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Good evening and welcome to the
September 1st meeting of the Putnam

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County Legislature. I'd ask everybody to
please stand for the pledge.

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Legislator Adnezio, would you lead us,
please?

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» I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America, and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.
>> I'd ask you all to remain standing.

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Legislator Russo, would you lead us in
our legislative prayer?

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» Sure.
We gather today here together in town

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I'm doing good work. We seek to
represent fairly and well those who have

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given us this task. May our efforts be
blessed with insight, guided by

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understanding and wisdom. We seek to
serve with respect for all.

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May our personal faith
give us strength to act honestly and

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well in all matters before us. Amen.
>> Amen. Thank you.

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I'd ask Clerk to call the roll, please.
>> District 1, Legislator Montgomery.

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» Here.
>> District 2, Legislator Gouldman.

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» Present.
>> District 3, Legislator Adnezio.

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» Present.
>> District 4, Legislator Russo.

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» Present.
>> District 5, Legislator DiAngelo.

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» Present.
>> District 6, Legislator Regan.

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» Present.
>> District 8, Legislator Sage.

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» Present.
>> District 9, Legislator Crowley.

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» Present.
>> District 7, Chairman Birmingham.

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» Here. Our next item of business is
proclamations. I would call on

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Legislator Montgomery
to recognize Suicide Prevention

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Awareness Month, and I'd
ask Legislator Montgomery to invite

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anybody up who might be here to
join us in this proclamation.

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» Thank you, Chairman. [clears throat]
Thank you. I think we have today here

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Marla Baylor from the co-chair of the
Putnam County Suicide Task Force, Megan

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Costello, co-chair of the Putnam County
Suicide Prevention Task Force,

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and Maria Aidone, the Executive Director
of the American Foundation for Suicide

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Prevention Hudson Valley Westchester
chapter. Welcome. Thanks for coming out

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on this rainy night for this important
topic.

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We have a a beautiful
proclamation here that our legislative

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clerks wonderfully put together. I'll
paraphrase a little bit.

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Suicide is a significant public health
issue that affects individuals and

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families, co-workers, schools,
communities across the nation with

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lasting emotional, social, and economic
impacts.

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Suicide is preventable and through
education, awareness, and early

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intervention, and access to
compassionate support, lives can be

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saved and hope can be restored. Whereas
every member of our community has a role

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in promoting mental wellness, reducing
stigma, encouraging help-seeking

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behaviors, and supporting those who may
be struggling with thoughts of suicide

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or experiencing a mental health crisis.
Whereas Putnam County is committed to

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strengthening suicide prevention and
Putnam County during Suicide Prevention

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Awareness Month, we encourage all
residents to learn the warning signs of

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suicide, engage in open and caring
conversations about mental health,

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support those who may be struggling, and
become familiar with available in local

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resources, including 988 Suicide and
Crisis Lifeline. Now, therefore, be it

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resolved that the County of Putnam ex-
the Putnam County executive and the

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Putnam County legislature do hereby
proclaim September 2026

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as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in
Putnam County, and we call upon all

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residents, businesses, schools, health
care providers, community organizations,

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local agencies to participate in Suicide
Awareness Prevention Month,

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and do activities and work together to
promote hope, encourage connection,

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reduce the stigma surrounding mental
illness, and support efforts to prevent

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suicide.
Um suicide uh is I just want to

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highlight why this work is so important
and and why it matters here in Putnam

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County um and to present this heartfelt
proclamation to you all

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» Thank you.
>> cuz you do the work and the really hard

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work and um
the amazing work that you have

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uh
stepped up this year alone and what I've

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seen. So, this issue has touched uh
my own life in in way too many ways that

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I want to talk about um
and it has affected far too many

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families and I believe we have some here
today and I'm sorry for your loss. Um

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I'm particularly proud that Putnam is
moving beyond awareness and toward real

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prevention. Our [clears throat]
Department of Social Services and Mental

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Health through the Suicide Prevention
Task Force and the LOSS team is working

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collaboratively with our health
department, uh the Veteran Service

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Agency, the Youth Bureau, the schools,
law enforcement, and the coroner's

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office, and community partners. The LOSS
team now provides immediate outreach to

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families after suicide. And Putnam was
just selected for a new state funding to

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expand our rural suicide prevention
work. This

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matters profoundly, especially for our
veterans, our law enforcement officers,

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and our first responders. Not only
because of the rates of suicide are much

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higher for those dedicated service
members, but also it is they who

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experience these tragedies from
perspectives most of us never see and

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I've witnessed firsthand um the response
that they and the care that they give to

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our Putnam residents. I've often felt
hopeless not knowing what more can I do,

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but there is so much more we can do. Um,
I was really encouraged this week, just

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the other day, to be sitting on a call
about the Bear Mountain Bridge

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Authority, and they're doing this $93
million

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renovation restoration to the bridge.
Um,

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but they'll incorporate
climate

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climate deterrent fencing as part of
their rehabilitation work. And the

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workers even will
get um

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suicide prevention workshops. So, the
guys that are actually just doing the

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construction work are obligated to take
these prevention programs. So,

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prevention is becoming part of how we
plan and build, and that's what I hope

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we recognize this month is that suicide
prevention isn't one department's

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responsibility. It really just takes all
of us, and thank you for your hard work

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and being on the front line.
>> Would you like to say anything?

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» You said a lot.
>> Yeah.

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» Yeah.
>> Thank you very much.

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» You touched on a lot of really important
things, you know, that as part of the

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prevention and post-vention work that we
do here in the community.

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Um, I guess we're happy just to have the
awareness about suicide prevention

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month, and um
when we talk about suicide, we elevate

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the conversation, it just raises
awareness, and to your point, everyone

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has a role to play in making our
community suicide safer.

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Um, I would just challenge everyone in
the community, if you haven't already

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taken any type of a what they would call
gatekeeper training for suicide

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prevention, something like safe talk or
talk saves lives or um

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uh question, persuade, and refer, which
which also be QPR. Um, please do that

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because it will help you recognize
someone who may be at risk for suicide

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and help you know how to put them in
touch with suicide prevention resources.

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We've had a lot of professionals come to
those trainings over the years, and the

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feedback we have gotten from them is
that it didn't just help them in their

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line of work, but um when they're with
their family members, you know, they

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were at a barbecue and they were talking
to a cousin and you know, they asked

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them, "Are you thinking about suicide?"
and they said, "Yes." Um and I also just

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want to take the opportunity to dispel a
myth that if you ask someone if they're

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thinking about suicide, um that does not
put the idea in their head. So, for

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people who are afraid to bring that up,
you know, as a topic of conversation, um

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please ask. You know, most people um are
looking for someone safe to be able to

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talk to about what they're struggling
with and to know that someone is there

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and that they're not alone. So, um
I just also want to put in a plug-in, um

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you know, call to action for everyone.
We're going to have our local Out of the

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Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk here in
Putnam on October 18th. It's going to be

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kicking off right outside in the parking
lot down there. So, we hope that

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everyone will join us that morning. I
think we're kicking the program off at

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10:00 a.m. So, if um you can please show
up and you know, share with your friends

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and neighbors. Again, you know, we want
the issue to be visible, you know, we

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want people who um have either lost
people to suicide or you know, maybe

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they're struggling um to know that
they're not alone and that there's a

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community here that cares about them and
is, you know, ready, willing, and able

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to support. So,
Anything you guys want to ask?

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» I just want to say thank you. Um in my
position with AFSP, I cover six, seven

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counties and I use Putnam County as an
example to the other counties and what

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they do for suicide loss, how they work
with the Medical Examiner's Department.

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So, kudos to the the loss team in
Putnam. They're amazing and and thank

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you for all your support. And as Megan
had said, there is education available.

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Um
suicide prevention is for everybody. You

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do not need to be a mental health
professional to save a life by suicide.

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So, [clears throat] I recommend
afsp.org. You can find free information,

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connect with me if you want to bring a
training to your constituents. I could

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do it over Zoom. We don't charge for
anything and thank you.

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» Thank you.
>> Thank you.

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» Thanks for doing the hard work. I know
that you do.

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» [applause]

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[snorts]
>> Thank you, Legislator Montgomery, and

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thank you to our county agencies and
community organizations for the great

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work you do. Um,
you're part of what makes Putnam County

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so special, particularly in such
in areas as this. So, thank you very

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much. And thank you, Legislator
Montgomery.

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Uh, next item is item four, acceptance
of minutes. We've got three sets of

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minutes there. They do not require a
vote. Uh, next item is item number five,

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a correspondence from the county
auditor. Uh, there have been no

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erroneous assessments approved uh for
the month of August. Next, we're going

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into
pre-filed resolutions. The first

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resolution, the first excuse me,
committee up is the Rules and Enactments

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Committee chaired by Legislator Sage.
Amy, would you lead us through your

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agenda?
>> Uh, thank you, Chairman Birmingham. On

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behalf of the Rules, Enactments, and
Intergovernmental Relations Committee,

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and on behalf of Legislators Birmingham
and Goldman and myself, I'd like to

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bring forward agenda item 6A. This is an
approval for litigation settlement uh,

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for Calista Malstrom v. Putnam County.
>> Thank you. Any discussion?

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All in favor?
>> Aye.

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Moving on to agenda item 6B. This is an
approval for amending resolution 94 of

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2026 regarding the designation of the
official newspaper.

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Uh, we are designating a back up no um,
publications um, in case the our

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original
official newspaper is unavailable so

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that we can
get our um,

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legal in the newspaper as required by
the charter.

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» Thank you. Any discussion? Legislator
Crowley.

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» I just want to say thank you to the
committee and the other legislators for

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entertaining my resolutions so that we
can get important things passed that

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have been stifled in the past and adding
to it and make sure that we are

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continuing to do the people's work and
get get these get these laws and and tax

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savings like the gas uh thank god it
wasn't affected, but you know, make sure

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that they're they're done on time so
that the people get the savings or

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accounts.
>> Great.

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Any further discussion, Legislator
Montgomery?

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» Thank you, Chairman. Um I think I just
wanted to make a brief comment since I'd

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offered some uh alternative language
during the Rules Committee discussion. I

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think this resolution is a practical
compromise. It reflects how people get

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information today, not 40 years ago or
no, 100 years ago when the law was

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established, [laughter]
while still making sure we meet all of

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our
legal notice requirements. Um

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the law does not require newspaper
publication or where it does not require

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newspaper publication, we can we can use
the county website, which is faster,

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more efficient, more accessible. Um and
where it does require a newspaper, the

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Putnam County Press remains our
designated official newspaper, but we

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now have a clear backup and it can't uh
if it cannot meet the publication

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deadline, the press.
So, and more importantly to me, the

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resolution also recognizes the value of
our local newspapers, the Highlands

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Current and the Maybrook News in making
sure county information actually reaches

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people
throughout Putnam County. So, the goal

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here was never simply to choose one
newspaper over another. It was to

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protect the county legally, to avoid
miss deadlines, and at the same time

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give the public the broadest practical
access

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to county notices. So, I think this
resolution accomplishes that.

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» [clears throat]
>> Great. Thank you. Any other comment from

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my colleagues?
Seeing none, all in favor?

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» Aye.
>> Aye.

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» Thank you. Agenda item 6C. This is an
approval for a local law.

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Excuse me. I'm in Excuse [clears throat]
me.

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Fighting a cold.
>> [cough]

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» Amending chapter 55, section 55-12 of
Putnam County Code

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entitled Board of Ethics establishment,
qualifications of members, appointment

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of members, terms of office.
This is one of those items that actually

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um
was a We passed previously. We were

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unable to um
get it put into law because of the

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newspapers and we thereby
went back to the drawing board and made

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a few changes.
Um we added um

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some transparency measures.
One being an an

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an application process that allows their
uh

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applications to be submitted to the
legislature.

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Um
we made sure that

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these are uh we made sure added language
to be sure that these are actual

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nominations that these uh
entities will be making

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and um specified uh full legislature
will be making

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um
a

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nomination in case uh we don't have a
minority chair.

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Few of the changes.
>> Right. Thank you. Any comment from my

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00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:52,320
colleagues?
Legislator Gouldman.

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00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:57,160
» Thank you, Chairman.
Um even though I have some issues with

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00:14:54,800 --> 00:15:00,520
uh some of this, I do understand that a
functioning ethics board is needed here

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00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:05,760
in Putnam County.
Currently, there are two members of this

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00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:09,560
board. That means it's non-functioning.
I'm glad that we got rid of the

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00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:14,800
political party bosses getting involved
with uh an ethics board. There's really

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00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:19,560
no place for that on an ethics board.
Where it should not be.

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00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:24,040
Uh there are other issues like giving
the chair of the legislature nominating

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00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:28,000
two seats. It should not be the chair,
it should be the full legislative body.

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00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:33,560
And not allowing a member to be
appointed who's an employee or not

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00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:37,520
when I'm looking at the whole picture
right here.

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00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:43,480
One of the current board members at the
this time is a former Putnam County

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00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:48,920
personnel director who served on the
board while he was personnel director.

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00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:54,000
And everyone will agree, I'm sure
everyone will agree, that

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00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:59,800
he in that position he was probably the
best personnel director in the county,

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00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:05,400
the state, and in the country probably.
Um to leave out this type of individual

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00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:09,600
when I'm looking at the total mix of the
county and I think we should. Even

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00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:13,280
though I have issues with this, I
understand we need an ethics board and

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00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:17,080
I'm not going to hold this up, so I'll
be supporting it.

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00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:21,840
» Thank you. Any other comments?
>> I would just add to echo Legislator

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Sage, um it's almost fortuitous that the
newspaper publication wasn't made

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00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:28,280
through no fault of ours. Uh it was just
a

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00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:30,040
time in the year when they didn't have a
weekly

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00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,240
um
publication and that's why it didn't get

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00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:36,600
printed. Um
but it gave us an opportunity to revisit

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00:16:34,839 --> 00:16:40,720
and improve it and for those reasons
that you pointed out I I think that uh

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was fortuitous.
Um

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00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:45,920
seeing no other comment, I would ask for
a roll call vote.

