[Call to Order]
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STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MR. ALMIGHTY GOD, GUIDE US IN OUR JUDGMENTS.
DELIBERATIONS TODAY, AND. AMEN. ROLL CALL PLEASE. SHIBO. ITSY HERE. LEECH HERE. ROGERS. WITT.
WATERMAN. HERE. BOUCHER. HERE. FIORINI. HERE. BLEZNICK. HERE. BOK. JOSEPH. KOENIG. HERE.
WHITE. NEWTON. DAVIS. GABRIEL. PRATT. DIMAGGIO. DANIELS. JULIAN. IRVIN. WASHBURN. MCNEIL.
[Public Hearing]
GENTILE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER TODAY. MR. DAN FUSCO. THIS IS THAT. IT'S ON NOW, RIGHT? NO. THAT'S ON. OKAY. GOOD GOOD, GOOD. OKAY. AND I USUALLY FORGET TO TURN THIS ON.SO LET ME TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT FIRST OKAY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME BACK. IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR AND A TRULY A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.
SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW ME. I'VE BEEN HERE A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SOME NEW FACES ON THE BOARD. SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, AND I DO UNDERSTAND, THERE'S SOME OF YOU WHO MAY REMEMBER ME BUT WANT TO FORGET. THAT'S OKAY, THAT'S OKAY. I. CAME HERE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. DO I NEED TO LEAN FORWARD OR DOES THIS COME UP? IS THIS OKAY IF I'M BACK, YOU CAN HEAR ME. OKAY. OKAY. GOOD. THANKS. SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF FARMLAND WITH ELECTRIC SOLAR POWER GENERATION. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE MAIN PROJECT THAT I WAS FOCUSED ON. AND THAT WAS THE NEWPORT.
DEERFIELD SITE. THAT WAS A BIG ONE. THAT WAS JUST ABOUT 2000 ACRES OF LAND THAT WAS GOING TO BE CONVERTED TO INDUSTRIAL SOLAR ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION. BUT ALSO ALONG WITH THAT CAME POWER SUBSTATIONS AND HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINES GOING DOWN THE ROUTE EIGHT CORRIDOR THROUGH, I THINK, PARTS OF MARCY INTO THE EDIC ROAD INTERCONNECTION SITE.
EARLIER, I THINK IT WAS LATE SPRING. I WAS HOME FOR LUNCH, SITTING ON MY PATIO, AND I GOT A PHONE CALL AND IT WAS A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE DEVELOPER, BOREALIS, A CANADIAN COMPANY, AND HE TOLD ME SOMETHING. MY WIFE WAS THERE AND I SAID, HONEY, I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. I ONLY DREAMT OF BEING ABLE TO TELL YOU. SHE LOOKED AT ME LIKE, DID WE WIN THE LOTTERY? NO, NO, MAMA WASN'T THAT. WE SAVED OUR HOME BECAUSE THIS SITE, THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT IS, IS TRANSFORMATIVE FOR A COMMUNITY. AND IT WOULD HAVE DESTROYED OUR BEAUTIFUL HOME. AND THE REASON WHY MOST PEOPLE LIVE IN DEERFIELD, NEW YORK. NOW, BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I WANT TO APPLAUD ONEIDA COUNTY FOR DOING THAT FOR, FOR FOR WHAT THEY DID, FOR BEING PROACTIVE. THEY SET UP WE SET UP AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE SOLAR.
MR. BUCK CHAIRED IT. I WAS I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING APPOINTED TO THAT COMMITTEE, AND WE WORKED PRETTY HARD FOR ONE YEAR. AND ACCORDING TO THE DEVELOPER, THE REASON THEY BACKED OUT IS BECAUSE THEY COULD NEVER WORK OUT AN AMICABLE, AMICABLE AGREEMENT WITH NEW YORK STATE FOR THE TRANSMISSION LINES. SO IT WASN'T ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.
SO THEY BACKED OUT. I SEE THIS ALSO ANOTHER WAY. THEY WEREN'T DEALING WITH A SOFT TARGET.
THEY WERE DEALING WITH A PROACTIVE TOWN, PROACTIVE INDIVIDUALS AND A PROACTIVE COUNTY THAT IF THESE DEVELOPERS CANNOT SHOW HOW THIS WAS BENEFICIAL TO THE ECONOMY, THE ECOLOGY AND THE INTERESTS OF THEIR CITIZENS, THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO LET THEM JUST WALK RIGHT IN. NOW THERE'S OTHER COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS IN MADISON COUNTY. THE TOWN OF FENNER RIGHT NOW IS GETTING CLOBBERED. THEY WEREN'T PROACTIVE. THEY THEY'RE GETTING 1600 ACRES OF FARMLAND COLORED, COVERED WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS. THEY'RE GETTING THE 600 AND 700 FOOT OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES BLANKETING THAT BEAUTIFUL SCENIC. AND I ALWAYS EQUATE IT WITH HIGHWAY 66 OUT WEST, THE THE US 20 CORRIDOR THAT GOES THROUGH THERE. THAT HASN'T CHANGED IN THE PAST ALMOST 60 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING THAT ROAD. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA. IT'S CHANGED. IT'S CHANGED FOREVER. WHEN I TALKED ABOUT SOLAR, I ALWAYS TALKED
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ABOUT THE SECOND HEAD TO THE MONSTER, AND THAT IS SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. NOW. I TRAVEL A LOT IN MY WORK AND EVERYWHERE I GO, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A TREND THAT I'M SEEING AND I DON'T WANT TO GO OVERBOARD. SO IF SOMEBODY CAN GIVE ME A ONE MINUTE FLAG, I WOULD. OKAY. ARE WE THERE YET, SIR? OKAY. PLEASE GIVE IT TO ME. OKAY, THEN I WON'T HAVE TO GET NERVOUS.EVERYWHERE I GO, I SEE WHAT THEY CALL AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS EASTERN BLOC STYLE ARCHITECTURE BUILT INTO URBAN AREAS, ACCOMPANIED BY WARMING CENTERS WHERE HOMELESS PEOPLE CAN GO AND WARM THEMSELVES IN THE WINTER. AND THEN THE NEW ONE IS A USE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, THESE LITTLE TINY MINI HOUSES. THIS IS A TOTAL DOWNGRADE TO THE REAL ESTATE IN THE UNITED STATES. NOW, GRANTED, THERE WAS JUST A A $12.1 MILLION GRANT AFFORDED TO A DEVELOPER TO COME INTO DEERFIELD, NEW YORK, AND IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE, YOU GUYS PROBABLY KNOW BETTER THAN ME, 7.4 MILLION GOING TO THE ADRIAN TERRACE PLACE. I AM NOT AGAINST.