[Call to Order]
[00:00:13]
THE MEETING OF JUNE 10TH, 2026 WILL COME TO ORDER. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I, 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. LEGISLATOR. ALMIGHTY GOD, GUIDE US IN OUR JUDGMENTS AND DELIBERATIONS TODAY. AMEN. CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL. SHE WILL. NC. LEACH. ROGERS. WITT. WATERMAN. HERE.
BOUCHER. RUUD. CELIA. BUCK. JOSEPH. KOENIG. WHITE. NEWTON. DAVIS. MCNEIL. PRATT. HERE.
DIMAGGIO. FERGAL. JULIAN. ERVIN. WASHBURN. BIANCO. LEON. HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. WOW. LOOK AT
[Communications]
ALL THESE KIDS HERE TODAY. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. TODAY, WE ARE HONORED TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS WHOSE HARD WORK, DISCIPLINE, AND TEAMWORK HAVE EARNED THEM A CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND HAVE BROUGHT GREAT PRIDE TO THEIR SCHOOL AND TO ONEIDA COUNTY. I'D LIKE TO CALL COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANTHONY PICENTE TO THE PODIUM. AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATORS WHOSE DISTRICTS INCLUDE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE NEW HARTFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MARY PRATT, MYSELF, GEORGE JOSEPH. IF YOU COULD GIVE A WAVE, CHAD DAVIS, CHRIS NEWTON AND MARIA MCNEIL. WE WILL FIRST CALL UP THE NEW HARTFORD GIRLS VARSITY OUTDOOR TRACK, SECTION THREE CHAMPIONS ALONG WITH THEIR COACHES. HEAD COACH LISA FLORES AND ASSISTANT COACH DIANE PRIMERANO. IF YOU WOULD, IF YOU WOULD COME UP AND BRING. THE TEAM WOULD COME UP AND JUST SURROUND YOURSELVES AROUND THE PODIUM.COME ON EITHER SIDE. YUP. EITHER SIDE. SO WE ARE THAT I KNOW. THERE WE GO. HELLO EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE ARE, AS THE CHAIRWOMAN SAID, WE ARE HONORING CHAMPIONS TODAY AND I HAVE I CAN'T TELL YOU. I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. WE HAVE SO MANY OF OUR TEAMS IN THIS COUNTY WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS. I THINK IT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE IT'S. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALIZES HOW BIG SECTION THREE IS. AND ALL OF THE ALL OF THE TEAMS THAT THAT THAT WE COMPETE WITH OR THAT THESE SCHOOLS COMPETE WITH. AND NEW HARTFORD'S GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD IS NO EXCEPTION. SECTION THREE, CLASS B ONE CHAMPIONS FOR THE HEAD COACH LISA FLORES AND DIANE FROM THE ASSISTANT, ASHLEY FISHER. WHERE'S ASHLEY? SHE'S NOT HERE. SHE'S NOT HERE.
OH, SHE WAS THE 400 METER DASH CHAMPION. AND I'M GOING TO SAY THAT I'M GONNA SAY IT RIGHT.
REINA. RAYA! RAYA. PATTERSON, IS RAYA HERE? YES. WHERE'S RAYA? RAYA, WAVE YOUR HAND. RAYA IS THE RAYA. WAIT A MINUTE. RAYA IS THE TRIPLE JUMP CHAMPION. I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S. I ALWAYS ASK I ALWAYS ASK THIS QUESTION. ATHLETIC DIRECTOR DAVE BUCK, HAVE YOU DONE THE TRIPLE JUMP RECENTLY OR WHATEVER? OKAY. WELL, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM. AND THEN THESE THESE OUTSTANDING ATHLETES, IT IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT TRACK AND FIELD IS, IS NOT EASY. AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE COMPETITION THAT IS OUT THERE. A REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
[00:05:03]
THEY JUST KEEP WINNING. SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO ASK THE HEAD COACH, LISA FLORES, TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I GUESS I GOTTA MOVE IT DOWN. YOU CAN ACTUALLY BRING IT RIGHT DOWN. THERE YOU GO.THERE YOU GO. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE. THIS IS SUCH AN ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR OUR GIRLS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT WON A SECTION TITLE IN TRACK IN 26 YEARS. SO THIS IS AMAZING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL THEIR HARD WORK. IT TAKES A LOT TO PUT A TRACK PROGRAM TOGETHER. THERE'S A LOT OF PARTS, BUT ALL THE GIRLS SHOW UP EVERY DAY. THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN AND WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF THEM.
THANKS, GIRLS. INTRODUCE. INTRODUCE THE GIRLS. OKAY. GO AHEAD. OKAY. WE HAVE LONDON, WE HAVE NOIR, WE HAVE ELLA, WE HAVE SARAH, WE HAVE JULIANA, WE HAVE REBECCA. SONIA, ABBY, BETHANY, ALEX, LEAH. NYLA. MAYA. ELENA. ALYSSA. RAYA, ANTONELLA, ADDIE AND LANEY. SAINT CROIX TO END US ALL. THERE'S A LOT MORE OF US. THERE'S ACTUALLY 62 OF US, BUT WE ALL COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. THEY'RE BACK UP. SO ON BEHALF OF ONEIDA COUNTY AND WE ARE PROCLAIMING THIS DAY A DAY OF CHAMPIONS, AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH NEW HARTFORD SPARTANS TRACK AND FIELD, THE GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM IN ONEIDA COUNTY, AND ENCOURAGING ALL OF THE COUNTY RESIDENTS TO JOIN ME IN SAYING THIS. NEW HARTFORD GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM DAY IN ONEIDA COUNTY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YEAH. OKAY. ARE WE. NO, YOU DON'T GET HIM OUT. OKAY, PERFECT. KEVIN, YOU GOT THAT OR WHATEVER YOU. CAN. THE PANORAMIC THING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU GIRLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS, TEAM. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB GIRLS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND WE'RE STILL IN NEW HARTFORD. AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO MEET THE NEW HARTFORD GIRLS VARSITY SOFTBALL CLASS, A SECTION THREE CHAMPIONS, ALONG WITH THEIR COACHES, HEAD COACH MELISSA GEHRINGER AND ASSISTANT COACH BRIAN LALANNE. ALSO.
COACH. HOW ARE YOU? CONGRATULATIONS. SO STICKING WITH THE NEW HARTFORD THEME OF THE SPARTANS, THE. AS THE CHAIRWOMAN SAID, SECTION THREE CLASS A CHAMPIONS IN SOFTBALL AND THE, YOU KNOW, GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY THIS TEAM. AND I THINK THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST RIGHT. THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR, YOUR FIRST YEAR, YOUR FIRST YEAR. OUR LAST SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WAS 2022, 2022. SO WE'RE WE'RE BACK IN THE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SOFTBALL.
AND YOU KNOW, COACH GEHRINGER, YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? SURE, SURE. I'LL INTRODUCE EVERYONE FIRST. I'LL START OVER HERE. WE HAVE LEXI. NORA. JUST WAVE WHEN I SAY LEXI. NORA.