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00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:53,360
» Legislator Adnesio? I'll be recusing
this evening due to pending matter.

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00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:55,760
Legislator Crawley?
>> Yes.

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00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,800
» Legislator D'Angelo?
>> Yes.

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00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:00,480
» Legislator Gouldman?
>> Yes.

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00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,520
» Legislator Montgomery?
>> Yes.

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00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,839
» Legislator Reagan?
>> Yes.

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00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,920
» Legislator Russo?
>> Yes.

250
00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:09,319
» Legislator Sage?
>> Yes.

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00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,520
» Chairman Birmingham?
>> Yes.

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00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:14,319
» Motion carries.
>> Thank you, Legislator Sage. Our next

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00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:18,480
committee up is the Health, Social,
Education, Environmental Committee

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00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:23,480
chaired by Legislator Montgomery. Nancy?
>> Uh sure, on behalf of the health

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00:17:20,319 --> 00:17:29,480
committee members, Legislators Adnesio
and Russo, I present item 6D,

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00:17:26,319 --> 00:17:29,480
a $173,195

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00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:36,360
budgetary amendment for the Early
Learning Centers

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00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:41,200
4410 program, which is a specialized
program serving a small group of

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00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:45,600
students with specific staffing and
student to staff requirements.

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00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:50,640
Um this
budgetary recognizes program revenue and

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00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:55,400
appropriates those funds for the related
costs, primarily care at private

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00:17:52,760 --> 00:18:00,920
institutions, transportation, and other
operating expenses. And there is no

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00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:05,240
fiscal impact to the county in 2026 or
2027.

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00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:09,440
» Thank you. Any discussion?
Legislator Reagan.

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00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:13,800
» Thank you, Chairman. I have a question
through the chair to Legislator

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00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:19,120
Montgomery. Based on what we discovered
last week in the distribution of funds,

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00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:23,200
especially with the Early Learning
Center here, can we be certain that the

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00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:28,120
funds being allocated here is going to
the Early Learning Center and will be

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00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:32,800
spent for the children as as desired?
>> I don't think we'll know until we get

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00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:37,000
the receipts, but I mean, I'm pretty
confident. I can't imagine that they

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00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:39,400
would be spending it on another anything
else.

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00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:43,760
» I imagine you and I will follow up on
that. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman.

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00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:45,400
Thank you. Any other comments?
Seeing none, all in favor?

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00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,600
» Aye.
>> Aye.

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00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:53,818
» Um
Sorry.

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00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:57,480
See next. Okay.
>> [laughter]

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00:18:54,600 --> 00:19:01,920
» 6E. On uh on behalf of Legislators
Adnesio and Russo of the Health

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00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:03,920
Committee, I present 6
E.

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00:19:03,120 --> 00:19:05,400
I'll wait.
>> E. Yes.

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00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:08,920
» E.
>> Yep.

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00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:15,120
» Um budgetary amendment for the Early
Learning Centers 40 4410 program, uh

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00:19:13,360 --> 00:19:18,520
special Is that Am I do Am
>> No, no, this is the special care private

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00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,240
institutions.
>> Yeah, sorry.

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00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:25,560
» No problem.
>> So, I make a motion to move that.

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00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:27,600
» Thank you. Any discussion?
All in favor?

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00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:30,560
» Aye.
>> Thank you, Legislator Montgomery. Next

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00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:34,160
we have up the Personnel Committee
chaired by Legislator Ednusia. Tony?

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00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:38,360
» Thank you, Chairman Birmingham. On
behalf of Legislators Russo, Sage, and

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00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:42,960
myself,
I make a motion to approve the emotional

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00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:46,000
support animals. This was discussed in
committee.

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00:19:44,120 --> 00:19:51,720
This will be allowing therapy dogs at
the Children's Advocacy Center.

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00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:55,680
And I am full support of this, allowing
a therapy dog at the center to calm and

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00:19:53,960 --> 00:20:01,240
comfort children who are experiencing
anxiety during stressful experiences.

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00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:04,400
And I really
am very happy to see this move forward

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00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,240
this evening.
>> Thank you.

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00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:11,040
Any discussion?
Legislator Montgomery.

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00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:14,640
» I'm really happy to support this. I'd
like to expand this throughout the whole

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00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:18,400
county, and I'll just go on record by
saying I guess I'll be doing some

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00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:22,480
research to see what other counties do
as far as allowing therapy dogs. I was

300
00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:26,640
really disappointed
um a couple of years ago when we banned

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00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:31,400
dogs from all county buildings other
than service dogs. I think, you know,

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00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:38,040
regardless if it's a therapy dog um or a
service dog, therapy dogs specifically

303
00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:43,120
can provide a great resource and fun and
change the whole vibe of any

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00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:49,160
institution, which I think is sometimes
sorely needed for morale. Um I think

305
00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:53,560
sometimes, without us knowing, we do see
therapy dogs being or not even therapy

306
00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:58,600
dogs, adoption dogs being brought into
county buildings.

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00:20:55,160 --> 00:21:03,040
Um and that's always fun. So, we're
we're uh

308
00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:07,680
It happens here, and some of us are
breaking the law.

309
00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:11,200
» Well, um I would concur with you. I I I
don't think I'm the only one in the room

310
00:21:09,120 --> 00:21:15,480
who would remember Judge Hickman
bringing in a black lab

311
00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:18,480
to the county courthouse and it was
always a

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00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:23,320
lab is of course a very gentle animals
and it did kind of

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00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:26,840
make it feel more homey and and I do see
the

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00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:30,080
liability issues perhaps but
yeah sometimes the rules can get a

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00:21:28,360 --> 00:21:34,320
little too stringent but this is
certainly separate apart from that this

316
00:21:32,120 --> 00:21:36,920
is certainly more welcoming a step in
the right direction anyway.

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00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:39,720
» So thank you for that.
>> Any other of my colleagues have any

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00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:41,200
comments?
Seeing none all in favor?

319
00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,720
» Aye.
>> Aye.

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00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:47,080
» Thank you Legislator Adnezio. Next we
have the Physical Services Committee

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00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:53,760
chaired by Legislator Goldman. Bill?
>> Thank you Chairman. On number 6G we have

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00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:57,360
a budgetary amendment 26A068.
This is from the Department of Public

323
00:21:55,240 --> 00:22:00,360
Works. We have a check in the amount of
$4,793.60

324
00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:11,120
which was received in 2024
from the Progressive Insurance in 2024

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00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:17,320
of which $350 was supplied the DPW's
revenue line to offset a collection fee

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00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:22,920
charge and the balance was placed in
deferred revenue for the future. The DPW

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00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:28,280
Commissioner has requested these funds
be made available.

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00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:29,600
» Thank you. Any discussion?
All in favor?

329
00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:33,000
» Aye.
>> Aye.

330
00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:36,560
» Thank you. Item number 6H. We have an
approval for a grant application for the

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00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:41,800
community
residency economic sustainability and

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00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:47,560
technology program. This is from the
Bureau of Emergency Services facilities

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00:22:44,120 --> 00:22:52,920
repairs. It is for $100,000 administered
by the Dormitory Authority.

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00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:55,200
» Any discussion?
Seeing none all in favor?

335
00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:58,440
» Aye.
>> Aye.

336
00:22:56,080 --> 00:23:04,680
» Thank you. Item number 6I. We have an
approval for a previously authorized

337
00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:09,800
funding from PIN 8761.
5.

338
00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:15,440
for Stone Ridge Avenue at Drewville Road
the intersection project. We are doing

339
00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:19,480
this resolution to reconnect the project
labor agreement.

340
00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:21,760
» Thank you. Any discussion? Legislator
Crowley.

341
00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:26,280
» I just want to say thank you. I'm glad
that the powers approved on this. This

342
00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:30,320
is going to make for safer travel
for our residents to get to the

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00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:34,280
hospital. It's going to
give

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00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:37,720
people that are either in the you know
law enforcement first responders or

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00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:41,280
people that are just taking family
members to get there.

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00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:45,040
Safer routes of traffic and just just
make it a much nicer road and you've

347
00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:48,600
been there recently it's it's not not
the best way to get to a hospital. So

348
00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:53,040
I'm glad that the federal government
approved it and that we got where we are

349
00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:57,360
and I can't wait to see the project in
and hopefully be completed in in a good

350
00:23:56,160 --> 00:24:00,240
amount of time.
>> Thank you indeed

351
00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:03,320
for those of you of us who have been
there the sight lines depending on where

352
00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:07,520
you're coming in at that intersection
can be a bit challenging. So thank you

353
00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:10,040
for that. Any other comments?
Seeing none all in favor?

354
00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:12,640
» I.
>> Thank you Legislator Goldman. Next we

355
00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:17,160
have the audit administration committee
chaired by Legislator

356
00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:21,200
Crowley.
>> Thank you Chairman Birmingham on behalf

357
00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:25,600
of myself Legislator Reagan and
Legislator Russo I'd like to move item

358
00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:30,040
6J which is the approval of the fund
transfer 2016206.

359
00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:34,520
That's the Department of General
Services cover chargeback for vehicle

360
00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:38,640
leasing in the county departments. This
was item seven in the audit committee.

361
00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:45,000
Um
can look it over we talked about it.

362
00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:47,520
And it is in the amount of 48,600
dollars.

363
00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:53,417
» Thank you. Any discussion?
Seeing none all in favor?

364
00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:57,360
» I.
>> [clears throat]

365
00:24:55,240 --> 00:25:01,720
» Item number 6K is the approval and
authorization of legislators to attend

366
00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:05,360
September's New York State Association
of Counties conference. This was agenda

367
00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:09,440
item number eight at the Audit and
Administration meeting. This is a

368
00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:14,400
conference that happens twice a year for
people that aren't familiar with it.

369
00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:18,760
They offer different breakout classes
and different things that are coming

370
00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:23,000
down from mandates from Albany and five
out of the nine legislators seem to be

371
00:25:20,120 --> 00:25:26,480
attending this year.
>> Thank you. Any discussion?

372
00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:30,280
All in favor?
>> Aye.

373
00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:33,400
» Thank you Legislator Crowley.
Next we're on to the Budget and Finance

374
00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:36,080
Committee which consists of all
legislators and I chair that committee.

375
00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:40,720
We have
three items before us this evening.

376
00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:44,520
First one is item 6L, approval sunlight
and public disclosure requirements in

377
00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:48,880
connection or relation to the county's
fund balance allocation procedures.

378
00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:52,520
Um
I'll move it on behalf of the committee

379
00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:55,640
but I'd first like to give a little
context to this.

380
00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:59,000
I may have sounded like a broken record
the last few years.

381
00:25:57,360 --> 00:26:04,440
Last year and a half I've been back on
this legislature.

382
00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:09,880
I really have a concern about the way
our fund balance is being allocated. As

383
00:26:08,120 --> 00:26:16,520
of December 20, excuse me, December
31st, 2024 we have a total fund balance

384
00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:20,480
of almost $191 million.
And that is separate and apart from our

385
00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:26,440
2025-2026
operating budget of $205 million. So

386
00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:31,400
it's almost approaching the amount of
our operating budget. And there's a

387
00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:34,880
certain entity called the Government
Accounting Standards Board. It's an It's

388
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:39,280
a national board. They put out
statements every year or every

389
00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:43,640
frequently. GASB 54 was put into place
in 2012.

390
00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:48,200
That was a statement that allowed a
county legislature such as ours to

391
00:26:45,360 --> 00:26:51,280
delegate our ability to allocate fund
balance to the chief fiscal officer of

392
00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:53,720
the county which of course is our
Commissioner of Finance.

393
00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:59,000
Um
again, that went into effect in 2010 for

394
00:26:55,720 --> 00:27:03,320
the first 2 years of that statement.
This legislature

395
00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:08,440
um allocated fund balance. And then in
2012, um and I was on the legislature at

396
00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:11,760
that point, I probably voted for it.
Um we delegated that power to the

397
00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:17,440
Commissioner of Finance.
But our amount of fund balances changed

398
00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:21,960
dramatically since that time. In 2012,
our fund balance was about $38 million.

399
00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:26,240
That's not a little bit amount of money,
that's a lot of money, but it certainly

400
00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:31,640
was nowhere near the hundred almost $191
million we have today. So for the last

401
00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:33,920
14 years, it's been
um

402
00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:36,240
in the purview of the County
Commissioner of Finance.

403
00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:40,200
Um
and this resolution is not a reflection

404
00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:45,640
on any of the three that have served in
that position since that delegation took

405
00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:48,840
place. But I think because we are
getting to a point where there's so much

406
00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:52,080
fund balance, and we've been there for
quite a while, and I said this in

407
00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:56,520
committee when I returned to this
legislature about a year and a half ago

408
00:27:54,200 --> 00:28:01,520
after having left it at $38 million in
2012 to find out it was almost a hundred

409
00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:06,640
at that point, $176 million before we
got the 2024 audit, where it's now

410
00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:11,920
almost $191, I almost fell out of my
chair. That That money's being allocated

411
00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:16,240
by one person
outside of public scrutiny. And if we

412
00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:18,880
take this ability back to this
legislature,

413
00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:23,240
not going to say we're always going to
get it right, but at least we'll do it

414
00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:28,360
in public, and it'll be subject to
public scrutiny and public comment. So

415
00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:31,800
that's some of my impetus behind putting
this forward.

416
00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:34,680
Again, there's two things that I think
we have a problem with, and we're we're

417
00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:39,920
getting into the budget season coming up
in the next 6 weeks or so.

