The Erie County Legislature

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IANNELLO APPOINTED CO-CHAIR OF THE NIAGARA ERIE REGIONAL COALITION BY LEGISLATURE CHAIR MARINELLI

Erie County Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore) was recently appointed Co-Chair of the Niagara Erie Regional Coalition and a member of its Board of Directors by County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda).

Legislator Iannello has been serving on the Board of Directors as one of the County Legislature's appointments, and has now replaced former Co-Chair Legislator Kathy Konst.

The appointment of Legislator Iannello as Co-Chair of the Niagara Erie Regional Coalition, as well as the appointment of Legislator and Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte (D-Buffalo) to the NERC board, was submitted by Chair Marinelli.

"I believe in a regional approach to government as defined by the Coalition's mission statement. My experience on the Community Enrichment Committee regarding tourism and culture along with my membership on the New York State Association of Counties' Public Safety Committee has served to enhance that theory," Legislator Iannello said. "My role as Chair of the Green Actions Community Committee will allow me to engage 'green jobs' and 'green energy' into our economic development goals. I am excited about this opportunity and appreciate the confidence Chairwoman Marinelli has placed in me with this appointment."

The Niagara Erie Regional Coalition is a partnership between government, private and non-profit agencies committed to thinking and acting regionally for the betterment of Erie and Niagara counties. According to its mission statement, the coalition "is a non-traditional regional collaborative forum for linking multiple organizations and initiatives, and also serves as a catalyst to identify and pursue opportunities to grow the region."

"I am pleased that Legislator Iannello has accepted the appointment as Co-Chair of the Niagara Erie Regional Coalition. She possesses the experience and knowledge to make a serious contribution to the region on behalf of the Legislature," Chair Marinelli said. "Her hard work and ability to take on and achieve success on projects and issues will allow her to represent our concerns on regional government, tourism, culture and green jobs and energy."

According to its web page (www.erie.gov/regionalcoalition/), the NERC "concentrates its efforts in the areas of economic development, government affairs, tourism and culture, and transportation. Within the aforementioned topic areas, we act as a venue for discussing and/or acting on a wide range of projects and policies initiated by member agencies or others, and we also initiate projects and policies ourselves."

To: Members of the Erie County Legislature, County
Department Personnel, Interested Stakeholders
and the Media
From: Robert M. Graber, Clerk
Subject: Erie County Legislature Public Safety Committee Meeting,
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 11:00 A.M.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Erie County Legislature's Public Safety Committee will hold a regular meeting on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 at ELEVEN O'CLOCK in the morning of that day in the Chambers of the Erie County Legislature, 4th Floor of Old County Hall, 92 Franklin Street, in the City of Buffalo, New York.
The purpose of the meeting will be to go through the Public Safety Committee agenda, as well as to discuss the U.S. Department of Justice report on the Erie County Holding Center and Correctional Facility.
Thank you.

WHERE: Erie County Legislature Chambers, Fourth Floor, 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo

Items on the agenda of the Public Safety Committee meeting include discussion of the U.S. Department of Justice report on the Erie County Holding Center and Correctional Facility. A copy of the report can be found at the following URL: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/split/documents/Erie_findlet_redact_07-15-09.pdf

Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, said that representatives from the Erie County Sheriff's Office and the county executive's administration have been invited and are expected to attend.

For more information, please contact Director of Communications Kevin J. Hosey at 858-8607 or Kevin.Hosey@erie.gov.

COUNTY LEGISLATOR WROBLEWSKI ASKS COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO END CELLBLOCK AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF BUFFALO

Erie County Legislature Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca, South Cheektowaga) is leading the effort to have Erie County end the current City of Buffalo Cellblock Agreement with the County, or modify the agreement to insure that the County is fully compensated for the services it provides to the City under the agreement.

Legislator Wroblewski, chair of the Public Safety Committee, requested this action in an August 24 letter he sent to the County Executive. He noted in his letter that, after Erie County and Buffalo entered the cellblock agreement in 2003, the city closed its cellblock facilities and transferred all detention and booking facilities to the Erie County Sheriff's Office and the Erie County Holding Center.

"The underlying premise for this agreement was that the city's cellblock was duplicative of the County's holding Center, that the cellblock was aging and in need of significant infrastructure improvements, that the County's cost per prisoner was significantly lower than the City's and that the County's assumption of detention and booking responsibilities could save the City hundreds of thousands of dollars annually while the County's costs would be covered by the City's annual payment," Legislator Wroblewski's letter states.

In January 2007, County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz opined that a reasonable projection of the county's costs associated with the agreement led to the conclusion that the County's losses under the current agreement could amount to between $5,591,783 and $10,395,246 by June 30, 2013. Poloncarz also determined that the County's costs under the agreement exceeded the city's payments by $1,662,266 from September 1, 2003, to December 1, 2006.

"This agreement has not been revenue neutral for the county; the county was not supposed to spend more money, but its costs have substantially increased," Legislator Wroblewski said. "While elected officials and law makers need to continue to think outside the box, we also need to correct things inside the box, starting with ending the agreement."

Legislator Wroblewski noted that the agreement includes a provision which authorizes the County, in its sole discretion, to terminate the agreement pursuant to the terms therein, should the city fail to make one or more of its quarterly payments to the County. While the city has not failed to make any payments under this agreement, many of the payments have not been received on the date provided for in the agreement. This failure to make timely installment payments is unacceptable and the County should immediately take steps to insure that this practice does not continue.

ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE STATEMENT ON THE TRAGIC DEATHS OF TWO BUFFALO FIREFIGHTERS

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli and County Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski, chair of the Public Safety Committee, on behalf of the County Legislature, are expressing their sincere condolences and sadness over the deaths of two Buffalo firefighters who died fighting a structure fire Monday morning, August 24.

"Buffalo Fire Department Lt. Charles McCarthy and Firefighter Jonathan Croom were among our finest citizens, those who chose to become firefighters, first responders who protect and serve our community," Legislators Marinelli and Wroblewski said. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of these brave firefighters and to their colleagues in this difficult time of loss and appreciate their sacrifices."

The Legislature has initiated several reforms - recently unanimously approving the downsizing of seats. If voters approve, it will take effect after next year's U.S. census. Voters had overwhelmingly approved Charter reforms, now in effect. The Legislature also cut the current year's budget to keep taxes from being raised as the county executive had proposed. At the start of the year, an unavoidable legal challenge became necessary so the administration's tax bills wouldn't be sent incorrectly. A Supreme Court Justice agreed with the majority of the Legislature's legal arguments.

Several other laws have been successfully written and approved in the people's branch for cost savings and reforms, such as the Taxpayer Protection Act (led by Legislator Michele Iannello), the Library Protection Act, the Strategic Development Act, the Budget Accountability Act, merging youth services into the Human Services Department (led by Legislator Tom Mazur) and, recently, tougher bans on texting while driving (prompted by Legislator Tim Wroblewski). The Legislature supported economic growth and local job protection, but the executive paid for political ads, suggesting these are union oriented, when in fact it applies to any worker and follows state law.

I seated the 21st Century Commission last fall and the Legislature honored its work to make reform a reality. In our continued efforts to enact reform and address the wishes of our constituents, we unanimously voted to reduce the size of the Legislature to 13 members and increase the length of terms to four years from two. We found consensus to do this. If voters OK it, this would be a reduction of 35 percent in the size since it began. The Legislature was originally made up of 20 members, was downsized to 17 and reduced again to 15 in 2003. This year's ballot still has 15 district-based, two-year term seats. We also followed the Commission's recommendation in increasing the terms to four years from two years to devote more time to policy and less to campaigning. If the reform package is affirmed, it will take effect in the 2011 election cycle.

It is unproductive that this reform effort with such broad, bipartisan support would be vetoed by Executive Collins. As chair, I will call for a veto override at the September session to give the voters of Erie County the chance to vote on this local law.

Last month, the Legislature conducted its annual mid-year budget hearings in our continuing role of financial oversight. We started these mid-year budget hearings following the budget crisis of 2005. It is one of our fiscally prudent reform methods for working with the departments to make certain that spending and revenues are in line with established annual budgets. Legislator Bob Reynolds, who now chairs the Finance and Management Committee, will lead the 2010 budget deliberations. The Legislature has made drastic reductions in its own department budget, finding over a quarter-million dollars of cuts and cost savings. Like our citizens, we continue to live within our means.

August 21, 2009
To: All Members of the Erie County Legislature
From: Robert M. Graber, Clerk
Subject: SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Rule 2.02 of the RULES OF ORDER of the Erie County Legislature, and under the direction of Chair Lynn M. Marinelli, there will be a Special Meeting of the Erie County Legislature on TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2009 at ELEVEN O'CLOCK in the morning of that day in the Chambers of the Erie County Legislature, 4th Floor of Old County Hall, 92 Franklin Street, in the City of Buffalo, New York.

The purpose of the Special Meeting will be to consider the County Executive's appointments of Commissioner of Public Advocacy and Commissioner of Environment & Planning.

Items on the agenda will include consideration of COMM. 16E-1 (2009), Appointment of Erie County Commissioner of Public Advocacy; COMM. 16E-2 (2009), Appointment of Erie County Commissioner of Environment & Planning; as well as COMM. 16E-3 (2009), the letter to myself from Chair Marinelli directing the calling of the special meeting; and COMM. 16D-1 (2009), my letter as Clerk of the Legislature calling the special meeting.

WHERE: Erie County Legislature Chambers, Fourth Floor, 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo

The purpose of the special meeting will be to consider the county executive's appointments of Commissioner of Public Advocacy and Commissioner of Environment and Planning.

Items on the agenda will include consideration of COMM. 16E-1 (2009), Appointment of Erie County Commissioner of Public Advocacy, and COMM. 16E-2 (2009), Appointment of Erie County Commissioner of Environment & Planning.

For more information, please contact Director of Communications Kevin J. Hosey at 858-8607 or Kevin.Hosey@erie.gov.

TO: Members of the Erie County Legislature, County Department Personnel, Interested Stakeholders and the Media

Please be advised that one additional Informational Meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at the Erie County Legislature. The schedule below is an updated version of the schedule sent to you on Friday, August 14, 2009.

The Erie County Legislature has scheduled Informational Meetings of the Legislature's Government Affairs Committee, Public Safety Committee and Energy and Environment Committee for Wednesday, August 19, 2009.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the County Executive's appointment of Sawrie Becker as Commissioner of Public Advocacy.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the U.S. Department of Justice report on the Erie County Holding Center and Correctional Facility.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the County Executive's appointment of Kathy Konst to the position Commissioner of Environment & Planning.

WHAT: Erie County Legislature Government Affairs, Public Safety and Energy and Environment Committees to hold informational meetings

WHERE: Erie County Legislature Chambers, Fourth Floor, 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo

WHEN: 11 a.m. Thursday, August 20, 2009, for the Government Affairs Committee; Noon Thursday, August 20, 2009, for the Public Safety Committee, and 2 p.m. Thursday, August 20, 2009, for the Energy and Environment Committee

The purpose of the Government Affairs Committee meeting is to discuss the County Executive's appointment of Sawrie Becker as Commissioner of Public Advocacy.

The purpose of the Public Safety Committee meeting is to discuss the U.S. Department of Justice report on the Erie County Holding Center and Correctional Facility. A copy of the report can be found at the following URL: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/split/documents/Erie_findlet_redact_07-15-09.pdf

The purpose of the Energy and Environment Committee meeting is to discuss the County Executive's nomination of Kathy Konst to the position Commissioner of Environment & Planning.