STELLA. ADDIE. AMELIA. ABBY. GABBY. OUR ONLY SENIOR. SO THIS GROUP WILL BE BACK HERE, HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR. RUBY. ALESSANDRA, WE HAVE REBECCA, LEON, JENNA, SYDNEY AND AUBREY.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. THIS IS QUITE AN HONOR. THE GIRLS HAVE WORKED SUPER HARD THIS YEAR. WE'VE ASKED A LOT OF THEM. MY ASSISTANT COACH COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY, BUT WE'VE ASKED A LOT OF THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. VERY DIFFICULT PRACTICES, A VERY INTENSE SCHEDULE. WE PURPOSELY SCHEDULED VERY HIGH COMPETITION EARLY IN OUR SEASON. THEY STEPPED UP. THEY IMPROVED IN ALL WAYS. BUT THE BIGGEST WAY IS THEIR CHARACTER SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AND REALLY LEARNING THAT WORK ETHIC THAT IT TAKES
[00:10:02]
TO SUCCEED AT A HIGH LEVEL. SO THANKS TO MY GIRLS. SO WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE TEAM TODAY WITH A CERTIFICATE AND A PROCLAMATION. YOU KNOW, CONTINUING WITH NEW HARTFORD, YOU HAVE TO SHARE THIS, ALL OF YOU WITH THE WITH THE OTHER TEAMS, BUT IT'S NEW HARTFORD SPARTANS SOFTBALL DAY IN ONEIDA COUNTY. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION, THEIR HARD WORK, YOU KNOW, THEIR THEIR THRILLING VICTORIES THAT THAT GOT THEM THERE. AND THE REAL DEDICATION THAT THIS TEAM HAS SHOWN. SO COACH, THAT'S FOR YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND YEAH, CERTIFICATES AS WELL FOR YOUR PLAYERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S. CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY. WE'RE STILL ON TO NEW HARTFORD NEW HARTFORD BOYS VARSITY BASEBALL CLASS A SECTION THREE CHAMPIONS. ALONG WITH THEIR COACHES, OUR OWN KEVIN GREEN. NOW, AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY UP HERE I YOU KNOW, AND COACH GREEN KNOWS THIS BECAUSE I TOLD HIM. AND ACTUALLY THERE'S ANOTHER COACH IN THE ROOM, COACH CARVELL FROM NOTRE DAME WHO WE'LL GET TO LATER ON. BUT I LIKE TO TAKE A LITTLE CREDIT BECAUSE WHEN NEW HARTFORD WAS HERE THE LAST TIME, I POINTED TO COACH GREEN AND SAID, COACH, WHEN THE FOOTBALL TEAM WAS HERE, WHEN THE TRACK WAS THERE, ALL THE OTHER TEAMS, I'M LIKE, YOU TWO GUYS GOT TO STEP IT UP AND YOU DID. AND SECTION THREE, CLASS A CHAMPION NEW HARTFORD KEVIN GREEN, WHO IF YOU KNOW KEVIN, HOW DEDICATED HE IS TO HIS JOB, BUT ALSO TO THIS TEAM AND TO BASEBALL AND, AND ANDY, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER GREAT, YOU KNOW, GREAT COACHING HERE. IT'S ANDY THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S WITH US TODAY. YOU KNOW JUST WHAT CAN YOU SAY THEN ANOTHER SECTION THREE TITLE IN ONEIDA COUNTY. COACH GREEN SPEAK TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELL FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK MR. COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF LEGISLATORS AND CHAIRWOMAN PRATT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE KIDS HERE. THESE CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO EARN, AND THESE BOYS AND ALL THESE TEAMS THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM HAVE EARNED SOMETHING EXTREMELY SPECIAL THAT WILL BOND THEM TOGETHER FOREVER. SO I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF ALL THE KIDS IN THIS ROOM, AND I'M EXTREMELY, OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE GROUP OF YOUNG MEN THAT ARE STANDING HERE WITH ME.SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, COACH MORAN, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO COACH WILMER. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU, LUKE. I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU, BUDDY. MICHAEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PEYTON. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GARRETT. THANK YOU TOMMY. THANK YOU JOJO. THANK YOU BUDDY.
BENNY. THANK YOU JOEY. THANK YOU JOHNNY. THANK YOU ASHTON. THANK YOU BYRON. THANK YOU JACOB. THANK YOU SAMMY. THANK YOU PATRICK. THANK YOU. AND COACH WEIMER I WANT TO THANK YOU REAL QUICK BEFORE WE I GET OFF THE MIC. I WON'T TAKE TOO LONG. THIS YEAR I WAS DEALING WITH SOMETHING AT HOME AND AND THESE KIDS WERE A TREMENDOUS PART OF SHOWING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR MY FAMILY. I WON'T SHARE THE STORY BECAUSE I'LL COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN, BUT IT IS ONE THAT I'LL SAVE AND SAVOR FOREVER. THE CHARACTER THAT THEY SHOWED, THE LOVE THAT THEY SHOWED FOR SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN THEMSELVES WAS A TESTAMENT TO HOW, HOW MUCH, HOW MANY GREAT THINGS THIS TEAM EMBODIED. SO I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS GROUP. THIS IS VERY SPECIAL. AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP IN FRONT OF MY BOSS, MR. PICENTE, BUT ALSO GEORGE STEINBRENNER REINCARNATED HERE.
AND AS THE GM OF THE TEAM, I WANT TO THANK MR. PERROTTA, WHO'S IN THE ROOM, OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, WHO IS A TREMENDOUS SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR OUR FOR OUR WHOLE ENTIRE ATHLETIC PROGRAM.
I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR SURE. MR. MR. DE PEACE, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AS OUR SUPERINTENDENT, BUT NOT ONLY FOR ALL OF THE EDUCATIONAL THINGS AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, MR. DE PEACE, BUT ALSO TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ALSO BE SUPPORTIVE AND, AND GET BEHIND AND BACK, YOU KNOW, OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, IT SHOWS EXACTLY WHY NEW HARTFORD IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE, RAISE A FAMILY AND ALSO TO COACH. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NOT MUCH MORE I CAN ADD TO THAT OTHER THAN WE'LL CONTINUE OUR
[00:15:07]
NEW HARTFORD SPARTANS DAY IN ONEIDA COUNTY WITH A PROCLAMATION AND SAY THANK YOU.AND YEAH, WE KEEP I MEAN, AND I KNOW WE'VE ALL SAID IT. I MEAN, THESE ARE THESE ARE NOT I MEAN, WE SAY THAT WE SAY KIDS WITH. THESE ARE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT DO MORE THAN JUST PLAY SPORTS. THEY'RE PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF EDUCATION, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT THAT CAN THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS. IF YOU LOOKED AT THE RESUMES OF SOME OF THESE OF ALL OF THESE PLAYERS, THE THE MEN AND WOMEN TEAMS, I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE. SO LET'S KEEP THAT IN MIND. THIS THIS IS THIS IS THE FUTURE AND IT'S THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY WORK HARD AND THEY CONTINUE TO DO THAT. SO WITH THAT, KEVIN, I'LL PRESENT THAT TO YOU AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB, NEW HARTFORD. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO HOLLAND, PAT. AND THEN AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATORS WHOSE DISTRICTS INCLUDE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE HOLLAND PATENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. DAVE, IF YOU WOULD JUST GIVE AWAY DAVE BUCK, VICKY CELIA, STEVE DIMAGGIO AND STEVE BOUCHER, AND WE ARE GOING TO FIRST RECOGNIZE THE HOLLAND PATENT GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL CLASS B, SECTION THREE CHAMPIONS, ALONG WITH THEIR COACHES, HEAD COACH LISA AIELLO, ASSISTANT COACH KATHY GREEN. HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? CONGRATULATIONS. SO YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THESE THESE TEAMS AND ABOUT THE SECTION THREE CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONSHIPS.
IT IS HARD TO WIN ONE SECTION THREE CHAMPION CHAMPIONSHIP. AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM THESE COACHES AND TEAMS. BUT TO WIN BACK TO BACK SECTION THREE CHAMPIONS, THAT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS TEAM HAS DONE. SO GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL. COACH MIKE IS YOURS. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY AND OUR ADMINISTRATION, ESPECIALLY MIKE ABSALOM, OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, WHO GAVE US GREAT SUPPORT. I'VE BEEN COACHING FOR 11 YEARS NOW, AND I NEVER ACTUALLY THOUGHT WE'D GET TO THIS POINT. AND WE DID IT TWO YEARS IN A ROW. AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION OF THESE GIRLS. I'VE GOT SUCH FINE ATHLETES ON MY TEAM, AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY FINE ATHLETES, BUT ALMOST THE ENTIRE TEAM THIS YEAR WERE SCHOLAR ATHLETES AS WELL. AND AS A PARENT. AS A PARENT AND A TEACHER IN OUR DISTRICT, THAT TO ME SAYS A LOT ABOUT THESE, THIS GROUP OF GIRLS AND THEIR PARENTS FOR THE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE AND BEING ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THESE LADIES, AND I MISS SAD THAT WE HAD SIX OF OUR OUR LADIES COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE OF TAKING REGENTS AND OTHER COMMITMENTS.