418
00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:43,560
Um from the legislature standpoint,
we have these what I will call

419
00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:49,040
artificial allocations. We have
allocations that are put into the fund

420
00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:54,320
balance that are the same allocations
year after year after year, whether it's

421
00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:58,480
a capital fund that's been sitting at
roughly about $15 million for the last

422
00:28:56,360 --> 00:29:03,160
four or five years, unspent, unreturned
back to the county residents.

423
00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:07,520
I'm not a big fan of tax and hoard, but
I'm also not a big fan of tax and spend

424
00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:10,880
either. So, I think
whatever decisions we make once we

425
00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:14,120
reassume this power assuming it passes
tonight and

426
00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:19,240
receives the county executive's
approval, if it's not vetoed, I think we

427
00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:23,760
can have those discussions about the
appropriate and proper ways to allocate

428
00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:28,040
fund balance, and those discussions will
be made in the public with proper public

429
00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:31,880
scrutiny. So, I've probably talked
enough about this from my perspective,

430
00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:36,360
so I'll open it up to my colleagues if
any of my colleagues have any comments

431
00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:40,240
or questions. Legislature and Nisio.
>> I think just to put it in simple terms,

432
00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:44,880
we are going to return to status quo
restoring the county's prior practice.

433
00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:49,520
» Thank you.
Any other comments? Legislature Crowley.

434
00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:52,200
» I just for people listening, I think
it's important for them to understand

435
00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:55,320
the difference between restricted and
unrestricted funds, so if you'd just let

436
00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:59,520
me have a moment.
>> Restricted funds are grants, programs

437
00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:04,400
created and funded by law for specific
purposes like forfeiture assets, stop

438
00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:07,480
DWI, opioid settlement funds, capital
project funds, trust fund,

439
00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:12,880
um
it's in accordance with GAAP, debt

440
00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:15,920
service fund, and then unrestricted
would be purchase on orders for

441
00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:19,440
subsequent year expenditures,
retirement, capital projects, tax

442
00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:23,760
stabilization, insurance, post
employment, callable bonds, state aid,

443
00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:26,640
disaster recovery, judgments and
settlements. So, I just think people at

444
00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:29,720
home who are watching, I wanted them to
understand the difference between

445
00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:33,840
restricted and unrestricted funds, so
they when they're looking at it, they

446
00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:36,040
understand what what and what it's being
assigned to and kind of where the money

447
00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:39,560
falls.
>> Indeed, that's a good point. The the two

448
00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:43,720
buckets, if you will, restricted and
unrestricted,

449
00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:47,680
out of the about 191 million
right now, I'm going to be off a little

450
00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:52,680
bit, but out of that 191 million, it's
only about 23 million that's restricted.

451
00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:56,280
The balance of that is unrestricted, and
some of that is allocated, but again,

452
00:30:54,160 --> 00:31:01,240
hopefully we'll come back and as a
legislature and and make some other

453
00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:05,040
appropriations, or maybe just God forbid
return it to the taxpayers.

454
00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:09,520
I'm looking forward to at least having
that discussion if not actually doing

455
00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:14,000
it, which I'm inclined to do so. Thank
you. Legislator Crowley. Any other of my

456
00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:17,360
colleagues have any comments?
Legislator Reagan.

457
00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:21,360
» Thank you, Chairman. While I'm sure many
of my colleagues perhaps feel the same

458
00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:25,280
way, I wish that the person proposing
this resolution would explain it in

459
00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:30,760
greater detail to us. I want to express
my support for this legislation.

460
00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:33,320
» Thank you. Sure.
Legislator Montgomery.

461
00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:37,760
» I didn't understand that. You were
looking for more detail from him?

462
00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:40,840
» Well, [laughter] I could give I could go
on if you'd like. I mean

463
00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:44,360
» Yeah.
I appreciate I

464
00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:47,960
» That was a Tommyism. Okay. [laughter]
I think he was being sarcastic.

465
00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:51,480
» I have a comment.
>> Legislator Montgomery.

466
00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:56,160
» I appreciate Legislator Ed Nimmons'
sentiment that this is really

467
00:31:53,840 --> 00:32:02,520
simply about sunlight. Our fund balance
is vastly larger than it was when this

468
00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:06,880
policy was adopted in 2012, right? So, I
believe decisions involving that much

469
00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:12,600
public money should happen openly,
right? So, with the legislature and the

470
00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:16,857
public like able to see and understand
them. And maybe Dan needs to talk some

471
00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:19,480
more about it.
>> [laughter]

472
00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:23,840
» I'll spare you.
Any other legislators have any comments?

473
00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:26,800
On this, I'd like to ask for a roll call
vote, please.

474
00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:31,480
» I was just going to add Thank you. We
also have to I will let I just covered

475
00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:36,320
to you. We also acquired a lot during
COVID doing to ARPA due to ARPA and the

476
00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:40,600
Wafer settlement. Um so, there was a big
jump in in our revenue there, too. So,

477
00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:44,360
that's that's something to know.
>> Indeed.

478
00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:46,640
Thank you. Roll call vote, please.
>> Legislator Adnesio.

479
00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:48,360
» Yes.
>> Legislator Crowley.

480
00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:50,240
» Yes.
>> Legislator D'Angelo.

481
00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:52,360
» Yes.
>> Legislator Gouldman.

482
00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:55,000
» Yes. Yes.
>> Legislator Montgomery.

483
00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:56,600
» Yes.
>> Legislator Reagan.

484
00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:58,800
» Yes.
>> Legislator Russo.

485
00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:00,600
» Yes.
>> Legislator Sage.

486
00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:02,040
» Yes.
>> Chairman Birmingham.

487
00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:05,480
» Yes.
>> Motion carries.

488
00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:08,920
» Thank you. Item 6M, approval resolution
requesting an audit by the office of the

489
00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:12,560
New York State Comptroller to audit the
county's fund balance. I'll move that on

490
00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:16,120
behalf of the committee. Uh, just a
little color on this one as well. Uh,

491
00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:20,120
it's almost a companion or uh, hand it
goes hand in hand with 6L.

492
00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:23,560
Because we have so much money in our
fund balance, uh, that's taxpayer money,

493
00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:28,480
um,
I'd like the state comptroller to weigh

494
00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:32,240
in. Now, we can't command that the state
comptroller do not it. I should be clear

495
00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:37,240
about this. This is merely a request,
um, and uh, you know, this will also

496
00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:42,760
accompany a letter from me, as the
resolution says, to request that

497
00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:46,680
specifically. But, what I want to do is
is well, I and if this passes, what we

498
00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:51,000
all want to have happen is for the state
comptroller to give us some guidance as

499
00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:55,080
to what is a reasonable amount of fund
balance. Now, the comptroller has never

500
00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:58,280
in his, um,
reports on other counties or

501
00:33:56,400 --> 00:34:02,000
municipalities fund balanced
said what a reasonable amount is. That's

502
00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:05,640
he's he's said that's not his job, and I
would agree with him. But, at least

503
00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:09,760
perhaps they could give us some pointers
as to how much is a reasonable amount,

504
00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:14,760
how much is too much. I happen to think
191 million is too much. That's not

505
00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:19,280
being returned to the taxpayers. And,
uh, also I I'd like the comptroller to

506
00:34:16,919 --> 00:34:24,919
drill down into not only the
what I call the artificial allocations

507
00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:29,840
with respect to our fund balance, um,
again, which is

508
00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:35,200
almost $82 million as of December 31st,
2024. I suspect that number's going to

509
00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:38,080
go up higher once we get to 25 audit,
which will be coming out in a few weeks.

510
00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:42,000
That number is probably going to be a
lot higher. And again, those allocations

511
00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:44,840
are made
today

512
00:34:43,240 --> 00:34:49,080
outside of public purview. We only get
to see them at some point, sometimes 18

513
00:34:47,240 --> 00:34:52,840
months after those are made. Those
allocations. So, I want some input on

514
00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:57,080
that
um as well as I'd like a discussion, and

515
00:34:55,720 --> 00:35:00,600
this is a little bit off topic, but a
lot of our fund balance, you may have

516
00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:03,920
seen the memo I put out yesterday to the
Commissioner of Finance, to which she

517
00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:06,880
responded today,
we're locking up a lot of our fund

518
00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:10,480
balance in investments that have
breakage fees. In other words, we are

519
00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:13,240
investing money
uh our fund balance, which is allowed,

520
00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:17,760
there's nothing wrong with that. The
General Municipal Law Section 11 allows

521
00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:20,160
for that. But a lot of these
um

522
00:35:18,520 --> 00:35:23,840
investments come with breakage fees, so
that if we need the money, we're going

523
00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:28,480
to have to pay penalty to get it back
before maturity. Um and again, that's a

524
00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:33,040
a power that's delegated to our
Commissioner of Finance by the charter,

525
00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:36,960
so a resolution can't undo that. But um
I'd like to have the

526
00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:40,920
controller look at that as well.
Um those uh we got a list of about $2

527
00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:44,680
million breakage
breakage fees if we were to get out of

528
00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:48,440
our current certificates of deposit. So,
before maturity, some of which go out

529
00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:54,240
for three or four years.
So, that is a significant amount of

530
00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:58,680
money being taxpayer money being tied up
um in investments, making money, yes,

531
00:35:56,120 --> 00:36:02,520
but not going back to the taxpayers. So,
those are just some of the things that I

532
00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:06,560
I hope the controller looks at. Again,
he's it's [snorts] his job, and he can

533
00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:10,320
do it or not, but I I think we have to
be on record to ask him to at least take

534
00:36:08,720 --> 00:36:14,160
a look at it and give us some some
advice. So, that's my uh thoughts on

535
00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:19,120
that. Do any of my colleagues have any
thoughts on this this item M?

536
00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:24,720
» Legislator Montgomery.
>> That's something I'll never

537
00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:28,640
get get comfortable with is is
I guess investing public money. I know

538
00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:32,400
it's done. I know, I mean I've
been a member of not-for-profits where

539
00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:34,840
we do it, but we're taking like donors'
money, so we're taking the public's

540
00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:36,680
money
and investing it.

541
00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:41,800
» Yeah.
>> Like whatever. Um but to me, like you,

542
00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:46,280
these resolutions go together. One
increases transparency in our own

543
00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:50,080
process and the other just invites
independent review of that process, so

544
00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:53,040
I'll be supporting it.
>> Thank you.

545
00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:57,040
Legislator Adnauseam.
>> Thank you. I'm in favor of requesting an

546
00:36:55,600 --> 00:37:01,520
audit by the state controller. These
audits examine fund balance,

547
00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:04,960
spending, and disbursements, and the
audits are intended to improve fiscal

548
00:37:03,720 --> 00:37:08,480
management and strengthen
accountability.

549
00:37:06,440 --> 00:37:12,240
I believe this audit, if it gets done,
if they agree to do this, will help

550
00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:17,360
protect our taxpayers and hold
government accountable.

551
00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:21,680
» Thank you. Any other legislator?
Legislator Sage.

552
00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:26,920
» Um you've said it over and over again.
This is taxpayer money. This money

553
00:37:23,720 --> 00:37:31,520
belongs to the people. I think
they know better how to spend their own

554
00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:35,080
money. We need to slow the siphon of uh
government money

555
00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:39,776
um when we have plenty of it.
And we also need to be good stewards of

556
00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:43,520
taxpayer dollars. Um we can't
[clears throat] shove it in a mattress.

557
00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:48,160
We have to invest it in
savings so we can accumulate growth for

558
00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:51,200
the taxpayer. Um our commissioner is
very conservative with our taxpayer

559
00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:55,440
money.
But we need to be even more conservative

560
00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:58,920
in taking that money from the taxpayer.
Um the the

561
00:37:57,040 --> 00:38:02,600
we can't keep taking money from
taxpayers.

562
00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:06,840
Like when last year we had so much
discussion about lowering the tax rate

563
00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:09,720
for
uh sales tax

564
00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:12,320
for um
people [clears throat] in Putnam County.

565
00:38:11,040 --> 00:38:15,920
We ended up
not winning our our battle. We ended up

566
00:38:14,240 --> 00:38:18,200
giving more money to the municipalities
instead of giving it back to the

567
00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:24,480
taxpayer.
It's time that we start slowing the

568
00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:27,240
siphon of tax money to the government
and giving it back to the people who are

569
00:38:25,720 --> 00:38:30,680
actually paying it. I mean, it's their
money, it's coming out of their pocket.

570
00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:35,760
They need to pay for groceries and gas,
and um I think it's important that we

571
00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:42,480
have a plan going forward um where we
can be responsible in

572
00:38:39,040 --> 00:38:47,040
taxing and taking money from people.
So, I'm very much in favor of this.

573
00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:50,680
» Thank you. Any other legislator have any
comments?

574
00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:55,040
Seeing none, I'll ask
for a roll call vote, please.

575
00:38:53,600 --> 00:38:56,720
» Legislator Adnesio?
>> Yes.

576
00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:59,200
» Legislator Crowley?
>> Yes.

577
00:38:57,520 --> 00:39:00,840
» Legislator D'Angelo?
>> Yes.

578
00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:02,920
» Legislator Gouldman?
>> Yes.

579
00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:04,520
» Legislator Montgomery?
>> Yes.

580
00:39:03,400 --> 00:39:06,240
» Legislator Reagan?
>> Yes.

581
00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:08,360
» Legislator Russo?
>> Yes.

582
00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:10,280
» Legislator Sage?
>> Yes.

583
00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:11,760
» Chairman Birmingham?
>> Yes.

584
00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:15,000
» Motion carries.
>> Thank you. The last item for the Budget

585
00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:18,040
and Finance Committee is item five,
excuse me, six N, approval,

586
00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:23,400
reaffirmation, and implementation of
Resolution 304 of 2025, authorizing the

587
00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:26,240
immediate expenditure of remaining funds
for food insecurity.