For more information, please contact Director of Communications Kevin J. Hosey at 858-8607 or Kevin.Hosey@erie.gov.

COUNTY LEGISLATORS WROBLEWSKI, KENNEDY PROPOSE LOCAL LAW PROHIBITING DRIVERS FROM TEXTING

Erie County Legislators Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca, South Cheektowaga) and Timothy M. Kennedy (D-South Buffalo, South Cheektowaga) are introducing a local law prohibiting drivers from text on communication devices while they drive.

Erie County Legislators Timothy M. Kennedy, third from
left, and Timothy M. Wroblewski, center, were joined at
the news conference announcing the anti-texting while
driving local law they are sponsoring by, from left,
West Seneca Assistant Police Chief Daniel M. Denz,
Chief of Police Edward F. Gehen, Police Officer Philip
Swift, Police Officer Jill Pocobello-Burkley and State
Assemblyman Mark J.F. Schroeder.

Legislators Wroblewski and Kennedy, who are cosponsoring the local law, clocked in the local law Thursday, August 6. They were joined at a Friday, August 14, news conference by State Assemblyman Mark J.F. Schroeder (D-Buffalo), who also supports toughening anti-texting laws.

"The purpose of this local law is to provide for and to protect the public safety of Erie County residents," Legislator Wroblewski, the chair of the Public Safety Committee, said. "Frankly, the legislation pending in Albany on this subject does not go far enough – while it bans the sending and receiving of text messages while driving in New York, the violation is treated as a secondary offense. This means law enforcement must stop a motorist for another violation on New York State law before the motorist can be ticketed for text messaging while driving."

"We believe that this secondary approach put forward by New York State is wrong. The local law we are proposing will make texting while driving a primary offense and put teeth into the law that will give law enforcement the necessary tools to pull people over who are putting themselves, their passengers and other travelers in harm's way," Legislator Kennedy said,. "Ultimately, this is bringing attention to the issue and will promote safer driving in Western New York.

The local law being proposed would make texting while driving a primary offense and subject offenders to a $150 fine for each violation of this local law. The local law also provides that if either the state or federal government approves a local law which provides substantially the same protections to the residents of Erie County, then the Erie County Legislature can acknowledge that fact by resolution and this local law will be superseded.

"The law must keep pace with technology, and this legislation aims to do just that," Schroeder said. "Texting while driving is extremely dangerous, as recent tragedies have shown us. This common sense measure would help protect lives and send a clear message to all motorists - texting and driving don't mix

"We've seen tragedy in our community and throughout the area, including fatal accidents, due to text messaging. As police departments, we need to gain safety on the roads, preferably through compliance with laws but if need be, through this anti-texting law," West Seneca Police Chief Edward F. Gehen said. "It gives the police another tool to help make the roads safer. Without the law, there is nothing that can be enforced top make the roads safer. I commend the legislators and assemblyman for enacting laws to make drivers and the roads safer."

LEGISLATURE CHAIR MARINELLI APPOINTS LEGISLATOR REYNOLDS TO CHAIR FINANCE, MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) is immediately appointing County Legislator Robert B. Reynolds Jr. (D-Hamburg, Evans) Chair of the Finance and Management Committee for the remainder of 2009.

Chair Marinelli noted that Legislator Reynolds previously served as the chair of the Finance and Management Committee from 2006-2007 and served as vice-chair of the committee from 2008-2009.

"Bob worked tirelessly on the county budgets, including fighting the county executive's proposed tax increase for this year. He also attended all of the recent mid-year budget hearings and will monitor the 2009 budget," Chair Marinelli said. "He has earned the confidence of his colleagues and puts his community first."

She added that Legislator Reynolds will be able to take on the chairmanship without delay and begin addressing the 2010 budget requests.

LEGISLATURE CHAIR WILL CALL VOTE TO OVERRIDE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S VETO OF LOCAL LAW REDUCING LEGISLATURE SIZE TO 13 MEMBERS FROM 15

The Erie County Legislature's unanimous vote to reduce the size of the Legislature to 13 members from 15 and increase the length of terms to four years from two at its July 2 session was vetoed by the county executive today. The local law that would reduce the size of the Legislature and lengthen the terms of office will go before the voters of Erie County in November upon a successful override vote.

"The action of the county legislature makes reform a reality. As chair, I will call for an override vote of the executive's veto. Then the voters can make the decision this November," Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli said. "The Legislature honored the work and effort of the 21st Century Commission in downsizing the legislative seats and lengthening the term. The Legislature has also initiated its own reforms through the chair's instituted policies and procedures and by cutting our own budgets. We continue working to improve Erie County and giving our residents a voice in government."

The County Legislature will officially receive the veto letter at its Thursday, September 10, regular session, and has 30 days from that receipt to act upon it. The Erie County Legislature was originally made up of 20 members, was downsized first to 17 members and downsized again to 15 members in 2003.

Erie County Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore) is sponsoring a send off party and celebration for the Grand Island Little League Baseball All Stars before they embark for Brewster, NY in Putnam County to participate in State competition. The Grand Island Vikings won the State Sectionals this past weekend. Some have termed this the World Series of Little League. If they win this weekend, they go to the National competition in Rhode Island August 8th. The age of the players is 13 and 14. The event will take place at the Island Dugout, 2409 Whitehaven Road, at 7:00 p.m. July 30th. The team will leave for Brewster on Friday morning July 31st.

The Erie County Legislature today approved a plan, by a vote of 11 to 3, authorizing the Buffalo and Erie County Land Development Corporation (ILDC), part of the ECIDA, to issue bonds for certain projects of not-for-profit corporations in Erie County. "This unique arrangement allows local borrowing for economic development and job creation," stated Legislature Chair Lynn Marinelli. Legislators who approved the item are: Chair Marinelli, Majority Leader Maria Whyte, Economic Development Chair Tim Kennedy, Daniel Kozub, Barbara Miller-Williams, Betty Jean Grant, Thomas Mazur, Thomas Loughran, Michele Iannello, Robert Reynolds and Timothy Wroblewski.

Under this plan, qualified not-for-profit corporations will be able to receive tax-free borrowing for their capital projects, allowing millions of dollars in building, infrastructure and improvement work to begin. For the last 18 months, many of these projects have been stalled because of Albany’s failure to re-implement the law governing Industrial Development Agencies, according to Chair Marinelli, and the State’s failure created the need for the county to act so that these valuable community projects could move forward.

The ILDC is a local development corporation formed in 1982 whose officers are part of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA).

The Erie County Legislature was asked two weeks ago to allow the ILDC to act on behalf of the county, thereby allowing them to provide tax exempt financing to not-for-profits in accordance with federal IRS rules. The Legislature, through the Economic Development Committee chaired by Legislator Tim Kennedy, spent many hours in discussion with members of the administration in an effort to build a consensus that benefits all parties involved.

"I am glad the Erie County Legislature was able to reach a consensus to allow these vital, non-profit projects to proceed while ensuring that the workers involved are paid a fair wage," Legislator Kennedy said. At Economic Development Committee meetings held on July 16 and July 22, ECIDA officials identified the Tapestry Charter School and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus projects as pending and already subject to prevailing wage requirements, as well as the UB 2020 Project that may be subject to this requirement as well. Others may emerge, such as projects at private colleges and local hospitals, but the Legislature’s vote mandates the fair wage requirement for all projects.

The next step is for the ILDC Board to meet to amend its by-laws. The next scheduled meeting is on Monday, August 10. However, ECIDA officials may advance the meeting, according to their testimony.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE ANNUAL MID-YEAR BUDGET HEARINGS TO CONTINUE OVERSIGHT, REFORM MEASURES

The Erie County Legislature will conduct its mid-year budget hearings as part of its continuing oversight and reform measures starting at 9 a.m. Monday, July 20, in the County Legislature Chambers on the Fourth Floor of 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo.

The County Legislature will hold these mid-year budget hearings through the Finance and Management Committee, which is chaired by County Legislator Kathy Konst (D-Lancaster, Elma).

"The mid-year budget hearings, through the Legislature gaining information from the various department heads and other administration officials, are a key weapon in our fight to continue to right Erie County's fiscal ship," Legislator Konst said. "Assessing Erie County's financial health through examination of the departments' spending and revenues, and comparing them to the projections, allows the Legislature and departments to be able to adjust to changing situations before they become crises."

"The County Legislature instituted the mid-budget hearings as part of its reform measures to increase its oversight of financial matters," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said. "We are continuing to monitor spending and revenues as part of our County Charter designated roll of fiscal oversight, which our constituents demand."

The mid-year budget hearings will proceed through Tuesday and Wednesday, July 21-22, with call back for departments needing to provide additional information to be held Friday, July 24.

On Friday, July 10, more than 60 young adults and their supervisors began the "Summer of Service Kick-Off" at Wendt Beach in the Town of Evans. The members of the Erie County Summer Youth Program and WNY AmeriCorps preformed landscaping, painting buildings and murals, in addition to the general revitalization of the Wendt grounds.

Legislator Bob Reynolds (D-Hamburg, Evans), who was in attendance for the kick-off, commented that several of the participants were hired through the Summer Youth Job Fairs that his office conducted in collaboration with Maureen Krause and ECC One Stop Employment and Training Center. For additional information, please contact Maureen at 825-2525, extension 3026, or WNY AmeriCorps at 558-3325.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE APPROVES FUNDS TO FIGHT MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES THROUGH LARVACIDE USE

The Erie County Legislature unanimously voted to authorize spending $70,000 to buy larvacide for the county's Project SWAT mosquito control program at its July 9 session.

The County Legislature approved purchasing and distributing mosquito larvacide to many Erie County towns and villages through the successful Project SWAT program, which proactively protects county residents by lowering the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

"This funding will allow for the distribution of mosquito larvacide provide by Erie County in risk areas by town or village personnel trained in pesticide application through the county Department of Health and a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation training program," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said. "Mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile Virus and the H1N1 Virus commonly referred to as the ‘swine flu,' are public health concerns in Erie County and New York State. I am pleased that the Legislature is taking a proactive approach to the mosquito-borne disease situation in Erie County."

Chair Marinelli expressed her appreciation for the collaborative work on the larvacide funding and other mosquito-borne disease issues from County Legislators Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore) and Thomas Loughran (D-Amherst, Tonawanda, Cheektowaga), the town of Tonawanda and Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Anthony J. Billittier IV.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE APPROVES CONTRACT TO PROVIDE AUDIO VISUAL INFORMATION IN AUTO BUREAUS, GAIN REVENUE

The Erie County Legislature unanimously voted to allow Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul to enter an agreement to provide audio visual public service information and pre-approved advertising in the Erie County Auto Bureaus for three years at its July 9 session.

The County Legislature approved the contract with Metrodata Services at no cost to Erie County for equipment, installation and standard content. Metrodata will provide the county with a minimum of 33 percent of the net revenue from its advertisers.

"Through the net revenue generated from the advertisers in annual payments, the net cash value of this contract is expected to exceed $100,000," County Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams (D-Buffalo, 3rd District) said. "The information and advertising shown on the audio visual screens in the Auto Bureaus will not only enhance the image of the bureaus, it will provide information and entertainment for the customers."

