The Erie County Legislature

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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.

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

WHEN: 2 p.m. Thursday, September 18, 2008, from the original Thursday, September 25, 2008

The date of this session will be changed to afford members of the County Legislature the opportunity to attend New York State Association of Counties 2008 Fall Seminar scheduled for September 24 to 26, 2008. Pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Rules of Order for the Erie County Legislature, the Chairperson is authorized to establish the schedule for regular sessions of the Legislature.

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

DATE: August 4, 2008
TO: All Members of the Erie County Legislature
FROM: Robert M. Graber, Clerk
RE: CHANGING DATE OF LEGISLATURE SESSION

Please be advised that Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli has changed the date of the session of the Erie County Legislature scheduled for Thursday, September 25, 2008 to Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 2:00 PM.

The need to change the date of this session is to afford members of the Legislature an opportunity to attend New York State Association of Counties 2008 Fall Seminar scheduled for September 24 to 26, 2008.

Pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Rules of Order for the Erie County Legislature, the Chairperson is authorized to establish the schedule for regular sessions of the Legislature.

August 1, 2008
Mr. Robert M. Graber
Clerk, Erie County Legislature
92 Franklin Street, 4th Floor
Buffalo, N.Y. 14202

Due to the New York State Association of Counties 2008 Fall
Seminar scheduled for September 24 to 26, 2008, there is a need to
move the date of the session scheduled for Thursday, September 25,
2008 to Thursday, September 18, 2008 on that day at 2:00 p.m.
Please notify members of the Legislature, staff, and news media
about this change of time for Thursday's session.
Thank you.

To: Robert M. Graber, Clerk
From: Lynn M. Marinelli, Chairperson
Subject: 2008 SCHEDULE OF LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS (Revised 8/1/08)

STATEMENT BY ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE CHAIR LYNN MARINELLI ON RESIGNATION OF ERIE COUNTY FISCAL STABILITY AUTHORITY CHAIR ANTHONY BAYNES

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

"I respect Anthony Baynes and his work on behalf of the community and the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority. As Chair of the Erie County Legislature, Mr. Baynes and I had a good working relationship and I wish him well. As I have in the past, I will continue to work with all members of the state�appointed Fiscal Stability Authority, including the new chair."

LEGISLATOR GRANT WELCOMES ERIE COUNTY VETERANS OUTREACH SQUAD TO MERRIWEATHER LIBRARY AUGUST 16

Erie County Legislator Betty Jean Grant (D-Buffalo) will welcome the Erie County Veterans Outreach Squad to the Frank E. Merriweather Library, 1342 Jefferson Avenue, Buffalo, from, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, August 16.

This innovative program, led by Director of Veterans Services Patrick Welch, will be the first of its kind offered to Erie County residents. The program will inform veterans of benefits to which they are entitled, as well as present special opportunities for veterans that include networking and business start-up programs.

The Veterans Outreach Squad consists of representatives from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and 211 Service, as well as the Erie County Office of Veterans Services. In addition to describing opportunities for veterans, the representatives will answer questions from veterans regarding services.

Information available regarding money for schooling, where to find money to start a business, volunteer opportunities, benefits available and networking opportunities with other veterans.
Explanation of what 211 services does.
Information on how to sign up for the Veterans Administration Hospital and why every veteran should be enrolled into the VA system.

All veterans and their families are welcome to attend. To R.S.V.P. for this event, please call Legislator Grant's office at 894-0914 or e-mail at bjg@erie.gov.

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.

Erie County Legislator Robert B. Reynolds, Jr. (D-Hamburg, Evans), Co-Chair of the Distressed Properties Task Force created under the auspices of the Erie County Legislature, has sent an urgent letter to Governor David Paterson, encouraging him to sign into law Assembly Bill 8059-C/Senate Bill 5366-C.

This legislation was approved in the respective State Legislative houses on June 17 and June 18, 2008. The Task Force voted overwhelmingly in support of this legislation at its June 25, 2008, meeting.

The Distressed Properties Task Force is co-chaired by Angola Mayor Hub Frawley, and is composed of individuals, organizations and local governments that are working collaboratively to combat the blight of abandoned properties throughout the urban, suburban and rural communities of Erie County.

"No municipality has been spared the negative impact on its housing and commercial stock caused by this dual problem of disinvestment and decay," Legislator Reynolds said. "At the local government and community grassroots level, we are committed to putting a halt to this troubling trend."

Bill A.8059-C/S.5366-C seeks to address the problems of vacant and abandoned property in a coordinated manner, ultimately redeveloping such property to a state where it can be returned to the tax rolls and can promote economic growth. With the long-term interest of the community in mind, land banks operate efficiently to acquire, hold, manage and develop tax-foreclosed properties. Municipalities would have the opportunity to "opt in" to this community revitalization program. It is not a mandate.

"Our mission as a Task Force is to restore our region's economic vitality by managing the deserted properties in our residential neighborhoods and commercial districts," Legislator Reynolds said in his letter to Governor Paterson. "This 'land banking' strategy is another tool that our communities need to address the blight of vacant and abandoned properties. We strongly recommend that you give local governments one more tool in the economic development tool chest."

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.

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)