Regular Board
February 7, 2022 @ 10:00 am
Shaun Gillilland,
Chairperson
Jim Monty,
Vice-Chairman
Chairman Gillilland
called this Regular Board meeting to order at 10:00 am, with the following
supervisors in attendance: Clayton Barber, Robin DeLoria, Stephanie DeZalia, Derek
Doty, Shaun Gillilland, Charles Harrington, Roy Holzer, Ken Hughes, Stephen
McNally, Noel Merrihew, Jim Monty, Thomas Scozzafava, Matthew Stanley, Michael
Tyler, Joe Pete Wilson, Davina Winemiller, Margaret Wood and Mark Wright.
Department heads
present were: Linda Beers, Michael Diskin, Jim Dougan, Judy Garrison, Dan
Manning, Dan Palmer, David Reynolds and Heather Sheehan.
Deputies present: Matt Watts.
Also present: Rose Koop-Angelicola and Steve Koop.
Virtually present: Congresswoman Elise Stefanik
News Media present: Tim
Rowland - Sun Community News
GILLILLAND: I will call the Board of Supervisors and if
you will join me in the salute to the flag please. Thank you.
Roll call please. So the first
item of business is we have a guest, which is Congresswoman Stefanik. Is she on?
Good morning Congresswoman. Thank
you very much for addressing us this morning.
We have the full board here and the floor is yours.
CONGRESSWOMAN
STEFANIK: Great, thank you so much
Chairman Gillilland. Great to see
everyone from Essex County. I know that
I’ve spoken with many of you individually over the past few months on various
issues that are important to your towns, but I really appreciate this
opportunity that we like to do once a year in a more formal capacity to give an
update to the board.
I thought today I would
talk about sort of a summary of Covid relief and the importance of delivering
those funds to the county, highlight some additional funding through the
Northern Border Regional Commission as well as looking forward as ways we can
partner together.
So, number one, I know
that I have worked so closely with each of you and I’m very grateful for the
county Public Health officials in Essex County, for all of your tremendous work
throughout Covid. One of our top priorities
from my office was providing small businesses, the relief they needed
particular at the start but throughout Covid and continuing to provide support
as we move forward as businesses face labor shortages or different challenges.
So, number one, the
Paycheck Protection Program has been incredibly important for Essex County and
for the North Country in general. I was
proud to deliver over $170 million dollars of Paycheck Protection Program relief
to small businesses in our district $42.5 million of that went directly to
Essex County small businesses. One of
the aspects that’s really important is that we wanted to make sure it was not
just the year round businesses that qualify but also the seasonal
businesses. I was able to work with the
Department of Treasury to rewrite that formula so that seasonal businesses
would qualify for access to those funds and that has been critical. In addition, Covid hospitals, obviously, we
have a number of hospitals that we partner with whether it’s of course E-town,
but also CVPH and Adirondack Health. In
total, the district has received over $100 million of direct support through
Federal hospitals. Many of the hospitals
face unique challenges in accessing those federal dollars and we were happy as
an office to help deliver those. You
know, one of the issues that I hear from small businesses that they’re
struggling with now is workforce. So
many small businesses are ready and want to hire, but they just cannot find the
workforce that has the professional skills or trades that are needed. A couple of weeks ago I had a roundtable with
many small businesses and manufactures and some of our workforce development
leaders in the Clinton, Franklin, Essex County Region to try to continue to
focus on what t hose needs are. I’ve
introduced legislation that would provide an incentive for the employers to be
reimbursed funds for when people are getting training on the job. We hope that will develop a pipeline to
better serve, you know, and fill those open slots. In addition, one of the concerns that I hear
from every small business I go to now is lack of access to childcare. This is a real challenge in rural communities
and while some of the proposals at the Federal level have been top-down
government run childcare I believe that in rural communities we ought to be
providing incentives for home based child care.
And I’ve introduced legislation to do that as well. I think that’s really important as we have
child care deserts throughout New York’s 21st District. Moving forward to the Northern Border
Regional Commission Grants. You know
this is a program that I have strongly supported both the funding but also
expanding the eligibility of all the counties in New York’s 21st
District and Essex County has done a tremendous job working with my office to
access those funds. Just to highlight a
few of them, $250,000 for E-town for sewer and wastewater system, $247,000 for
county fish hatchery repairs, $500,000 for the Town of Crown Point for again,
sewer and waste water systems, $123,000 for the Town of Wilmington for sewer
and wastewater systems, Etown $250,000 for trail access to downtown and
$789,000 for the Town of Essex for water treatment. A lot of these projects we worked on for
many, many years with you but you see one of the trends here, sewer,
wastewater, water treatment plants providing those funds has been critical and
Essex County has received just a huge amount of those, almost $2.2 million
dollars and we’re going to continue working on that, for the towns that are not
on that list, please let us know your priorities. We want to be as helpful as possible, to
deliver those funds.