The audio visual information and advertising will be installed at Auto Bureaus which have seating, including the downtown Buffalo Rath Building location, 95 Franklin Street; Dick Road and George Urban Boulevards in Cheektowaga; the Eastern Hills Mall on Transit Road in Clarence, and Erie Community College South Campus on Southwestern Boulevard in Orchard Park.

"The plan includes having the contract state no alcohol or tobacco advertising be included, and that there will be one minute for the County Clerk's Office to provide information for every 10 minutes of programming," Legislator Miller-Williams, whose district includes the Rath Building location, said. "I would like to thank County Clerk Kathleen Hochul and her staff for their work on this issue."

COUNTY LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES REDUCING SIZE OF THE LEGISLATURE TO 13 MEMBERS FROM 15

The Erie County Legislature unanimously voted to reduce the size of the Legislature to 13 members from 15 and increase the length of terms to four years from two at its July 2 session.

The 14-0 approval of this local law reducing the size of the Legislature and lengthening the terms of office will go before the voters of Erie County in November, unless the administration vetoes this reduction effort.

The local law was sponsored by County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli, Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte, Government Affairs Committee Chair Legislator Barbara Miler-Williams and Legislators Betty Jean Grant, Michele M. Iannello, Kathy Konst, Daniel M. Kozub, Thomas J. Mazur, Robert B. Reynolds Jr. and Timothy M. Wroblewski.

"The action the County Legislature took today makes true reform a reality in putting the reduction of the Legislature to 13 members from 15 up to the voters of Erie County," Chair Marinelli said. "The Legislature both honored the work and effort of the 21st Century Commission and makes reform a reality. We have continually cut the County Legislature’s budgets through legislative action, and we will continue this financial prudence."

"This legislative body worked in a collaborative manner for the benefit of the entire constituency of Erie County to garner a compromise," Legislator Miller-Williams said. "While it is not perfect, it is reform and we look forward to giving the people an opportunity to let us hear how they feel on resizing the Legislature. I will continue to inform and educate our constituency on the importance of understanding the referendum that will be on the ballot."

The Erie County Legislature was originally made up of 20 members, was downsized first to 17 members and downsized again to 15 members in 2003.

ERIE COUNTY BLEEDS GREEN IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
By Kathy Konst, Erie County Legislator
District 5

Last Thursday was a sad day for Erie County. The Legislature failed to override the County Executive's veto of the Strategic Planning Act, a law I co-sponsored. This law would have enabled us to establish a county-wide planning entity to serve as a clearinghouse for people and businesses trying to navigate the mish-mash of zoning laws, codes and permitting requirements that govern the region.

Contrary to the County Executive's remarks, this was a responsible proposal that would help streamline the government process to make Erie County more "business-friendly." It is a proven method outside Western New York.

We in Erie County continue to compete for our economic lives. But individual towns and villages shouldn't be competing against each other. Our real competitors are outside city-regions that have smartly and strategically established themselves as both business and taxpayer friendly across the nation.

The City of Buffalo is begging for big box retailers and grocery stores. Instead, developers try to force their plans on suburban and rural residential neighborhoods. With our Strategic Planning proposal, we had the chance to shake up the status quo. Twenty-first century opportunity beckoned, but despite all the "smart-business" rhetoric we hear from the Administration, we continued to respond with 20th century fear.

Our choice was simple. We only had to accept something innovative and new, something that called for big region thinking and business savvy partnerships to make smarter development decisions.

Instead we chose to continue to bleed green, as in money. We bleed green in the form of greenbacks that come into our pockets at the pace of a tortoise and vacate our pockets at the pace of a hare, thanks to the continued burden of taxes we bear.

We bleed green from our job base that goes downstate and other, more robust regions across the country - places like Indianapolis and Phoenix that are not afraid of strong, but lean, professionally-managed governments.

Finally, we bleed green through the loss of farmland to subdivisions and strip malls, and ever-dwindling green spaces that should be preserved for future generations. These three ways of bleeding green have converged into the constant hemorrhaging of people from our region.

Was the Strategic Planning Act the only answer to our region's backward slide? Of course not. But it was a step in the direction of that bright future promised to us by our new County Executive. Fear mongers sabotaged our best hopes by spreading falsehoods, feeding the fears of so many of the elected officials within the 25 towns, 16 villages and 3 cities. However, the true intent of that sabotage may have been simply the preservation of power at the cost of the public good.

We've often heard that if we keep on doing things the way we always have, we shouldn't be surprised at the outcome. For decades we've complained about urban blight, suburban sprawl and out-of-sight taxes for sewers, roads, water, schools and other services for the new developments that are built on once quiet country lanes. We continue to complain about red tape, zoning laws and regulations that stifle businesses that want to expand but are thwarted at every turn.

Part of the solution was before us, and we let it slip through our hands. Amherst vs. Buffalo, Lancaster vs. Hamburg, and the fight goes on. When will we learn?

On Saturday June 27, County of Erie Legislator Bob Reynolds welcomed back lifeguards to both Wendt and Bennett Beaches for the summer swimming season. The Beach will be open every day until Labor Day. "I encourage not only my residents but everyone in Erie County to take advantage of our public parks and beaches", stated the legislator.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE FINANCE, MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO BEGIN MID-YEAR 2009 BUDGET HEARINGS JUNE 24

The Erie County Legislature will begin conducting its mid-year 2009 budget hearings when outgoing Department of Social Services Commissioner Michael Weiner discusses his department's status at the Finance and Management Committee meeting at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, in the County Legislature Chambers on the Fourth Floor of 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo.

Commissioner Weiner's presentation is the first of several that the committee will hear as the Legislature examines the county's revenue and expenditures for 2009 on a department by department basis. The remaining departments will make their presentations during the week of July 20-24, also in the County Legislature Chambers.

"The County Legislature created the mid-year budget hearings as part of our reform efforts and to increase the accountability of county government spending practices," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said. "If there are areas in spending or revenues that create concerns and need addressing, the Legislature needs to know about them now and not later in this fiscal year."

"The mid-year budget hearings have been a helpful tool to the Legislature in conducting our County Charter-mandated duties of financial oversight," County Legislator Kathy Konst (D-Lancaster, Elma), Chair of the Finance and Management Committee, said. "In these increasingly difficult economic times, county residents need to know that their elected Legislators are reviewing and analyzing spending and funding situations to make sure that the county runs as efficiently and effectively as possible while keeping costs as low as we can."

A Local Law in relation to reducing the size of the Erie County Legislature and changing the term of office for members of the Erie County Legislature

SECTION 1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the Legislature that the size of the Erie County Legislature be reduced from fifteen (15) members to thirteen (13) members to respond to the decline in the population of Erie County and to reduce the costs of government for the taxpayers of Erie County. It is further the intent of the Legislature to extend the term of office for a legislator from two (2) years to four (4) years thereby creating an opportunity for an increased focus on policy making and constituent service. It is further the intent of the Legislature that these proposed changes to the Erie County Charter be placed on the November, 2009 ballot as a referendum question. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the boundaries for the thirteen districts be determined in 2011 after the federal decennial census is taken in a manner consistent with Section 210 of the Erie County Charter.

SECTION 2. Erie County Local Law number one of nineteen hundred fifty-nine, as amended, constituting the Erie County Charter, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 105. Legislative Districts. The County of Erie is hereby divided into fifteen thirteen districts, described as follows:

Section 106. Legislative districts, continued. The seventeen fifteen legislative districts as previously bounded and described by Local Law No. 2 1991 Local Law No. 4-2002, shall continue as such for the limited purpose of continuing in office the legislators presently elected from said districts and shall cease to exist as such on January 1, 2004 2012. For the purpose of the general election of 2003 2011 and all other purposes, except as herein before provided, the county of Erie is divided into fifteen thirteen districts, as described as contained in section hundred five herein.

Section 201. County Legislature constituted. The county legislature shall be composed of fifteen thirteen members who shall be elected one from each of the fifteen thirteen districts set forth in section one hundred five hereof. The county legislators representing the fifteen thirteen districts heretofore or herein created, as the case may be, when lawfully convened shall constitute the county legislature which shall be the legislative and governing body of the county.

Section 202.2 Election and terms of office. County legislators shall first be elected at the general election in the year nineteen hundred sixty-seven and shall assume office on January first, nineteen hundred sixty-eight. All elected county legislators shall hold their respective offices for a term of two four years.

SECTION 4. SEVERABILITY. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of this Local Law or the application thereof, to any person, individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity or circumstance, shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional such order of judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or part of this Local Law or in its application to the person, individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity, or circumstance directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment or order shall be rendered.

LEGISLATOR LYNN M. MARINELLI
LEGISLATOR MARIA R. WHYTE
LEGISLATOR BARBARA MILLER WILLIAMS
LEGISLATOR DANIEL M. KOZUB
LEGISLATOR ROBERT B. REYNOLDS
LEGISLATOR BETTY JEAN GRANT
LEGISLATOR MICHELE M. IANNELLO
LEGISLATOR KATHY KONST
LEGISLATOR TIMOTHY M. WROBLEWSKI
LEGISLATOR THOMAS J. MAZUR

COUNTY LEGISLATURE DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE LOCAL LAW REDUCING LEGISLATURE, CONTINUING REFORMS

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli, Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte and Government Affairs Committee Chair Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams and Democratic County Legislators are sponsoring a local law reducing the number of County Legislators to 13 from its current 15 members today.

They are joined by County Legislators Betty Jean Grant, Michele M. Iannello, Kathy Konst, Daniel M. Kozub, Thomas J. Mazur, Robert B. Reynolds Jr. and Timothy M. Wroblewski.

The local law will also put to referendum an increase in the length of term for county legislature positions to four years from two years, as recommended by the Erie County Legislature 21st Century Commission.

"This action makes reform a reality and honors the work of the bipartisan 21st Century Commission. It also continues our pattern of reform with the Erie County Charter revisions, which won the voters' overwhelming approval," Chair Marinelli said.

"Our colleagues had many different positions on reform, but change only happens when we build a consensus. I am proud that this majority built a consensus for action by the people," Majority Leader Whyte said.

"The Erie County Legislature originally was made up of 20 members, was then downsized to 17 members and downsized again to 15 members in 2003," Legislature Chair Marinelli said. "My colleagues and I want to express our great and sincere appreciation to the work of the bipartisan 21st Century Commission."

"I am in favor of this downsizing as a part of an overall reduction in spending, in conjunction with my Taxpayer Protection Law, that, if passed, would save millions of dollars, not just thousands," Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore) said. "Both will be put before the voters in November."

"As the chair of the Government Affairs Committee, this body will continue to educate and inform all of our constituents in a fair and transparent manner, inclusive of public meetings and hearings, to encourage public input and participation," Legislator Miller-Williams said.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE CHAIR MARINELLI PLEASED CONTROL BOARD VOTES TO ENTER ADVISORY STATUS

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli commends the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority's decision to enter advisory status after accepting the administration's four-year financial plan. The Legislature has worked with citizens and county officials toward this outcome.

"On behalf of the Erie County Legislature, we are pleased that the ECFSA just voted to become an advisory body and to end its status as a ‘hard' control board," Chair Marinelli said. "We in the Legislature have worked hard over the years to cooperate with the County Executive, the County Comptroller and the ECFSA for the good of the community."