588
00:39:25,160 --> 00:39:29,240
Um I'm moving on behalf of the
committee, but I'd like to turn it over

589
00:39:27,560 --> 00:39:31,120
to Legislator Montgomery, who is the
original sponsor for this, if you're

590
00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:32,280
ready or
>> I think so.

591
00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:36,640
» Okay.
>> What I What I learned today is that this

592
00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:40,360
is a very complex issue and difficult to
explain. I was on the phone with the

593
00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:46,480
press today and trying to help them
understand and not confuse it with

594
00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:52,040
Resolution 221 of 2026, which we passed
last month, and they're two completely

595
00:39:48,240 --> 00:39:53,480
different resolutions. Um
Do you want the long version?

596
00:39:53,240 --> 00:39:59,600
» Sure.
>> All right. So, in November 2025, during

597
00:39:57,120 --> 00:40:02,240
the federal shutdown, I I want to
preface

598
00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:05,960
I want to preface this with a couple of
things. One, this is a really good

599
00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:11,720
example of why the previous two
resolutions needed to pass, because this

600
00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:17,360
is one of those things that um
wasn't we weren't aware of it

601
00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:21,640
explicitly, let's say. So,
and and two I'll probably disagree with

602
00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:26,680
Legislator Sage in how that money should
go back to the taxpayer. This is one of

603
00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:31,880
those solutions to how the money should
go back to taxpayers. I didn't agree so

604
00:40:29,080 --> 00:40:37,840
much with the reduction of sales tax. We
have a lower sales tax rate than

605
00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:42,720
an average of what, 66% in the in the
country?

606
00:40:39,360 --> 00:40:48,160
Um well, we're in the 66%. So, we'll say
that. But,

607
00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:52,200
um lowering the tax rate could be or
giving money back to the taxpayer could

608
00:40:49,960 --> 00:40:58,040
be done in many more ways like services,
which we um desperately need in this

609
00:40:55,040 --> 00:41:03,360
county in some areas. So,
uh in November 2025

610
00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:07,640
during the shutdown, this legislature
approved resolution 304 with the county

611
00:41:05,480 --> 00:41:12,400
executive's approval transferring
150,000 into three specific agency

612
00:41:10,720 --> 00:41:18,440
contributions.
$75,000 for the United Way, 50,000 for

613
00:41:15,960 --> 00:41:23,920
Putnam CAP, and 25,000 for Cornell
Cooperative. All addressing our food

614
00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:28,560
insecurity SNAP crisis.
That shutdown ended quickly, and the

615
00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:34,000
county executive advised us that the
eligible expenses would be reimbursed

616
00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:37,360
through November 14th.
Um

617
00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:43,000
so, in essence, those agencies only had
a couple of days to spend that money.

618
00:41:40,560 --> 00:41:48,440
So, he said that any unspent funds could
remain encumbered and available should

619
00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:52,920
we face another similar federal funding
interruption. Um

620
00:41:50,960 --> 00:41:59,800
we subsequently learned that none of the
$150,000 authorized by resolution 304

621
00:41:56,520 --> 00:42:04,120
was ultimately distributed. So, I want
to make one thing especially clear. This

622
00:42:01,840 --> 00:42:11,520
is completely separate from the
additional 150,000 we placed into the

623
00:42:07,600 --> 00:42:17,000
2026 food insecurity program
um during the budget process we put in

624
00:42:14,320 --> 00:42:23,520
sub contingency.
So, the need that prompted resolution

625
00:42:19,560 --> 00:42:28,240
304 has not disappeared. In fact,
federal snap changes now being

626
00:42:25,720 --> 00:42:34,080
implemented are placing new pressures on
families and families directly in Putnam

627
00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:40,720
County. Our data shows the increase in
clients at food pantries and the

628
00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:45,880
desperate need for food security. Social
Services departments and food food

629
00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:50,200
providers are calling me every day. So,
Feeding New York State reported that in

630
00:42:47,640 --> 00:42:55,240
June nearly 200,000 New Yorkers had lost
access to snap over the preceding year

631
00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:59,880
and that food banks were already seeing
longer lines and increased need. So,

632
00:42:58,040 --> 00:43:05,040
tonight we're doing two things. First,
we're reaffirming that resolution 304

633
00:43:02,480 --> 00:43:09,880
still matters and that its purpose was
never fulfilled. And second, through the

634
00:43:07,640 --> 00:43:14,560
accompanying budget transfer, we are
putting the $150,000

635
00:43:11,880 --> 00:43:19,080
back into those three agencies so the
money can actually be used for food

636
00:43:16,840 --> 00:43:23,000
insecurity. So, I appreciate that the
County Executive and the Finance

637
00:43:21,120 --> 00:43:26,320
Commissioner have now worked with us on
the budgetary

638
00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:31,680
to make this happen. It really comes
down to one thing very simple. The

639
00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:38,400
legislature appropriated these funds in
2025 for food insecurity. The need still

640
00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:43,960
exists arguably more urgently now and I
want to see those dollars finally put to

641
00:43:40,680 --> 00:43:48,160
work to help Putnam County families.
Thanks.

642
00:43:44,640 --> 00:43:48,160
» Thank you. Any discussion?

643
00:43:49,160 --> 00:43:54,040
I'm sorry, legislator at Nuzzio then
legislator Gouldman.

644
00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:57,200
» Okay, yes. I'm absolutely in favor of
this moving forward.

645
00:43:55,840 --> 00:44:01,080
Many people don't realize that here in
Putnam County there are so many people

646
00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:05,640
struggling.
Not only the households that fall below

647
00:44:03,840 --> 00:44:10,320
the poverty level, but we have a
hardworking families, our veterans,

648
00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:13,560
seniors, people dealing with
many medical costs.

649
00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:17,400
I've been involved first hand in Putnam
County as I partnered with Second Chance

650
00:44:15,600 --> 00:44:21,160
Foods
during COVID, which is

651
00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:26,040
5 years?
Yes, we had a weekly distribution at the

652
00:44:24,160 --> 00:44:30,040
church, Mount Carmel Baptist Church, and
everybody came.

653
00:44:27,720 --> 00:44:33,800
And we put the food in their car, and I
want to say that it's still going strong

654
00:44:32,320 --> 00:44:37,160
today.
There is still a weekly Wednesday

655
00:44:35,480 --> 00:44:40,520
distribution for the people in need, and
there's so many people in need in Putnam

656
00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:44,760
County.
So, I'd like to give more money,

657
00:44:42,720 --> 00:44:48,160
but I'm happy to see this move forward
this evening.

658
00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:51,480
» Thank you. Legislator Gouldman.
>> Thank you, Chairman.

659
00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:55,720
Uh Putnam County is one of the 25
richest counties in the United States.

660
00:44:54,040 --> 00:44:59,440
But, there are residents who do fall
between the cracks.

661
00:44:57,320 --> 00:45:04,520
Even though many of us are doing well,
34% of the county residents live from

662
00:45:02,520 --> 00:45:08,840
paycheck to paycheck.
That's really really not good.

663
00:45:06,840 --> 00:45:12,600
Uh this is a drop in a bucket. I'm glad
we're doing this. Uh but, these

664
00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:17,360
individuals are our neighbors, our
friends, and whatever we can do moving

665
00:45:15,120 --> 00:45:20,560
forward will be very helpful to our
friends and to our neighbors. So, I'll

666
00:45:18,840 --> 00:45:23,880
be supporting this.
>> Thank you. Any other discussion?

667
00:45:21,920 --> 00:45:27,840
Legislator Sage.
>> Thank you. I see the need for this. Um

668
00:45:26,520 --> 00:45:31,280
I saw the need for this when we passed
this originally.

669
00:45:29,360 --> 00:45:36,200
Um I was
flabbergasted because I thought the

670
00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:40,120
legislature passed it. It was signed by
the county executive. There was a press

671
00:45:37,680 --> 00:45:44,481
release that I see that I that I copied
uh saying that this will this is going

672
00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:47,560
to go out to our um
>> [clears throat]

673
00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:51,560
» uh United Way and the Cornell
Cooperative, and they've been working

674
00:45:48,720 --> 00:45:54,920
with other agencies to uh
use this money, and then come to find

675
00:45:53,640 --> 00:45:58,800
out
in a memo that was written to Legislator

676
00:45:57,080 --> 00:46:03,040
Montgomery that
uh I'm announced to me that it had never

677
00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:05,760
been spent. It was taken back, and it
went back into the fund balance at the

678
00:46:04,520 --> 00:46:09,480
end of the year.
So, I I don't know how that happens. How

679
00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:13,480
does that happen with the with the
legislature appropriates the money and

680
00:46:11,880 --> 00:46:16,920
then all of a sudden it just doesn't get
appropriated

681
00:46:15,080 --> 00:46:20,400
in the middle of the night and a week
later it's back into the fund balance.

682
00:46:18,600 --> 00:46:22,760
I'm I'm
I was just flabbergasted by the whole

683
00:46:21,760 --> 00:46:25,880
thing.
Um I'm glad we're making it right. I

684
00:46:24,720 --> 00:46:30,400
understand maybe there were some
technicalities, maybe the government

685
00:46:28,520 --> 00:46:33,200
would reopen, but we still had
appropriated the money to go to these

686
00:46:31,640 --> 00:46:37,280
not-for-profits and they had expected
it. I used to run a not-for-profit and

687
00:46:34,920 --> 00:46:41,080
that was um you know, you you you you
live your life based on these small

688
00:46:39,000 --> 00:46:43,640
amount of funds that come to you. So,
I'm I'm happy we're doing it. I'm happy

689
00:46:42,640 --> 00:46:47,480
we're
trying to make it right. Um I just have

690
00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:52,200
the questions about how it happened to
begin with and I'm upset by that.

691
00:46:50,680 --> 00:46:54,480
» Thank you. Any other legislator
Legislator Russo?

692
00:46:53,320 --> 00:46:59,240
» Thank you.
I 100% support this.

693
00:46:57,840 --> 00:47:05,200
Um
I cook monthly for my local soup kitchen

694
00:47:03,120 --> 00:47:10,280
and feed
um anyone who comes in and it's not

695
00:47:07,680 --> 00:47:15,240
always someone who needs it
financially. It's the um

696
00:47:14,240 --> 00:47:19,200
the
locals that want someone to talk to.

697
00:47:17,600 --> 00:47:23,480
They don't
you know, want to cook for themselves.

698
00:47:21,040 --> 00:47:27,600
They want to someone to just sit and
listen to them.

699
00:47:25,040 --> 00:47:32,120
Um I know we do have a huge need in
Putnam County.

700
00:47:29,320 --> 00:47:37,720
Um the only thing I would say is that I
did think this kind of got squashed

701
00:47:35,120 --> 00:47:41,320
because the government opened back up
and we weren't going to fund it, but I'm

702
00:47:39,360 --> 00:47:46,160
happy that we figured it out and the
money's there for

703
00:47:43,160 --> 00:47:49,240
these agencies to help feed
people that need it.

704
00:47:48,040 --> 00:47:53,560
» Thank you.
Any other discussion?

705
00:47:50,800 --> 00:47:55,440
» I just have to clarify one uh go ahead.
I just said

706
00:47:54,560 --> 00:48:01,480
» Legislator Crowley.
>> I'm I'm glad that we're doing this.

707
00:47:57,840 --> 00:48:04,560
It's It's needed. People are struggling.
I'm going to echo Legislator Russo. I I

708
00:48:03,200 --> 00:48:09,480
think the
stipulation that that was in there was

709
00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:13,560
due to federal funding and it was It was
the executive order from President Trump

710
00:48:11,720 --> 00:48:16,560
that that in the government reopened.
So, I think that's where we're missing

711
00:48:15,120 --> 00:48:20,960
the [snorts] part where why it didn't
get funded. I'm glad we are funding it.

712
00:48:19,560 --> 00:48:24,760
There's never going to be enough money
to, you know, give people

713
00:48:24,920 --> 00:48:31,000
so I'm glad it's happened but I that is
where where it got stuck and I'm glad

714
00:48:29,560 --> 00:48:33,800
that it was
brought to our attention again and that

715
00:48:32,760 --> 00:48:37,800
we're
past hopefully passing it this evening.

716
00:48:36,040 --> 00:48:42,000
» Thank you. Legislator Montgomery.
>> Yeah, I just I would like to clarify a

717
00:48:39,840 --> 00:48:47,480
couple of things. One regarding that
memo that was sent to me. Any memo is

718
00:48:44,920 --> 00:48:54,520
sent to the entire legislature. It was
that infamous November 18th memo

719
00:48:51,320 --> 00:48:58,560
that did say that this money will remain
encumbered for this [clears throat]

720
00:48:55,960 --> 00:49:03,000
purpose despite
the federal government reopening snap.

721
00:49:00,680 --> 00:49:07,680
So, this money supposedly had been
encumbered for this purpose and my point

722
00:49:05,680 --> 00:49:11,680
is that this crisis has not gone away.
It's only gotten worse.

723
00:49:10,040 --> 00:49:14,880
And I do have something else to say but
I can't remember what it was but

724
00:49:14,084 --> 00:49:21,680
» [laughter]
>> if you look at the original October

725
00:49:18,040 --> 00:49:24,840
31st, 2025 letter of necessity where
this was laid out to us by the

726
00:49:23,254 --> 00:49:30,760
[clears throat] county executive, there
was no indication ever that it was going

727
00:49:28,120 --> 00:49:35,520
to be contingent on the government
government reopening snap. That's what I

728
00:49:33,120 --> 00:49:39,600
wanted to say. I just remembered it.
>> Good point. Thank you.

729
00:49:37,480 --> 00:49:42,640
Legislator Russo and then Legislator
Council has a comment

730
00:49:41,720 --> 00:49:46,834
» Reagan.
>> Reagan. I'm sorry. Reagan.