SO TO INTRODUCE, WE HAVE KAREN, SOPHIE, ALLIE, KIM, AVA, COACH GREEN, WE HAVE CHLOE, HALEY, ANNABELLA, AND I'M GOING TO SCREW THIS UP. I HAVE A SET OF TWINS, SAVANNAH AND SIERRA, AND I NEVER GET THEM STRAIGHT EXCEPT FOR THEIR NUMBERS. THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR NUMBERS ON. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO YOU SHARE AND WE BREAK TRADITION A LITTLE BIT AND SAY HOLLAND PAYTON, HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM, A DAY IN ONEIDA COUNTY TODAY AND RECOGNIZE YOU AND SAY THANK YOU FOR, AGAIN, A BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS.
GREAT JOB AND CONGRATULATIONS. NOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO SEQUOIA. AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATORS WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE SEQUOIA SCHOOL DISTRICT, MYSELF, CHAD DAVIS AND COLIN LINDSAY. NOW, CHAD, IF YOU COULD GIVE THEM A WAVE. AND IF WE WOULD, IF THE SEQUOIA BOYS VOLLEYBALL CLASS C SECTION THREE CHAMPIONS, ALONG WITH THEIR COACHES, JOE MILLER AND MIKE EISENGER, COME FORWARD. SO
[00:20:13]
AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY UP HERE, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD HOLLAND PAYTON BACK TO BACK SAUQUOIT VALLEY BOYS. IT'S QUIET VALLEY BOYS VOLLEYBALL FIVE STRAIGHT SECTION THREE CLASS C CHAMPIONS RIGHT HERE. PRETTY REMARKABLE AS I SAID TO WIN ONE FIVE IN A ROW. THAT'S PRETTY TOUGH. I THINK YOU KNOW THAT THAT REALLY SAYS A LOT ABOUT THESE YOUNG ABOUT THIS TEAM AND THIS COACH AND COACH. SAY A FEW WORDS. ALL RIGHT. WELL FIRST AND FOREMOST, I DIDN'T REALIZE I HAD A SPEAKING ROLE TODAY. SO I DIDN'T REALLY PREPARE ANYTHING. BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THANK YOU TO THE LEGISLATORS, TO THE ATHLETES, ALL OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF YOUR SUCCESS. TO ALL THE ATHLETIC DIRECTORS TO INCLUDE OURS, MR. DOUG JONES, AND TO THE FAMILIES WHO SUPPORT ALL OF THESE AMAZING ATHLETES. SO YEAH, IT'S IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE THAT WINNING ONE SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT TO GO ON WITH MULTIPLES AND HAVE MORE THAT ARE BACK TO BACK IS REALLY JUST IT'S A BLESSING. IT'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF A CURSE BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS OUT FOR YOU. BUT THESE GUYS AND I SAY THESE GUYS, EVEN THE ASSISTANT COACH, MIKE GEISSINGER, HE PLAYED FOR ME WHEN HE WAS A STUDENT AT SAUQUOIT. SO I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A MINUTE. SO WE HAVE MIKE BROCK, ENZO, ROBERT, COLTON AND A NUMBER OF OUR OTHER ATHLETES THAT WERE UNABLE TO BE HERE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY'RE VERY DEDICATED STUDENTS.AND, AND THEY WERE OTHERWISE ENGAGED, LET'S JUST PUT IT THAT WAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU TO YOU, AMAZING GROUP OF ATHLETES, BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO SIT UP HERE WHEN YOU WIN AND SAY, HEY, IT'S GREAT. IT'S EVEN HARDER WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE POINTS IN YOUR SEASON WHERE THINGS ARE NOT GOING THAT GREAT. AND WE HAD THOSE UPS AND DOWNS THIS YEAR. AND IT'S A TRUE TESTAMENT NOT ONLY TO TO THIS TEAM HERE, BUT TO ALL THE TEAMS. WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE POINTS, YOU CAN EITHER DECIDE TO GIVE UP OR YOU CAN DIG DOWN AND YOU CAN DIG DEEP AND THEN YOU CAN PERSEVERE. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU ALL DID. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THE RECOGNITION. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF MY ATHLETES AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE WITH WHAT YOU DO. I KNOW YOU'RE ALL GOING TO DO AN AMAZING JOB. COACH, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION FOR THIS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VOLLEYBALL TEAM. SECTION THREE. FIVE IN A ROW. I DON'T KNOW, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? FIVE FIVE, PETE. SO IT'S GOOD. GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. DID YOU KNOW JUST BEFORE WE BEFORE I WALK OFF, I DID RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY MR. GREEN IS WITH US IN HERE WITH HIS TEAM, DISTRICT ATTORNEY CARVILLE, WHO IS THE COACH OF THE SECTION B CHAMPION, SECTION THREE B CHAMPION, NOTRE DAME JUGGLERS. THE JUGGLERS COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. WE'LL GET THEM ANOTHER TIME. THEY'RE STILL PLAYING COACH. WHEN'S YOUR NEXT GAME? FRIDAY MORNING. THEY'RE STILL GOING IN THE STATES, SO GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR COACH BRADY. THAT'S RIGHT. I FORGOT YOU DIDN'T REMIND ME. I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING. WE WANTED TO SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING. ORISKANY IS STILL PLAYING.
THERE'S SECTION. SECTION THREE CLASS D CHAMPIONS STILL PLAYING. THEY GOT A GAME FRIDAY AS WELL.
WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE YOU'RE IN BINGHAMTON TO. OKAY, SO KEEP THEM IN YOUR THOUGHTS ON FRIDAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THIS WAS GREAT TODAY. THANK YOU.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL. MAYBE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SPEAKER HERE. TO MAKE SURE WE CAN.
[00:25:06]
BASEBALL GAME OR WHEN IS THIS GO GUYS. GO GET HIM TODAY. SO NO NOT THAT. OH NOT THEM. THE JUNIOR LEGION TEAM. I KNOW THESE BOYS ARE. WE'LL GET WE'LL GET. COACH. SOMEBODY'S UNIFORM.CAN YOU TAKE THESE? I. DID YOU DID YOU GIVE HER YOURS? I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO ME. IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO OUT NOW. YEAH.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUST GIVE ME. YEP. THAT'S RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO. OKAY. WE WE. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU GAVE. THERE YOU GO. I THOUGHT YOU WERE. YOU. YEAH.
HELLO? HAS IT HAPPENED YET? YOU KNOW, I JUST GOT BACK. YOU DID? IT WAS AMAZING. VERY NICE. 20, TEN DAYS. DAYS. I WAS DONE. WELL, THE CRUISE WAS SEVEN, BUT WE SPENT BEFORE AND AFTER. YOU HAVE TO SHOW ME SOME PICTURES. YEAH, YEAH, DEFINITELY. REAL GOOD. GIVE IT A MINUTE.