Legislator Marinelli noted that the County Legislature has worked and continues to act to improve Erie County's fiscal health. Prior to New York State creating the authority, the Erie County Legislature adopted a 2005 local law approving early release of proposed county budgets, establishing mid-year budget hearings and instituting multi-year budget plans. The law of the Legislature also mandates monthly budget monitoring reports (BMRs). The County Legislature established a Charter Review Commission and approved changes and additions to the Erie County Charter, strengthening the Comptroller's powers to act in deficit declarations and setting fund balance goals. Over 70 percent of county voters approved the reformed charter.

The County Legislature also worked with the administration, Comptroller's office and the control board to secure capital borrowing for vital infrastructure projects and ensured through its budget deliberations that reductions and reforms allowed the county to balance budgets and build the reserve fund. Several votes of the Erie County Legislature supported each borrowing attempt. The County Legislature has also reduced the previous administration's reliance on borrowing, as well as forging better priorities and tracking.

"The Legislature will continue its role of budget and fiscal monitoring through its committee process and through its annual mid-year budget hearings, which will be held from July 20-24," Legislator Marinelli said. "The Stability Authority Chair and county budget director have been invited to testify before the Finance and Management Committee at its meeting at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 3."

Finance and Management Committee members include: Legislator Kathy Konst, chair; Legislator Robert B. Reynolds, vice chair, and Legislators Maria R. Whyte, Betty Jean Grant and John Mills.

LEGISLATOR WROBLEWSKI LEADS LEGISLATURE HONORING WORLD WAR II WEST SENECA AIRBORNE VETERAN

Erie County Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca, South Cheektowaga) proudly led the honoring of a West Seneca World War II veteran during the County Legislature's May 28 session.

World War II 82nd Airborne Division veteran George H.
McCoy of West Seneca, center, was honored for being
named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by President
Nicolas Sarkozy of France at the May 28 Erie County
Legislature session. He was honored by County
Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca,
South Cheektowaga), left, and was joined by his wife,
Roberta, second from left, his daughter and son-in-law,
Jodi and Jim Moran.

Legislator Wroblewski presented McCoy with a proclamation from the County Legislature in honor of McCoy being named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor from the government of France for his service with the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. McCoy made a combat jump into Normandy on D-Day at age 19, and also served in Holland, the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland and other parts of Germany and Central Europe during his service as a sergeant and rifleman.

"I am both proud and humbled to be able to help honor Mr. McCoy, a true American hero, for his service to his country during World War II and for helping liberate France and other parts of Europe from German occupation," Legislator Wroblewski, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, said. "Mr. McCoy proved to be one of the best of what has been called ‘The Greatest Generation,' and during his service, he was wounded twice. We wholeheartedly join the government of France and all freedom loving people in thanking Mr. McCoy for his service."

During his U.S. Army service, McCoy was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, 4 Battle Stars for the European, African Middle and Mid Eastern Campaign, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, New York Service Cross, New York Service Star, the Fourage from France and the Fourage from Belgium.

McCoy's decree naming him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor was signed by Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of the French Republic.

Erie County Legislator Betty Jean Grant (D-Buffalo), Chair of the Community Enrichment Committee, is announcing the overwhelming passage of a measure to assess the initial impact on the cultural community regarding alterations made by the Collins administration to the Erie County funding process.

She is holding a meeting of her committee at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, June 4, in the Erie County Legislature Chambers on the Fourth Floor of 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo, to continue the dialogue on cultural funding in the 2010 Erie County Budget.

"At the April 30th meeting of my committee, Holly Sinnott, Commissioner of Environment and Planning, offered to return to the Legislature and provide a full briefing on the overhaul of ECCRAB, in essence the initial phases of the cultural funding process," Legislator Grant said. "Of course, the Erie County Legislature is the final arbiter in the budget process and, as such, is keenly interested in the Administration's adoption of new county policies that seem to evidence a marked departure from the community-focused, politically independent processes of the past."

Of special concern to Legislator Grant are the lack of ethnic diversity, sparse representation from the cultural community and the apparent muted voice of urban interests among the 12 members of the Erie County Cultural Resources Advisory Board (ECCRAB). In addition, ECCRAB's by-laws call for a 25-member organization. Given the substantially reduced number, the Administration should make a greater effort to recruit African-American and Latino members to represent these large constituencies in our community, according to Grant.

Legislator Grant has also asked the new head of ECCRAB, Joseph Dispenza, to attend the June 4 meeting. She welcomes cultural organizations to attend and listen to the open, productive dialogue on this important public policy issue.

The 21st Century Commission was appointed by the Chair of the Legislature, along with the Majority and Minority Leaders, and the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee, to analyze and recommend reforms to the Erie County Legislature.

Under the leadership of Commission Chair Martha Lamparelli over the last eight months, the Commission studied and debated a number of complex issues identified in the Commission's core mission:

The recommendations evolved from a thoughtful, well-planned process. These included review of academic papers, analysis of data on the composition of legislative bodies across the state and nation, surveys of former and current legislators, presentations by informed community stakeholders - including UB's Regional Institute, face-to-face meetings with legislators and visits to district offices and, in late March, a public forum for the entire community.

The Legislature appreciates the commitment of commission volunteers as they crafted the report, with some minority dissent, that has been submitted to the Legislature. An initial review will be done by the Government Affairs Committee, under the leadership of Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams, and later, the full Legislature based on the committee's review. Government Affairs Committee meetings and a public hearing will be scheduled and announced with the goal of having reform measures on this November's ballot for the consideration by the voters of Erie County.

On behalf of my colleagues, I encourage the public review, discussion and comment. The information can be found on www.erie.gov/legislature or obtained through the Legislature at 92 Franklin Street, 4th floor, Buffalo NY, or by calling 858-7500.

Recommends reduction in size of County Legislature to 11 members serving four-year terms

Martha Lamparelli, Chair of the 21st Century Commission on the Erie County Legislature, today submitted the Commission's final report. Two major recommendations came out of the Commission's deliberations over the last eight months: 1) reducing the size of the Legislature from 15 to 11 seats, and 2) extending terms of office from two to four years.

"All told, the Commission studied five major reform areas: size, length of terms, term limits, at-large representation and staggered terms," Chair Lamparelli began. "We achieved unanimity in four of the five reform areas, all but the size of the Erie County Legislature."

Lamparelli noted that a majority of six members agreed to the reduction to 11 members. Three members dissented, and their opinions are included in the report. Among the dissenters, concerns over the challenge of representing a diversity of community interests - whether geographic or political - emerged.

"For the majority of Commission members, a reduction in number of legislators seemed in order given the continued loss of population in Erie County. That reality, coupled with some cost savings, led to our ultimate recommendation to reduce the County Legislature by four members," Lamparelli added.

Regarding the subject of length of terms, the report suggests "...members would be better able to focus on policy making and constituent service than the politics of winning an election and raising the necessary funds to wage a campaign if their terms expired every fourth year, as opposed to every other year."

The report was clocked in at Old County Hall today for consideration at this Thursday's legislative session - May 28, 2009. The report will be directed to the Government Affairs Committee for further review and to allow legislators to obtain additional input from the public.

The 21st Century Commission on the Erie County Legislature was impaneled in September 2008 by Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli and completed its work four months in advance of its projected sunset of September 2009. The Commission expedited its review and report to enable Erie County voters to consider a referendum in this year's November election, following action by the County Legislature.

LEGISLATOR WROBLEWSKI LEADS COMMITTEE APPROVING BUILDING TWO NEW FIRE TRAINING TOWERS

Erie County Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca, South Cheektowaga) led the Public Safety Committee in approving two new live burn buildings at its May 21 meeting.

The two new live burn buildings, which will be built in Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park and in Amherst if approved when the full County Legislature votes on them, will be paid for through just over $1 million already approved in 2009 Erie County capital project funds. These new live burn buildings will give the county three such new facilities; the first new live burn building at the Cheektowaga Fire Training Academy on Broadway opened earlier in 2009.

"The approval of these two new live burn buildings demonstrates the commitment to the safety of our fire and emergency personnel and to our commitment to provide them with the quality training they need to protect our community," Legislator Wroblewski, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, said. "These heroic men and women give of their time and put their lives on the line every time they respond to an emergency, and this training will make them both safer and better trained and qualified to serve and protect Erie County residents."

The 21st Century Commission was created to review a wide range of Erie County Legislature reforms. My colleagues and I are grateful to the dedicated work of the nine volunteers who have met monthly since last fall, conducted surveys and interviews, and held a public hearing in March. The commission has done thoughtful research, civil deliberations and a thorough process. Martha Lamparelli, who provided strong leadership as chair, and the members involvement are worthy of public recognition.

The Commission will soon submit a report, including recommendations for action by the Legislature. The next step will be a review by the Government Affairs Committee under the leadership of Barbara Miller Williams. A public hearing will be scheduled and members of the legislature will determine what recommendations become requisite referendum items for the voters.

The issues that were studied included: number of legislators; length of term; possible staggered or limited terms; scope of responsibilities, powers and duties; constituent service and district offices; district versus at-large seats; minority representation; and balancing urban, suburban and rural representation.

The public is encouraged to participate in the reform process by either submitting comments to their legislator or attending a public hearing, which will be scheduled and announced prior to final action by the Legislature. The ultimate goal is to implement changes in 2011 in compliance with reapportionment laws, conformance with federal and state laws, and the 2011 election.

UPDATE ON CITY-COUNTY PARKS – I am pleased that the County Legislature unanimously approved Erie County accepting more than $3 million from the City of Buffalo to continue funding workers to maintain the county parks in Buffalo through the end of 2009. With summer close at hand, the workers who staff the parks, playgrounds, pools and beaches need to be hired and ready for the upcoming season. A renewed city-county Inter-municipal Agreement is expected to come before the Legislature in August.

The Legislature also approved $360,000 in matching grant funds in the 2009 budget to the Olmsted Parks Conservancy. Olmsted parks make up 75% of city parkland. We expect that the fund raising for the matching funds is accepted by the administration and the Executive swiftly initiates this necessary spending.

THREE YEARS OF CAPITAL PROJECT WORK APPROVED BY LEGISLATURE – The County Legislature also unanimously approved the plan for the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority to borrow more than $100 million to fund infrastructure and other capital projects for 2007, 2008 and 2009. This is a major economic development tool. We need to conduct the borrowing and perform much-needed repairs and renovations to roads, bridges, the Buffalo Zoo, the Holding Center and other important county facilities. Resolution of this issue also allows the county to gain state and federal matching funds. It allows vendors, suppliers, contractors and their employees to be paid. The County Legislature's vote was in the best interest of the community for a financial deal worked out among the Comptroller's Office, the administration and the control board on the borrowing.

KOZUB URGES LACKAWANNA CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE RENAMING RIDGE ROAD "FATHER BAKER BOULEVARD"

Erie County Legislator Daniel M. Kozub (D-Lackawanna, Hamburg, Buffalo) announced that the Erie County Legislature unanimously approved a resolution he sponsored to honor Father Nelson H. Baker by renaming Ridge Road "Father Baker Boulevard." Kozub believes the time is right to honor Father Baker in 2009 as Lackawanna celebrates its centennial.

"Momentum is building to pay tribute to Father Baker in a fitting way, given his many contributions to our community," Legislator Kozub said. "The West Seneca Town Board has unanimously approved a similar resolution, and Rev. Msgr. Paul J. E. Burkard, Administrator of Our Lady of Victory Institutions, sent a communication to the Erie County Legislature endorsing the renaming of Ridge Road."