731
00:49:45,040 --> 00:49:49,454
» We look alike.
>> [laughter]

732
00:49:47,720 --> 00:49:51,640
» Thank you, Chairman.
>> [clears throat]

733
00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:55,040
» Far be it from me not to say the
uncomfortable part of the conversation,

734
00:49:53,680 --> 00:49:59,840
but and I hear them from all my
colleagues here and many of you as a

735
00:49:57,520 --> 00:50:04,440
matter of fact walked the walk by going
out and participating in these programs

736
00:50:01,920 --> 00:50:09,520
and seeing frontline firsthand the need
that's out there, but

737
00:50:06,680 --> 00:50:13,760
I I can't help but I can't let the
opportunity go by without pointing out

738
00:50:11,280 --> 00:50:19,600
that some of the issues with SNAP
programs and other ones that have

739
00:50:16,280 --> 00:50:24,880
transpired have revealed tremendous
tremendous amounts of fraud and

740
00:50:21,320 --> 00:50:28,600
malfeasance and some of that shakeout is
not a concern at this point because

741
00:50:26,800 --> 00:50:31,240
we're going to fund this and we're going
to fund what should have been funded

742
00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:36,800
last year,
but I do want to keep our antenna up to

743
00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:40,560
ensure and I think that we are with
these three individual nonprofits we're

744
00:50:39,120 --> 00:50:47,120
working here right here, but they're
working with right here. But we can't

745
00:50:42,840 --> 00:50:52,160
not pretend that there is sometimes
unfortunately massive issues with

746
00:50:49,360 --> 00:50:57,480
distribution of money's when it comes to
SNAP and other benefits. And in that

747
00:50:54,240 --> 00:51:03,040
same vein, if we are and I'll we all
call out myself, if we are going to call

748
00:50:59,640 --> 00:51:07,680
out fraud and abuse of the system when
it comes to those who are accepting

749
00:51:05,640 --> 00:51:11,080
benefits,
we have to look at that ourselves and

750
00:51:09,400 --> 00:51:14,600
and I I can't help but think that
there's some of us here that feel that

751
00:51:13,000 --> 00:51:19,000
way pertaining to last year's
resolution. There there was money that

752
00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:24,240
we both thought was allocated, we
thought it was going to feed people, we

753
00:51:21,240 --> 00:51:27,360
thought it was going to three upstanding
organizations that were going to ensure

754
00:51:26,160 --> 00:51:31,635
that
almost every part of that dollar gets

755
00:51:29,280 --> 00:51:34,360
onto somebody's plate and that didn't
[clears throat] happen. So, I'm going to

756
00:51:33,160 --> 00:51:39,040
take the moment here to point it out
say, if I'm going to yell about fraud on

757
00:51:36,840 --> 00:51:42,600
the back end, I can't not point it out
when I see it on the back end in my own

758
00:51:40,560 --> 00:51:46,360
organization. Thank you, Chairman.
>> Good point. No, that's very well taken.

759
00:51:44,280 --> 00:51:50,520
Fraud and and abuse is something we
always have to be on guard of.

760
00:51:49,080 --> 00:51:53,840
We we're hearing about that every day in
the news,

761
00:51:52,040 --> 00:51:58,080
fraud and abuse, but we have something
that the federal government does not

762
00:51:55,160 --> 00:52:01,920
have. And that's Michelle Sharkey.
I've seen our county auditor. I've seen

763
00:52:00,000 --> 00:52:07,040
our county auditor turn back vouchers
for paper plates that were bought not on

764
00:52:03,720 --> 00:52:09,840
contract. So, rest assured and and in
addition to these three organizations

765
00:52:08,520 --> 00:52:13,360
being completely upstanding and
outstanding,

766
00:52:11,640 --> 00:52:17,720
we're we're well served by Michelle. So,
thank you for that. Let's leave council.

767
00:52:15,320 --> 00:52:22,560
» I think also there's a legal important
legal point to be made with respect to

768
00:52:19,560 --> 00:52:27,240
this also because our initial resolution
that was passed for these funds was

769
00:52:24,680 --> 00:52:31,840
taken as an emergency measure. It was
therefore eligible to be reimbursed had

770
00:52:29,640 --> 00:52:36,720
it been spent. So, there was a fiscal
impact to the fact that this money was

771
00:52:33,720 --> 00:52:40,720
not spent as we had appropriated because
now with this measure this is not under

772
00:52:38,720 --> 00:52:44,760
emergency circumstances. It is not
eligible for reimbursement. So, had that

773
00:52:42,960 --> 00:52:49,560
money been spent, we would have had it
back and when we passed this measure, we

774
00:52:46,720 --> 00:52:53,160
would have had a zero fiscal impact,
you know, because this measure would

775
00:52:50,960 --> 00:52:58,080
have been in fact funded it would cuz
instead of us having to fund it twice.

776
00:52:55,840 --> 00:53:00,440
» Good point. Good point on that. Thank
you. [clears throat] So, you know

777
00:52:58,920 --> 00:53:05,280
whether a comment or last for roll call
vote vote on 6N.

778
00:53:03,960 --> 00:53:07,000
» Legislator Adamec.
>> Yes.

779
00:53:05,880 --> 00:53:08,880
» Legislator Crowley.
>> Yes.

780
00:53:07,680 --> 00:53:10,360
» Legislator D'Angelo.
>> Yes.

781
00:53:09,240 --> 00:53:12,080
» Legislator Gouldman.
>> Yes.

782
00:53:10,840 --> 00:53:13,840
» Legislator Montgomery.
>> Yes.

783
00:53:12,680 --> 00:53:15,560
» Legislator Reagan.
>> Yes.

784
00:53:14,360 --> 00:53:17,280
» Legislator Russo.
>> Yes.

785
00:53:16,120 --> 00:53:19,040
» Legislator Sage.
>> Yes.

786
00:53:17,920 --> 00:53:20,520
» Chairman Birmingham.
>> Yes.

787
00:53:19,560 --> 00:53:25,240
» Motion carries.
>> Thank you. Next item we have is other

788
00:53:22,680 --> 00:53:29,240
business and the first item is item 7A
which I think is a Michelle, correct me

789
00:53:27,320 --> 00:53:35,880
if I'm wrong, a fiscal
companion to to this. It's the actually

790
00:53:32,920 --> 00:53:39,280
the moving the 150 to uh
to the appropriate lines.

791
00:53:37,960 --> 00:53:42,880
Since it hasn't come out of committee
officially, I'll move it and

792
00:53:41,200 --> 00:53:44,120
Legislator Montgomery, you want to
second since it

793
00:53:43,680 --> 00:53:48,400
» Second.
>> Okay, any discussion? This is simply the

794
00:53:46,320 --> 00:53:52,680
fiscal part of that.
Going to this legislator

795
00:53:50,120 --> 00:53:55,400
» I excuse myself from the all of the
other business.

796
00:53:54,400 --> 00:53:58,400
» Including this?
>> Uh just yeah, I'll anything to do with

797
00:53:57,720 --> 00:54:00,560
uh
the sheriff's department civil

798
00:53:59,480 --> 00:54:04,560
department I'm recusing me.
>> Sure. This item 7A though has to do with

799
00:54:03,280 --> 00:54:06,520
just the fiscal
>> This is a transfer. I'm sorry.

800
00:54:06,080 --> 00:54:07,600
» No problem.
>> I apologize.

801
00:54:07,080 --> 00:54:11,120
» No problem.
>> I get ahead of myself.

802
00:54:08,520 --> 00:54:13,440
» Okay. This is 7A just the fiscal part of
what we just passed in six and

803
00:54:12,920 --> 00:54:16,760
» Yes.
>> Um any discussion on this?

804
00:54:15,920 --> 00:54:18,280
All in favor?
>> I.

805
00:54:16,960 --> 00:54:21,937
» I.
>> Uh next we do have another matter of

806
00:54:20,440 --> 00:54:25,160
other business and that is
[clears throat]

807
00:54:22,520 --> 00:54:30,880
we received today a letter of necessity
from the county sheriff asking us to put

808
00:54:28,280 --> 00:54:33,000
an item on the agenda tonight.
Um

809
00:54:31,520 --> 00:54:36,080
I'm I'm going to accept the letter of
necessity and put it on the floor, but

810
00:54:34,400 --> 00:54:40,320
even though I do that we'll still need
to move it and second it and have five

811
00:54:38,280 --> 00:54:44,280
votes to get it on the floor. So I will
move it uh to put it on the floor. Is

812
00:54:42,320 --> 00:54:48,440
there a second? Second. Second. All in
favor of putting this on the floor? I.

813
00:54:46,880 --> 00:54:51,320
Okay, now it's on the floor and
abstained one abstention. I'm sorry I

814
00:54:50,320 --> 00:54:54,000
should have done a roll call vote on
that. What what do we do a roll call

815
00:54:52,760 --> 00:54:55,200
vote vote on it just so it's on the
record.

816
00:54:54,800 --> 00:54:58,440
» it?
>> To accept it, yes. Sorry. Legislator

817
00:54:57,040 --> 00:55:00,720
Crowley.
>> Legislator Addieglio.

818
00:54:59,760 --> 00:55:04,920
» Yes.
>> Legislator Crowley.

819
00:55:02,040 --> 00:55:08,960
» I abstain.
>> Recuse. Abstain.

820
00:55:06,440 --> 00:55:11,760
» Yep. Yep. Recuse. That's one of those
nights.

821
00:55:10,160 --> 00:55:14,160
» Legislator DeAngelo.
>> I yes.

822
00:55:13,000 --> 00:55:17,240
» Legislator Goldman.
>> Yes.

823
00:55:15,000 --> 00:55:19,480
» Legislator Montgomery.
>> This is just to put it on the floor.

824
00:55:18,400 --> 00:55:21,840
» Just to put it on the table.
>> Sorry. Yes.

825
00:55:20,640 --> 00:55:24,280
» Legislator Reagan.
>> Yes.

826
00:55:23,120 --> 00:55:26,360
» Legislator Russo.
>> Yes.

827
00:55:25,200 --> 00:55:28,560
» Legislator Sage.
>> Yes.

828
00:55:27,360 --> 00:55:30,560
» Chairman Birmingham.
>> Yes.

829
00:55:29,520 --> 00:55:33,720
» Motion carries.
>> Now I will move for discussion the

830
00:55:32,360 --> 00:55:36,280
motion itself and I'll just need a
second before we discuss it.

831
00:55:35,440 --> 00:55:40,560
» Second.
>> Okay. Now we've got the uh item before

832
00:55:39,320 --> 00:55:44,640
us.
Just a quick housekeeping question to

833
00:55:42,400 --> 00:55:48,680
both Michelle and Diane, our clerk and
our auditor. Is this a one resolution or

834
00:55:46,960 --> 00:55:53,480
are there two pieces to it?
>> There's two pieces, a fiscal part and a

835
00:55:51,440 --> 00:55:56,480
and the substantive part. Okay.
>> Thank you. Um

836
00:55:54,920 --> 00:56:01,400
Captain, can I trouble you to join us at
the podium and give us a brief um we all

837
00:55:59,040 --> 00:56:04,160
did receive the memo from the sheriff,
not only this afternoon, but the one

838
00:56:02,760 --> 00:56:08,880
yesterday with respect to the line
transfer. If you could just brief us on

839
00:56:06,520 --> 00:56:12,280
uh not only the uh
particulars behind it, but also the

840
00:56:10,280 --> 00:56:14,600
timeliness of it and why it needs to be
considered tonight.

841
00:56:13,240 --> 00:56:19,080
» Yeah, my name is Dominic Scimone, I'm a
captain with the sheriff's department.

842
00:56:16,640 --> 00:56:23,520
Um I oversee the civil unit amongst
other things. Um

843
00:56:21,560 --> 00:56:27,600
First of all, thank you for allowing us
to come forward tonight. Um I'll explain

844
00:56:25,560 --> 00:56:31,360
the situation and you can kind of see
where I'm coming from. So, in May, we

845
00:56:29,720 --> 00:56:37,040
had a retirement of a senior office
assistant. And as you're aware, over the

846
00:56:34,040 --> 00:56:40,680
years, office assistants have become
um

847
00:56:39,120 --> 00:56:44,160
their their job duties have changed
because they're not drafting letters

848
00:56:42,400 --> 00:56:49,720
anymore. They're not proofreading. I
mean, we're using AI, we're using

849
00:56:45,360 --> 00:56:54,880
computers. So, when she retired in May,
that's not the right position anymore.

850
00:56:51,680 --> 00:56:59,320
We have a fiscal uh need in that room
um in civil and

851
00:56:56,960 --> 00:57:01,640
the the position we looked for was a a
low-level

852
00:57:01,000 --> 00:57:06,600
um
fiscal person, a count clerk. So, I

853
00:57:03,960 --> 00:57:10,080
worked with finance um starting in
April, knowing that the impending

854
00:57:08,480 --> 00:57:16,040
retirement was coming.
And um it's a big process, you know,

855
00:57:13,040 --> 00:57:19,200
it's a big process to to change a title
um

856
00:57:17,160 --> 00:57:23,480
not only in this county, everywhere. Um
but so, we started the process and over

857
00:57:21,440 --> 00:57:27,520
the last 5 months, it's it's it's made
some progress, but summer vacations,

858
00:57:26,520 --> 00:57:32,000
um
people's baskets, um they didn't see it

859
00:57:30,080 --> 00:57:37,360
right away or it got moved to another
part of the desk. Long story short is

860
00:57:34,960 --> 00:57:41,320
we're still here, and I still have the
vacancy, and I'm only filling the

861
00:57:39,480 --> 00:57:45,640
vacancy now with somebody that's on
modified duty. And that person leaves in

862
00:57:44,120 --> 00:57:50,240
October. That's why I was trying to fill
it earlier in the year because there's a

863
00:57:48,000 --> 00:57:56,560
training component to it, too.
So, um the position I'm in is that I if

864
00:57:53,680 --> 00:58:00,600
we waited until another legislative
meeting in October,

865
00:57:58,440 --> 00:58:04,920
we still have to post it, we still have
to have a test, we still have to have us

866
00:58:03,280 --> 00:58:09,320
as a Spanish speaker, so we have to have
a proficiency test, then we have to have

867
00:58:07,080 --> 00:58:14,000
a background investigation, and I mean,
we won't get anybody until February. Um

868
00:58:12,440 --> 00:58:18,240
it's that critical, that position is
that critical because of the the volume

869
00:58:16,600 --> 00:58:23,320
of traffic that comes into the civil
unit, and the amount of money that that

870
00:58:20,600 --> 00:58:27,280
comes in and out um throughout the year.
So, that's that's the reason we're here,

871
00:58:25,600 --> 00:58:31,360
um and it's there's no fiscal impact in
'26 or '27. It's actually it the the

872
00:58:29,680 --> 00:58:34,120
salary level is less than what the
office assistant was.