[Public Comment]
WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS TODAY. FRANCIS BROWN. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I SPOKEN OUT ABOUT BAD LANDLORDS THAT DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE TENANTS JUST LINING THEIR POCKETS? HOW, HOW I WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH, OR DID THE CITY OF UTICA AND THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES JUST IGNORE MY LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS DUE TO MY RESEARCH AND PUSHING FOR A FOIL ON CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE COMPLIANCES ON ALL JIMMY WILKINSON'S PROPERTIES, BUT ONE DO NOT HAVE THEM. WHEN I MADE CERTAIN OFFICIALS AWARE OF IT, INCLUDING MY LAST PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THIS BOARD OF LEGISLATORS, IT SEEMS LIKE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. NOW THERE IS ONE DEAD AND OVER 30 PEOPLE DISPLACED, PERSONS DISPLACED FROM A THREE ALARM FIRE ON JOHN STREET ON MAY 22ND, 2026. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANOTHER ONE OF JIMMY WILKINSON'S PROPERTIES ON LANSING STREET THE DAY BEFORE. I DO NOT SEE THE CITY OF UTICA POLICE OR THE SHERIFF OR THE ONEIDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAVING HIM OR ANY OF HIS LLC CHARGED WITH RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT ON SEVERAL COUNTS. JIMMY WILKINSON AND HIS STAFF OF 184 PARTNERS KNOWINGLY PUT ALL RESIDE. ALL PERSONS RESIDING IN THEIR BUILDINGS IN DANGER HAVE. MAY HAVE. WE MAY HAVE LOST. ONE MORE BRAVE UTICA FIRE OFFICER DID NOT RUN UP INTO THAT FIRE. I HAVE MANY QUESTIONS LIKE WHY? WHY DID THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM NOT WORK? WHY NO SECURITY CAMERAS IN THE BUILDING? HOW AND WHY DID THE FIRE MOVE SO QUICKLY? THE UTICA FIRE CHIEF STATED ON THE RADIO.13 UNITS IN THAT BUILDING. YET, ACCORDING TO MY FOIL STATES, ONLY TEN DID THE 18TH FLOOR
[00:30:04]
PARTNERS ADD MORE UNITS WITHOUT PERMITS AND CERTIFICATE OF RENEWALS? WAS THIS FOR MORE PROFIT AND LESS SAFETY? ALSO IT. IN THE FIRE, TWO OF THE UTICA FIRE. TWO OF THE UTICA FIREFIGHTERS WERE INJURED. THE FIRE CHIEF STATED. THE INJURIES OCCURRED ON THE STAIRS. ON THE THIRD FLOOR WAS THE THIRD FLOOR SUPPOSED TO BE OCCUPIED? WHAT WERE THE CONDITIONS OF THE STAIRS BEFORE THE FIRE? THEY ARE KNOWN FOR NOT MAINTAINING THEIR PROPERTIES AND TAKING THE CHEAPEST ROUTE FOR REPAIRS. I HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT THE COUNTY LEGISLATORS AND THE CITIES WITHIN ONEIDA COUNTY PASS SOME FIRE SAFETY LOCAL LAWS. ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE THAT A BUILDING WITH FIVE OR MORE UNITS MUST HAVE AN OPERATIONAL FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM, AN OPERATIONAL FIRE ALARM TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, CAMERAS AND TECH THAT COULD GIVE ACCESS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN THE ALARM IS ACTIVATED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LESS TALK AND MORE ACTION FROM THE UTICA ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNTY AND HOLMES AND DS PROGRAMS TO HOLD THESE BAD LANDLORDS. THE MONEY KEEPS ROLLING IN. IT SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR SOCIAL WORKERS UNDER CONTRACT LIKE I CAN. NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, HELIO, ETC. TO REPORT FIRE SAFETY ISSUES AND CODE ISSUES DURING THEIR MANDATORY VISITS. I WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD 184 PARTNERS AND JIMMY WILKINSON AND HIS STAFF ACCOUNTABLE. THROUGH A SUIT THAT I AM WORKING ON, I HIGHLY SUGGEST THE VICTIMS OF THE FIRE TO DO THE SAME. 18TH FLOOR PARTNERS WITHDREW THEIR EVICTION ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE THEY KNEW I WAS GOING TO EXPOSE THE TRUTH. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TWO DAYS AFTER I REQUESTED FROM THE COUNTY IF THEY'VE BEEN PAYING THEIR RENT. AN 18TH FLOOR HAS BEEN CASHING THEM VOUCHERS. IF SO, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER DEFENSE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY WITHDREW AFTER I INFORMED THE COUNTY OF A DEFENSE ON THESE WRONGFUL EVICTIONS. THEREFORE, SOMEONE IS BEATING THE 18TH FLOOR. INFORMATION THAT SHOULD NOT BE SHARING. THAT PERSON SHOULD BE MOVED FROM THAT POSITION. WHY IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NOT CHARGING THE CRIMINALS WITH SERIOUS CRIMES WITH CLEAR EVIDENCE, INCLUDING VIDEO, YET WANTS TO CHARGE ME BASED ON A VERBAL STATEMENT OF A KNOWN DRUG ADDICT AND A REPEAT OFFENDER. I WAS ACCUSED OF THIS FELONY THE MORNING AFTER MY LAST COUNTY PUBLIC COMMENT. EVEN AFTER I HAVE REVIEWED THE POLE CAMERAS OF THE ACCUSER AND REQUESTED UTICA POLICE TO DO A PROPER INVESTIGATION, I STILL HAVE TO REPORT TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT LIKE I AM THE CRIMINAL. WHEN THE STREET POLE CAMERAS SHOWS TOTALLY DIFFERENTLY, THE ATTORNEY TENOR COULD HAVE A LONG, DRAWN OUT TRIAL BECAUSE HIS DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I MADE HIS DEPARTMENT CORRECT THE PARKING ON POST STREET AND WASTED TAXPAYER DOLLARS, OR COULD WATCH THE POLE CAMERA FOOTAGE HIMSELF AND CHARGE THE REAL CRIMINALS WITH CONSPIRACY. I WAS TOLD BY MY COURT APPOINTED LAWYER, AS I TOLD MY COURT APPOINTED LAWYER, THIS IS MY FREEDOM ON THE LINE I CAN GET. I CANNOT GET A PUBLIC DEFENDER BECAUSE I CORRECT THE ACTIONS OF ONE STAFF MEMBER. THAT SAME STAFF MEMBER COULD HAVE SPOKEN UP IN COURT SAYING, I DID, HE DID. HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT I BROKE THAT REFRAIN FROM BECAUSE IT WAS UNCONSCIONABLE. ONE ISSUE I REFUSED TO SIGN AND STILL NOT BREAK IT. SIDEBARS ARE DONE ALL THE TIME, AND THE PEOPLE VERSUS UTICA PARK DRUG COMPANY 1680 2D 1214. ALTHOUGH THE LAW ITSELF, TO BE FAIR ON THE FACE AND IMPARTIAL AND APPEARANCE, IF IT IS APPLIED BY PUBLIC AUTHORITIES WITH AN EVIL EYE AND AN UNEQUAL HAND. SO PRACTICALLY, TO MAKE IT UNJUST AND ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN THE PERSON OF SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, MATERIALS TO THEIR RIGHTS AND DENIAL OF EQUAL JUSTICE IS STILL PROHIBITED WITHIN THE CONSTITUTION. EVERYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DRIVING THE WRONG WAY DOWN A ONE WAY SHALL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. IN AMERICA, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL TO PROTECT OUR PROPERTIES, INCLUDING OURSELVES. I HAVE BEEN THREATENED AND WARNED TO BACK OFF, BUT I WILL, I WILL NOT, FOR I WILL STAND UP FOR THE ONES THAT FEAR RETALIATION AND UNJUST PROSECUTION. FOR I BELIEVE IN WHAT OUR FOREFATHERS HAD IN MIND 250 YEARS AGO, WHEN THEY DECLARED THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM TYRANNY AND OPPRESSION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, FRANCIS. ELLIS DUGAN WAS GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD BYWAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN PRATT AND BOARD OF LEGISLATORS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE HARRIET TUBMAN BYWAY. AND AGAIN, MY NAME IS ALLY DEEGAN. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD BYWAY, WHICH IS A HALF COMPLETED AND THE REST OF THE HALF PROPOSED. SO PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO SCENIC BYWAY THAT WILL GO FROM MANHATTAN UP TO ALBANY, OVER ACROSS THE STATE,[00:35:04]