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ADRIAN TERRACE HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT AND WE NEED STUFF LIKE THAT. A VERY IMPORTANT MAN IN MY LIFE, MY CPA, HIGHLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF MY SUCCESS IN LIFE, TOLD ME HE GREW UP THERE. I HAVE COACHED MANY ATHLETES FROM THERE AND I'VE GIVEN THEM ACTIVITIES. THEY HAVE THE PROCTOR PARK, SOUTH PARK WHERE THEY CAN GO OUT AND GET IT. THESE THINGS HAVE TO BE DONE IN THE APPROPRIATE AREA. I LEFT A HANDOUT THERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THESE THINGS ARE FINANCED AND HOW IT CORRELATES WITH WITH SOLAR, AND I TOLD YOU GUYS THIS A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING AT MY CRYSTAL BALL TO TO COME UP WITH THIS STUFF THREE YEARS AGO, AND THAT CRYSTAL BALL WAS LOOKING ELSEWHERE WHERE IT ALREADY HAPPENED. THEY ARE FINANCED THROUGH CREDITS WITH SOLAR. IT WAS RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS THAT WERE A TRADABLE COMMODITY. WITH HOUSING. IT'S IT'S A REAL ESTATE TAX EQUITY CREDITS, WHICH THE BANK OF AMERICA WHO WHO'S FINANCING THE DEVELOPER IN DEERFIELD. THEY TAKE THESE CREDITS THE DEVELOPER BY DOTTING ALL THEIR I'S AND CROSSING THEIR T'S, ARE AWARDED THE CREDITS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE HUD PROGRAM, USUALLY THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM. LOOK INTO THAT, PLEASE. THIS IS A LOT TO DIGEST. I HAVE A FIVE SHEETS THERE. YOU CAN MAKE COPIES. THEY TAKE THESE CREDITS AND THEY GO TO THE LENDER WHO IS BANK OF AMERICA IN THIS CASE. AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE CHARACTERIZES THE LOAN. SO NOW THE DEVELOPER GETS THE MONEY AND PAYS THAT MONEY BACK OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD, WHICH I THINK IS THE STANDARD IRS RULE. SO IT'S A MONEY MULTIPLIER FOR THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO DO THEY GET PAID BACK ON THEIR LOAN, BUT THEN THEY GET THESE CREDITS WHICH ARE TRADABLE COMMODITY. THIS IS WHAT'S DRIVING THE WHOLE THING, AND THEY DO IT IN THE GUISE OF CLEAN ENERGY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO WE KNOW WHEN I WAS ON THE SOLAR COMMITTEE, I PUSHED SAY, GUYS, WE CAN'T ALLOW CLINTON, SAUQUOIT, MARCY, DEERFIELD, ALL THE SURROUNDING AREAS AROUND THE COUNTY SEAT, UTICA, NEW YORK, TO BE INDUSTRIALIZED WITH SOLAR, THE CITY WILL HAVE NOWHERE TO EXPAND. SO I PUSHED I PUSHED THAT WE DO A STUDY TO EVALUATE OUR HOUSING. NOW, LITTLE DID I KNOW, MR. PICENTE WAS ALREADY ON THAT AND I WAS IN ANOTHER STATE. ONE MORNING I READ THE NEWS. I WAS SO EXCITED. I HAD MR. FIORINI'S NUMBER, MY CELL PHONE. I CALLED HIM AND SAID, SIR, PLEASE TELL THE THE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. KUDOS. THAT'S AWESOME. HOWEVER, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING IS NOT THE ANSWER FOR THOSE WHATEVER IT WAS 640 630 HOUSES THAT WE KNOW WE NEED. WE NEED NEW ONES. WE NEED NEW ROADS. WE NEED NEW RAMBLEWOOD DEVELOPMENTS. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. QUALITY REAL ESTATE THAT ELEVATES THE WHOLE MARKET, NOT PUBLIC SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AND ALL THIS STUFF. THE DEVELOPERS DO NOT COME UP, SAY THIS UP FRONT. ALL OF IT IS SECTION EIGHT QUALIFIED. THEY ALSO HAVE WITH THEM HOTELS. WHY? THIS IS ANOTHER BRILLIANT THING THAT ONEIDA COUNTY DID AND I COMMEND THEM FOR YOU ALL FOR DOING THIS. EMERGENCY HOTEL VOUCHERS. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS, RIGHT? MR. PICENTE DID AN EMERGENCY BAN RESTRICTING THE USE OF NEW YORK CITY EMERGENCY HOTEL VOUCHERS, SO DE BLASIO COULDN'T SEND HIS HOMELESS PEOPLE INTO ONEIDA COUNTY WITH THESE VOUCHERS AND STAY IN OUR HOTELS. IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE. SO I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO END IT. PLEASE READ MY SHEETS. I GOT TO TAKE OFF. BUT MY EMAIL, MY PHONE NUMBER IS THERE. SOME OF YOU KNOW ME KNOW HOW TO GET AHOLD OF ME. PLEASE LOOK A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THIS BEFORE YOU MISUNDERSTAND THAT THIS TYPE OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT MAY OR MAY NOT BE WHAT IT IS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT ONEIDA COUNTY NEEDS. SO I HOPE I GAVE YOU A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT
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THIS. IT'S ALWAYS AT THE RISK THAT OLD SCHOOL DOESN'T LIKE CHANGE. THAT'S NOT IT. I WAS PUSHING IN THE COMMITTEE. WE NEED RURAL RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS, SO I AM NOT A NIMBY. I LOVE PROPER CHANGE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE US GET DUMPED ON BY A FALSE IDEOLOGUE THAT'S GOING TO STEAL OUR FINEST ASSETS FROM US. SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR LISTENING TO[Resolutions]
ME, AND PLEASE LOOK DEEPER INTO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU DAN. YOU'RE WELCOME. UNDER RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCTORY 209 IS A LOCAL LAW ESTABLISHING A REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL UNITS AND EXTENDING THE ONEIDA COUNTY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX TO SHORT TERM RENTAL UNITS. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. I KNOW. 20 HERE 20.RESOLUTIONS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER TWO. TEN IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE REMAINDER OF THE SELF-INSURED RETENTION IN THE MATTER OF THOMAS SCARFO VERSUS ONEIDA COUNTY. DO WE HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED.
INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 211 WAS THE TRANSFER OF SPECIFIED AMOUNTS TO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTAL APPROPRIATION ACCOUNTS AS REQUIRED UNDER GAAP. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 212 IS THE APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. ON. TO JUSTIFY WHAT ISSUES? OH. I'M SORRY. YVONNE. JUST GOT TO JUSTIFY WHY YOU'RE ABSTAINING. THAT'S A GOOD REASON. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. VOTE IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 213 IS THE APPROVAL OF A TEMPLATE FOR DAYCARE SERVICES BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH HIS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND VARIOUS DAYCARE PROVIDERS. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? ON.
