MAY 12, 2007

CHAIRPERSON MARINELLI PUSHES ACCOUNTABILITY, FISCAL PRUDENCE

When I was elected to the position of Chairperson of the Erie County Legislature in January 2006, I decide to continue my policy of openness and keeping my constituents and all residents of Erie County informed of the County Legislature's activities

That is why I believe it is important in my role as Chairperson of the Erie County Legislature to issue this First-Quarter Legislative Progress Report in May 2006. County residents deserve to know what their Legislature has accomplished and what it continues to address.

• In January 2006, a review and redefinition of the Legislature's policies and procedures were initiated.
• There has been a clarification of staff reporting functions and line-staff relationships.
• The legislative committee system has been strengthened and the role of each chair in directing committee responsibilities has been enhanced. It is through the committee system that the bulk of legislative action takes place.
• We have also limited member spending on mailings and ended legislative budget funding of cell phones. There continues to be no reimbursement for travel expenses and no appropriations of legislative contingency funding during these austere times.
• Legislative action since the beginning of the year has included making appropriate technical changes in the 2006 budget including stabilizing ECMC funding and financing two special elections. The hospital and other bonded capital projects for 2006 have not yet been officially proposed by the executive.
• Members of the legislature have taken steps to ensure June mid-year budget hearings as part of continuing efforts to pave the way for a systematic 2007 budget building process.
• We are initiating how the recommendations of the Charter Review Commission will be processed in a timely manner through appropriate legislative committees. A key part of our planning is to ensure adequate public discourse over the next several months.

The dominant issue for members is continually working toward a structurally balanced 2007 budget through joint efforts involving both the administration and the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority. To facilitate the budget building process, the Legislature held an open March meeting with administrative and authority staff to begin identifying which recommendations for cost reductions are doable and realistic. The review process will continue on a quarterly basis and include dialogue with members of the newly reorganized authority.

The first quarter has been productive, and it has established the way in which members will address issues in a more effective way through the operations of each of the eight standing committees, as well as task forces and special committees.

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