The northern border
continues to be a top priority for the district as a whole. It’s had an impact on our economy. It’s had an impact on our tourism. We’ve even
had property owners who haven’t been able to access their properties. I am advocating and continue to work on the
bipartisan Northern Border Caucus for return to cross border parity, so that we
can continue to have the robust not just trade, but that robust daily cross
border traffic, that is so important particularly as we head into the high
season later this summer.
So, you know, December
15th I sent a letter to President Biden, opposing vaccine mandates
for essential travel and urging bilateral discussions for a bilateral plan to
return to normalcy and we’ve been working with chambers of commerce on that.
In addition, the
Olympics really important for Essex County as well as for the North Country as
a whole. We have many Olympians who are
from our district and while I have grave concerns about the location of the
Olympics in Beijing given the human rights abuses, we still ought to be, as a
country urging and encouraging our athletes who are working so hard on behalf
of Team USA. I introduced a bipartisan
resolution, again, honoring those athletes honoring those coaches, our
Olympians who are from the North Country.
We are rooting for them and I’m hoping that that will pass
Congress. I am co-Chair of the Olympics
caucus which is bipartisan and it’s very, very important to our district.
Moving along to looking
ahead, broadband. This continues to be a
top concern. This was definitely
highlighted during the Covid pandemic as certain people had access to high
speed broadband but many did not. We’ve
made significant inroads, the FCC, my office made sure working with the
Chairman of the FCC that we were able to access the $100 million of FCC funding
for rural digital opportunity funding and that build out is happening slowly,
but surely throughout the district and we’re going to continue pushing that
forward. In addition, some of the red
tape issues so New York State is more costly than any other state in the nation
when it comes to building out broadband.
We’ve partnered with Senator Dan Stec and Assemblyman Matt Simpson on
really tackling some of those regulatory burdens when it comes to building out
that last mile. So we will keep working
with all of you on that. The Northern
Border Regional Commission is another pot of funding that is eligible for rural
broadband. I’ve delivered that to Tupper
Lake and other parts of the district so please keep that in mind. And then, sort of the issues I hear about the
most inflation continues to be an issue impacting every single family. Energy costs, the fact that this winter
energy costs are much higher, particularly for our elderly community, and those
on limited income that has been extremely challenging, as well as gas
prices. That increase in gas prices
that’s essentially attacks on every family and with these long drives to and
from work for many families in my district that has been extremely challenging
to balance their weekly and monthly budgets so we will continue to work on
that.
Update on the
redistricting process, which I think is of interest although Essex County at
the Federal level does not shift, that those lines were passed by the State
Senate and State Assembly from my perspective, they were definitely
gerrymandered lines, according to the New York State Constitution you are
supposed to have compacted and contiguous districts as well as districts that
don’t benefit incumbents and while politically my district becomes an even more
politically Republican district, I believe it’s important for the voters of New
York State to have proper representation and not divide communities of
interest. There are lawsuits pending so
that will play out but as the lines are now, the 12 county district is now
going to expand to all our parts of 18 counties so it gets geographically
larger. Doesn’t impact Essex County
because you are all in both the current map and the next map but I’m happy to
answer questions on that as well.
So Shaun, I’ll turn it
back over to you, love to answer questions on anything.
GILLILLAND: Thank you Congresswoman. Any questions for the Congresswoman?
SCOZZAFAVA: Good morning Congresswoman. Can you hear me?
CONGRESSWOMAN
STEFANIK: Yes, I can.
SCOZZAFAVA: Okay, first and foremost Moriah Shock. As you’re aware, the State of New York
through their legislation the Governor supposedly chosen Moriah Shock as one of
their facilities to close I believe there are six prisons closing, Moriah being
one of the six. Moriah, I mean, the
program speaks for itself and it has actually saved taxpayers in this State
tens of millions of dollars since its inception and the – I’ve been trying to
get through to the Governor’s office as has our Chairman and Jim Monty has
worked on this and actually the entire Board of Supervisors are opposed to this
closure but we don’t seem to be gaining any traction whatsoever. We have talked to public safety, the
Commissioner there. We did meet with
acting Commissioner Annucci and I’m just wondering if there’s any use that the
Federal Government could use this facility for?
There’s no reuse plan in place and part of the legislation that granted
the Governor the power to close these facilities it clearly states, there is
supposed to be a reuse plan in place.