ABSOLUTELY. CALL THE VOTE. VOICE CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 214 IS THE APPROVAL OF A TEMPLATE PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH A DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND VARIOUS PROVIDERS. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION, MR. JULIAN, YOU ALSO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I'M SORRY, CALL THE VOTE. OLD SCHOOL. WHAT IS IT? WASHBURN. WASHBURN. THANK YOU. VOTE IS CARRIED.
INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 215 IS THE APPROVAL OF A DATA USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN NEW YORK STATE THROUGH HIS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 216 IS APPROVAL OF ONE REFUND AND TWO CORRECTIONS TO VARIOUS ERRONEOUS TAX ASSESSMENTS. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 217 WAS THE APPROVAL OF AN AUCTIONEER AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND AUCTIONS INTERNATIONAL. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL? VOTE IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 218 IS THE APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND DECKER TECHNOLOGIES. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. OH, YEAH. HERE WE GO. WE'RE GOOD. VOTE IS CARRIED.
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INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 219 IS APPROVAL OF A CONSULTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE TOWN OF CAMDEN AND BARTON AND LOGIUDICE ENGINEERS. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. IS CARRIED INTRODUCTORY.220 IS THE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND BARTON LOGIUDICE. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED. 221 IS THE RETROACTIVE AUTHORIZATION FOR ONEIDA COUNTY TO APPLY TO NEW YORK STATE URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND TO NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? AS YOUR NAME? GOOD. YOU GET HIM ON. WE GOT YOU. GOT YOU. WASHBURN. ARE YOU IN IT, TOO? ALL RIGHT. THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT. APPRECIATE IT. CALL, CALL THE VOTE. CHAD AND CHAD. CHAD. HERE. VOTE IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 222 IS THE DETERMINATION, PURSUANT TO THE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT, THAT THE MOHAWK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUILDING PROJECT WILL NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 223 IS A TRANSFER OF 250,000 TO 5 130.451 AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS.
DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 224 IS THE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND CONSTRUCTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. LOAD IS CARRIED. 225 IS THE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND MARCH ASSOCIATES? DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED. 226 IS THE APPROVAL OF A CONSULTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND, AND JOSEPH C LIU, ENGINEER. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 227 IS THE APPROVAL OF A CONSULTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING ARCHITECTURE. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOICE CARRIED.
INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 228 IS THE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND BONACCI ARCHITECTS. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED. 229 IS THE APPROVAL OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO SITE HOST AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY, THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND THE UPPER MOHAWK VALLEY MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM AUTHORITY. DO I HAVE A SECOND? DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. WHAT WAS THAT? WHAT'S IT LIKE? VOTE IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 230 IS A RESOLUTION CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO ONEIDA COUNTY SEWER DISTRICT. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. JEFF. JEFF. THANK YOU. VOTE IS CARRIED. 231 IS A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE INTENT
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OF THE ONEIDA COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS TO ACT AS LEAD AGENCY. PROPOSED ACTION SEQUOIT CREEK PUMPING STATION IN ONEIDA COUNTY. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT RESILIENCY. RESILIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED. 232 IS THE APPROVAL TO SET THE SALARY OF THE POSITION TITLE WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE INSPECTOR? DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT. 233 IS THE APPROVAL OF A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND NEW YORK STATE THROUGH ITS DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION, SIR? JULIAN? YES. OKAY. WASHBURN. CALL THE VOTE. IS CARRIED.INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 234 IS APPROVAL OF A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION AND NEW YORK STATE THROUGH ITS DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 235 IS A TRANSFER OF 15,500 TO 3 152.291290110. OTHER EQUIPMENT. RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. IS CARRIED. 236 IS A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $13,658.31 TO 3120.290 OTHER EQUIPMENT. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED. 237 IS THE APPROVAL OF A COURT SECURITY CONTRACT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED. 238 IS A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $8,285.99. THE 3150.290 OTHER EQUIPMENT. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. VOTE IS CARRIED. 239 IS THE APPROVAL OF TASK ORDER NUMBER 41 TO MASTER AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION AND CNS ENGINEERS. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. WE'LL GET YOU AN AUTO PEN. VOTE IS CARRY. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 240 IS THE APPROVAL OF TASK ORDER NUMBER 40 TO MASTER AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION AND CNS ENGINEERS. DO I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. OF THE WHOLE AIRPORT WILL VOTE YES. VOTE IS CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 241 IS ADVANCED APPROVAL OF GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THROUGH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. IS CARRY.
INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 242 IS A TRANSFER OF $579,400 TO 3110.251 AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT.
SHERIFF, DO YOU HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION? CALL THE VOTE. AND WE RUN THIS ONE. VOTE IS
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CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 243 IS A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION. AND 90,602 3110.251 AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT. SHERIFF, I HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION. CALL THE VOTE. IS CARRIED. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP ANITA VENTURO, STEPHEN SWAN RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ANITA STEVENS SWAN HUMANE SOCIETY, AND I BROUGHT WITH ME THE BIG GUNS. THIS IS JAMES HUEY. HE IS OUR TREASURER AND OUR EXECUTIVE CONSULTANT. HE OWNS FSS BUSINESS SERVICES GROUP, AND OUR AUDITING FIRM IS DARCANGELO. SO JAMES DOES OUR DAILY ACCOUNTING. AND SO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT I CAN'T ANSWER. HE'S HERE FOR BACKUP. BUT I WAS INVITED.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME. AND AROUND THIS QUORUM WE HAVE 11 MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS. SO THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING YOUR STRAY ANIMALS. WE TAKE CARE OF YOUR STRAY DOGS AND YOUR INJURED CATS, AND ANY OTHER ANIMAL YOU'D LIKE TO BRING US. SO WHAT CAN I TELL YOU? JUST BRIEFLY, AND THEN WE CAN OPEN IT UP FOR WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU HAD. WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS 501 C3 SINCE 1910, SO WE HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, OVER 115 YEARS SERVICING ONEIDA COUNTY. WE TAKE CARE OF STRAYS. OWNER SURRENDERED, NEGLECTED, ABUSED, ABANDONED ANIMALS. SO EVEN FOR SOME MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE CONTRACTS, THEY TURN DOGS AWAY.
THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF THE CATS. SO WE TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THAT. ALSO, YOUR MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS DON'T ALLOW FOR OWNER SURRENDERED ANIMALS. SO WE TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THOSE ANIMALS.
ON ANY GIVEN DAY. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 100 ANIMALS IN OUR SHELTER THAT WE CARE FOR.
