The committee discussed the ongoing oversight mechanisms via existing SPDES permits after the ACJ is closed, and the focus of the new order on the three CSO tributaries.