According to Msgr. Burkard, "We feel that this is also a well-planned proposal for the region as Father Baker's anticipated beatification and canonization will substantially increase the numbers of visitors to the region. Therefore, the way-finding benefits would be significant."

Legislator Kozub is concerned that the final government entity which needs to express its support, the City of Lackawanna Council, may have received erroneous legal advice and, due to misinformation, tabled a resolution to honor Father Baker that was sponsored by Councilman Geoffrey Szymanski instead of approving the renaming.

"Given the location of Our Lady of Victory Basilica, the Father Baker Boulevard initiative would bring the greatest benefit to the residents and businesses of Lackawanna," Legislator Kozub said. "I will do all I can to clear up any misconceptions some members of the Lackawanna City Council may have about this important tribute to Father Baker so that our community can move forward and celebrate Lackawanna's Centennial in a demonstrative way."

Erie County Legislator Bob Reynolds (D-Hamburg, Evans) will honor May as Motorcycle Awareness Month and Love Knows No Boundaries Month. The members of ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Towards Education) will be presented with the proclamation at the legislature session scheduled at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 14, in the County Legislature chambers on the Fourth Floor of 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo.

Legislator Reynolds will also honor the members of the Love Knows No Boundaries (LKNB) Flight 3407 Memorial Song and its memorial efforts begun by both the City of Buffalo and Erie County. Following the presentation, the song will be performed by Noa Bursie and the New Beginnings Choir.

"Earlier this month, both the Erie County Executive and Mayor Brown proclaimed May as Love Knows No Boundaries Month across the county and the city," Reynolds said. "So I am pleased to join with them in bringing members of the Love Knows No Boundaries group to the Legislature for further recognition of their song and the funds they are raising for the Flight 3407 Clarence Memorial."

Bursie co-authored the words and wrote the music for LKNB. She is also the lead performer on the CD. Bursie notes the intent of the music that she has created and performs.

"All of us came together on this project for the sole purpose of trying to reach out to our community and create a memorial space where people can reflect and remember and heal," Bursie said. "And so to be honored by the Legislature and be able to further share the song and spread the message is a wonderful opportunity and all of us associated with the song are grateful to Legislator Reynolds for his support."

Reynolds stated that the direct impact of the crash in his district motivated him to get involved with the LKNB project. "There were two people in my district on Flight 3407, and when a tragedy like this touches the people that I represent it matters to me," Reynolds said. "Supporting the efforts of Love Knows No Boundaries is one way that I can help those who have lost so much."

"Love Knows No Bounds is a song written, performed, recorded and distributed through an all-volunteer group of Western New York citizens and companies. Performers include vocalists Noa Bursie, Gretchen Schultz and Bass Reeves, and back-up vocalists Diane Gayles Livingston, Alice Gayles and Mary Ann Gayles. Featured musicians are guitarist Jerry Livingston, percussionist Emile Latimer and keyboardist Ken Kaufman all members of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Rounding out the performance list is the New Beginnings Gospel Choir under the direction of Ella Robinson. Love Knows No Boundaries was written by Christina Abt and Noa Bursie, and recorded at Eastco Studios, where the artwork for the project was also created. The LKNB book was created by Jim Charlier of Charlier Communications and Lisabeth Abt Pieters. LKNB is available for sale online at buffaloheritage.com and at all WNY Wegmans' Markets, Record Theater, Spot Coffee, Talking Leaves Bookstores, The Perfect Gift Shop, and at Barnes and Noble Transit Rd. location only. The entire purchase price of $10 goes to the Town of Clarence Flight 3407 Memorial Fund.

WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: 10:30 am Wednesday, May 6, 2009
WHERE: Kenmore Community Center, located on Wilbur at Mang in Kenmore.

In a surprise move, County Executive Chris Collins ordered the County DPW to take back a 12 passenger senior van that was officially donated to the Village of Kenmore to be used by the Senior Lunch Program. A resolution was passed unanimously at the April 23rd session of the Erie County Legislature donating the van from, the County to the Village of Kenmore.

Legislator Iannello will be holding a press conference to condemn the County Executive for a blatant move of political retribution.

Erie County Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan and Erie County Legislature Chairwoman Lynn Marinelli issued the following statement upon hearing about the death of Ray Dusza:

"Ray Dusza was the kindest, nicest individual we have ever worked with. Ray was a consummate team player and gentleman, treating everyone he came into contact with the utmost respect and dignity.

As an Erie County Legislator he championed and loved the people of Cheektowaga. His legislative accomplishments focused on the needs of senior citizens, working people and veterans.

When supermarkets did away with item pricing, Ray Dusza offered compromise legislation that insured senior citizens would be fairly compensated from any mistakes with the new scanning technology.

He fought for the veterans of Erie County by protecting the Veteran's Services Office in Erie County Government when proposals were made to eliminate it.

He was one of the best friends that organized labor ever had in Erie County Government, standing up for unions and for the rights of working people

His former colleagues in the Legislature and his friends in the Democratic Party will miss him dearly."

COUNTY LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES CAPITAL BORROWING FOR MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN PROJECTS

The Erie County Legislature unanimously approved more than $100 million in capital borrowing for projects for 2007, 2008 and 2009 at its April 23 session.

The County Legislature approved a deal with the County Executive and the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority to fund capital projects for the three years. The capital projects in the previous years had been delayed while the County Legislature, County Executive and control board worked to reach an agreement.

"I am proud that the County Legislature voted to approve these capital projects, which will address a wide range of necessary work projects and improve the county's infrastructure," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said. "The work includes such important projects as the Buffalo Zoo, replacing the roof at the Erie County Holding Center, bridge and road repair and reconstruction, and rehabilitation of the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center."

Other vital projects which the County Legislature approved funding for include the master plan and rehabilitation of the Buffalo Botanical Gardens, the Central Library in downtown Buffalo, the rehabilitation of Ralph Wilson Stadium, code and environmental compliance, fire alarm and security improvements, FEMA projects, equipment, repair and renovations at Erie Community College facilities and countywide parks improvements.

"These projects will allow the county to deliver more services in more efficient and effective manners, as well as improve travel conditions for business people and residents to improve their quality of life," Legislator Marinelli added. "I am glad that the parties worked together to find a way to fund these capital projects, which our taxpayers and residents have requested."

"It has been a year and a half since this administration took over. I'm happy that we finally resolved the deadlock in borrowing much needed funds for capital improvements," County Legislator Kathy Konst (D-Lancaster, Elma), chair of the Finance and Management Committee, said. "It is important that the County pays its bills and address critical infrastructure needs."

"I am excited that after nearly two years, Erie County is finally moving forward with much needed capital borrowing," County Legislature Majority Maria R. Whyte (D-Buffalo) said. "All branches of government had to come together to make this possible, including the executive, the comptroller, the Legislature and the ECFSA, and all should be applauded."

County Legislators Robert B. Reynolds Jr. (D-Hamburg, Evans) and Betty Jean Grant (D-Buffalo, 7th District) were commended for their work on the issue as members of the Finance and Management Committee, Legislator Reynolds serving as the committee's vice chair. This included a lengthy committee meeting several days before the full Legislature vote.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE APPROVES HIRING SEASONAL WORKERS TO KEEP CITY PARKS OPEN TO END OF YEAR

The Erie County Legislature overwhelmingly voted to create seasonal positions in the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry to keep the county parks in the City of Buffalo open through the end of 2009 at its April 23 session.

The County Legislature approved a deal with the City of Buffalo in which the city will pay Erie County about $4.4 million through the end of the year, which will allow the county to hire 120 seasonal workers to keep the city parks and pools open through December 31, 2009. The Buffalo Common Council is expected to vote on the agreement next week.

"I am glad to see that Erie County and the City of Buffalo recognize the importance of keeping the city parks open and that the Legislature approved the agreement," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said. "The city is rightly increasing the amount it pays Erie County to operate and maintain the parks, up to $4.4 million for 2009 after annually paying $1.8 million."

"With spring having arrived and summer on its way, the parks are ratcheting up for their peak seasons, so the timing is optimal for us to approve the agreement," County Legislator Daniel M. Kozub (D-Lackawanna, Buffalo) said. "The seasonal workers that will be hired will be lifeguards, supervising lifeguards, pool filter operators, a cashier and park helpers."

"The city parks have not been funded like the assets that they are, and I am pleased that they are now going to receive that funding," County Legislature Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte (D-Buffalo) said. "All parties involved in reaching this deal to keep the city parks open through the end of the year and funding the workers to operate and maintain the parks should be commended."

"The city parks are a vital part of many neighborhoods, especially throughout the summer, when children are out of school and looking for places to be where they can relax and have fun," County Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams (D-Buffalo, 3rd District ) said. "That is one reason why this action by the Legislature makes sense."

"The parks are very important to my district in South Buffalo, The Old First Ward, The Valley, Kaisertown, Lovejoy and Seneca-Babcock, and they deserve to be staffed and funded," County Legislator Timothy M. Kennedy (D-South Buffalo) said. "These parks and facilities are important resources for our community and I applaud the City of Buffalo for working with the county to keep these parks open. People who live in the City of Buffalo deserve that their parks receive the attention that they need to keep them beautiful. This agreement will enhance the quality of our parks and ensure that the proper amount of manpower is dedicated to those parks to meet those needs."

"We have a responsibility to provide those services that our constituents believe are important and should be funded by their municipalities," County Legislator Betty Jean Grant (D-Buffalo, 7th District) said. "My constituents have been loud and clear that they believe the city parks should be open and staffed."

The Olmsted Parks Conservancy will continue operating the parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

IANNELLO CALLING FOR COMMUNITY INPUT ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION GRANT SPENDING

Erie County Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore), Chair of the Green Actions Community Committee, is very pleased about the announcement from New York State that Erie County is in line to receive $2,900,000 in grant funding to improve energy efficiency. The funding is being provided through the federal economic stimulus bill and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.

"The purpose of the program shall be to assist in implementing strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions, to reduce total energy use and to improve energy efficiency in the transportation sectors, building sectors and other appropriate sectors," Legislator Iannello said. "This grant program can provide the necessary resources needed to create clean energy jobs, protect the environment and reduce the carbon footprint of Erie County. Together with Gerry Sentz, Commissioner of DPW, and Holly Sinnott, Commissioner of Environment and Planning, I will work through the Green Actions Community Committee. We will work to ensure that these funds are used to benefit our residents economically through reduced energy costs and environmentally through reducing the County's 'carbon footprint.'"

"In total, over $8 million has been earmarked for Erie County along with six additional Erie County municipalities. We need to develop a regional strategy to accomplish the objectives of this federal program," Legislator Iannello continued. "Through collaboration, we can determine the best use of this grant funding, making Erie County greener and more efficient. I am calling upon those communities to contact me and work in concert with the Green Actions Community Committee to accomplish our goals."

Legislator Iannello can be contacted by calling her district office at 873-3438 or by email at iannello@erie.gov.

Diverse coalition of local officials, community groups, businesses, environmentalists, and others call for passage of the Strategic Development Act to establish an Erie County Planning Board and better advise county on economic development and land-use decisions

WHAT: Press Conference to unveil final legislation and urge Collins to reconsider his position

WHO: A diverse coalition of local officials, community organizations, academics, businesses, and others including Erie County Legislators, Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, Buffalo Councilman David Rivera, Amherst Councilman Mark Manna, VOICE Buffalo, LISC, and the Partnership for the Public Good will attend press conference with support from Grand Island Supervisor Pete McMahon, Paul Ciminelli, Howard Zemsky, the Working Families Party, the League of Women Voters, and others.