THAT MEANS WE'RE PROVIDING ALL CARE, INCLUDING VETERINARY MEDICAL CARE, EMERGENCY AND ROUTINE. OTHERWISE, FROM VACCINATIONS TO SURGERIES TO SPAY AND NEUTER. WE HAVE. WHAT IS THE CURRENT POPULATION OF ONEIDA COUNTY? IS IT 200, 152? 32, 232 32 OKAY, SO WE HAVE OVER 50,000 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS. WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR OPERATING COSTS. OUR BUDGET EVERY YEAR IS IN EXCESS OF $1 MILLION. SO HOW DO WE DO THAT WITH NO FUNDING, LIKE NON-PROFITS THAT TREAT HUMAN CAUSES? SO THAT'S HOW MUCH SUPPORT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE US. WE GET $100,000 A YEAR FROM THE COUNTY, AND I HEAR THAT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON HOW WE SPEND IT. SO WITH THAT SAID, WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS, MR. FISNIK? YOU HAD INDICATED THAT PRESENTLY YOU SERVE 11 DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES. YES. IS UTICA ONE OF THOSE? NO. OKAY.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. AT ONE POINT YOU DID SERVE AS 18 TOWNS AND THE CITY OF UTICA. WOULD YOU KNOW THAT TO BE A FACT? THAT'S THE INFORMATION I HAVE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE COUNTS 18, BUT WE DID SERVICE. WE'VE ALWAYS SERVICED A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES, AND WE SERVICED UTICA FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I MEAN, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS ON THE BOARD OFFICERSHIP, WHATEVER. IN FACT, WE HAD MAYOR PALMIERI WAS ON OUR BOARD. WE HAD A LOT OF CITY PEOPLE ON OUR BOARD EMPLOYEES. SO YES, WE SERVICED UTICA FOR A LONG TIME. COULD YOU VENTURE A GUESS WHY? SEVEN MUNICIPALITIES. EXCUSE ME? EIGHT JUMP SHIP AND DON'T HAVE CONTRACTS WITH WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION? I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS. I THINK IT'S BETTER THAN A GUESS THAT IT'S COST. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY IN 2021? THEY WERE IN A CRISIS STATE WITH
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ONLY THREE MONTHS LEFT FOR OPERATING COSTS. IF THAT SHELTER CLOSES, I DON'T KNOW WHERE ALL THESE ANIMALS ARE GOING TO GO. IN ONEIDA COUNTY, YOU'LL ALL HAVE TO BUILD YOUR OWN SHELTERS. AND THERE'S NEW LAWS NOW IN PLACE THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD AND RUN A SHELTER. SO WE WERE AT A CRITICAL POINT BECAUSE NATURALLY, COVID SHUT DOWN OVER 50% OF OUR FUNDING BECAUSE WE FUND THROUGH HAVING PUBLIC EVENTS. AND THAT RESULTED IN THE FACT THAT THE SHELTER DIDN'T HAVE ANY SAVINGS, ONLY DEBT. THEN OUR HALF OF THE FUNDRAISING WAS CUT DOWN. WE WERE DOWN TO 350,000 APPROXIMATELY IN OUR CHECKING ACCOUNTS, AND THAT'S LESS THAN THREE MONTHS OPERATING COST. SO I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT STEPPED FORWARD TO RAISE SOME FUNDING TO GIVE SOME FUNDING, AND WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN. BUT THE LESSON THAT THAT NEW BOARD LEARNED WAS THAT WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO OPERATE THAT WAY. WE WERE OPERATING ESSENTIALLY, WE WERE LOOKING AT A HALF $1 MILLION OR MORE DEFICIT EVERY YEAR, AND WE HAD A TRUST WHICH $2 MILLION HALL TRUST, WHICH THE BOARD REALLY WENT THROUGH TRYING TO GET US THROUGH SUBSIDIZING, IN EFFECT, THE TAXPAYERS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR ANIMALS. SO WE HAD TO RAISE OUR FEES. WE COULD NO LONGER OPERATE THE WAY WE WERE, OR YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY SHELTER. AND A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES DO BUILD THEIR OWN SHELTER. I COMMEND UTICA'S TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN, AND NEW HARTFORD'S TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN. WE CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH HELP BECAUSE THE ANIMAL CONTROL POPULATION IS OUT OF CONTROL, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE THAT WAY WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT STRAY CATS. YOU DON'T HAVE A HIGH VOLUME, LOW COST SPAY NEUTER PROGRAM. IT'S A NATIONAL STANDARD. I HAVE VISITED THEM THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THEY WORK VERY WELL, NOT IN THE UNITED STATES, NEW YORK STATE. THEY WORK VERY WELL. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE ON THE ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION. IT COSTS MONEY. WE'RE WILLING TO HELP ALWAYS, NATURALLY. SO THAT'S WHY, MR. LEGISLATURE I'M SORRY, LEGISLATOR, I CAN'T SEE YOUR NAME, BUT. MR. FLYNN, THAT'S WHY THE COST WENT UP FOR US. WE ALMOST WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE ANIMALS WOULD GO IF WE DID SO, WHICH THERE WAS A HUGE INCREASE IN 24 CONTRACTS. WENT OUT VERY LATE TO MUNICIPALITIES. AND AND I HEARD FROM MUNICIPALITIES ABOUT THEIR CONCERN WITH THE INCREASE AND, YES, THE TARDINESS FROM, FROM 24. SO THAT'S WHERE I BECAME INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. OKAY. AND YOU'RE QUITE HONESTLY, YOU'RE $100,000 WAS MOVED OUT OF THE BUDGET INTO CONTINGENT ACCOUNT. AND PART OF THE RATIONALE WAS WANTING A CERTAIN QUESTIONS ANSWERED. SURE. AS FAR AS THE INCREASES, WHY THERE WERE SUCH LARGE INCREASES AND WHY MUNICIPALITIES ONLY HAD A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO MAKE A DETERMINATION. THIS IS BACK IN 2024 FOR THE 2025 CONTRACTS, RIGHT? I JUST WANT TO AT LEAST EXPLAIN. ABSOLUTELY IN OUR BOOKS ARE OPEN. YOU KNOW WE'RE A 500 1C3. WE FILE A 990. WE ARE AUDITED EVERY YEAR. SO OUR FINANCIAL RECORDS ARE OPEN. YOU'RE IN FACT I BROUGHT SOME TODAY AND WE CAN SEND THEM TO YOU. BUT I HAVE EVERYTHING YEAR TO DATE FOR THIS YEAR AND ALSO FOR LAST YEAR. I'LL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE SPEND TO SUPPORT THAT SHELTER. OH, AND TO JUST BACKTRACK A LITTLE. MR. ON THE UTICA CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY, WE