THROUGH ONEIDA COUNTY HERE, AND ENDING IN NIAGARA FALLS, WHERE I AM BASED OUT OF. I AM ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF THE NIAGARA FALLS UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HERITAGE CENTER THERE AS WELL.AND I'M ALSO HERE TODAY WITH MY COLLEAGUE JAN DAMAGES OVER HERE, WHO IS FROM ONEIDA COUNTY IN NEW HARTFORD AND PART OF THE ONEIDA COUNTY FREEDOM TRAIL COMMISSION. SO I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND AND ALSO ARTICULATE WHAT OUR ASK IS FROM THE COUNTY HERE TODAY. SO AS I SHARED THE ROUTE OF THE PROPOSED BYWAY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SHARE THE PHASE ONE SECTION OF THE BYWAY IS AUBURN TO NIAGARA FALLS. AND THAT PHASE HAS JUST PASSED IN BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE. LAST WEEK ON JUNE 4TH, BY UNANIMOUS VOTE IN BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE, AS BOTH BILLS WERE PUT FORWARD TO SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION FOR THE BYWAY FROM AUBURN TO NIAGARA FALLS. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. OUR PRESS RELEASE JUST WENT LIVE YESTERDAY. SO HAPPY TO SHARE THAT AROUND WITH EVERYBODY FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT AS WELL. AND TO KEEP IT KIND OF BRIEF HERE. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON PHASE TWO, WHICH INCLUDES ONEIDA COUNTY HERE IN PHASE TWO, WE'RE LOOKING TO PROPOSE, OR WE'RE LOOKING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A 2027 LEGISLATION AND DESIGNATION. SO BRINGING THESE TWO PHASES TOGETHER IN A VERY COHESIVE TIMELINE. SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN? SO THE HARRIET TUBMAN BYWAY IS A SCENIC BYWAY WILL BE A SCENIC BYWAY AS PART OF THE NEW YORK STATE SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM. IT FOLLOWS THE MARYLAND STATE HARRIET TUBMAN BYWAY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2008. FOLLOWING THAT DESIGNATION, ALSO, PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE ALSO HAVE HARRIET TUBMAN BYWAYS AND NEW JERSEY. WE'VE BEEN IN TALKS WITH THEM OVER THE YEARS. THEY'D LIKE TO COME ON BOARD AFTER NEW YORK STATE IS OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED.
WHAT THAT MEANS ON THE BIG SCALE, THERE IS A FULL MULTI-STATE BYWAY THAT WE WOULD THEN GO FOR FEDERAL DESIGNATION IN THE FUTURE. IF WE CAN GET TO THAT POINT. IT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL THAT FOLLOWS HARRIET TUBMAN'S JOURNEY FROM HER PLACE OF BIRTH AND ENSLAVEMENT IN MARYLAND TO HER WORK IN PHILADELPHIA AND HER JOURNEYS THROUGH NEW YORK STATE. HER JOURNEYS IN NEW YORK STATE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT AND VERY UNIQUE. SHE DID A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT ABOLITIONIST WORK HERE. SHE BROUGHT FREEDOM SEEKERS TO FREEDOM BY MOSTLY BY TRAIN FOLLOWING THIS ROUTE. AND IT GOES THROUGH 20. WELL, THIS ROUTE GOES THROUGH 22 COUNTIES WHERE WE'RE BRINGING RECOGNITION TO HER WORK, ALONG WITH OTHER FREEDOM SEEKERS AND ABOLITIONISTS ALONG THE WAY, THE WEALTH OF OF HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED. THERE IS OPPORTUNITY IN THE 22 COUNTIES, IN THE TOTAL OF 172 MUNICIPALITIES ALONG THIS ROUTE. TO BE ABLE TO SHARE MORE OF HER STORY, BUILD IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND ALSO AS WHAT. A BYWAY IS ALSO PART OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY. SO IT BRINGS PEOPLE TO OUR CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY, CONNECT, FOLLOW ITINERARIES, AND THEN WHAT WHAT VISITORS AND LOCALS WILL THEN DO, OF COURSE, IS SPEND MONEY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SO IT, IT HAS MULTIPLE PURPOSES HERE THAT'S ROOTED IN THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR HISTORY AND THE PRIDE IN THAT. BUT IT ALSO BRINGS A VERY REAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO OUR TO OUR STATE AND TO OUR MUNICIPALITIES ALONG THE WAY. SO MY ASK HERE TODAY AND OUR ASK FROM OUR ORGANIZATION IS WE ARE SEEKING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM ONEIDA COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS THAT IS REQUIRED BY NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR DESIGNATING THE BYWAY IN PHASE ONE BEFORE GOING TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAD TO HAVE ALL MUNICIPALITIES SIGN THE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT PER THE DOT'S TEMPLATE THAT WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED LAST YEAR, BRINGING US TO WHERE WE ARE NOW. SO IN PHASE TWO, WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE RESOLUTIONS THAT WE NEED TO SECURE, AND IN TOTAL, THE 172 THAT WE NEED FOR THE FULL BYWAY, WHICH IS MANHATTAN, TO NIAGARA FALLS, 550 MILES IN TOTAL. IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT BEFORE, 172 ARE NEEDED. WE HAVE ONLY 18 LEFT. AND SO WE'RE NEARING OUR FINISH LINE HERE, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT TO BRING EVERYONE ELSE ON BOARD ALONG THE WAY. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THE COUNTY HERE WILL WILL COME ON BOARD VERY SOON AS WE'RE APPROACHING OUR DEADLINE OF THIS SUMMER TO BE READY FOR 2027. LEGISLATION TO REACH DESIGNATION FOR PHASE TWO. SO I HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION PREPARED AND SENT OUT. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS AT A LATER DATE, I'M AVAILABLE. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, GIVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION, ANYTHING THAT YOU MAY NEED, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS AND SEEING ONEIDA COUNTY COME ON BOARD. THANKS, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU ALI. I KNOW I'M NOT ON YOUR LIST TO SPEAK. I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS. I'M A RETIRED PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY AT UTICA COLLEGE, NOW UNIVERSITY.