WHEN: Press Conference: Wednesday, April 15 at Noon
Public Hearing: Thursday, April 16 at Noon

WHERE: Both events at the:
Erie County Legislature
92 Franklin Street, Fourth Floor

WHY: The Strategic Development Act to establish an Erie County Planning Board is now, after almost ten months of debate, in its final form. A truly unique coalition of unlikely partners has joined together in support of the Legislation and is calling upon the County Executive to support it. Supporters feel the legislation is essential to reform County Government, reduce taxes and infrastructure costs, and make more strategic economic development and land-use decisions in the region.
The Act would bring Erie County into compliance with State General Municipal Law and the Erie Niagara Framework for Regional Growth ("Framework"). The Framework is a widely supported planning document which plots a way forward for future land-use decisions and calls for the establishment of an Erie County Planning Board. It was approved unanimously by the Erie County Legislature in April 2007 and County Executive Collins issued an Executive Order implementing the Framework in March 2008.

PHOTO OP: Large pictures of major infrastructure projects in the region now being "reconsidered"
Many supporters gathered with signs

COUNTY LEGISLATOR WHYTE ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT ACT TO CREATE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD

Erie County Legislature Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte (D-Buffalo) is announcing that she has clocked in to the County Legislature a local law creating entitled the Strategic Development Act, creating an Erie County Planning Board. A public hearing on the law will be held at noon Thursday, April 16, in the County Legislature Chambers on the Fourth Floor of 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo.

Legislator Whyte will also host a press conference with several community and business stakeholders calling on the County Executive to support the Strategic Development Act at noon Wednesday, April 15, on the Fourth Floor of 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo.

For more information, people can contact Legislator Whyte's district office at 874-3257 or by e-mail at whytem@erie.gov.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Erie County Legislature will hold a Public Hearing in the Chambers of the Legislature, located on the 4th Floor at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo, New York 14202, on the 16th Day of April, 2009, at 12:00 o'clock Noon, Prevailing Time.

The purpose of conducting the public hearing is to hear public comment on Local Law Int. 1-1 (2009), "A LOCAL LAW Entitled, THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT ACT for the creation of an Erie County Planning Board."

A Copy of Local Law Int. 1-1 (2009) is available for Public Inspection at the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature, located at 92 Franklin Street, 4th Floor, Buffalo, New York.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE MAJORITY LEADS UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF STIMULUS FUNDS FOR MAPLE ROAD WORK

The Erie County Legislature Democratic Majority led the Erie County Legislature in unanimously approving using federal stimulus funds to help rebuild and rehabilitate Maple Road in Amherst at its April 2 session.

The County Legislature, following the review and approval of the Economic Development Committee, chaired by Legislator Timothy M. Kennedy (D-South Buffalo), approved a construction contract and a change order for construction inspection services, as well as engineering services and acquisition of rights-of way, for the reconstruction of Maple Road from Niagara Falls Boulevard (US Route 62) to Flint Road. Also included in the project will be the reconstruction of North Bailey Avenue from Maple Road to Romney Road in Amherst.

About $7 million in federal stimulus funding will be used for this project, estimated to cost about $12,793,000, and with other federal and state aid worked in, the local share required for the Maple Road project is $2,257,000. The actual cost to Erie County is estimated at about $290,000. The project has been approved by the New York State Department of Transportation in its current capital program to be funded with federal aid funds, and is tentatively scheduled for letting on April 23, 2009.

"The County Legislature acted in a fiscally prudent manner in voting to take advantage of $7 million in federal stimulus funds for this project," Legislator Kennedy said. "I am pleased that the County Legislature saw the importance of reconstructing and improving Maple Road and in using federal stimulus aid to fund much of the work. This project will provide for hundreds of construction jobs and help to make the infrastructure of this well-traveled corridor as grand as the taxpayers deserve it to be."

"The County Legislature is acting to help stop the deterioration of Maple Road and lessen the congestion and other problems for the traveling public," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Tonawanda, Buffalo) said. "This is necessary work that will improve the travel conditions of residents, business owners, shoppers, students and others traversing the area."

The right-of-way acquisition costs are estimated at $77,900, and up to 95 percent of that cost for four parcels of land are federal and state reimbursable. The easements are needed for intersection improvements on Maple Road at Flint, North Forest and Hopkins roads.

COUNTY LEGISLATOR WROBLEWSKI LEADS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IN ACCEPTING SHERIFF'S FUNDING

Erie County Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca, South Cheektowaga) is leading the Erie County Legislature in finding ways to work with the Erie County District Attorney's Office to help the office reconfigure its structure and improve its efficiency.

Erie County Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski, left,
Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and Erie County
District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III continue to work
together to improve the delivery of professional
prosecutorial services and efficient use of resources.

The County Legislature, following the review and approval of the Public Safety Committee, chaired by Legislator Wroblewski, approved District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III's plan to reorganize part of the office that will eliminate some highly-paid administrative positions and create more active assistant district attorney positions for lawyers who will try cases.

"Through approving this action, we can put more prosecutors out in the field working on cases and not have them behind desks," Legislator Wroblewski said. "This reorganization will not only allow the District Attorney's Office to prosecute more cases, it will save the county more than $12,000."

"My office greatly appreciates the support and action Legislator Wroblewski, as Chair of the Public Safety Committee, has continually offered us," District Attorney Sedita said. "As a professional prosecutor and as a taxpayer, I wish to improve the quality of prosecution services while also delivering prosecution services in a more cost-efficient manner. Legislator Wroblewski's leadership and the support of his fellow legislators have made such reforms a reality."

"I plan to continue working with District Attorney Sedita on actions such as this, so we can also help retain qualified, knowledgeable prosecutors to help keep Erie County safer," Legislator Wroblewski said. "To be able to assist in reorganizing the office, get more prosecutors working on cases and save the people of Erie County money is an excellent joint effort of the District Attorney and County Legislature, one I am proud to wholeheartedly lead."

COUNTY LEGISLATOR REYNOLDS LEADING TASK FORCE IN EVALUATING DISTRESSED PROPERTY PROBLEMS

Erie County Legislator Robert B. Reynolds Jr. (D-Hamburg, Evans) is continuing to guide and address the Distressed Properties Task Force, which is addressing a very serious concern for the entire community.

County Legislator Robert B. Reynolds Jr. (D-Hamburg,
Evans) addresses the Distressed Properties Task
Force during its March 2009 meeting.

Legislator Reynolds has long maintained that the problem of "Distressed and Vacant" properties is a major alarm not only to city and urban areas, but to suburban and rural areas as well. This blight triggers economic hardship and lowers property values in all neighborhoods and municipalities.

"The task force is concentrating on prevention techniques, enforcement action, as well as recovery and redevelopment of these properties. This is a cause-and-effect forum for not only all levels of government agencies, but for the many grassroots organizations that are involved daily along with our business community activists," Legislator Reynolds said. "Every area is suffering from its own distressed property conditions; at our meetings, we must continue to work together by tackling and reviewing all ideas and solutions."

LEGISLATOR KOZUB LEADS COUNTY LEGISLATURE IN RECOGNIZING UB BULLS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS

Erie County Legislator Daniel M. Kozub (D-Lackawanna, Hamburg, Buffalo) announced his sponsorship and unanimous passage of a proclamation honoring the 2008 University at Buffalo Bulls football team on a spectacular season, culminating with their appearance at the International Bowl in Toronto January 3.

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli, left, and
County Legislator Daniel M. Kozub honor the University of
Buffalo 2008 MAC East championship football team at a
January 2009 session. The UB honorees are, from left,
Athletic Director Warde Manuel, record-setting Bulls' wide
receiver Naaman Roosevelt, UB standout cornerback
Domonic Cook and UB President John B. Simpson.

"What a season," Legislator Kozub said. "The UB Bulls won their first Mid-American Conference East Championship in a double overtime win at Bowling Green. This exciting win enabled the Bulls to clinch a berth in the MAC Championship Game at Detroit's Ford Field December 5."

Kozub noted that the Bulls went on to stun the nationally ranked Ball State Cardinals to claim the MAC Championship, Buffalo's first-ever conference title at the Division I level. This historic event came 50 years after the Bulls earned their first bowl bid in 1958, when they earned the Lambert Cup.

"Years before the Civil Rights Movement, the 1958 Bulls turned down the opportunity to face Florida State in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida - until now the only bowl bid in UB's 102 years of football - due to threatened segregation," Legislator Kozub said. "The Orlando High School Athletic Association, the leaseholder of the Tangerine Bowl's Stadium, prohibited blacks and whites from playing on the same field at the same time."

UB coach Dick Offenhamer left it to the team to decide whether or not to accept the bid, and the team gathered in the Clark Gymnasium to vote. Before the paper ballots could be passed out, the players spontaneously and unanimously rejected the bid, demonstrating tremendous character.

"It was fitting for the Erie County Legislature to congratulate the 2008 Bulls on their remarkable achievement of winning the 2008 MAC East title," Kozub said. "The story of this accomplishment is even more compelling when we recall the 1958 Bulls who took a stand against racism, acting on behalf of the connection between human beings regardless of the color of their skin."

Chairwoman Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) announced that pursuant to Rule 3.02 of the Rules of Order of the Erie County Legislature, she has created a new subcommittee of the Energy and Environment Committee and appointed Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore) as chairperson of the new Green Actions Community Subcommittee.

The mission of the new subcommittee is "To work and communicate with all municipalities to become the most Eco-friendly Community in Upstate New York."

"I am very excited about this new challenge, and I am anxious to get started," Legislator Iannello said. "I plan to work in conjunction with the Energy and Environment Committee of the Legislature in our efforts to make Erie County a model for other counties across the state."

"Erie County has passed many green initiative resolutions and local laws," Legislator Iannello added. "It will be our goal to identify and pass further 'green policy' initiatives including, but not limited to, green job development and a County-wide Green Energy Policy."

Other issues the subcommittee will be addressing include land use decisions and resource conservation, while educating the community on how they can contribute to the process of making Erie County a Green County.

"I am pleased that Legislator Iannello has accepted this leadership position in chairing the Green Actions Community Subcommittee.," Legislature Chair Marinelli said. "Green energy initiatives become more important to municipalities and having Legislator Iannello spearhead this effort will advance our agenda of energy and financial efficiency."

"I want to encourage community participation and will be inviting individuals of our established environmental groups to the table including the County's Department of Environment and Planning," Legislator Iannello said. "We will be taking steps to protect the health and quality of life for the residents of Erie County."

Our secondary objective will be to create a Sustainability Office where a person would monitor and track the implementation of the County's policies and actions. The officer would be responsible for calculating and measuring energy and cost savings to Erie County taxpayers.

People interested in participating can reach Legislator Iannello by email at Iannello@erie.gov or by calling her office at 873-3438.

The Erie County Legislature accepted the rulings issued by State Supreme Court Justice John A. Michalek Monday, including upholding $6.8 million in 2009 budget adjustments made by the County Legislature.

Attorney Paul Cambria of the law firm Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP presented the County Legislature's case to Justice Michalek during Monday's court session.

"The legislature's attorneys successfully presented its case for cutting expenses in the budget. The County Legislature acted properly in amending the 2009 County budget to reduce the property tax increase proposed by the County Executive," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE REAPPOINTS CHAIR LYNN M. MARINELLI, MAJORITY LEADER MARIA R. WHYTE

Erie County Legislator Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) has been re-elected as the Legislature Chair and County Legislator Maria R. Whyte (D-Buffalo, 6th District)) was re-elected as Majority Leader during the Legislature's reorganization meeting January 8.