SERVICE THE UTICA CONTRACT. THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. JUST BRING US THE DOGS FROM ANIMAL CONTROL.SOMETIMES WE ACTUALLY HAD THEM PICKED UP AND WE SERVICED AT THAT TIME THERE. THEY WERE ALWAYS A VERY LARGE PERCENT OF OUR ANIMAL POPULATION. SO IF WE TOOK IN 1500 AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, 900 OR SO WERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THEIR ANIMALS, BUT THE CONTRACT WAS $60,000 A YEAR TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THE ANIMALS IN ONEIDA COUNTY. WELL, IF ANY OF YOU HAVE DOGS OR CATS AND GO TO THE VET, WE PAY VET FEES. WE DON'T GET ANY DISCOUNT. WE CONTRACT VETERINARIANS FROM THE HERKIMER VETERINARY ASSOCIATES AND OUR VETERINARY FEES ALONE. YOU KNOW, LET'S SEE, LAST YEAR IN 24, THERE WERE 150,000. ON TOP OF THAT, SUPPLIES TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS, INCLUDING THEIR MEDICATION, WAS $187,666. SO RIGHT THERE NEXT TO LABOR, REMEMBER THAT OUR ANIMAL
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SHELTER HAS TO FUNCTION 365 DAYS A YEAR. SO I RUN A BUSINESS. IF I DON'T EMPLOY PEOPLE 365 DAYS A YEAR, MY PAYROLL WOULD BE A LOT LARGER. SO EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS IF IT'S THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEAR'S OR EASTER, WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE COME IN TO FEED THE ANIMALS, TO GIVE THEM THEIR MEDICAL TREATMENTS, TO CLEAN THEIR CAGES, TO CLEAN THEIR KENNELS, TO GET THEM OUT FOR EXERCISE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LIVE ANIMAL OPERATION THAT OPERATES 365 DAYS A YEAR. I MEAN, OUR PAYROLL, THE AVERAGE PAY RATE AT THE SHELTER IS BETWEEN 17 TO $20 AN HOUR. THE VET TECHS, WE ONLY HAVE TWO GET THE HIGHER END, THE KENNEL WORKERS GET THE LOWER END. I'M A VOLUNTEER. LET'S SEE. SO THE VETERINARY I GAVE YOU THE VETERINARY. I GAVE YOU THE MEDS AND THE SUPPLIES. OH, PAYROLL. ALL RIGHT. SO PAYROLL LAST YEAR WAS $700,000 FOR PAYROLL. ISN'T THAT INCREDIBLE? BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ADD THE PAYROLL TAXES, ALL OF OUR MANDATORY EMPLOYER PAYROLL OBLIGATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND BENEFITS, THAT'S WHAT IT CAME TO. $691,365, TO BE EXACT. SO TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, YES, MUNICIPALITIES THOUGHT IT WAS A BIG A BIG INCREASE. IT WAS, BUT IT WAS OUT OF THE FACT OF SALVAGING THE SHELTER. AND AND I GET IT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.THEY THINK, OH, THEY'RE JUST DOGS AND CATS AND THEY'RE HOW MUCH CAN THEY TAKE? IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY. NOW WE ARE REGULATED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS DIVISION OF NEW YORK STATE. WE HAVE. SPONTANEOUS EXAMINATIONS ALL THE TIME. AND NOW THERE'S A NEW LAW. IT'S IN EFFECT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. IT'S CALLED THE NEW YORK STATE COMPANION ANIMAL STANDARDS ACT, WHICH NOW WE'RE HAVING TO SPEND MONEY TO RETROFIT OUR SHELTER TO COME UP TO THE NEW STANDARDS. YOU'RE TALKING HVAC, AIR CIRCULATION, DRAINAGE, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF EACH KENNEL AND CAGE, THE NUMBER OF ATTENDANTS PER ANIMAL. OH, AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY'RE ENRICHED. HUMAN TO ANIMAL ENRICHMENT IS 30 MINUTES, AND THEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY HAVE TO BE OUTSIDE IS 20 MINUTES. SO IF YOU TIMES THAT TIMES 50 DOGS AND THE PEOPLE IT TAKES TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK WITH THEM AFTER THEY CLEAN THEIR CAGES, AFTER THEY CLEAN THEIR KENNELS, AND AFTER THE VET TECHS COME IN AND DELIVER THE VETERINARY SERVICES, AND AFTER THE VETS ARE PERFORMING SURGERY OR WHATEVER MEDICAL TREATMENTS THEY NEED. IT'S AN EXPENSIVE OPERATION. LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALL COME DOWN AND TOUR OUR FACILITY. IT'S AN OLDER FACILITY. IT NEEDS WORK. WE'VE PUT A LOT INTO IT. THE ONE THING NEW YORK STATE DID FOR US WAS THERE'S $10 MILLION IN A FUND FOR CAPITAL GRANTS TO COME UP TO SPECIFICATIONS TO THE NEW STANDARDS. THE HOOK, THE HOOK TO THAT IS THAT WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH 10% OF WHATEVER THE GRANT IS THAT WE PUT IN. IT'S A MAXIMUM OF A HALF A MILLION EVERY YEAR. BUT WE'RE BEING PRUDENT ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND UNNECESSARY TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON AN AGING SHELTER. WE'RE HOPING AT SOME POINT THAT WE CAN BUILD A NEW SHELTER DOWN THE ROAD. THAT WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? KEITH GEORGE? SO I CAN APPRECIATE THE THE HIGH COSTS AND THE VET CARE, THE THE FEEDING, ETC. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF NUMBERS. YOU SAID THAT. YES. POINTED OUT YOU HAD $350,000 IN RESERVE THAT WOULD PAY FOR ROUGHLY THREE MONTHS OF OPERATIONAL COSTS, CORRECT? THAT WAS BACK IN 2122. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING THE PUBLIC FUNDS AND THE HIGH NEEDS FOR HUMAN ELEMENT, AND I THINK BACK SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS MADE, IN PARTICULAR FOR COLLEAGUES IN THE CITY, HOW WE EXPEND THOSE MONIES. BUT IF YOU USE YOUR YOUR FIGURE OF 100 ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER AND $350,000 FOR THREE MONTHS, THAT'S 90 DAYS, YOU DO THE MATH OUT OF THERE.
AND MY CALCULATOR SAYS IT'S ABOUT $38.88 PER ANIMAL PER DAY. AND THAT JUST PUTS IT IN A PERSPECTIVE. AND I UNDERSTAND THE COST OF THE VETS, THE HUMAN CARE TO TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS.
BUT WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING THINGS AND FINANCES, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE HUMAN ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH IN BUDGETING AT $38 PER ANIMAL PER DAY, THAT THAT CALCULATES OUT.