[00:40:06]
25 YEARS AGO, THE ONEIDA COUNTY LEGISLATURE INAUGURATED THE ONEIDA COUNTY FREEDOM TRAIL COMMISSION. THAT IS TO SAY, YOU COMMISSIONED US TO STUDY THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND THE ABOLITION MOVEMENT IN ONEIDA COUNTY, AND WE RECEIVED ENORMOUS SUPPORT FROM ONEIDA COUNTY. ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, YOU GAVE US A GRANT TO SET UP THE UTICA UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND ABOLITION WALKING TOUR. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT GRANT. GRANT HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO PUT UTICA WHITE SQUARE ON THE MAP OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STUDY OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND THE ABOLITION MOVEMENT. RIGHT NOW, OUR WALKING TOUR IS VERY POPULAR.IT'S KIND OF UNIQUE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. AND WE THINK THAT THE COUNTY SUPPORT, AS IT WITNESSED, BY ALLOWING US TO PUT ONE OF OUR SIGNS OF OUR WALKING TOUR IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY BUILDING. WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE AT THE ONEIDA COUNTY FREEDOM TRAIL ARE PARTNERED WITH THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD CONSORTIUM OF NEW YORK STATE, AND WE HOPE TO GET YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU'RE UP. BEN SIMMONS. I'M GOING TO TALK
[Resolutions]
ABOUT DAIRY MONTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MR. BEN SIMMONS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'LL TRY TO. I THINK YOU GUYS CAN ALL HEAR ME. SO ANYWAY, MY NAME IS BEN SIMMONS. MY WRITING NAME IS FARMER BEN. IF YOU LOOK ON YOUR DESK IN FRONT OF EACH OF YOU. I GAVE YOU ALL A COPY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY LIVING. AND WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT ARTICLES IN HERE, BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF THE SPOT THAT CARRY. VERN PATTILLO HAS GIVEN ME TO WRITE ABOUT AGRICULTURE. AND ON PAGE 72 I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WAS THINKING TOTALLY OF ONEIDA COUNTY DAIRY WHEN I WAS WRITING THAT ARTICLE TO REFLECT THE JUNE DAIRY MONTH. I'D LIKE TO BACK UP FOR A SECOND IN THE MONTH OF MAY MONTH OF MAY WAS NATIONAL BEEF MONTH. I DIDN'T MAKE IT DOWN. WE WERE PLANTING CORN. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, IN ONEIDA COUNTY THERE IS 8200 BEEF COWS IN ONEIDA COUNTY. AND IF YOU USE THE VALUE OF $3,000 PER ANIMAL, BECAUSE CATTLE ARE VERY, VERY HIGH, BEEF PRICES ARE VERY HIGH. THAT COMES OUT TO BE WALKING AROUND OUR PASTURES, EXCUSE ME, OUR PASTURES HERE IN ONEIDA COUNTY. AND THAT INCLUDES THE SHERIFF AND MR. LEACH, IF YOU USE THE NUMBER OF $3,000 PER ANIMAL, THAT COMES OUT TO BE $250 MILLION WORTH OF CATTLE WALKING AROUND THE COUNTY, PEOPLE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. THE ONE THING THAT I I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT QUICKLY IS. AND WE'RE ALL SEEING IT ON THE NEWS. AND I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYBODY, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE AUDIENCE ALSO. IT'S CALLED THE NEW WORLD SCREWWORM. THAT IS A PROBLEM. CURRENTLY IT HAS BEEN IN SOUTH AMERICA RIGHT ALONG. AND FINALLY HERE THIS PAST WEEK, IT HAS GOTTEN INTO THE UNITED STATES. AND AS OF THIS MORNING, THROUGH RICHARD BALL'S OFFICE, COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE IN NEW YORK, IN NEW MEXICO, THERE HAS BEEN A DOG DETECTED WITH IT ONE GOAT AND FOUR COWS. SO WHAT THIS AMOUNTS TO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS THAT IT IS A FLESH EATING WORM. WE ALL KNOW THE OTHER WORMS EAT DEAD FLESH AND DOCTORS AND THINGS USE THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE. HAVING MAJOR SURGERIES OR MAJOR INJURIES. THEY USE THESE TYPE OF WORMS TO TAKE CARE OF THE BAD, THE DEAD CELLS. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE IS IT IS LIVE CELLS BASICALLY EAT ANIMAL LIFE. IT IS A PROBLEM. WE'RE HOPING THEY CAN KEEP IT IN TEXAS. SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS NOT A SECURITY ISSUE. IT IS A FOOD PRODUCTION ISSUE. THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THE PRICE OF YOUR BEEF IS GOING TO GO UP. NO QUESTION. THE INVENTORY OF THE BEEF ANIMALS IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW IS EQUAL TO WHAT IT WAS IN 1951, AND WE HAVE THE POPULATION OF 2026. YOU DO THE MATH JUST QUICKLY. SINCE 2020, 2020, THE PRICE OF BEEF HAS GONE UP 77%.SO TO JUST GIVE YOU AN IDEA, SO I'D LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THE BEEF CATTLE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN ONEIDA COUNTY DO NOT TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED. GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR FARMER, BUY
[00:45:02]
LOCAL. I'M NOT TRYING TO SCARE ANYBODY. I'M GIVING YOU THE INFORMATION. ALL RIGHT. GOING TO JUNE. HERE WE ARE. JUNE IS DAIRY MONTH. SO ON BEHALF OF THE DAIRY FARMERS HERE IN ONEIDA COUNTY AND MYSELF, FARMER BEN, WE BROUGHT YOU DOWN SOME CHOCOLATE MILK, STRAWBERRY, WHITE MILK, AND A WHOLE VARIETY OF CHOBANI YOGURT THAT WE'RE ALL SO PROUD OF. CHOBANI. IN ONEIDA COUNTY RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE ROUGHLY 90 OPERATING DAIRY FARMS THAT HOUSE 18,000 COWS.SO IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE LOST QUITE A FEW SMALL DAIRY FARMS LIKE MYSELF. I SOLD MY COWS. AND THE REASON FOR IT IS BECAUSE THE PRICE OF MILK THAT US FARMERS ARE GETTING ALL DAIRY FARMERS DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE ONEIDA COUNTY OR OTHER COUNTIES, BUT ONEIDA COUNTY, THE CURRENT PRICE OF MILK TO THE FARMER IS $1.50 PER GALLON. THAT'S THE SAME AS IT WAS BACK IN 2008, AND WE'RE LIVING ON 2020 PRICES. SO RIGHT NOW, THE DAIRY FARMERS ARE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A TOUGH TIME. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS, IS BECAUSE MILK IS BASED ON PRODUCTION, SUPPLY AND DEMAND. AND WITH THE WORD THAT CHOBANI WAS COMING TO NEW YORK, AND ESPECIALLY RIGHT HERE IN ONEIDA COUNTY, ALL THE FARMERS AROUND THERE WERE YOUNG AND PROGRESSIVE HAS EXPANDED AND THEY'VE EXPANDED. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THEY'VE EXPANDED A LITTLE BIT QUICKER THAN WHAT THE MARKET CALLED FOR. SO IT'S SUPPRESSED THE PRICE. SO WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHOBANI PLANT TO GET UP AND GOING. ONEIDA COUNTY RIGHT NOW RANKS 14TH IN THE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS A DAIRY PRODUCING COUNTY. THAT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE. THAT'S QUITE A BIT THE NUMBER ONE USE OF MILK COMING OFF THE DAIRY FARMS CURRENTLY. TODAY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, 2026, THE NUMBER ONE USE OF ALL THE MILK THAT IS PRODUCED IN ONEIDA COUNTY, WHICH IS LAST YEAR, 40 MILLION GALLONS. OF MILK WAS PRODUCED IN ONEIDA COUNTY LAST YEAR AND CURRENTLY TODAY, 2026, THE NUMBER ONE USE OF MILK IN ONEIDA COUNTY IS FLUID MILK, CREAM AND MADE INTO ICE CREAM. THAT IS TODAY THE NUMBER ONE OR EXCUSE ME, THE NUMBER TWO PURCHASER OF MILK IN ONEIDA COUNTY TODAY? NO QUESTION IS CHOBANI BECAUSE THEY'RE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM US. THEY'RE RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD HERE, LESS THAN AN HOUR AWAY. SO TALKING WITH THE AG MARKETS RECENTLY, IN ONE YEAR, I'M HOPING, I'M HOPING FARMER BEN'S HOPING WITH CHOBANI GETS UP AND RUNNING WITH THE AMOUNT OF MILK THAT CHOBANI IS ESTIMATED TO TAKE IN ONEIDA COUNTY WILL BECOME. EXCUSE ME, ONEIDA COUNTY WILL BECOME THE NUMBER ONE MILK PROCESSING COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. WHEN THEY FINALLY GET FULLY UP AND OPERATIONAL. THANK YOU FOR THAT, BECAUSE THAT IS A HUGE FEAT.
THE AMOUNT OF JOBS AND THAT IS MAKING THE SECURITY AND THE SECURING DAIRY INDUSTRY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK ALIVE AND WELL. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. IF YOU WOULD LOOK ON YOUR DESK, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATURE, I GAVE YOU A SAVE THE DATE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, MYSELF CAME DOWN AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOONVILLE FAIR, WE CAME DOWN IN JULY AND INVITED YOU ALL TO THE BOONVILLE ONEIDA COUNTY FAIR, WHICH WAS ONLY ABOUT A WEEK.