They didn’t even have the decency to call me before they announced the
closure. Chairman Gillilland and myself
heard it through the grapevine and we actually got to make the first call to
the DOCS Commission so obviously I’m very upset about it. 125 good paying jobs will be lost from that
community, that facility was built by then Governor Mario Cuomo, Senator
Stafford for the very reason of helping the community economically and then
we’re just getting into this program and then Governor Cuomo mentioned object
poverty, one of the areas he was referring to was Essex County and primarily
the Town of Moriah so you know, we are trying to do everything we can possibly
do the first and foremost save the program but my concern is that if the
program isn’t saved I don’t want those buildings to sit and just start to
deteriorate and unfortunately the State of New York has a tract record for
allowing that to happen.
So I’m just wondering
if there is anything at the Federal level?
I understand it’s a State facility and not a Federal facility but I’m
just wondering if there is anything you can do to try and help us?
CONGRESSWOMAN
STEFANIK: Yeah, thanks for the question
Tommy. I have spoken out from my office
because of the overall economic impact, and this is not the first closure we
have gone through since I’ve been in office, Clinton County Annex as well as
Ogdensburg and Moriah Shock were both announced at the same time. I believe this is pulling out the run from
under the correction officers, families, but also pulling out the rug from the
community. There was no community input
on this process and as we remember when we look back in history, there was
essentially, frankly, a covenant between the community and the State Government
that we would have these facilities here in the North Country and that is being
broken. We’ve spoken out to the
Governor. The Governor has refused to
listen. We’ve worked with Senator Stec
and Assemblyman Simpson on the other side of my district I’ve worked with
Senator Patty Ritchie as well as the State Assembly members, to really talk
about the importance of these facilities in the communities. When it comes to Moriah Shock in particular,
it is very unique and it has been a taxpayer dollar saver for the State so I
completely disagree with the decision to close it. Unfortunately, this is the trend we’re seeing
in New York State, where it really is, frankly a war on law enforcement,
whether it’s Correction Officers jobs or whether it’s not supporting our County
Sheriffs our NYPD or our New York State Troopers that has to stop. At the Federal level Tommy, we are seeing
the same sort of trends. They are
looking to the State of New York and even, frankly the President was in New
York State saying the rest of the country should follow New York State when it
comes to law enforcement issues. I
oppose that. I think that is very much
out of touch with the beliefs of the North Country, the importance of safety
and security and the support for our Corrections officers. So, of course, I will always look for
Federal resources, but I am not optimistic, given unified Government in
Washington right now with one party rule, that there’s going to be any appetite
for taking that on at the Federal level because again, it’s an anti-law
enforcement sentiment that we’re seeing coming out of Albany and coming out of
Washington DC, with on party rule and I’m hopeful that you know, starting after
this November elections next January, there will be a block on this one party
rule that has been so damaging and a house that’s very supportive of law
enforcement including our corrections officers.
SCOZZAFAVA: Thank you.
GILLILLAND: Further questions for the Congresswoman? Thank you very much Congresswoman. We really appreciate your update, and it’s
been an honor working with you and looking forward to working with you well
into the future.
CONGRESSWOMAN
STEFANIK: Thank you so much
Chairman. Again, everybody in this room,
don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly, don’t hesitate to reach out to my
office on issues big and small, if it’s casework, social security, VA issues,
Medicare, Covid relief, you name it, reach out to my office. We are here as a resource and committed to
making sure the concerns of Essex County are at the highest levels. So I appreciate it, and I’ll see you all
soon.
GILLILLAND: Thank you very much.
Okay before we get into
resolutions, so, somewhat of a sad, celebratory day today can I have all the
ladies and gentlemen of Public Health come up here and join me? Sad day because one of our true professionals
in our Public Health Department is looking for other adventures in life which
we all deserve and but a celebratory day because she has provided thirty years
of dedicated service to the people of Essex County to which we are all highly
indebted to.
I’d like to read this
resolution of appreciation to Rose Koop-Angelicola upon your retirement from
the Essex County Health Department. Upon the recommendation of the Human
Services Committee, with the approval of the ways and means committee of this
body, and the same appearing proper and necessary. Whereas, Rose Koop-Angelicola has been a
faithful public servant to the people of Essex County for 30 years;
Whereas, Rose Koop-Angelicola began employment with Essex
County on July 15, 1991, as a Community Health Nurse for the Public Health
Department; and
Whereas, during her tenure with the Health Department, Rose
Koop-Angelicola has exhibited the highest degree of professionalism,
competency, integrity, attention to detail, care, organization, timely and
accuracy with documentation, teaching, evaluation and treatment of patient
needs while adapting to changes, working through a pandemic, managing
priorities and exceptional clinical skills and talent to the County of Essex,
it’s residents and its employees with grace and respect; and
Whereas, Rose Koop-Angelicola has graciously performed her
duties for 30 years and has announced her retirement effective January 31,
2022; and
Whereas, all the members of the Health Department Team and
Home Care Staff wishes to extend its deep and abiding appreciation to Rose
Koop-Angelicola for her outstanding contributions made to the County of Essex
and thanks her for performing her duties competently and with professionalism
for the last 30 years; and
Whereas, the Essex County Board of Supervisors wishes to
extend its sincere appreciation to Rose Koop-Angelicola for her many years of
outstanding public service to the people of Essex County.