873
00:58:32,880 --> 00:58:37,840
So, there hasn't been anybody in there
since May. I can't anticipate even with

874
00:58:36,280 --> 00:58:42,240
an approval tonight that we'll have
anybody in there before December. Um

875
00:58:41,200 --> 00:58:44,440
that's kind of where we're at.
>> Okay.

876
00:58:42,440 --> 00:58:48,280
» And it goes from a senior office
assistant Spanish speaker to an account

877
00:58:46,800 --> 00:58:51,720
clerk {slash} account clerk Spanish
speaker.

878
00:58:49,200 --> 00:58:54,040
» Great. Thank you. This as as you know
did not come through a committee to my

879
00:58:52,960 --> 00:58:56,520
colleagues, so what I'd like to do
before I open it up to all of my

880
00:58:55,280 --> 00:58:59,320
colleagues for any questions I might
have, I'd like to start with the two

881
00:58:58,000 --> 00:59:02,880
committees that would have substantive
review of this. First, I'd like to start

882
00:59:01,120 --> 00:59:05,120
with Legislator Adnezio as chair of
personnel, and then I'll go to

883
00:59:03,960 --> 00:59:07,200
Legislator Reagan as chair of
protective.

884
00:59:05,880 --> 00:59:11,120
» Thank you.
You know, I think that he fully

885
00:59:09,000 --> 00:59:14,760
explained the need for this position,
and I would be in favor of it.

886
00:59:14,280 --> 00:59:17,320
» Thank you.
>> Any questions?

887
00:59:15,840 --> 00:59:23,040
» Thank you. Legislator Reagan.
>> Thank you, Chairman. Um the delays that

888
00:59:20,400 --> 00:59:26,680
would uh possibly be incurred were even
explained better than my understanding

889
00:59:24,760 --> 00:59:28,400
tonight, so thank you for coming here
and explaining how quickly

890
00:59:27,826 --> 00:59:32,640
[clears throat] we can get out to
February here Uh with all the other

891
00:59:30,960 --> 00:59:37,200
circumstances, not just the approval you
need from the legislature. It sounds

892
00:59:35,200 --> 00:59:39,480
quite cumbersome. So, that being said,
Chairman, no objections from Protective

893
00:59:38,720 --> 00:59:43,040
Services. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any of my other colleagues

894
00:59:41,160 --> 00:59:45,960
have any comments or questions?
Legislator Montgomery.

895
00:59:46,320 --> 00:59:50,080
» I welcome them.
>> You answered a lot of my questions, but

896
00:59:49,000 --> 00:59:55,760
um
so in March we approved a transfer

897
00:59:52,440 --> 00:59:58,960
moving administrative position from BCI
into the Civil Division. Is this the

898
00:59:57,680 --> 01:00:01,880
same position?
>> No, that's the Records Clerk.

899
01:00:00,200 --> 01:00:05,160
» Okay.
Okay. [snorts]

900
01:00:02,920 --> 01:00:08,880
Um so but the Civil Division already has
a Principal Account Clerk. You already

901
01:00:07,320 --> 01:00:13,160
» So that So that Principal Account Clerk,
that's that's the higher level position.

902
01:00:11,120 --> 01:00:17,040
To get accreditation, we have to have
two different positions because of the

903
01:00:14,880 --> 01:00:21,160
checks and balances. So, we already have
that Account Clerk, but she's also doing

904
01:00:18,600 --> 01:00:23,160
25% of the finance stuff, too.
Um

905
01:00:21,760 --> 01:00:27,160
because we're short there, too. But in
any of that, now that this will allow us

906
01:00:25,200 --> 01:00:30,040
to have two different account persons in
there to meet the accreditation

907
01:00:28,920 --> 01:00:33,960
requirements.
>> Okay, so it's about accreditation, not

908
01:00:31,800 --> 01:00:36,800
so much workload is what I'm What has
changed in the workload?

909
01:00:34,760 --> 01:00:40,440
» Oh Oh, no, no. The work No, the workload
is there. The The reason it's going from

910
01:00:39,120 --> 01:00:44,560
a Senior Officer Assistant to Account
Clerk is because there's really a lot

911
01:00:42,120 --> 01:00:48,120
more money and tracking and deposits and
stuff. I mean, we could go with a Senior

912
01:00:46,800 --> 01:00:51,600
Officer Assistant, but it's not really
the right position. The accreditation

913
01:00:50,040 --> 01:00:54,600
looks for somebody that has some
accounting background, and I can't

914
01:00:53,320 --> 01:00:57,520
really put that in the Senior Officer
Assistant requirements in the job

915
01:00:56,400 --> 01:01:02,000
postings.
>> Got you. Um one more. I understand

916
01:00:59,920 --> 01:01:05,960
there's no I think one more. There's no
immediate fiscal impact, but the salary

917
01:01:04,640 --> 01:01:10,760
grade
Is the salary grade or the future cost

918
01:01:08,040 --> 01:01:12,600
for the Account Clerk title different?
>> It's less.

919
01:01:11,680 --> 01:01:16,800
» Okay, it's
Will it change the 2027 anything in the

920
01:01:15,320 --> 01:01:20,720
2027 staffing?
>> No. Well, it's going to be less than

921
01:01:19,160 --> 01:01:22,600
the salary we carry for the Senior
Officer Assistant.

922
01:01:21,640 --> 01:01:26,480
» Okay.
We've had a lot of changes, staff

923
01:01:24,120 --> 01:01:28,680
changes in the Sheriff's Department. Um
>> An awful lot.

924
01:01:27,080 --> 01:01:31,960
» An awful lot. I'd love to see a master
plan at some point.

925
01:01:30,120 --> 01:01:36,600
» Well, um during the budget when we go
through the budget there's

926
01:01:33,880 --> 01:01:40,640
we reorganized the whole
presentation of the budget and realigned

927
01:01:39,760 --> 01:01:43,240
um I don't know if this is the right
time to talk about this.

928
01:01:41,640 --> 01:01:45,800
» Um yeah, that's a question that the
legislature might come up.

929
01:01:43,960 --> 01:01:50,160
» So so we realigned a lot of the
positions in the Sheriff's Department

930
01:01:47,040 --> 01:01:52,600
into five organizations instead of 21.
Um so you're going to see a lot of

931
01:01:51,440 --> 01:01:56,400
changes.
Um it's it'll be easier to see with the

932
01:01:54,920 --> 01:02:00,000
budget process.
Happy to meet with you offline just to

933
01:01:58,080 --> 01:02:03,200
show you, you know, what it was. We
discussed it a little bit in past

934
01:02:01,440 --> 01:02:06,120
meetings in the other building. Um but
yeah, I'll I'll take

935
01:02:05,080 --> 01:02:09,920
be happy to show you.
>> will come at budget [clears throat]

936
01:02:07,760 --> 01:02:12,520
time, you think? The
if you're reorganizing

937
01:02:11,840 --> 01:02:17,880
» The
So the reorganization part of it takes

938
01:02:15,320 --> 01:02:23,360
effect January 1st if it's approved by
this the legislature and NFA, you know.

939
01:02:21,800 --> 01:02:28,400
Yeah, I mean January 1st I'd be to have
to get approval first.

940
01:02:24,680 --> 01:02:33,200
» Maybe I maybe I'd suggest if you it
might be too preliminary, but if you

941
01:02:29,960 --> 01:02:38,000
have any background if you have a draft
of it for our September Protective

942
01:02:35,320 --> 01:02:42,840
Services just so we're not hit with it
in budget.

943
01:02:39,840 --> 01:02:46,400
» Um I'll defer to um Chair Protective
only because we don't want to preempt

944
01:02:44,800 --> 01:02:48,920
any I'm sorry.
>> Isn't that part of the County

945
01:02:47,440 --> 01:02:52,560
Executive's budget that he presents to
the legislature?

946
01:02:49,840 --> 01:02:56,000
» The tentative budget? Yeah, um I imagine
it would be unless the County Executive

947
01:02:54,440 --> 01:02:58,360
changes the tentative budget from what
was requested.

948
01:02:57,000 --> 01:03:02,560
» I just know [snorts] in the past with
departments and department heads we've

949
01:03:00,240 --> 01:03:07,080
had preliminary discussions before
budget if a if a if a department was

950
01:03:05,440 --> 01:03:09,480
reorganizing say or there were big
changes in the personnel of the

951
01:03:08,560 --> 01:03:13,840
department.
>> is mostly this is mostly a financial

952
01:03:11,480 --> 01:03:17,800
change with moving orgs and munis. It
doesn't really It's not adding anybody.

953
01:03:15,680 --> 01:03:21,520
It's not increasing anybody. It's just
taking them from one org and closing

954
01:03:20,120 --> 01:03:23,800
that org completely and putting them in
a different one.

955
01:03:22,400 --> 01:03:27,080
» What I might want to do now is just just
narrow us back down to this to this side

956
01:03:25,480 --> 01:03:30,920
if it's okay, just just so we can
>> woman protective will

957
01:03:28,320 --> 01:03:34,040
» Yeah, okay. Thank you.
Any other questions for the captain from

958
01:03:32,520 --> 01:03:37,680
a legislator?
Uh any member of the citizens did not go

959
01:03:36,080 --> 01:03:42,240
through committee, any member of the
public have any questions for the

960
01:03:38,960 --> 01:03:45,360
legislature on this matter?
Seeing none, um

961
01:03:43,800 --> 01:03:47,720
Michelle or Diane, can you walk us
through there's two items here, what is

962
01:03:46,840 --> 01:03:52,720
the first item we're going to be
considering?

963
01:03:49,080 --> 01:03:58,440
» 7B is the approval of the ratification
of the Putnam County Sheriff's Employee

964
01:03:55,560 --> 01:04:03,600
Association MOA. So that has to be
addressed first by the legislature and

965
01:04:00,440 --> 01:04:07,640
if you approve that, then you will
address and consider the budgetary

966
01:04:05,480 --> 01:04:12,840
transfer to support
what you approve in the MOA.

967
01:04:09,360 --> 01:04:18,360
» Okay, so 7B folks is this one and it is
for since this is a position that's part

968
01:04:15,920 --> 01:04:22,080
of a collective bargaining agreement,
if we are to do this, we need to pass

969
01:04:20,200 --> 01:04:25,600
this first before we get to the fiscal
part of it. Chicken before the egg or

970
01:04:23,760 --> 01:04:31,520
egg before the chicken, I guess. So what
we have before us here is item 7B,

971
01:04:28,040 --> 01:04:36,880
approval ratification of the PCSEA MOA
specific to reclassification of the

972
01:04:33,800 --> 01:04:42,000
PCSEA senior office assistant to account
clerk uh slash account clerk Spanish

973
01:04:39,560 --> 01:04:45,000
speaking. I'll move that one on behalf
of the legislature since this is an

974
01:04:43,600 --> 01:04:47,560
additional, I need a second.
>> Second.

975
01:04:45,840 --> 01:04:51,120
» Any discussion on this change to our
MOA?

976
01:04:49,840 --> 01:04:54,200
Seeing none, I'll ask for a roll call
vote.

977
01:04:52,800 --> 01:04:56,880
» Legislator Adamecio.
>> Yes.

978
01:04:54,760 --> 01:04:59,360
» Legislator Crowley.
Legislator D'Angelo.

979
01:04:58,200 --> 01:05:02,680
» Yes.
>> Legislator Gould, uh sorry,

980
01:05:01,480 --> 01:05:05,000
um Gouldman.
>> Yes.

981
01:05:03,880 --> 01:05:07,280
» Legislator Montgomery.
>> Yes.

982
01:05:05,840 --> 01:05:09,200
» Legislator Reagan.
>> Yes.

983
01:05:07,960 --> 01:05:11,320
» Legislator Russo.
>> Yes.

984
01:05:10,160 --> 01:05:13,400
» Legislator Sage.
>> Yes.

985
01:05:12,000 --> 01:05:15,000
» And Chairman Birmingham.
>> Yes.

986
01:05:13,880 --> 01:05:20,440
» Motion carries.
>> Okay, next I will move item 7C approval

987
01:05:17,600 --> 01:05:25,240
budgetary transfer 26T 238 Sheriff's
office budget line transfer to fund a

988
01:05:22,280 --> 01:05:28,960
newly approved PCSEA position of account
clerk Spanish speaking. It's this one

989
01:05:27,000 --> 01:05:32,440
folks it's your typical
budget change budgetary amendment

990
01:05:30,600 --> 01:05:34,960
transfer. Move it on behalf of the
legislature. Is there a second?

991
01:05:33,880 --> 01:05:38,600
» Second.
>> Any discussion?

992
01:05:37,280 --> 01:05:40,400
Roll call vote please.
>> Legislator Adnezia.

993
01:05:40,000 --> 01:05:43,920
» Yes.
>> Legislator Crowley, Legislator D'Angelo.