TEN DAYS AFTER THE LEGISLATURE MEETING. AND I CAUGHT SOME STATIC FROM A FEW OF MY LEGISLATORS SAYING, BEN, YOU GOT TO COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT EARLIER BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PLAN OUR SUMMERS. SO I STARTED OUT. NOW, IF YOU LOOK, THERE'S A LETTERHEAD FROM THE BOONVILLE ONEIDA COUNTY FAIR, SAVE THE DATE, BOONVILLE COUNTY FAIR, JULY 20TH 8TH TO AUGUST 2ND, THE BEST OF ONEIDA COUNTY AUCTION TO BENEFIT THE SIX CHAPTERS OF THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA IN ONEIDA COUNTY, ADIRONDACK. REMSEN. HOLLAND. PATTON, CAMDEN. WATERVILLE, VERONA. VERNON. SHERRILL. THAT'S WHERE THE BENEFIT OF THAT GOES. LAST YEAR, WE RAISED JUST OVER $23,400, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, THE LEGISLATORS, FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT AUCTION DURING THE BARBECUE. SO THIS IS THE IMPORTANT ONE FOR YOU GUYS. THURSDAY, JULY 30TH IS THE PIE IS THE BEST ONEIDA COUNTY AUCTION. AND THEN TWO HOURS LATER IS THE LEGISLATIVE BARBECUE ON THURSDAY, JULY THE 30TH AT 6 P.M. AT THE HOFBRAU AT THE BOONVILLE ONEIDA COUNTY FAIR. ALL LEGISLATORS AND THEIR WIVES AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS ARE ALL INVITED AT NEXT MONTH'S MEETING. I PLAN ON COMING BACK IF YOU'LL HAVE ME SERVING YOU GUYS ICE CREAM, AND I WILL
[00:50:03]
BRING TOGETHER A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS AND HOPEFULLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOONVILLE FAIR TO DO A FORMAL INVITATION AND A GUEST LIST FOR EVERYONE THAT WILL ATTEND. ON BEHALF OF FARMER BEN, I WANT TO THANK YOU. HOW'D I DO, MADAM CHAIRMAN? GREAT, BEN. THANK YOU. BEN.YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. LOOK FORWARD TO SEE YOU. BEFORE WE START OUR RESOLUTIONS, I JUST LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT AND A THANK YOU TO OUR IT DEPARTMENT. CHRIS, YOU AND YOUR STAFF SAVED THE DAY THIS MORNING. GOT US BACK UP AND RUNNING. THE COMPUTERS WERE DOWN AND OUT FLAT, SO TO SPEAK, AND THEY'RE UP AND RUNNING. HOWEVER, OUR VOTES STILL NOT GOING TO SHOW UP AND OUR VOTE, IS IT GOING TO SHOW UP OR NOT? IT WON'T SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN, BUT YOU'LL YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IT HERE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE'LL START RESOLUTIONS UNDER RESOLUTIONS. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 180, WHICH IS ON YOUR DESK, IS A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING JUNE 2026 AS DAIRY MONTH IN ONEIDA COUNTY. DO I HAVE A SECOND? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ON THAT? I'LL PUT EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY'S ON. OKAY, LET'S LET'S LET'S TAKE THE VOTE.
WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH FROM YOU, DAVE. YOU'RE VOTING IN THE OLD MICROPHONE CONSOLES. YOU'RE TAKING. NO, YOU CAN VOTE ON IT. WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE VOICE VOTES TODAY OR NOT. OKAY. RESOLUTION CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 158 IS APPROVAL OF A SETTLEMENT OF ASHLEY ROWAN VERSUS ONEIDA COUNTY. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S TAKE THE VOTE.
RESOLUTION CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 159 IS A TRANSFER AND SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF SPECIFIED AMOUNTS TO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTAL APPROPRIATION ACCOUNTS, AS REQUIRED UNDER GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S CALL THE VOTE. RESOLUTION CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 160 IS A LOCAL LAW AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY OF ONEIDA. NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION 215 OF NEW YORK STATE COUNTY LAW TO SELL AND CONVEY ALL RIGHT. TITLE AND INTEREST IN COUNTY OWNED REAL PROPERTY SITUATED IN THE CITY OF ROME. GRIFFITH'S BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT GBFI FLEX INDUSTRIAL SUBDISTRICT G B CV CONSERVATION RECREATION DISTRICT, GB AIRFIELD, UAS SUBDISTRICT AND GBRL ROME LAB R&D OFFICE CAMPUS SUBDISTRICT WITHOUT THE NECESSITY FOR COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND UPON TERMS, CONDITIONS AND CONSIDERATION DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE COUNTY. AND THIS LOCAL LAW HAS A MESSAGE OF NECESSITY FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ATTACHED TO IT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? THAT WAS A LONG ONE. NO, HE'S NOT GOING TO REPEAT IT. YOU GOT TO START ABSORBING THINGS.
LET'S CALL THE VOTE. WE GOT YOU, LORI. OH, I'M SEEING THAT I. RESOLUTION CARRIED INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 161 IS THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO CAPITAL PROJECT HAIR10356102. CAPITAL OUTLAY GRIFFITHS AIRFIELD BUILDING 101 ROOF REPAIR AND A BUDGET TRANSFER OF $354,478 TO A 9901.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S CALL THE VOTE. RESOLUTION CARRIED.
INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 162 IS APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY AND ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S CALL THE VOTE. RESOLUTION.
CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 163 IS A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION 9500 0 TO 4 018.251 AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH FOR 010290 OTHER EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND 4010.495 OTHER EXPENSES. PUBLIC HEALTH. DO YOU NEED MY GLASSES? NO. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, LET'S CALL THE VOTE. THERE WE GO. RESOLUTION CARRIED.
[00:55:12]
INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 164 IS APPROVAL OF THE MORTGAGE TAX RECEIPTS AND DISTRIBUTION FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MARCH 2026. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S CALL THE VOTE.RESOLUTION CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 165 IS APPROVAL OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE TOWN OF WHITESTOWN. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S CALL THE VOTE. RESOLUTION CARRIED.
INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 166 IS APPROVAL TO SET THE HOURLY RATE OF POSITION TITLE SPECIAL PATROL OFFICER, DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S CALL THE VOTE. CARRIED.
RESOLUTION CARRIED. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO. VOTE ON IT AGAIN. OKAY. WE GOT A VOTE. I'M SORRY. WE GOT TO TAKE ONE MORE VOTE ON THAT LITTLE COMPUTE WITH YOU. LITTLE.
THERE WE GO. LET'S CALL THE VOTE AGAIN, PLEASE. YOUR SKIN NOT SHOWING UP. NO, IT'S NOT SHOWING UP. LET'S LET'S TAKE A VOTE. LET'S DO A VOICE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR I ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 167 IS THE APPROVAL OF A TEMPLATE FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER SERVICES TO BE USED BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOARDS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION SERVICES. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, LET'S TAKE THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.
RESOLUTION CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 168 IS A TRANSFER OF $141,575 TO A 3110.101 SALARIES FULL TIME. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR I ANY OPPOSED RESOLUTION CARRIED.
INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 169 IS A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $214,231 TO A 3110.102 SALARIES PART TIME. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY 170 IS THE APPROVAL OF A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK THROUGH ITS DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? TAKE THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY 171 IS APPROVAL AND RATIFICATION OF A MEMORANDUM FOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY AND THE ONEIDA COUNTY SHERIFF AND ONEIDA COUNTY. PBA DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S TAKE THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY 172 IS 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? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION CARRIES. INTRODUCTORY 173 IS APPROVAL OF WORK ORDER NUMBER 36. AMENDMENT ONE BARNES AVE PUMPING STATION UPGRADES TO INCLUDE RESIDENT PROJECT REPRESENTATIVE SERVICES TO THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH GHD DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S TAKE THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION CARRIES INTRODUCTORY 174 IS APPROVAL OF A MASTER TEMPLATE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY AND VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES FOR SNOWPLOWING. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S TAKE THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION CARRIES INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 175 IS APPROVAL OF SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT. NUMBER ONE BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND NEW YORK STATE THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? TAKE THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION CARRIED.