Be it Resolved, that the Essex County Board of Supervisors,
its Clerk of the Board, County Manager and County Attorney hereby extend their
most heartfelt appreciation to Rose Koop-Angelicola for her dedication and
service to Essex County and upon her retirement from the Essex County Health
Department and wishes her continued success and best wishes in her future
endeavors. Thank you so much.
KOOP-ANGELICOLA: Thank you.
I’ll go really quick, the girls in the back know I love to tell a story
but I won’t. I really want to thank
Essex County Health Department for offering me the opportunity to work in both
of our units and essentially, in all of our programs. I mean, it’s truly enriched my career as a
nurse. It made every day exciting and challenging
and wonderful but the other really big part of it is our residents that we have
the opportunity to serve every day. They
are the finest people I can ever imagine to work for. They have been gracious
and kind, accepting me into their lives telling me their stories good, bad,
ugly, otherwise I mean, it’s just amazing what they have offered to me and
everyday was some form of education that could never ever get in school so I
really, really appreciate all of our efforts and the residents who have allowed
me to work with them and it’s has truly made me a better nurse and a better
person so I just wanted to say thank you.
Thank you all.
GILLILLAND: Move to
resolutions please.
RESOLUTION #16 – AUTHORIZING THE EMERGENCY SERVICES
DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT FY2021 NEW YORK STATE INTEROPERABLE
COMMUNICATIONS (SICG21) FORMULA BASED GRANT.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Holzer,
seconded Mr. Barber and adopted.
RESOLUTION #17 – AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING
AGENT TO AWARD BIDS, ISSUE CONTRACTS OR PURCHASE ORDERS.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Hughes, seconded by Mr. Scozzafava and adopted upon a roll-call vote as
follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
RESOLUTION #18 – OF APPRECIATION TO STEPHANIE
SNOW UPON HER RETIREMENT FROM ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Stanley,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION #19 – OF APPRECIATION TO CINDY HEALD
UPON HER RETIREMENT FROM ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Merrihew,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION #20 – OF APPRECIATION TO LISA J. NYE
UPON HER RETIREMENT FROM ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Wilson,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION #21 – AUTHORIZING APPOINTMENTS TO
BOARDS, COMMITTES AND/OR COUNCILS.
This resolution was moved by Mrs. DeZalia,
seconded Mr. Merrihew and adopted.
RESOLUTION #22 – AUTHORIZINGTHE ESSEX COUNTY
MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION FROM THE OFFICE OF MENTAL
HEALTH TO SET UP A SATELLITE CLINIC LOCATION FOR THE PROVISION OF CHILDREN
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EDUCATION SERVICES (CVES) MINEVILLE
LOCATION.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Hughes,
seconded Mr. Monty and adopted.
GILLILLAND: Discussion?
HARRINGTON: Doesn’t this have an element of
responsibility from the education department?
I assume we are dealing with pre-school and other age groups and I’m
assuming that it should be the responsibility of school districts?
PALMER: Well, all pre-school costs are actually ours.
HARRINGTON: Is that what this is designated for?
PALMER: Well this is really, it’s really Mental
Health setting up a program that allows them to take in more revenue
essentially provide more service and be able to bill and recovery that billing
for that, for those services that are necessary.
HARRINGTON: So will there be responsibilities for school
districts to fund this?
PALMER: No. Pre-school, anything related to pre-school is
all the counties.
HARRINGTON: Right.
PALMER: No, schools are not required
unfortunately. We hold the ticket for
all of those items.
MONTY: I believe Shaun, there is also some Federal
funding in that as well that may come into play because of the pre-school
aspect of it.
PALMER: There may, yeah. You know at one time these costs were shared
more with the State but the State dropped all of their shared cost portions.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion? Being none, all in favor, opposed – carried.
RESOLUTION #23 – AUTHORIZING THE ESSEX COUNTY
MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR AN INTEGRATED OUTPATIENT SERVICES (IOS)
LICENSE TO BECOME LICENSED FOR BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUSBSTANCE ABUSE
TREATMENT.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Monty,
seconded Mr. Tyler and adopted.