994
01:05:43,560 --> 01:05:45,520
» Yes.
>> Legislator Gouldman.

995
01:05:45,040 --> 01:05:47,240
» Yes.
>> Legislator Montgomery.

996
01:05:46,760 --> 01:05:48,920
» Yes.
>> Legislator Reagan.

997
01:05:48,400 --> 01:05:50,640
» Yes.
>> Legislator Russo.

998
01:05:50,080 --> 01:05:52,400
» Yes.
>> Legislator Sage.

999
01:05:51,920 --> 01:05:54,320
» Yes.
>> Chairman Birmingham.

1000
01:05:53,760 --> 01:05:56,520
» Yes.
>> Motion carries.

1001
01:05:55,320 --> 01:05:59,040
» Captain, thank you for joining us
tonight and and thank the Sheriff for

1002
01:05:57,960 --> 01:06:00,600
bringing this to our attention. We
appreciate it.

1003
01:05:59,960 --> 01:06:02,560
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.

1004
01:06:01,240 --> 01:06:05,080
» We'll wait for Legislator Crowley to
come back.

1005
01:06:17,000 --> 01:06:25,160
Thank you. Uh next item is item number
eight. Recognition of the public on any

1006
01:06:22,480 --> 01:06:28,880
agenda item. Uh this is a part of the
uh annual excuse me our monthly meeting

1007
01:06:26,800 --> 01:06:32,440
where we invite the public to join us at
the podium to ask us any questions or

1008
01:06:30,840 --> 01:06:35,600
make any comments with respect to any
item on the agenda. To the extent you

1009
01:06:34,240 --> 01:06:39,480
have any we'd invite you to come to the
podium, state your name and the town in

1010
01:06:37,280 --> 01:06:42,080
which you live, and we'd ask that
in making any comments you address or

1011
01:06:41,040 --> 01:06:48,040
questions you address them to the
legislature. So I'd like to open them up

1012
01:06:44,920 --> 01:06:50,480
to any public comment on any Scott, join
us please.

1013
01:06:55,000 --> 01:07:00,600
» Evening all. Scott Seaman, Town of
Southeast.

1014
01:06:58,760 --> 01:07:05,320
First in regards to the suicide
prevention awareness month, thank you.

1015
01:07:02,760 --> 01:07:08,800
As we all know this is pending and it's
throughout the area. Everybody has

1016
01:07:06,680 --> 01:07:11,760
somebody affected. and I would point out
the need for the stabilization center

1017
01:07:10,680 --> 01:07:14,800
again.
Hopefully, this is something that the

1018
01:07:12,920 --> 01:07:19,760
county can move on. This would be
something that can definitely help in

1019
01:07:16,680 --> 01:07:19,760
this category.

1020
01:07:20,741 --> 01:07:22,761
» [snorts]

1021
01:07:24,920 --> 01:07:29,200
» Sorry, I just
>> No take your No rush. Take your time.

1022
01:07:29,720 --> 01:07:38,280
» And we talked in the
fund balance allocation procedures,

1023
01:07:35,680 --> 01:07:43,600
I would ask also, since we really wanted
to bring this out in the open, um

1024
01:07:41,640 --> 01:07:48,680
just to really dig it out more. If we
have approximately say 190, and of that,

1025
01:07:46,680 --> 01:07:52,840
let's say 30 is actually not
unrestricted, it's restricted. So, now

1026
01:07:50,760 --> 01:07:58,080
we're at 160, which is I agree is still
way too much money. You know, in the

1027
01:07:54,560 --> 01:08:01,520
schools, like we have 4%, and that's it.
You can't go above that. Now, everything

1028
01:07:59,400 --> 01:08:04,200
else is restricted,
different reserves, pay downs, and I

1029
01:08:02,960 --> 01:08:06,800
know there's a lot of talk about
benefits for employees and all these

1030
01:08:05,480 --> 01:08:10,760
things. This can be different
allocations

1031
01:08:08,440 --> 01:08:14,720
for these type of items, cuz you never
want to use these to fund a budget line

1032
01:08:12,720 --> 01:08:18,440
to anything, cuz as it goes out, now you
don't have the money, and that will be

1033
01:08:16,120 --> 01:08:23,680
hit on your budget. But if we can break
out more of this information, and also,

1034
01:08:20,880 --> 01:08:27,960
while the waiver settlement, COVID, and
there were certain items,

1035
01:08:25,680 --> 01:08:32,359
a lot of items that you look at as is
pointed out by the sheriffs, there's a

1036
01:08:29,799 --> 01:08:37,400
any number of unallocated, allocated,
but unhired positions. You know, what

1037
01:08:35,279 --> 01:08:40,880
percentage of that is the money? So, now
you can really look, and as you go on

1038
01:08:38,880 --> 01:08:44,520
through various studies
in this area, a lot of these type of

1039
01:08:42,480 --> 01:08:48,319
positions are
under offered. So, that's why they're

1040
01:08:46,720 --> 01:08:52,960
not being filled, because they're not
proper for the area. Uh being waged

1041
01:08:50,480 --> 01:08:56,560
between Westchester and Fairfield, we
all have the same problem finding the

1042
01:08:54,880 --> 01:09:01,319
right people for the compositions based
upon the money. So, the more breakout

1043
01:08:58,680 --> 01:09:04,400
you can have, uh probably the easier the
process.

1044
01:09:02,799 --> 01:09:10,480
And I would just uh
question you to be a little leery on

1045
01:09:06,400 --> 01:09:15,680
putting it now into the legislator while
you have the oversight to it. Having

1046
01:09:13,759 --> 01:09:20,080
your financial officer who's trained
covered in E&O, all these items to

1047
01:09:17,920 --> 01:09:23,359
properly do it. And when you do your
yearly audit, a lot of these funds are

1048
01:09:21,720 --> 01:09:27,120
going to be, for lack of a better
phrase, swept into the unrestricted

1049
01:09:25,160 --> 01:09:33,400
account. Is that going to change now if
it's coming into you? Maybe it would be

1050
01:09:29,080 --> 01:09:36,200
better if uh either audit or budget um
somebody from that office offers you a

1051
01:09:34,839 --> 01:09:41,359
breakdown of this is how much you've
allocated, this is how much we spent. So

1052
01:09:38,480 --> 01:09:46,279
you don't get caught unawares or all
this money that's sitting there for um

1053
01:09:44,400 --> 01:09:51,160
funding for food programs. You can say,
"Hey look, there's 100,000 allocated,

1054
01:09:48,920 --> 01:09:54,840
zero spent." Then you can highlight some
items. Obviously it's putting more work

1055
01:09:52,600 --> 01:09:58,400
on you, but maybe that's more of a
benefit to you cuz then you're going to

1056
01:09:56,080 --> 01:10:01,920
have actual numbers as opposed to "Oh,
we have all this money, we don't know

1057
01:09:59,440 --> 01:10:05,720
what to do." You have something to base
that on.

1058
01:10:03,240 --> 01:10:09,040
Once again, I hate volunteering more
work on other people, but it's just to

1059
01:10:07,600 --> 01:10:12,520
get you the information that maybe
would, you know, help.

1060
01:10:11,280 --> 01:10:16,560
And [clears throat] then in regards to
the audit, if this is something you're

1061
01:10:14,000 --> 01:10:19,960
going to ask, um I'm assuming that the
county has an auditor and has a

1062
01:10:18,160 --> 01:10:24,080
breakdown, maybe it's better to handle
that in-house just to get you the

1063
01:10:21,720 --> 01:10:28,040
numbers while you're waiting for the
controller. I mean, the more eyes

1064
01:10:25,680 --> 01:10:32,880
looking at this, the better cuz if you
do put this out to the controller and

1065
01:10:30,160 --> 01:10:36,640
how many counties are there out there?
You know, maybe um when someone goes to

1066
01:10:34,720 --> 01:10:38,960
the conference, they can sit down with
all the other counties and go, "What are

1067
01:10:37,880 --> 01:10:42,200
you guys keeping in your reserve
accounts? How are the line items? How do

1068
01:10:40,760 --> 01:10:46,440
you set up your restricted versus
unrestricted?" Just once again, get

1069
01:10:44,080 --> 01:10:49,880
everybody here more information so you
have more to gauge it on cuz they are

1070
01:10:47,960 --> 01:10:52,480
not going to tell you you know, I've
read some of those where they're not

1071
01:10:50,680 --> 01:10:56,280
going to tell you what to do.
But you know, so it's hearing from other

1072
01:10:53,840 --> 01:11:00,560
people might be beneficial.
And then any anything in regards to food

1073
01:10:58,520 --> 01:11:04,160
insecurity, and I spoke about this last
time. You know, thank you. Bring this

1074
01:11:02,280 --> 01:11:08,520
up. It needs to get out. This needs
something that needs to continue.

1075
01:11:06,840 --> 01:11:12,360
Uh a couple weeks ago, the United Way
Alice report was released. And if you

1076
01:11:10,320 --> 01:11:16,080
really want to see
this differences in between and these

1077
01:11:14,480 --> 01:11:21,160
are people that have income, have
assets, have jobs, but they can't afford

1078
01:11:18,880 --> 01:11:25,960
high cost of rent, high cost in area, a
lack of the proper income jobs. They

1079
01:11:23,520 --> 01:11:29,200
also have restrictions due to child care
and other items. You can really see the

1080
01:11:27,240 --> 01:11:33,000
disparity between these items, and this
could really help and open your eyes.

1081
01:11:31,360 --> 01:11:37,440
And by going through people like Second
Chance Foods, United Way, uh Putnam CAP,

1082
01:11:35,640 --> 01:11:40,200
I've been working with them for years.
These are people that know the

1083
01:11:38,440 --> 01:11:43,560
community, are invested in the
community, and can also look out for

1084
01:11:41,720 --> 01:11:48,000
your funds to make sure they're done
properly. So, I would ask, you know, to

1085
01:11:45,800 --> 01:11:51,720
continue this and set this up in any way
you can.

1086
01:11:49,560 --> 01:11:56,080
And as always, you know, you thank you
for what you're doing. And um

1087
01:11:54,520 --> 01:11:59,280
I'm just Keep it up. If there's anything
we can do, you know, either through the

1088
01:11:57,160 --> 01:12:00,600
school or myself, please let us know.
>> Thank you.

1089
01:12:00,040 --> 01:12:03,400
» Thank you, Scott.
>> Thank you very much.

1090
01:12:02,160 --> 01:12:06,160
» Any other member of the public have any
comments, questions? Please join us.

1091
01:12:05,360 --> 01:12:09,440
Welcome.
>> Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Um

1092
01:12:07,800 --> 01:12:12,875
so, my name is Nicholas Tell, I'm a town
of Patterson resident. Um and the reason

1093
01:12:11,800 --> 01:12:16,760
I'm here, I think it was item 6C.
[clears throat] I just wanted to commend

1094
01:12:14,080 --> 01:12:20,120
you all on uh on passing that. I've been
following um what's been going on with

1095
01:12:18,760 --> 01:12:24,240
the Board of Ethics
um pretty closely. I'm also a

1096
01:12:21,680 --> 01:12:28,480
prosecutor, I'll say that um in Dutchess
County. I've prosecuted um

1097
01:12:27,280 --> 01:12:32,600
various government officials, including
elected officials. Just tried one uh

1098
01:12:30,560 --> 01:12:36,760
over the summer. Um he was convicted.
He's no longer in office. Um but I've

1099
01:12:34,560 --> 01:12:40,760
been following this, and
it just bothered my mind that Putnam

1100
01:12:38,400 --> 01:12:45,360
County did not have a a Board of Ethics.
Um so, I'm glad that this uh seems like

1101
01:12:43,320 --> 01:12:49,080
a step forward to to getting that back
into place. And I also just commend you

1102
01:12:47,400 --> 01:12:53,080
for being more involved with the PICs. I
thought it was a little crazy that um

1103
01:12:51,240 --> 01:12:56,080
you know, the county executive was the
sort of sole pointer. Um, I think it's

1104
01:12:55,120 --> 01:12:59,120
great that you guys will be more
involved with those appointments. I

1105
01:12:57,560 --> 01:13:02,320
think and anything that we can do to
protect,

1106
01:13:00,440 --> 01:13:06,960
uh, you know, and prevent tyranny and
and bad government conduct is a good

1107
01:13:05,480 --> 01:13:10,080
thing. So, thank you.
>> Thank you very much. Thank you.

1108
01:13:08,880 --> 01:13:12,600
Any other member of the public have any
comments or questions?

1109
01:13:12,480 --> 01:13:15,680
» [clears throat]
>> Seeing none, we'll move on to the next

1110
01:13:13,880 --> 01:13:19,160
item, uh, item number nine, recognition
of legislators. Uh, legislators, go

1111
01:13:17,720 --> 01:13:22,840
around the room here. Legislator
Crowley.

1112
01:13:20,320 --> 01:13:28,560
» Um, I'd like to speak, uh, regarding uh,
9/11. So, 25 years ago on September

1113
01:13:25,360 --> 01:13:31,720
11th, 2001, our nation changed forever.
Here in Putnam County, September 11th

1114
01:13:30,480 --> 01:13:35,960
was not something that happened
somewhere else. We lost neighbors,

1115
01:13:33,480 --> 01:13:40,360
friends, first responders, and members
of our own community. 25 years later, we

1116
01:13:38,760 --> 01:13:44,920
continue to honor them and stand with
the families who still carry that loss.

1117
01:13:42,720 --> 01:13:49,240
Across Putnam County, we gather at
different ceremonies in different towns,

1118
01:13:47,040 --> 01:13:53,600
but for the same reason, to remember. We
remember those we lost, honor the first

1119
01:13:51,560 --> 01:13:58,320
responders who ran towards danger, and
those who became sick, still become

1120
01:13:55,840 --> 01:14:02,480
sick, or are sick, or uh, lost their
lives in the years that followed.

