Press Releases: 10/30/09 Legislators Iannello, Reynolds Call for a County Tax Abatement Law for Home Improvements 10/08/09 Erie County Legislator Michele Iannello News Release 09/30/09 Iannello Calls on County Executive to Include Tax Cut in Budget 08/26/09 IANNELLO APPOINTED CO-CHAIR OF THE NIAGARA ERIE REGIONAL COALITION BY LEGISLATURE CHAIR MARINELLI 08/07/09 LEGISLATOR IANNELLO DEFENDS PREVAILING WAGE VOTE

Michele M. Iannello - District 10 May 5, 2009 COUNTY EXECUTIVE PLAYS POLITICS WITH KENMORE SENIOR CITIZENS Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore) believes that County Executive Chris Collins is playing political games, by ignoring Legislative action, which called for the donation of a 2003, 12-passenger van to the Village of Kenmore for senior transportation. Last month, the Erie County Legislature unanimously passed a resolution, prepared by Senior Services Commissioner Brenda Ward, authorizing the County Executive to turnover the van to the Village of Kenmore, as the County was no longer using it. The Legislature took this action after months of discussions and meetings that were organized by Legislator Iannello. Legislator Iannello, Commissioner Brenda Ward, Kenmore Village officials and Dawn Coniglio, Nutrition Specialist of the Kenmore Community Center, were involved in the process. The van was delivered to the Kenmore DPW garage prior to passing of the resolution for inspection by the Kenmore mechanics. Kenmore mechanics have been working on getting the van road-ready for transporting seniors. Yesterday, in a surprise move, Erie County DPW worker's picked up the van and delivered it back to the County garage. Dawn Coniglio discovered this and immediately called Legislator Iannello upset and looking for answers. "The seniors were asking about the status of the van so I sent my driver Ron Robertson down to the DPW to check on it, only to find out the van had been taken back by the County without any prior notification. We were all confused by this and it caused distress and disappointment with my seniors," stated Dawn Coniglio. Legislator Iannello made several inquiries and was given poor excuses by the administration. She stated, "It is my belief that this is another example of Mr. Collins' political game-playing targeted toward me. However, the victims are the senior citizens of the Village of Kenmore. This was a 'win-win' for the County and the Village." The resolution called for the County to donate the van, the Village would do all necessary repairs and for the first time, have a senior-friendly vehicle providing the much-needed transportation for the senior citizens of Kenmore. "I am outraged at these actions with no explanation, not even a phone call to notify anyone. That is not the way Erie County does business and that is not the way I do business. A resolution is legal and binding. Someone needs to explain that to the County Executive," added Iannello. Back to District 10 Homepage