GILLILLAND: Discussion?
PALMER: And again, both of these are about moves that
allows the health department to submit billing for reimbursement. If you don’t have some of these agreements in
place or you don’t have the certifications in place, then you can’t bill for
those services. You maybe still providing
them but you’re not able to bill unless you had these things in place that’s
the idea.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion? Being none, all in favor, opposed – carried.
RESOLUTION #24 – OF APPRECIATION TO ROSE
KOOP-ANGELICOLA UPON HER RETIREMENT FROM THE ESSEX COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Monty, seconded
unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION #25 – AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A
PERMIT TO IRONMAN LAKE PLACID FOR THE USE OF COUNTY ROADWAYS FOR THE 2022
IRONMAN TRIATHLON RACE ON JULY 24, 2022.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Monty,
seconded Mr. Doty and adopted.
RESOLUTION #26 – AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A
PERMIT ALLOWING USE OF COUNTY ROADWAYS FOR THE WILMINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 5K
AND 10K RUN/RACE TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022, IN THE TOWN OF
WILMINGTON, UPON APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND WITH THE PROVISION OF
INSURANCE.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Holzer,
seconded Mr. Stanley and adopted.
RESOLUTION #27 – AUTHORIZING THE
IMPLEMENTATION, AND FUNDING IN THE FIRST INSTANCE 100% OF THE FEDERAL-AID AND
STATE “MARCHISELLI” PROGRAM-AID ELIGIBLE COSTS, OF A TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL-AID
PROJECT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE – WATER STREET BRIDGE OVER THE BRANCH
ELIZABETHTOWN.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Merrihew, seconded by Mr. Wright and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
RESOLUTION #28 – AUTHORIZING THE
IMPLEMENTATION, AND FUNDING IN THE FIRST INSTANCE 100% OF THE FEDERAL-AID AND
STATE “MARCHISELLI” PROGRAM-AID ELIGIBLE COSTS, OF A TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL-AID
PROJECT, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE – ALEXANDRIA AVENUE OVER LAKE GEORGE
OUTLET TICONDEROGA.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Wright, seconded by Mr. Scozzafava and adopted upon a roll-call vote as
follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
RESOLUTION
#29 – TO THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON ON THEIR BEICENTENNIAL.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Holzer,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION
#30 – OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF DONAL DEMACY.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Holzer,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION
#31 – AUTHORIZING INCLUSION OF THE ESSEX COUNTY CORONERS TO RECEIVE THE PREMIUM
PAY INCENTIVE AS AUTHORIZED AND PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF RESOLUTION NO. 279 OF
DECEMBER 7, 2021.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Monty, seconded by Mr. DeLoria and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES:
2364 votes (Barber, Harrington, Merrihew, Hughes,
Wilson, Monty,
McNally, DeLoria, Doty, DeZalia,
Wood, Winemiller, Wright,
Tyler, Gillilland, Holzer)
NOES: 557 votes (Stanley,
Scozzafava)
ABSENT:
0 votes
RESOLUTION
#32 – ACCEPTING, ADOPTING AND PLACING ON FILE POLICIES, PLANS, PROCEDURES AND ANNUAL
REPORTS.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava,
seconded Mr. Merrihew and adopted.
RESOLUTION #33 – AUTHORIZNG A CHANGE IN HOURS
FOR THE NEWLY CREATED FISCAL MANAGER POSITION IN THE TREASURER’S OFFICE FROM 35
HOURS PER WEEK TO 40 HOURS PER WEEK.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Scozzafava, seconded by Mrs. Winemiller and adopted upon a roll-call vote as
follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
RESOLUTION
#34 – AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE CHAMPLAIN NATIONAL BANK
ACCOUNT AUTHORIZED SIGNATURES FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY TREASURERS DEPARTMENT.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Scozzafava, seconded by Mr. Tyler and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
RESOLUTION
#35 – AUTHORIZING CONTRACT AMENDMENTS/CHANGE ORDER IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Scozzafava, seconded by Mr. DeLoria and adopted upon a roll-call vote as
follows:
AYES:
2815 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
106 votes (Tyler)
RESOLUTION
#36 – AUTHORIZING THE POSITION OF NETWORK COORDINATOR IN THE INFORMATION
SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF SAID POSITION.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Scozzafava, seconded by Mr. Barber and adopted upon a roll-call vote as
follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
RESOLUTION
#37 – OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF BARBARA BEEBE BRASSARD.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION
#38 – OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF MARGARET A. “MAGGIE” TROMBLY.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Monty,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION
#39 – OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL L. BRENNER.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION #40 – WELCOMING THE 2023 WORLD
UNIVERSITY GAMES WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN LAKE PLACID AND SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES IN ESSEX COUNTY BEGINNING JANUARY 12-22, 2023.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Holzer,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION #41 – OF
CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF SPENCER R. STAFFORD, SR.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Gillilland,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION #42 – APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX AND THE TOWN OF KEENE FOR THE
USE OF KEENE PROPERTY LOCATED ON ROUTE 9N BY THE TOWN OF KEENE FOR A MULTI-USE
TRAIL AND RECREATIONAL SYSTEM OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Wilson, seconded by Mr. Monty and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
GILLILLAND: Discussion?