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THANK YOU. MR. JUST A STATEMENT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WELL, AND THAT WAS IN 21. WE INHERITED THAT FROM 20 WHEN COVID STARTED. SO WE'RE NOW IN 25. AND I KNOW JUST GETTING THE COST FOR EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY. AND THAT WOULD BE WE SHOW A DEFICIT. FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR WE SPENT $1,175,554 TO SUPPORT THE SHELTER. WE BROUGHT IN 1,523,695. SO WE TYPICALLY RUN AT A DEFICIT. SO WE DO A LOT OF FUNDRAISING. WE ALL HELP WITH THAT. AND WE GET GRANTS WHERE WE CAN, WHICH THERE'S NOT. IT'S YOU CAN'T GET GRANTS FOR OPERATING. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SPECIFIC, A SPECIFIC GRANT FOR A PROGRAM LIKE SPAY NEUTER. BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT OUR COST PER ANNUM, PER DAY IS A LOT MORE THAN $38. JAMES, HAVE WE EVER BROKEN DOWN OUR COST PER ANIMAL PER DAY? NOT THIS YEAR YET. WELL, WE SHOULD GET BACK TO THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW UP WITH THAT. I NEED TO I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE COST PER COMMUNITY THAT CONTRACTS WITH YOU? WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST? OKAY, I DO HAVE THAT. ALL RIGHT. SO OUR INTAKE FEE FOR MUNICIPAL CONTRACT IS $300. IF THE ANIMAL HAS TO BE SPAYED NEUTERED OR HAS MEDICAL COSTS, THERE'S A $350 FEE. OUR HOLDING FEE FOR DOGS. SO IT'S A FIVE DAY HOLD IF THERE'S NO IDENTIFICATION OF THE OWNER. AND THE FIVE DAY HOLD IS $65 A DAY, OKAY. I MEAN, I'M SORT OF WORKING THIS OUT IN MY HEAD WITHOUT HAVING THE ANSWER, BUT THE COMMUNITIES, EVERY COMMUNITY HAS TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A SHELTER. YES. IT'S MANDATED BY AG AND MARKETS LAW THAT YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE SHELTER, CARE FOR STRAY AND STRAY DOGS AND INJURED CATS, AT A MINIMUM COST FOR EACH COMMUNITY, TIMES 29.COMMUNITIES. WHEN THERE'S GOT TO BE A SWEET SPOT, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR CENTRALIZED. IT'S A, I GUESS, A BUSINESS EQUATION OR A MATHEMATICAL SOLUTION. AT WHAT COST WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR ALL COMMUNITIES TO DO IT AND STILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR YOU TO DO IT? OR STEPHEN SWANS. IF YOU HAD TWICE AS MANY COMMUNITIES SIGN ON THAT HELP. YOU WOULD THINK IT COULD BUILD AN ECONOMY OF SCALE TO HAVE MORE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU, WHEN WE HAD MORE MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS, WE WERE MORE UNDERWATER THAN THAN NOW. NOW WE'RE OPERATING. WE HAVE A SUSTAINABLE PROJECTION FOR BUDGETING. FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THIS YEAR WOULD BE THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE WE MAY BREAK EVEN. AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE GET LUCKY SOMETIMES AND GET MORE FUNDING IS BECAUSE WE GET A HUGE NUMBER OF BEQUESTS. THIS COMMUNITY IS VERY HUMANE. THEY'RE AN ANIMAL LOVING COMMUNITY, AND THE PEOPLE THAT GIVE THEIR LAST THOUGHT TO US IN THEIR ESTATE AND THEIR WILL IS, IS UNBELIEVABLE. WE CAN'T BUDGET FOR IT. WE NEVER KNOW. BUT WE CAN HAVE A YEAR WHERE WE GET A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BEQUESTS, AND THAT HELPS US BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT IT COST US AND WHAT WE BRING IN WITH FUNDRAISING, WHAT WE MAKE ON ADOPTIONS OR SPAY AND NEUTER. WHAT YOU GIVE US, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU GIVE ROME HUMANE SOCIETY AND VERY CLOSE TO ROME HUMANE SOCIETY. I'VE BEEN A SUPPORTER FOR YEARS. THEY DO A PHENOMENAL JOB AND THEY GET THE SAME $100,000 STIPEND THAT WE GET, BUT THEY'RE MUCH SMALLER. SO I WOULD GUESS MAYBE THEY'RE ABLE TO FARE BETTER ON THE SIDE OF THE OPERATING COST. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY A TAXPAYER ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE OUR SHELTER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THESE ANIMALS? JUST BE ROAMING THE STREETS LIKE, YOU KNOW, A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY? BECAUSE IF, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN SYRACUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT CITY, THAT MUNICIPALITY BUILT THEIR OWN SHELTER. PLUS THEY HAVE THE NONPROFIT SHELTERS AND THEY STILL ALL CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROBLEM. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A CONSIDERATION IN ONEIDA COUNTY MUNICIPAL ANIMAL SHELTER. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WEAR MANY HATS. I KNOW WHEN I PUT
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THIS HAT ON, I HAVE TO THINK A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. YEAH. AND IF YOU PROVIDED A SERVICE FOR MORE OF THE COMMUNITIES OR MORE OF THE TAX BASE OR THE TAXPAYERS, YES. THERE'S MORE OF A JUSTIFICATION FOR A LARGER, MORE FUNDING BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST FUNDING. WHAT WE DO.FUND IS HELPING 11 COMMUNITIES. RIGHT. SUBSCRIBE. WE'RE NOT HELPING ANY OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE GOING ALONE ON. NO. AND WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT SERVICE FREE FOR THE TAXPAYERS. BECAUSE THING FOR US TO GET TOGETHER AND TRY TO FIND WHERE IT DOES WORK TO EVERYBODY'S BENEFIT. WOULD LOVE THAT. SO IF YOU LOOK AT 11 COMMUNITIES AND YOU'RE GIVING US $100,000 A YEAR, I MEAN, THAT'S LESS THAN $1,000 A YEAR FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR IF YOU REALLY IF YOU WERE TO SPREAD IT OUT, BUT MAYBE NOT. HOW MANY MUNICIPALITIES DO YOU HAVE IN TOTAL IN ONEIDA COUNTY? THANK YOU. WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE ALL HAD. YEAH. AND YOU'RE UNLESS YOU'RE ON THE INSIDE, YOU'RE UNAWARE OF REALLY WHAT IT COSTS. BUT I WOULD SAY THAT ONE THING YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, PAYING FOR OPERATING COSTS IS ONE THING, BUT IT'S REALLY A REACTIONARY SOLUTION. THE PROACTIVE METHOD WOULD BE HIGH VOLUME, LOW COST SPAY NEUTER.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE EVER GOING TO REDUCE CONTROL. YOUR ANIMAL POPULATIONS. AND THAT'S THAT'S THE ONE MAGIC BULLET. AND IT'S NOT THE TOTAL SOLUTION. BUT IT CERTAINLY HELPS GREATLY BECAUSE I'VE APPEARED BEFORE THE UTICA COMMON COUNCIL AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT THERE'S A CONSTITUENTS ARE REALLY UP IN ARMS. IN FACT, LAST TIME I WAS THERE, I TALKED TO MR. JULIAN ABOUT THIS. AND THE STRAY CAT PROBLEM IS REALLY BOTHERS YOUR CONSTITUENTS. AND THERE'S NO PROGRAM. THEY AND THEY MULTIPLY MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR. WE'RE CONSTANTLY FULL WITH CATS AND KITTENS AND TURNING AWAY CATS AND KITTENS THAT ARE THEN ALLOWED TO ROAM YOUR COMMUNITIES AS STRAYS. IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE ANIMAL SUFFERING ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM, YOU HAVE TO THINK OF NUISANCE, DISEASE CONTROL, PROPERTY DAMAGE, PHYSICAL RISK, ENDANGERMENT TO TO HUMANS FROM A DOG RUNNING LOOSE, OR A CAT.
