The Erie County Legislature

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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.

Erie County Legislator Robert B. Reynolds Jr. (D-Hamburg) is announcing that Erie County will soon open its county beaches seven days a week this summer.

Legislator Reynolds noted that Bennett Beach and Wendt Beach, both Erie Count beaches will be open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. starting Saturday, June 28, with lifeguards on duty.

"Lake Erie is one of the greatest natural resources in our community, and summer is the perfect time for county residents to enjoy our beautiful lakefront beaches," Reynolds stated. "I am pleased that we were able to work together, county legislators and other elected officials and the county Department of Parks, to increase the hours that lifeguards will be on duty that will allow Wendt and Bennett Beaches to be open to the public June 28 through Labor Day."

For more information, contact Legislator Reynolds' office at 649-2640 or the Office of Erie County Parks Commissioner Jim Hornung at 858-8355.

WHAT: Erie County Legislature Economic Development Committee's Transportation Subcommittee, under its chair, Legislator Timothy M. Kennedy, to hold its first meeting

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

As part of the first Transportation Sub-Committee meeting, Paul Snyder III, President and CEO and members of the Center for Transportation Excellence (CTE) will present CTE's community-based approach to transportation coordination. Recognized earlier this month at the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Conference in New Orleans, LA., the Center for Transportation Excellence's mission is to convene and create a standard of best practices for organizations in the health and human services transportation industry. This mission is achieved through the provision of comprehensive training, state-of-the-art fleet maintenance, mobility management and advocacy for human-centered transportation systems.

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

Erie County Legislator Daniel M. Kozub (D-Lackawanna, Buffalo) and his colleagues recently honored Ralph J. Galanti Jr. upon his induction into the Hall of Fame of Erie Community College at a ceremony in the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center Gymnasium May 8.

Ralph J. Galanti Jr., third from right, and his wife, Diane,
next to him, were honored by Erie County Legislature
Chair Lynn M. Marinelli, left, Legislators Thomas Mazur,
Timothy M. Wroblewski and Daniel M. Kozub, right,
during the June 12 Legislature session.

"The numbers 449-306-42 represent the wins, losses and ties of the Erie Community College (ECC) hockey team and demonstrate the highly effective coaching and leadership approach of Ralph Galanti, Jr.," Legislator Kozub said. "The record of the ECC varsity hockey program, which Ralph Galanti founded, developed and implemented, will live on in the annals of collegiate sports history."

Kozub noted that Galanti, affectionately known as "Chico" to family and friends, began his tenure at ECC in 1969 as an instructor, later serving as ECC's Director of Athletics for nearly three decades (1975-2005), a time of unprecedented change in collegiate athletics in the nation, state and region.

"This period of astonishing growth and achievement for the ECC athletics program is highlighted by the many awards Chico received for his leadership, including national recognition for the football program at ECC; statewide recognition through his receipt of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 1998 and regional recognition as a collegiate hockey coach by being inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2004," Kozub said.

Galanti's teams won five NJCAA Region III Championships and were runners-up six times, won four International Collegiate Hockey League seasonal championships and won playoff championships five times. He was joined at the presentation by his wife, Diane.

"Chico is known for his sense of humor, dogged determination, passion, work ethic, adeptness at the art of persuasion and unquestioned integrity, qualities that combined to create a formula of personal and professional success for this humble son of Lackawanna," Kozub said.

Kozub remarked that Galanti's retirement in September 2005 may have marked an end to the Galanti era of ECC's astonishing growth from seven sports spread across three campuses to the 23 sports fostered under Chico's "One College Concept" of integration and excellence.

"Chico always remained focused on the student athletes who benefited greatly from his vision and stewardship, placing their needs above all other competing needs. This student athlete focus resulted in a successful student athletic academic tracking program, the establishment of a women's parity and equal opportunity strategy and maintaining an impressive regional competitive sports program over a long period of time," Kozub concluded.

LEGISLATOR REYNOLDS LAUDS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS SEEKING TO CHANGE THE COUNTY ASSESSMENT REVIEW DATE

The Erie County Legislature overwhelmingly approved resolutions co-sponsored by County Legislator Robert B. Reynolds Jr. (D-Hamburg, Evans) asking the New York State Legislature to allow the county to change when its annual property assessment review hearings are held to coincide with other counties in New York State at its April 3 session.

"These resolutions are asking the New York State Assembly and Senate to enact bills, already introduced in each chamber, to move the assessment review hearings held in early June in Erie County to late May. This would utilize a calendar that is the same as other counties in New York State," Legislator Reynolds said. "Amending the Erie County Tax Act by moving the annual assessment hearings to late May and making other necessary changes will end confusion and allow us to better coordinate assessment reviews and services."

The resolutions, approved by more than a supermajority of the County Legislature, have been sent to the New York State Assembly and Legislature to advocate the prompt approval of these laws. Reynolds was pleased with the bipartisan support of the resolution, which has co-sponsored by County Legislator Minority Leader John Mills (R-Orchard Park).

COUNTY LEGISLATURE CHAIR MARINELLI APPOINTS JENNIFER C. PERSICO AS PART-TIME MAJORITY COUNSEL

Erie County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) announced that Jennifer C. Persico of Buffalo has been appointed the Majority counsel to the Erie County Legislature.

Persico is a partner at Mosey Persico LLP in Buffalo, a law firm which provides legal services including personal injury litigation, general litigation, corporate law, estates and trusts, municipal law, zoning, residential and commercial closings and collections. A State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law graduate, Persico earned governmental legal experience by serving as the City of Buffalo Assistant Corporation Counsel from February 1999 through September 2000.

She also has legal experience working for law firms such as Webster Szanyi, Sugarman Law Firm and Kenney, Kanaley, Shelton and Liptak, and worked as a law clerk for Gibson, McAskill & Crosby and as a legal assistant for Garvey & Garvey. Her community service has included working as a mentor at the State University at Buffalo Law School, for Kids Voting WNY, Shakespeare in the Park and for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The County Legislature's Majority counsel, just as the Minority counsel, is a part-time position, and receives an annual stipend in the 2008 budget of $22,000 and no benefits.

These are the major action items the Erie County Legislature will address and act on in 2008, according to County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda).

Legislator Marinelli also indicated which standing committees will host the discussion of the items and report back to the full Legislature.

Status and future of ECMCC and impacts on county costs (Health, Human Services Committee)

State budget impacts and further requirements or relief from mandates (Finance & Management Committee)

Budget Accountability Act implementation (Health, Human Services & Community Enrichment Committees)

Four-year plan revision and ECFSA efficiency grant proposals (Finance & Management Committee)

Inner Harbor Development and economic development areas (Economic Development Committee)

Six Sigma standards and performance-based budgeting (Finance & Management Committee)

Union contracts, and resolution to AFSCME fact finder report (Government Affairs Committee)

Sheriff Department's transportation and housing of prisoners; overtime costs (Public Safety Committee)

Framework for Regional Growth and planning board local law (Government Affairs Committee)

Help America Vote Act and election systems changes (Government Affairs Committee)

Erie Community College operational & capital budget (Community Enrichment Committee)

Policy with administration on bed tax, road funds, Culturals, tourism (Community Enrichment & Economic Development Committees)

Fund Balance levels and market upgrading for county, and tax lien resolution (Finance & Management Committee)