DOTY: I was talking to Joe a little earlier about
it, there’s a clause in there that should any timber be cut the county would
reserve first right of refusal on that awarding. I’m suggesting maybe this committee would
return any timber harvest monies for that project? I really don’t see it as being appreciable to
begin with and it would just secure the success of that program.
GILLILLAND: Are you offering that as an amendment to the
resolution?
DOTY: Do we have a legal issue with that Dan?
MANNING: No, I could
just take it out. I think, I could just take
it out of the agreement.
GILLILLAND: Okay.
DOTY: Then there was one other clause too I would
like to discuss. I’d like to make sure
that Keene has the ability, I don’t know if you would call it a sublease or not
but I’m not sure the town would be looking to either hire more people to
oversee the operation and maintenance of that trail system or if a non for
profit agency or someone of the like would want to contract with the Town of
Keene to maintain those and I didn’t see that address in the MOU.
MANNING: Yeah, it’s provided for in there. We are
going to allow Keene to do this project and they’ll hire other contracts,
subcontractors, anybody that might over see it so that is in there.
DOTY: Okay, thank you.
MANNING: I handed out
the conceptual plan for this earlier this morning and JoePete may want to speak
to this, this is what it is about in case you’re – I noticed I forgot to send
it to you last week so you may want to know what you’re going to approve, if
you approve it.
WILSON: Thanks Dan.
Thanks Mr. Doty. So we’ve looked
at this and have questions either now or later I’m happy to answer them but you
know again, as I said last week this project is really going to be a
partnership of the Town of Keene, Essex County and then Bark Eater Trails
Alliance to do the design maintenance and this plan was commissioned through
them so if you have questions about it I’d be happy to answer them now or
later.
HUGHES: Is your board in favor of this?
WILSON: We got the verbal go ahead, they wanted to
see the county MOU go through until tomorrow night we’re doing our board
meeting on this.
GILLILLAND: Okay so Mr. Doty are we in need to do an
amendment to the resolution?
MANNING: I wouldn’t worry about it. I will just take it out.
GILLILLAND: Okay.
If that’s okay with you Mr. Doty?
DOTY: That’s
fine. Thank you.
MANNING: Joe Pete do you want to explain, does
everyone know what this is about? I
mean, the bike trails?
WILSON: We talked about it a little last week, yes.
MANNING: Okay as long
as everybody is Kosher with it.
GILLILLAND: Further
discussion on the resolution? Being
none, roll call please.
WILSON: Thank you all for the support. I really appreciate it.
RESOLUTION #43 - OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF
JOHN KONOWITZ.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Tyler and Mr. Stanley,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
RESOLUTION #44 – APPROVING THE ALLERGAN NEW
YORK OPIOID SETTLEMENT SHARING AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARTICIPATING SUBDIVISIONS AND
ALLERGAN AND THE EXECUTION OF A NEW YORK SUBDIVISION ELECTION AND RELEASE FORM
TOGETHER WITH ANY AND ALL NECESSARY PERTINENT DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO SETTLE
ESSEX COUNTY’S INTEREST IN THE CURRENT NEW YORK STATE LITIGATION INVOLVING
ALLERGAN.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Monty, seconded by Mr. Tyler and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
GILLILLAND: Discussion?
DOTY: In the document that I read that was sent to
us, I have since contacted Adirondack Medical there are different service
providers that I think will be applicable to the way they would like this money
spent. The notice suggested that monies
would be coming pretty soon. Is there
anything further that I can give out for information to, for interested parties
for the programs?