YOU KNOW. SO I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE PROBLEMS IN YOUR MUNICIPALITIES. WE GOT A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS, TOO. YEAH. SECOND, I JUST WANTED TO ASK, WITH RESPECT TO THAT NEW LAW THAT WENT THROUGH NEW YORK STATE ANIMAL STANDARDS ACT. YES, THAT'S NEW THIS YEAR. IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH. IT'S IN EFFECT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. YES. THE STATE ANYBODY AT THE STATE CONTACT YOU AHEAD OF TIME TO LET YOU KNOW THIS WAS COMING DOWN OR DID YOU. OH YES. WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. AND IS IT TANTAMOUNT OR EQUAL TO AN UNFUNDED MANDATE? IN SOME RESPECTS. THAT IS TO SAY, THERE'S NO MONEY FROM THE STATE COMING DOWN FOR WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO? NO. WELL, THERE THE THE CAPITAL FUND WILL GIVE US MONEY TO IMPROVE OUR SHELTER, TO COME UP TO STANDARDS. SO IT HAS TO BE A PROJECT THAT BRINGS OUR SHELTER, THAT WE'RE MISSING THE STANDARD TO COME UP TO STANDARDS. AND THEN WE HAVE TO RAISE 10% OF WHATEVER THEY GRANT WE'RE ASKING FOR. I SEE, AND THERE'S ANIMAL ENRICHMENT, OUTDOOR TIME, ETC. BUT ALL THAT HAS TO BE MANAGED. AND IS THAT, IN FACT, DO THEY REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION OF ALL THAT AS WELL? OH, I HAVEN'T HEARD OF DOCUMENTATION, BUT IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY CHECK, THEY ASK, THEY LOOK AT OUR RECORDS AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO QUALIFY. IN FACT, WE HAD A PROBLEM IN OUR LAST INSPECTION BECAUSE WE HAD A LEAK AND WE HAVE A ROOF REPAIR TO DO AND A FEW OTHER THINGS, BUT THEY INSPECT US. SO, YOU KNOW, AND IT IS IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT WE HAVE THESE LAWS PUT UPON US. AND I'M ALL FOR IMPROVING THE STANDARDS TO CARE FOR ANIMALS, BUT THERE'S NO FUNDING FOR IT. SO THEN IT'S ON OUR BACK. I MEAN, HOW MUCH MONEY CAN WE CONTINUE TO RAISE EVERY YEAR FROM FROM SMALL A SMALL COMMUNITY? THANK YOU. YOU ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, MR. JULIAN.
THANK YOU. ROME RESIDENT FIORINI. MISS VITULLO. YES. HOW MANY DOGS? HOW MANY SPACES DO YOU HAVE FOR DOGS AT STEVENS SWAMP? LET'S SEE. WE HAVE. 20, 22, 32 RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'LL BE DOWNSIZING FROM THAT BECAUSE WE CAN'T, WITH THE NEW STANDARDS, HAVE THAT MANY. OKAY. AND SO I
[00:50:02]
WOULD YOU HAVE FOR CATS, CATS. WE CAN HOLD ABOUT 50 TO 60 AND THAT'S PUSHING IT. WE USED TO HAVE A LOT MORE CROWDED IN. WE USED THAT SHELTER WOULD HAVE CAGES STACKED IN THE HALLWAYS, WOULD BE OVERCROWDED BECAUSE WE WERE UNRESTRICTED. THE AMOUNT OF ANIMALS WE COULD TAKE IN. SO NOT TO TURN ANYBODY AWAY, WE WOULD TAKE IN A LOT OF ANIMALS. WE CAN NO LONGER DO THAT. IS THERE ANY OTHER ANIMALS YOU TAKE IN AT ALL, OR IS IT JUST DOGS AND CATS? MOSTLY DOGS, CATS, RABBITS, FERRETS? SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS WILL TAKE DOMESTICATED ANIMALS BASICALLY.YEAH, SMALL. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO LIVESTOCK OR LARGE. HOW MANY OF THOSE SPOTS ARE AT THIS POINT TAKEN? PARDON ME? IF I WERE TO GO THROUGH THE SHELTER, IF WE WERE TO WALK THROUGH THE SHELTER. YEAH, YOU AND I. HOW MANY OPEN SPACES WOULD YOU HAVE TO TAKE ANIMALS IN AT THIS POINT? I WOULD SAY WE WOULD HAVE A THIRD OF OUR CAGES OPEN RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE TO REALLY MANAGE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE 11 MUNICIPALITIES THAT AT ANY TIME CAN EXPECT US TO HELP WITH THEIR ANIMALS. SO WE HAVE TO RESERVE SPACE WHEN WE TAKE ON A MUNICIPAL CONTRACT, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO APPEAR AND WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TURN YOU AWAY. SO IF, SAY, ALL THOSE SPOTS BECOME FULL, SAY THERE'S A HOARDING SITUATION. YES, ALL THOSE SPOTS BECOME FULL, WHAT HAPPENS THEN? WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT ALL THE ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER. I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH SUSQUEHANNA DOWN IN OTSEGO COUNTY, VERY CLOSELY WITH HERKIMER AND HERKIMER COUNTY, VERY CLOSELY WITH ROME.