Legislator Marinelli will serve in her fourth consecutive one-year term as Chair of the Legislature, after serving two terms as the Majority Leader. Legislator Whyte will be serving in her fourth consecutive one-year term as Majority Leader.

Chair Marinelli also named the 2009 County Legislature committee chairs, all reappointments from 2008. They are: Finance and Management, Legislator Kathy Konst (D-Lancaster, Elma); Government Affairs, Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams (D-Buffalo, 3rd District); Energy and Environment, Legislator Daniel M. Kozub (D-Lackawanna, Buffalo); Community Enrichment, Legislator Betty Jean Grant (D-Buffalo, 7th District); Health and Human Services, Legislator Thomas J. Mazur (D-Cheektowaga, Depew); Economic Development, Legislator Timothy M. Kennedy (D-South Buffalo); Public Safety, Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca, South Cheektowaga).

Legislator Robert B. Reynolds Jr. (D-Hamburg, Evans) will continue as chair of the Distressed Property Task Force and Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore) will lead efforts on green initiatives.

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) has been reappointed to The New York State Association of Counties' Economic Development, Environmental and Rural Affairs Committee.

Legislator Marinelli's participation on the NYSAC committee will continue to provide her with an additional opportunity to influence upstate economic planning and policy initiatives.

"With county and state finances being affected by the current national economic crisis, participating in governmental work and pooling our resources as a county is vital," Legislator Marinelli said. "I will continue working with elected officials and other leaders from across New York State to make sure Erie County and other counties are treated fairly and are not assigned increased costs through unfunded mandates."

The chair is a strong advocate for a small business focus in energizing the Western New York economy. She is also a supporter of cultural tourism and the reengineering of older industries into cleaner and more efficient operations, including green initiatives.

Legislator Marinelli currently serves on the Erie County Industrial Development Agency and the Buffalo and Erie County Workforce Investment Board.

For more information, people can contact Director of Communications Kevin J. Hosey at 858-8607.

For the benefit of the many taxpayers that are trying to determine who is on their side in the current debate and litigation regarding the 2009 Erie County Budget, make no mistake. The County Legislature is blocking the proposed Collins' tax increase – plain and simple. It is the County Legislature that is looking out for the taxpayers by demanding tax relief now.

With nearly $11 million at risk of leaving taxpayers' pockets to go into the Erie County general fund, I am not going to apologize to anyone, and especially not to the County Executive, for my decision to respect the opinions of my constituents – families, small businesses and senior citizens – by opposing a property tax increase in 2009. For the record, I have not received one phone call, one e-mail or one letter asking me to support the Collins' tax increase.

President Theodore Roosevelt said it best: "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." The Erie County Legislature, through its surgical cuts to the 2009 Erie County Budget, more than compensated for the reduced revenue that holding the line on property taxes would bring. We made cuts that were supported by consumption reports and financial data we pored over for weeks. We adopted a balanced budget.

The County Legislature did not make capricious cuts. They were judicious cuts. They were prudent cuts. And, quite frankly, the cuts we made were in keeping with "doing what we could, with what we had, here in Erie County," just as Teddy Roosevelt advised people to do so many years ago.

Conventional wisdom tells us that you cannot tax your way out of a recession. We intuitively know that the nearly $11 million in question is better left in the hands of the taxpayers, to be spent on necessities, pay down debt or even saved by those who can. What better way is there to stimulate the local economy or improve family finances across this county?

Like many of our taxpayers, I am disappointed that the County Executive is so willing to go to court to impose a tax increase on the people and businesses of Erie County. As public policymakers, every decision we make today will have ramifications for years to come. From my vantage point, I am more than willing to ask county government to do more with less. I wish the County Executive shared my "business view" of the single most important policy issue in front of us in 2009 - helping our economy by encouraging our taxpayers to be consumers. And, the first step to doing so is leaving more money in their hands.

I value bipartisan cooperation between branches of government. But, I draw the line at a proposed tax increase when our senior citizens, small businesses and families find it hard to make ends meet. For this reason, I will not be a rubber stamp for the Collins' tax increase.

STATEMENT OF ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE CHAIR LYNN M. MARINELLI AND MAJORITY LEADER MARIA R. WHYTE ON BEHALF OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE

The Erie County Legislature is filing legal proceedings today which seek to prevent the Director of Real Property Tax Services, who works at the direction of the County Executive, from imposing an illegal property tax increase.

The Legislature is forced to seek court intervention in order to protect the rights of county taxpayers and to clarify the constitutional authority over who determines property taxes. At stake are fundamental Democratic principles and recognition of the separation of powers. This action is necessary to define the roles of each branch, since an adopted budget has never been ignored in such a fashion.

The County Executive has steadfastly maintained that he would disregard the will of the people and the 2009 amended and adopted legislative budget by sending out tax bills that include an illegal tax increase.

It is necessary to retain outside counsel for these proceedings. While there is some expense associated with doing that, the savings to the taxpayers far outweighs the cost of failure to act. It further protects the people's voice in county government.

It is essential to the future of Erie County that its residents be protected from those elected and appointed officials who seek to exceed the authority granted to them by the Erie County Charter. Under the Charter, the Legislature's powers and duties include, "to make appropriations, levy taxes and incur indebtedness."

This action is the only recourse to prevent the County Executive from arbitrarily imposing this unnecessary tax increase by issuing unauthorized and incorrect tax bills.

FROM ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE CHAIR LYNN M. MARINELLI, ON BEHALF OF THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY
NEWS RELEASE

In a bipartisan effort to avoid an increase in property taxes, on December 9, 2008, the Erie County Legislature adopted an entirely lawful amended budget that reduced the County Executive's proposed budget by over $9 million. However, the County Executive continues to object to items of this lawful budget. Instead, he proposes to increase the taxpayers' burden by over 10 million dollars.

As representatives of the People of Erie County, the Legislature is committed to holding taxes to a minimum, particularly in light of current economic conditions. Indeed, representatives from both parties have worked together in the Legislature to create a fiscally responsible 2009 Budget that does not increase real property taxes, yet the County Executive still insists that a tax increase is necessary.

Despite differences over items in this Budget, the Legislature, in the best interests of the taxpayer, values a mutually-productive relationship between the Executive and Legislative branches of County government. In furtherance of that goal, discussions between representatives of the Legislature and the County Executive have commenced, and the Legislature welcomes further input from County Executive Collins, particularly with respect to working cooperatively with the Legislature to hold the line against any property tax increases. Our residents deserve a County Government that can function smoothly, cooperate when necessary, and at the same time keep the tax burden as low as possible.

The Erie County Legislature today voted to override the vetoes made by the County Executive Monday in the amended 2009 Erie County budget, reinstating the amendments to cultural and other spending approved by the County Legislature last week, eliminating the county executive's previously proposed tax rate increase.

Despite erroneous claims by the county executive, the budget with veto overrides will hold the line on property taxes, thus cutting the County Executive's proposal by about $9.5 million, while providing for essential services such as public safety, health, human services and emergency services. The County Legislature restored about $1 million to the spending plan; about 86 percent of the budget is state and federally mandated spending.

The spending package the County Legislature approved kept the voters and the taxpayers first and foremost in mind by eliminating the proposed tax increase, reducing spending where possible but continuing to fund essential services as well as providing funds where possible to economic engines, such as culturals, tourism, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Erie County Soil and Water, Operation Prime Time (youth services) and the Olmsted Parks.

The County Legislature was repeatedly told by residents and taxpayers how crucial it was to hold the line on the property tax rate in these difficult economic times, and acted to eliminate the county executive's proposed increase.

Cultural funding was restored at 95 percent of the organization's 2008 level, funding organizations while ensuring that decreased funding would be spread equitably through the groups.

Honorable Charles Schumer
United States Senator
313 Hart Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

RE: Urgently Needed Congressional Action to Stabilize the Domestic Auto Industry

As the Chair of the Erie County Legislature, I respectfully request that the United States Congress act now to prevent the imminent collapse of the Detroit-based auto industry. Western New York has a long and proud history of auto manufacture, dating back to the turn of the last century. Indeed, the Greater Buffalo economy is inextricably tied to its proud status as an auto community, and is host to a GM Powertrain Facility in Tonawanda, NY and Ford Stamping Plant in Woodlawn, NY, as well as a number of auto component supply firms.

On the national level, unless a rescue plan is devised for America's Big Three Automakers - GM, Chrysler and Ford - the Center for Automotive Research projects that three million jobs - far beyond the labor force and management team at each production facility - could be lost. These job losses, which include those employed at dealerships, component manufacturers and auto parts suppliers, do not reflect the tsunami impact on our economy if an additional 3,000,000 Americans are forced to join the ranks of the unemployed.

This human and economic tragedy can be averted if funds that have already been appropriated in the $700 billion financial rescue package would be directed to the domestic auto industry. A $25 billion bridge loan is urgently needed to enable GM, Ford and Chrysler to continue operations, restructure and avoid liquidation.

Yes, liquidation, as a Chapter 11 reorganization is simply not an option for any of our domestic automakers. Debtor-in-possession financing would not be available to the auto companies, and consumers will not make their second largest purchase from a company in bankruptcy. These two factors would sound the death knell for the American auto industry.

The Detroit-based automakers have been well on their way to eliminating the labor cost gap between Detroit and the foreign automakers who have penetrated the U.S. market. These savings accrue from two very aggressive labor-management agreements, one in 2005 and the other in 2007. Indeed, the wages of new workers have been cut by 50%, and fully one-half of the companies' liabilities for retiree health benefits have been erased.

The national economic downturn is no fault of our domestic auto industry or its dedicated workforce that manufacture an exceptional product that has been the source of American pride for decades.

Please do everything in your power to move forward this important economic rescue package before the uncertainty surrounding the future of the American auto industry does further damage to our faltering national, state and regional economies.

c: Steve Finch, GM Powertrain Plant Manager
David Buzo, Ford Stamping Plant Manager
Sal Moreno, President, Local 774 (GM)
Charles Gangarosa, President, Local 897 (Ford)
Dr. Andrew Rudnick, Buffalo Niagara Partnership

COUNTY LEGISLATURE ANNOUNCES CITIZENS BUDGET REVIEW COMMISSION MEETING, APPOINTMENTS

The Erie County Legislature is announcing that the Erie County Legislature Citizens Budget Review Commission will hold its first meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, November 10, in the County Legislature Meeting Room, Fourth Floor, 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo.

The Citizens Budget Review Commission was formed with the belief that the citizens of Erie County deserved a voice in offering input into the development of the county's budgets.

Currently, eight members of the Citizens' Budget Review Commission have been appointed: Joyce A. Stewart, Dr. Patrick Keem, William Malczewski, Anthony Rizzo, Herbert J. Glose, Eva M. Doyle, Tamar Rothaus and Michael F. Drennen. The County Comptroller, Director of Budget and County Attorney are ex-officio, non-voting members of the commission.

According to the Erie County Charter, the Citizens' Budget Review Commission was created "to assist and advise the Legislature in the oversight of the County's budget and to monitor County finances, ensure the long-term fiscal stability of Erie County, prevent the concealment of County deficits, and to help provide this Legislature with enough time and information to respond to budgetary problems."