1121
01:14:00,640 --> 01:14:05,840
As a new generation grows up with no
memory of that day, it is our

1122
01:14:04,000 --> 01:14:10,200
responsibility to tell them not only
what happened, but what happened

1123
01:14:07,560 --> 01:14:15,200
afterwards. Americans came together,
neighbors helped neighbors, communities

1124
01:14:12,400 --> 01:14:20,000
stood together as we were reminded
that what unites us is far greater than

1125
01:14:17,280 --> 01:14:23,960
what divides us. 25 years later, our
promise still remains the same. We will

1126
01:14:21,920 --> 01:14:28,120
remember their names, we will tell their
stories, and we will never forget. God

1127
01:14:26,360 --> 01:14:31,920
bless our 9/11 families, our first
responders, Putnam County, and the

1128
01:14:29,840 --> 01:14:37,200
United States of America.
Um, there will be several, uh, 9/11

1129
01:14:34,640 --> 01:14:41,800
ceremonies throughout the county from,
uh, all over in Cold Spring to

1130
01:14:39,840 --> 01:14:46,280
Patterson, but the two that I'm going to
acknowledge are the, um, one at 8:30

1131
01:14:44,320 --> 01:14:50,600
a.m. at the Donald B. Smith campus held
by our Youth Bureau and then right

1132
01:14:48,800 --> 01:14:53,760
across the street at Spain Cornerstone
Park it starts at 7:00.

1133
01:14:52,560 --> 01:14:59,560
Um, it's a candlelight vigil. It's
beautiful. Um, but again, they are all

1134
01:14:57,120 --> 01:15:03,480
over in every single town. More so this
year than any other year and let's never

1135
01:15:02,240 --> 01:15:06,240
forget.
>> Thank you.

1136
01:15:04,800 --> 01:15:08,960
Legislator, I'm just going around.
Legislator Reagan.

1137
01:15:07,440 --> 01:15:12,680
» Thank you, Chairman. Um,
so fortuitous that tonight we we had the

1138
01:15:10,720 --> 01:15:16,560
proclamation about suicide prevention
and I'm glad the captain is still

1139
01:15:13,880 --> 01:15:20,040
sitting here cuz I want to acknowledge
the Putnam County Sheriff's office for

1140
01:15:18,520 --> 01:15:25,400
an incident that transpired within the
last week, which is walking the walk.

1141
01:15:22,880 --> 01:15:30,640
We've talked here about setting a
culture, trying to set up suicide

1142
01:15:28,080 --> 01:15:34,320
prevention and in a scenario where a
person was perched on the western side

1143
01:15:32,440 --> 01:15:39,640
of the county about about to kill
themselves.

1144
01:15:35,720 --> 01:15:43,800
Our deputies traversed the woods of the
area, found that person and spent

1145
01:15:41,880 --> 01:15:48,160
upwards I think of 2 hours or more
talking that person down, right? So,

1146
01:15:45,960 --> 01:15:52,040
there was a a circumstance where the
culture, the leadership and the members

1147
01:15:50,880 --> 01:15:56,232
of the Putnam County Sheriff's
Department had the right mentality and

1148
01:15:55,320 --> 01:15:57,880
and
>> [clears throat]

1149
01:15:56,360 --> 01:16:03,160
» and the agility to get climb up a
mountain and find this person, thank

1150
01:15:59,480 --> 01:16:05,920
God, right? But, that all aspects of
suicide prevention we've talked about

1151
01:16:04,600 --> 01:16:09,640
here and there's some great people that
were up here with Legislator Montgomery

1152
01:16:07,840 --> 01:16:13,800
before and the work they do is amazing,
but I wanted to take a moment uh, during

1153
01:16:12,200 --> 01:16:18,480
this particular portion of tonight to
recognize Putnam County Sheriff's office

1154
01:16:16,560 --> 01:16:23,320
who again walked the walk when it comes
to suicide prevention and did everything

1155
01:16:21,320 --> 01:16:26,920
and beyond to make sure that that person
was uh, went home safely that night. So,

1156
01:16:25,720 --> 01:16:31,000
thank you, Captain and thank to your
department for for walking the walk.

1157
01:16:28,960 --> 01:16:33,000
Appreciate what you guys do.
>> Thank you.

1158
01:16:32,080 --> 01:16:37,960
Legislator DeAngelo.
>> Yes, well, Legislator Crowley, um, thank

1159
01:16:35,600 --> 01:16:42,840
you for very touching statement on uh,
recognizing um, 9/11 and

1160
01:16:40,640 --> 01:16:46,760
also you uh, Legislator Reagan, that was
great work uh executed by the Sheriff's

1161
01:16:44,560 --> 01:16:50,480
Department. Great job. Um I did just
want to say relative to to item 6C, I

1162
01:16:49,080 --> 01:16:55,160
wanted to kind of commend us all as a
legislature. Um in my short time here

1163
01:16:53,800 --> 01:17:01,320
and in the years that I've been
following it, this was one of the first

1164
01:16:58,280 --> 01:17:05,440
times I saw kind of a uh I guess we'll
call it a controversial issue and

1165
01:17:04,080 --> 01:17:08,560
and a consequential issue that we all
kind of came together despite

1166
01:17:07,680 --> 01:17:12,640
um
some outside forces pushing back. Uh I

1167
01:17:11,040 --> 01:17:15,920
think we did good work. We we It was
bipartisan work and and we did something

1168
01:17:14,480 --> 01:17:20,440
that I think is going to have real
lasting and meaningful effect uh for the

1169
01:17:18,400 --> 01:17:24,000
public. So, I just wanted to
kind of pat us all on the back for that.

1170
01:17:22,840 --> 01:17:26,720
» Thank you.
Thank you. Legislator Russo.

1171
01:17:25,480 --> 01:17:31,680
» Thank you.
Um

1172
01:17:28,520 --> 01:17:38,200
I just want to say, you know, suicide
awareness month, anybody can call 988.

1173
01:17:36,440 --> 01:17:42,960
Didn't sound right.
Um

1174
01:17:39,520 --> 01:17:47,080
and reach out cuz people do care.
Um

1175
01:17:44,640 --> 01:17:51,840
And then it's
it's sad. I can't believe it's 25 years

1176
01:17:50,120 --> 01:17:58,680
of 9/11.
I remember where I was um and I know

1177
01:17:55,280 --> 01:18:04,240
many people that were lost that day and
are losing their lives since.

1178
01:18:01,640 --> 01:18:08,480
So, I want everybody to remember and
never forget.

1179
01:18:06,160 --> 01:18:16,960
Um and [clears throat] there are plenty
of um events that day to come.

1180
01:18:13,760 --> 01:18:22,360
Remember, you know, remember everybody
who was lost and

1181
01:18:20,000 --> 01:18:24,720
never forget.
>> Thank you.

1182
01:18:25,120 --> 01:18:30,040
Legislator Gouldman.
>> Thank you, Chairman.

1183
01:18:27,560 --> 01:18:35,760
Um schools of course Putnam County are
heading back to school. I would like to

1184
01:18:32,120 --> 01:18:38,160
remind drivers to be especially vigilant
uh for

1185
01:18:36,640 --> 01:18:42,480
uh pedestrians
uh before and after school hours.

1186
01:18:40,680 --> 01:18:47,640
Throughout the last decade, nearly one
in four child pedestrian fatalities

1187
01:18:45,360 --> 01:18:53,520
occurred between the hours of 3:00 p.m.
and 7:00 p.m. So, please drive safely. I

1188
01:18:51,040 --> 01:18:56,120
would also like to wish all the kids
going back to school have a wonderful

1189
01:18:55,120 --> 01:19:01,720
year.
Um, do well, study, meet new friends,

1190
01:18:59,520 --> 01:19:05,120
and have a great year.
Also, uh

1191
01:19:03,720 --> 01:19:10,640
just in a few days, we're going to be
celebrating, not celebrating, we're

1192
01:19:07,120 --> 01:19:13,040
going to be honoring 25 years since
9/11.

1193
01:19:11,960 --> 01:19:17,280
I'm sure everyone in this room
remembers,

1194
01:19:14,800 --> 01:19:22,560
uh, when that occurred.
I remember I was, and uh, I'll never

1195
01:19:19,840 --> 01:19:27,880
forget that till I till I pass.
Um, at that time in my life, I was

1196
01:19:25,200 --> 01:19:34,520
actually a board member of the local Red
Cross in the city, and um

1197
01:19:31,680 --> 01:19:38,240
I tried to go down to the pit to help,
but they weren't allowing

1198
01:19:36,720 --> 01:19:43,120
basically non-police officers and
firemen to go down there. So, I didn't

1199
01:19:40,440 --> 01:19:47,960
get that opportunity to do that. But,
uh, please remember

1200
01:19:45,160 --> 01:19:53,200
that day, and uh
I always will.

1201
01:19:49,760 --> 01:19:58,880
Saturday, September 19th, is Putnam
Valley Town Day. It will be held in the

1202
01:19:55,560 --> 01:20:04,240
Putnam Valley Town Park, 156 Oscawana
Lake Road, from the hours of 2:00 till

1203
01:20:01,320 --> 01:20:07,280
9:00 till 10:00, whenever it's over.
It's a great community event, please

1204
01:20:05,720 --> 01:20:09,520
stop by.
That's it. Thank you.

1205
01:20:08,200 --> 01:20:12,680
» Thank you.
Any other comments?

1206
01:20:10,440 --> 01:20:17,600
» I do have a comment because I I this is
the focus tonight has been on suicide

1207
01:20:14,920 --> 01:20:21,600
prevention. I I I guess I want to give
an update, and it's a unfortunate

1208
01:20:19,880 --> 01:20:27,360
update. Um, you'll recall our
conversation around the funding for

1209
01:20:24,560 --> 01:20:31,760
mental health resources, and um, me
attempting to at least keep one of our

1210
01:20:29,400 --> 01:20:39,680
resources open, but unfortunately
because of misunderstandings and um

1211
01:20:35,480 --> 01:20:43,200
incorrect comments made at that meeting
um and not understanding elected

1212
01:20:41,360 --> 01:20:49,960
officials not understanding the laws in
their own towns and the Padavan laws um

1213
01:20:47,280 --> 01:20:55,880
the Rose House is closing and there's
surmounting pressure on them to close um

1214
01:20:53,320 --> 01:21:00,080
and I did a lot of work on that. I I you
know, some of the issues apparently were

1215
01:20:57,840 --> 01:21:04,600
code violations and
I I don't know that ambulance calls are

1216
01:21:02,440 --> 01:21:10,920
a code violation, but that's one of the
reasons is the number of calls and I you

1217
01:21:07,560 --> 01:21:15,200
know, on me I I collected the data and
the number of calls to to that area is

1218
01:21:13,600 --> 01:21:18,800
no different than the number of calls to
my neighborhood. In fact, my

1219
01:21:16,440 --> 01:21:24,391
neighborhood there are more calls um
emergency calls, sheriff's calls. I live

1220
01:21:21,360 --> 01:21:28,520
in a crazy neighborhood, but anyway
>> [laughter]

1221
01:21:25,120 --> 01:21:32,320
» So yeah, I'm I'm I'm not I obviously I
can't let it go and it's a sore subject

1222
01:21:30,720 --> 01:21:37,040
and I'm it's really unfortunate
especially since we're talking about

1223
01:21:34,080 --> 01:21:41,880
suicide prevention and here we have this
one resource that had no problem for 10

1224
01:21:39,760 --> 01:21:46,360
years, but because of comments made at
one meeting, then we have problems. So

1225
01:21:44,800 --> 01:21:50,080
I'm upset and I'm able to say these
things. I have to just um

1226
01:21:48,440 --> 01:21:54,800
end it
not being so angry about that and I'm

1227
01:21:51,800 --> 01:22:00,880
able to say these things because I stand
on the shoulder of giants and we lost

1228
01:21:57,880 --> 01:22:05,440
one giant in Philipstown
um 103-year-old

1229
01:22:02,880 --> 01:22:10,320
Elizabeth Todd Healey who was a lifelong
resident and one of my mentors.

1230
01:22:08,120 --> 01:22:15,680
Um she passed away at her home on August
15th. Her involvement in the local

1231
01:22:12,760 --> 01:22:20,640
community is legendary. Her dedication
to family and to community service was a

1232
01:22:17,920 --> 01:22:24,880
driving force in her life and she was a
great example. She was an inspiration to

1233
01:22:22,520 --> 01:22:30,240
me and to the world around her including
her family and her graciousness is a

1234
01:22:27,640 --> 01:22:33,680
wonderful example of kindness to her
fellow humans.

1235
01:22:32,280 --> 01:22:36,080
Thank you. Well, she'll be greatly
missed.

1236
01:22:34,680 --> 01:22:40,520
» Thank you.
Any other comment?

1237
01:22:37,760 --> 01:22:45,680
Uh along those lines, um since our last
meeting, we lost a uh former colleague

1238
01:22:43,680 --> 01:22:50,120
of ours uh from District 2, Billy Lee
Crowder. Uh he served as a county

1239
01:22:47,800 --> 01:22:54,680
legislator from Putnam Valley from 1982
to 1983.

1240
01:22:51,720 --> 01:22:57,920
Uh died uh within the last month at the
age of 92.

1241
01:22:56,160 --> 01:23:03,000
Uh he served honorably not only on this
legislature, but also in various town

1242
01:23:00,560 --> 01:23:06,680
commissions and committees. And uh with
that, what I'd like to do is uh make a

1243
01:23:04,520 --> 01:23:08,880
motion to end this meeting in his
memory. Do I have a second?

1244
01:23:08,240 --> 01:23:10,000
» Second.
>> All in favor?

1245
01:23:09,680 --> 01:23:12,320
» Aye.
>> Aye.