MANNING: I’m told the money should be coming within 45
days, you know, take that with a grain of salt because these things are really
complicated. We have settled with
Jansen, J&J and I can’t remember the exact amount of money but I think it’s
close to $300,000, this is a second settlement with Allergan. As I stated in my letter, there are two pots
of money basically, well, there’s actually three pots of money but the two pots
that we are to be awarded are an unrestricted pot which I’m not sure which part
of this $73,000 is unrestricted and then there is a restricted pot where as I
explained in my letter, the county has to come up with uses of related to
opioid abuse and they are very broad, it could be you know mental health, public
health, it could be the Sheriff’s office, crime as related to opioids many,
many things very broad but a plan would have to be put together and I’m going
to get that information within a week to ten days. I’ve spoken to lead counsel on this regarding
the two issues of when we get our money and how will we get the second
pot. There is a third pot it is a
regional stem fund which I don’t know what the heck that is, they haven’t told
us what the money is I think it is a big super fund that we may get some additional
money out of now whether how the other like the hospitals, how they would get
any money I think that would be up to the county as to how they want to funnel
the money to that.
DOTY: So there is further information coming?
MANNING: Yes, further information will definitely be
coming.
DOTY: Thank you.
MANNING: Your welcome.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion? Being none, roll call
please.
RESOLUTION
#45 – CANCELING AND WAIVING INTEREST, PENALTIES AND OTHER CHARGES PURSUANT TO
REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW, SECTION 1182, ON PARCELS OWNED BY VINCENT PLACE IN THE
TOWNS OF ELIZABETHTOWN AND WESTPORT AND CANCELING ALL INTEREST CHARGED BY THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THE SAME PARCELS.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Merrihew, seconded by Mr. Tyler and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
GILLILLAND: Discussion?
SCOZZAFAVA: In the body of the resolution shouldn’t there
be a reason stated as to why we are dropping these charges? For down the road? I’m just saying somebody comes along and says
well, you know you set a precedent, you did it here.
PALMER: It says, charged in error. We only refund if the error was on part of
either us –
SCOZZAFAVA: This is the individual that never received
the bills from the school?
PALMER: Right.
MANNING: It’s on the record here, in the meeting Tom I
think is sufficient if anybody wants to get further edification but that’s a
good point.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion? Being roll call please.
RESOLUTION
#46 – AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF A USED AMBULANCE FROM THE ELIZABETHTOWN-LEWIS
EMS SQUAD, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,000.00, FOR THE NEW ESSEX COUNTY EMS
PROGRAM, FROM BUDGETED FUNDS.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Merrihew, seconded by Mr. Wright and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES:
2810 votes
NOES: 111 votes (Monty)
ABSENT:
0 votes
RESOLUTION
#47 – AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT
(ALS) MONITORS FOR THE COUNTY EMS AGENCEIS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,000.00,
FROM GRANT FUNDS.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Tyler, seconded by Mr. Holzer and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES:
2826 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
95 votes (Merrihew)
GARRISON: Resolutions from the floor, proclaiming March
2022 as Agricultural month in Essex County.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please?
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION
#48 – PROCLAIMING MARCH 2022 AS AGRICULTURE MONTH IN ESSEX COUNTY.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Monty,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
HUGHES: Can I ask a question very quickly on the
resolution?
GILLILLAND: Yes.
HUGHES: I’m just noticing the second whereas, where
it states the number of farms in New York State and the operated farmland, do
we know the numbers for Essex County?
GILLILLAND: Not off the top of my head.
MANNING: We do have it.
HUGHES: I was
thinking that maybe for a future resolution like this it might be nice to put Essex
County’s numbers as well.
GILLILLAND: Thank you.
GARRISON: A resolution setting the date for a public
hearing for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Project #382MHR365-19 for
Essex County Mobile Home Replacement Project Program.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please?
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #49 - SETTING THE DATE FOR A PUBLIC
HEARING FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROJECT #382MHR365-19 FOR
ESSEX COUNTY MOBILE HOME REPLACEMENT PROJECT PROGRAM.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Monty,
seconded Mr. Hughes and adopted.
GARRISON: Resolution authorizing the purchasing agent
to issue a purchase order to Fort Miller Company, Inc., in the amount of
$212,478.00, for precast concrete box culverts.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please?
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #50 -
AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER TO FORT MILLER
COMPANY, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $212,478.00, FOR PRECAST CONCRETE BOX CULVERTS.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Scozzafava, seconded by Mr. DeLoria and adopted upon a roll-call vote as
follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
GARRISON: Resolution authorizing the purchasing agent
to purchase a 2021 Nissan Rogue S AWD from Huttig Nissan of Plattsburgh for the
Information Systems Department, in the amount of $30,776.50, from budgeted
funds.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please?
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION
#51 - AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO PURCHASE A 2021 NISSAN ROGUE S AWD
FROM HUTTIG NISSAN OF PLATTSBURGH FOR THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT, IN
THE AMOUNT OF $30,776.50, FROM BUDGETED FUNDS.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Merrihew, seconded by Mr. Barber and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
GARRISON: Resolution authorizing settlement of the
existing Medicaid Universal settlement matter with Essex Centers.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please?