"I am gratified that the county residents appointed to the Citizens' Budget Review Commission are committing their time, rolling up their sleeves and helping work to strengthen the budget process," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said.

The County of Erie has lost one of its finest community leaders in the passing of Richard J. Keane. A former legislator and chairman of the Erie County Legislature, as well as a former member of the Assembly who served the citizens of New York with great distinction, Dick will be remembered for his deep South Buffalo roots and lofty belief in the promise and potential of our community and its citizens. The members of the Erie County Legislature will keep Dick and his family in our thoughts and prayers.

The Erie County Legislature unanimously approved just over $5,000 in funding for the Buffalo Zoo at its October 2 session.

"The County Legislature authorized $5,048 that the Zoo can keep from its 2007 budget. This allows the zoo to continue its fine efforts," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said. "The county has assisted with the new rain forest and sea otter exhibits. The Zoo is taking a great cultural and tourist asset and I compliment President Donna Fernandes and her staff." Legislator Marinelli also serves on the Zoo's board.

MARINELLI ANNOUNCES UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF BE-SAFE GRANT TO COMBAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

In conjunction with October being known as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) announced that the Legislature has unanimously approved a two-year federal grant of just more than $1 million to combat domestic violence.

"This project is a fine example of the collaboration that exists among the various county departments that touch the lives of families who have been affected by domestic abuse in the home," Legislator Marinelli said. "Throughout my tenure in public service, I have been involved in the development of policies and strategies regarding the issue of combating family violence, and am glad to see the federal government continue its support of the Family Justice Center (FJC) in Erie County."

The grant will fund a number of important components of the FJC's response to family violence, including:

"The Family Justice Center provides this community a comprehensive service model for stopping abuse in the family environment," Legislator Marinelli said. "The FJC offers victims a one-stop location to address all of the complex needs of a family that has lived in an atmosphere of abuse and violence. Everyone affiliated with the Family Justice Center can take pride in the positive difference they are making in the lives of these families."

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) is calling for a hiring freeze in Erie County.

"Considering the current crisis in the financial sectors, which will affect the rest of the economy, and as part of my continued efforts to institute responsible fiscal policies, a hiring freeze is in order," Legislator Marinelli said. "There should be no exception unless a strong, justified application is made for public health and safety."

"We are currently in the midst of a fiscal tsunami, and people realize just how serious things are," Legislator Marinelli added. "Correspondingly, I am instituting a hiring freeze at the County Legislature."

Legislator Marinelli noted that, as indicated in the Legislature's Finance and Management Committee's report on the mid-year 2008 budget hearings, the administration has established a vacancy control period. This basically imposes a 30-day hold on all job vacancies except those controlled by the other elected officials, as well as certain public safety positions.

"We must act in a cautious, fiscally prudent manner and do so now," Legislator Marinelli concluded. "Everything that we in the County Legislature can accomplish to control expenses while delivering the necessary services, including public health and safety, must be considered."

"Legislature Chair Taps Private Sector, Academic and Not-for-Profit Communities to Chart New Course for Erie County Legislature"

Lynn Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda), Chair of the Erie County Legislature, today announced the appointments to the 21st Century Commission. This volunteer group will be charged with studying and advancing its recommendations for the future structure and functions of the Erie County Legislature, subject to voter approval via the public referendum process.

Marinelli named Martha Lamparelli of Buffalo as Chair of the Commission. The Coordinator of Parent Services for the Central Committee on Special Education with the Buffalo Public Schools, Lamparelli is a respected professional in education and a community leader.

Joining Lamparelli on the 21st Century Commission will be Ruth Bryant, Assistant Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at the University at Buffalo; Kevin Donovan, Assistant Director of United Auto Workers Region 9; Marian Deutschman, Ph.D., Interim Director of the Office of College and Community Partnerships at Buffalo State College; Cheryl Howe, Executive Vice President for Health Services and Marketing Management at HealthNow; Michael Pliszka, Chief of Police Services and Domestic Violence Related Programs for the Erie County Sheriff's Office; Reverend Cathy Reilly-Goddard, Executive Director of Concerned Ecumenical Ministries; Sister Denise Roche, GNSH, Ph.D., President of D'Youville College; and Raymond Walter, an attorney with the law firm of Magavern Magavern Grimm LLP.

"This is an exciting moment for our community," Chair Marinelli began. "I am thrilled these individuals have agreed to serve. They have each brought community service to their respective work, and I appreciate their dedication to this issue. The Commission's important, forward-thinking agenda will afford the community an unprecedented opportunity to fashion a policymaking framework and direction for a transparent county government reform process."

"To achieve this goal, a comprehensive, non-partisan approach was called for, one that will examine virtually every reform measure regarding the size and scope of the County Legislature, including terms of office. The Commission's review will be completed well in advance of the constitutionally mandated redistricting that will take place in 2011," Chair Marinelli concluded.

The 21st Century Commission will hold its first meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2008 in the Legislative Conference Room, Old County Hall – 4th Floor, 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo. The public is welcome.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE CHAIR MARINELLI CALLS FOR ECIDA BOARD TO CLARIFY INCENTIVE POLICIES, PROCEDURES

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda), a member of the Erie County Industrial Agency Board of Directors, is appealing to the ECIDA board for a clarification of agency incentive policies and procedures.

Legislator Marinelli, as a member of the board's Policy Committee, is continuing her attempts to clarify the board's focus to include prioritizing high potential job growth sectors, including information technologies, biomedical companies, cultural tourism and waterfront commercialization.

She is also advocating for merging economic development agencies and enhancing collaborations with the Empire State Development Corporation and workforce development agencies.

"I am pleased that ECIDA Policy Committee Chairman Phil Corwin has agreed to schedule a board meeting to discuss a list of discussion items that I am proposing," Legislator Marinelli said. "Among the policy areas I have identified for clarification are local economic development agency mergers, small business expansion and enhanced collaboration between the Empire State Development Corporation, workforce development agencies and the ECIDA.

"I see a sense of urgency in Erie County, as well as on the state and national levels, to improve workforce development and small business expansion, particularly for Buffalo-based firms," she added. "In a letter I wrote to my fellow ECIDA board members September 3, I have repeated my call for a redefinition of ECIDA incentive priorities."

For more information on Chair Marinelli's entire list of appeals for a redefinition of ECIDA incentive priorities, people can call Director of Communications Kevin J. Hosey at 858-8607.

MARINELLI ANNOUNCES COMMISSION ON 21st CENTURY ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE
"Charged with Reform"

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) announced the creation of the Erie County Legislature 21st Century Commission to comprehensively review the duties, function and organization of the Erie County Legislature.

"We in the County Legislature are answering the community's call for changes to government structure, in view of static and shifting population, fiscal times and service to its citizens," Chair Marinelli said.

"The Commission will study and comment on all government reform issues specific to the Erie County Legislature, including but not limited to:

The Commission will be composed of nine members in total, six chosen by Chair Marinelli and one each chosen by the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Legislature, as well as the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee. The Commission Chair is to be designated by the Chair of the County Legislature. Terms of Commission members are one year, after which the Commission sunsets.

The suggested timetable for the Commission's work is as follows: organizational work and research in 2008, public comment period, scheduled hearings, draft and final reports in 2009. Any needed public referendum would take place in 2010, with implementation in 2011, in concert with the election cycle and reapportionment laws.

The Erie County Legislature honored the Buffalo Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation upon the celebration of the bureau's 100TH birthday at its session last week. Shown, from left, are: County Legislator Timothy M. Kennedy (D-South Buffalo), Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Steve Lanser, Assistant Agent-in-Charge Richard Kollmar and County Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca, South Cheektowaga), Chair of the Legislature's Public Safety Committee.

STATEMENT BY ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE CHAIR LYNN MARINELLI ON STATE CAPITAL BORROWING LEGISLATION

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) issued the following statement:

"I am disappointed to learn that the governor intends to veto state legislation that would allow elected Erie County officials to conduct the county's capital borrowing, particularly because many badly needed projects of 2007 and 2008 remain in limbo."

"I hope that the governor and the state legislature will now clarify who conducts Erie County's capital borrowing. I am most interested in hearing the reaction of the Western New York delegation of the New York State Legislature to this action. We elected officials in Erie County voted – nearly unanimously – on the requested home rule legislation in a bipartisan fashion for this joint Senate and Assembly bill (S8571/A11610)."

MARINELLI ANNOUNCES GRANTS TARGETED TO CANCER PREVENTION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND SENIOR CITIZENS

Legislator Lynn Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) announced that a number of important health and human services would be funded as the result of action taken during today's meeting of the Erie County Legislature.

"I am pleased to report that more than $2.5 million in grants from the New York State Health Department will be directed to Partners for Prevention Clinical Services," Chair Marinelli began. "The five-year program will fund breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening for low income, asymptomatic and underserved men and women age 18 and over."

Marinelli also announced a federal grant of nearly $150,000 to enhance non-residential services to victims of domestic violence, a public policy issue that has been of keen interest to her since she began her career in public service.

The final grant approved on July 10 will benefit senior citizens who avail themselves of the following services: congregate dining, home-delivered meals, disease prevention, exercise and health promotion and elder caregiver support. The funds will allow for minor residential repairs for seniors and the replacement of aging Going Places vans, as well.

"A community is often judged by how compassionately it treats those who cannot speak for themselves. I am proud of the work done by the Erie County Departments of Health, Social Services and Senior Services in their efforts to exhaust every avenue of state and federal funding for the programs that assist our neighbors who need someone to speak for them," Chair Marinelli concluded.

The Erie County Legislature honored Carmela Trippi of North Buffalo on the occasion of her 99th birthday at its June 26 session.

Carmela Trippi of Buffalo, at the podium, was recently
honored by the Erie County Legislature in honor of
her 99th birthday. She was joined by, from left:
Vincent Cannarozzo, her grandson; Erie County
Legislature Chair and 11th District Legislator Lynn M.
Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda); her sister, Mary
Geraci; her daughter, Arlene Vincent, and County
Legislature Majority Leader and 6th District County
Legislator Maria R. Whyte (D-Buffalo).

The honorary proclamation was introduced by 11th District Legislator and Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli and 6th District Legislator and Majority Leader, Maria R. Whyte. Both legislators noted that it was women like Ms. Trippi who blazed the trail for women like them to enter politics, to be elected and to serve in leadership positions.

The proclamation noted that Carmela Trippi is the proud and prolific matriarch of a family that includes four children - Ann Barone, Sal Trippi, Rosalie Manzella and Arlene Vincent - 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

"Despite the demands of her duties in maintaining and nurturing a growing household, Carmela dedicated herself to community service," Chair Marinelli stated. "Carmela's love for politics rivals, but does not exceed, her love of family, and she has been active in politics for six decades - since 1948 - and served as a Democratic committee woman for 55 years."

"The ninety-nine years since her birth have been highlighted by evolutionary, and sometimes revolutionary, changes in our society," added Legislator Whyte. "Carmela's personal history overlaps the most dramatic events in our nation's history - including two World Wars, the Great Depression, armed conflicts in faraway places such as Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East, the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, the civil rights movement and the women's rights movement whose seeds first sprouted with the effort to win the right to vote for women, culminating with the legalization of women's suffrage August 26, 1920, when Carmela was only 11 years old."

"Whether through the love for her family or the love for her party, Carmela Trippi has shown unbridled generosity and an energetic spirit," Chair Marinelli concluded.