OUR SISTER IN ONEIDA COUNTY. AND THEN IF I NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BINGHAMTON, BROOME COUNTY. SO I HAVE WE HAVE RELATIONS WITH OTHER SHELTERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I CAME IN, WHEN OUR SHELTER EXECUTIVE RETIRED AFTER 16 YEARS, I CAME IN AS INTERIM AND WE HAD 250 CATS ALONE AND THEN OVER 100 DOGS. SO I CALLED THEM ALL UP AND THEY ALL TOOK ANIMALS. WHAT OCCURS IF AN ANIMAL COMES IN AND LET'S SAY IT'S UNREDEEMABLE, IT'S SOCIALLY UNREDEEMABLE. IT'S A DOG THAT PERHAPS HAS HAD PROBLEMS. IT'S A FERAL CAT THAT PERHAPS COMES IN AND YEAH, GOOD QUESTION. OKAY, SO WE'RE A NO KILL SHELTER. WHAT DOES NO KILL MEAN? NO KILL MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS AT DIFFERENT SHELTERS. SO ESSENTIALLY IT MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO EUTHANIZE AN ANIMAL FOR SPACE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO EUTHANIZE A HEALTHY ANIMAL FOR SPACE AND ADAPTABLE ANIMAL. AND AS FAR AS BEHAVIOR GOES, WE HAVE A AN ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST. AS A CONSULTANT, SHE COMES IN A FEW DAYS A WEEK. SHE WORKS WITH OUR DOGS. THAT WE MIGHT QUESTION, IS THIS DOG ADOPTABLE IN A BEHAVIORAL SENSE? WE HAVE VETERINARIANS. OUR NO KILL POLICY STATES THAT WE DO NOT EUTHANIZE AN ANIMAL UNLESS IT'S DEEMED TO BE ON MEDICAL INTERVENTION BY A VETERINARIAN. OUR VETERINARIAN, AND OR UNLESS IT'S DEEMED UNADOPTABLE AS A RISK TO THE POPULATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M ALL SET, SIR. MR. BUCK, I WANT TO OPEN UP BY SAYING MY DOG IS ACTUALLY FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY. SO. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, YES, I HAVE TO QUESTION, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE CONCERNED WHEN THE STATE DROPPED STIPULATIONS ON YOU AND NEW THINGS WITH NO WARNING. YES. HOW DO YOU THINK WE FELT HEARING FROM OUR MUNICIPALITIES? WE'RE WALKING INTO BOARD MEETINGS GETTING CRUSHED THAT THEY JUST GOT THESE NEW CONTRACTS WITH BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT SO MANY HOURS TO GET THEM BACK TO US. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T THEY DIDN'T HAVE NO NOTICE, NO NOTHING. THEY WEREN'T PLANNED IN THE BUDGETS AND EVERYTHING. SO I JUST WONDER, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS THE REASON THAT THERE WAS NO PLANNING OR MEETINGS OR SOMETHING WITH THESE DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES? WELL, NUMBER ONE, IF ANY MUNICIPALITY, IF ANYBODY'S IN A CRUNCH WITH THEIR ANIMALS, WE WOULD ALWAYS WORK WITH YOU. WE DON'T JUST SLAM THAT DOOR BECAUSE OUR FIRST CONCERN ARE THE ANIMALS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE THERE. SO WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT. SO I WISH THEY WE HAD KNOWN THAT THEY HAD REACHED OUT TO US AND THEY NEEDED MORE TIME. SAT IN ON A COUPLE CALLS WHEN THEY DID TRY TO CALL THE HUMANE SOCIETY AND SET UP MEETINGS. YES. AND THEY WERE KIND OF GIVEN THE BRUSH OFF. REALLY? YES. WELL, WE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF LEADERSHIP THERE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO CONSERVE ON POSITIONS. SO THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE. BUT I'M SURPRISED IT DIDN'T GET TO EITHER JAMES OR I. IT WAS IT WAS A LITTLE DISHEARTENING, ESPECIALLY. LISTEN, I THINK WHAT YOU GUYS DO HAS BEEN GREAT. I'VE BEEN DONATING FOR YEARS.
AND LIKE I SAID, MY DOG CAME FROM THERE. GOOD, GOOD. GLAD TO HEAR THAT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT. AND YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TAXPAYER ISSUE. YEAH. YOU KNOW, SO NOW OUR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE PAYING THESE HIGHER FEES. YEAH. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO PAY THAT
[00:55:06]
AS TAXPAYERS TO OUR TOWNS AND OUR THING. AND THEN WE'RE GIVING YOU MONEY ON THE BACKSIDE AS WELL. SO WE HAVE TO THINK OF THE TAXPAYER. RIGHT. YOU KNOW WE'RE IN A REALLY ROUGH SITUATION HERE. IT'S VERY TOUGH FOR US AND FOR ME. I WISH YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE CAME IN EARLIER AND TALKED ABOUT THIS, OR EVEN WHEN WE WERE DOING BUDGET SEASON LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE WE ALWAYS SEE FROM AND, YOU KNOW, LIBRARIES ARE INFAMOUS FOR SHOWING UP, LETTING US KNOW, HEY, WHY WE NEED THIS, WHAT WE'RE DOING AND ALL THE GREAT. BUT FOR ME, FOR YOU TO COME IN AFTERWARDS THAT WE'VE HELD UP THE MONEY IS A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ROUGH FOR ME TO SIT HERE AND TAKE IT ON THE CHIN. OH. SO. OKAY, SO YOU'RE SAYING WHEN WE FELL SHORT AND WE WERE IN DANGER OF CLOSING, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TIME TO COME IN AND ASK FOR MONEY? FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK WE THOUGHT OF ONEIDA COUNTY COMING TO THE BOARD OF LEGISLATORS AND ASKING FOR MONEY BECAUSE. YOU'VE GOT A GREAT COUNTY EXECUTIVE. AND HE STEPPED UP WHEN HE KNEW THE SHELTERS WERE IN NEED. AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED TO HIM AND HE STEPPED UP AND YOU ALL AGREED. AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE MONEY. BUT, I MEAN, THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR US TO COME AND SAY, I'M COMING TODAY AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE HAND OUT ALL THE FINANCIALS AND EVERYTHING. JUST DIDN'T THINK OF IT IN THAT WAY. WE ALWAYS GO TO WORK WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES. WE NEVER REALLY WORKED AT THIS LEVEL BEFORE. SO I'M SORRY IT WAS TAKEN AS A SLIGHT. IT WASN'T MEANT THAT WAY, CERTAINLY. ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, I'D LIKE TO SAY MY DOG'S DOING GREAT. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR. AND IF YOU NEED ANOTHER ONE, WE CAN HELP YOU. SHE'S A HANDFUL. YEAH. ANITA, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN ANYTIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYTIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME. I CAN SEE THAT YOU'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC. AND LET ME LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN STARTING AN ONEIDA COUNTY SPAY NEUTER ONEIDA COUNTY PROGRAM, WE WILL HELP YOU WITH THAT. I'LL GET A MATCHING GRANT FOR THE FUNDS THAT YOU PUT UP. I'M GOING TO SAY, I KNOW I CAN GET 100,000 RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE TO LAUNCH A PROGRAM LIKE THAT, AND MAYBE YOU WANT TO DESIGNATE THE 100,000 YOU HAVE IN THE BUDGET. MAYBE YOU'D LIKE TO DESIGNATE THAT TORTOISE SPAY NEUTER PROGRAM. WE CAN REPORT TO YOU QUARTERLY. AND THE ANIMALS THAT ARE GETTING SPAYED AND NEUTERED AND WHERE THEY'RE FROM, ACTUALLY MORE WILL BE FROM THE LARGER MUNICIPALITIES.AND WE CAN MANAGE IT OURSELVES AT THE SHELTER TO FOR YOU. SO THINK ABOUT IT INSTEAD OF JUST REACTIVE, WHY DON'T WE BECOME PROACTIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY LIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER BUSINESS? MOTION ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.