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION
#52 - AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE EXISTING MEDICAID UNIVERSAL SETTLEMENT
MATTER WITH ESSEX CENTERS.
This resolution was moved by Mr.
Merrihew, seconded by Mr. DeLoria and adopted upon a roll-call vote as follows:
AYES:
2921 votes
NOES: 0 votes
ABSENT:
0 votes
GARRISON: That is all I have.
GILLILLAND: Alright, I have one I would like to bring up
from the floor myself. I was called by
the Adirondack Nature Conservancy on Friday, the invasive species program. There is a fish, you probably got for your
aquariums as kids called a round goby. The round goby is an invasive species
getting into waters in Missouri and around the country, it’s been found in the
Hudson River. The round goby once it gets into our waters, our Lake Champlain
it destroys the nest and eggs of our high value game fish so like our Lake
Trout, our salmon go in the rivers and stuff but Lake Trout and others that are
economic boosts to us, Lake Champlain.
The Nature Conservancy is asking
the Governor to shut Lock 7, on the canal for the year basically while the US
Corp of Engineers figures out and installs a system that will kill these things
before they get into Lake Champlain so they were asking the Legislatures, they
may have called a number of town supervisors already but, on the lake but
basically asking for a letter to be drafted to go to the Governor to
encouraging to shut Lock 7 on the canal and to prevent the influx of the round
goby into Lake Champlain waters. I don’t
have a copy of this, I got emailed the information so if I can get a resolution
to allow me to sign for the Board of Supervisors, to the Governor encouraging to
go that course of action and we’ll draft that letter and send it to the Governor’s
office. Do I have twelve to allow it on
the floor?
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
GILLILLAND: Thank you.
RESOLUTION
#53 – IN SUPPORT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY CHAIRMAN EXECUTING A LETTER TO NEW YORK
STATE GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL REQUESTING THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO CONTROL THE
SPREAD OF THE ROUND BODY, A NON-INDIGENOUS, INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE CHAMPLAIN
CANAL.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Scozzafava,
seconded Mr. Tyler and adopted.
GILLILLAND: Discussion?
SCOZZAFAVA: Since that is a Federal waterway is Vermont
and the Federal Government involved in any of this?
GILLILLAND: I think the State is the regulation of the
canal waters. They did discuss about
boats that wanted to get in and out they are encouraging the State to lift them
across the water.
MONTY: You know, I’m 100% in favor of this I just
wish the Nature Conservancy and other environmental groups would worry about
the cormorant population which destroys more and more of our fishing in Lake
Champlain. It’s just amazing if you’re out
on Lake Champlain you’ll see the thousands of Cormorants out there and
something needs to be done about that as well.
GILLILLAND: Okay.
Would you like me to get that back to them?
MONTY: Absolutely.
GILLILLAND: Okay I will.
They also called Mark Henry, Clinton County Legislature and Clinton
County’s economic asset up there is the same as Essex County so they are
concerned and their Legislature is also going to do the same thing so, we have
a motion and a second, all in favor, opposed – thank you. Anything else to come before this board?
DEZALIA: I just wanted to add, now that we passed the
premium pay for the Coroners that we check to make sure that the reporting is
up to date because I believe about a month ago the Auditors said that they were
not up to date with the reporting or at least one of them wasn’t.
PALMER: Pretty much up to date now.
DEZALIA: Okay.
PALMER: I just
approved some vouchers that came through after the reports went in.
DEZALIA: Reports to the?
PALMER: County
Clerks.
DEZALIA: Good, thank you.
GILLILLAND: Further discussion?
MONTY: I would like to offer a couple resolutions of
condolences first, to the family of Don Maher, Anne works for Dan in the office
up there and ten days ago her father in law away and yesterday, her mother in
law passed away.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please?
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #54 – OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF
GEORGE O. ABEL AND JEAN (FABIANSKI) ABEL.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Monty,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
MONTY: Thank you and
the other resolution is condolence to the Kent Egglefield family whose son was
tragically killed Friday night in a snowmobile accident and he was the great
grandson of Spencer Egglefield who was the Treasurer here in Essex County for
many years.
GILLILLAND: Twelve to allow it on the floor please?
GARRISON: Yes, we do.
RESOLUTION #55 – OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY OF
BECKHAM “BECKS” ALEXANDER EGGLEFIELD.
This resolution was moved by Mr. Monty,
seconded unanimously and adopted.
GILLILLAND: Further resolutions or business to come
before this board? Being none, we are
adjourned.
As there was no further business to
come before this regular board meeting it was adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Judith Garrison, Clerk
Board of Supervisors