INTRODUCTORY 176 IS THE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN
[01:00:04]
ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND MARCH ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? TAKE THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION CARRIED. INTRODUCTORY 177 IS THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND MARCH ASSOCIATES. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S TAKE THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION CARRIES. 178 IS THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE STANDARD WORK DAY AND REPORTING DAYS FOR NEW YORK STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR CERTAIN COUNTY OFFICIALS. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? LET'S TAKE THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION. CARRY. OKAY. FORMER LEGISLATOR ROGER, A SENIOR, PASSED AWAY ON MAY 29TH, 2026. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UPON LEGISLATOR TIM JULIAN. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. LEGISLATION INTRODUCTORY NUMBER 179. ROGER PELECH DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON MAY 29TH, 2026. ROGER WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS LOVE OF FAMILY AND CIVIC DUTY. HE WAS MARRIED TO HIS WIFE, PHILIPPA, IN 1969. THEY BUILT A LIFE BASED ON LOVE AND FAMILY, E ORIGINAL OWNER OF MIDLAND COLLISION IN UTICA, DEDICATING HIS TO BUILD A STRONG REPUTATION, EARNING THE RESPECT OF MANY. ROGER WAS A BEAUTIFUL FIRST WARD COUNCILMAN FOR 12 YEARS AND ONEIDA COUNTY LEGISLATOR, REPRESENTING THE 23RD DISTRICT FROM 1982 TO 1984. ROGER ENJOYED WORKING ON AND RESTORING CARS ALONG WITH FISHING AND FURNITURE RESTORATION. ROGER MOST ENJOYED SPENDING TIME WITH HIS WIFE PHILIPPA, HIS TWO SONS AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD BE THE CITIZENS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES, TO STAND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF FORMER COUNTY LEGISLATOR ROGER. THANK YOU. TIM. OKAY. I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE, AND THEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO WE'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE STEVE BOUCHER ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND. BEST WISHES, STEVE. ON JUNE 27TH FROM 530 TO 730. MERCY FLIGHT IS CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF SERVICE IN ONEIDA COUNTY IN THEIR HANGAR AT GRIFFITHS.
WE'RE ALL INVITED. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND, PLEASE RSVP TO JUDY ON THAT. AND SOME OF US ATTENDED THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND WORKED THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS THIS PAST WEEKEND. IT WAS A GREAT. IT WAS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE. THE OPENING CEREMONY WAS VERY, VERY MOVING.
OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE DID A GREAT JOB. OUR SHERIFF WAS CARRIED. THE TORCH AND. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATORS AND STAFF FOR VOLUNTEERING. WE DID THE TENNIS.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN AND BOY, COULD THOSE KIDS PLAY THOSE ATHLETES PLAY TENNIS. SO THANK YOU TO LEGISLATORS BIANCO, BOUCHER, BUCK, CELIA, EDDIE, BOB KOENIG, KEN WHITE AND HIS LOVELY WIFE TAMMY, AND OUR STAFF MEMBERS, MIKE BALLARD HAD HIS WHOLE FAMILY THERE. TAMMY PAYTON AND MADDEN, JENNIFER KOONS, DENNIS BRENNAN AND MARY MCENROE. AND NOW, TONY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STEP UP. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR AND ECHO WHAT THE CHAIRWOMAN SAID ABOUT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS. IT WAS REALLY VERY A VERY MOVING CEREMONY ON FRIDAY NIGHT. AND THE IF YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T SEE I MEAN, I MEAN, SOME OF THE COMPETITION WAS REALLY OUTSTANDING. I GOT TO SEE THE VOLLEYBALL THAT DAY, THE TENNIS AND THE POWERLIFTING, WHICH WAS REALLY SOMETHING TO SEE. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, I MEAN, IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING WITH THE STAFF OF THE OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS ON SATURDAY.
AFTER SOME OF THE EVENTS, I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED. AND I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE STANDS AT UTICA COLLEGE IS A BIG STADIUM IN GAETANO. BUT AND IT WASN'T FULL, FULL. BUT THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE THERE. AND THEY TOLD ME AND I WAS LIKE, BOY, I WISH, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE MORE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE BEST CROWD THAT THEY'VE HAD OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AT THAT EVENT, AT THE OPENING CEREMONIES, NUMBER ONE, AND THEN AT THE OTHER EVENTS THAT THEY'VE HAD THAT PEOPLE WERE AT, WHETHER IT WAS AT MVCC OR WHETHER IT WAS A HAMILTON HAMILTON, YOU COULDN'T EVEN MOVE IN THE IN THE IN THE
[01:05:04]
SWIMMING AREA. MVCC BETWEEN TENNIS AND VOLLEYBALL, THE ODD FOR THE POWERLIFTING, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY OUTSTANDING. SO THANKS TO CHAIRWOMAN AND LEGISLATORS AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HELPED. AND REMEMBER, WE'VE GOT IT FOR THE NEXT. FOR TWO MORE YEARS AT LEAST. AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, WE GOT AN OUTSIDE SHOT AT A PERMANENT HOME FOR THE SUMMER OLYMPICS. SO ACTUALLY BETTER THAN AN OUTSIDE SHOT. THEY WERE REALLY IMPRESSED AND THRILLED WITH THE FACILITIES THAT WERE PRESENTED. I ASKED THE CHAIRWOMAN FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, YOU KNOW, AND IN THIS GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MOVE ON AND DO OTHER THINGS AND FOR DIFFERENT AT DIFFERENT POINTS. AND WE ARE ABOUT TO SAY GOODBYE TO A COUPLE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS. FIRST OF ALL, PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSIONER MATT BEASLEY, WHO WE HAVE HAD AS COMMISSIONER FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND ENTICED HIM BACK BECAUSE HE HAD LEFT US FOR A WHILE. HE WAS DEPUTY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. HE LEFT, WENT TO HAMILTON COLLEGE AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM BACK. BUT, YOU KNOW, HE'S HE'S A YOUNG TALENT THAT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED. AND MATT IS GOING TO LEAVE US. AND THE FIRST PART OF JULY TO TAKE A POSITION WITH NATIONAL GRID. HE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB SHEPHERDING A LOT OF PROJECTS HERE, DEALING WITH YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HIS YOU KNOW, HE WORKED WITH US DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THEN HAD TO HELP US THROUGH TWO TORNADOES, CLEANUPS AND THE LIKE. AND LEADING HIS TEAM. MATT HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB. WE HOPED WE WOULD HAVE HIM FOR A WHILE, BUT WE UNDERSTAND HIS HIS TALENTS ARE ARE OUT THERE. AND SO WE WISH MATT THE VERY BEST. AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM TODAY IN FRONT OF THIS BOARD BECAUSE BY THE NEXT MEETING, HE WILL HAVE MOVED ON. BUT, MATT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION. AND IT'S ALWAYS TOUGH WHEN IT'S SOMEONE YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AND I'VE WORKED WITH MATT FOR, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, A NUMBER OF YEARS HERE, BUT THIS NEXT PERSON I WORKED WITH A MUCH LONGER PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE IN LOOKING AT THE DATES, WE KIND OF STARTED, I STARTED A LITTLE BIT BEFORE HER. BUT LET ME JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY FRIEND OVER THERE IN THE CORNER WHO'S GOING TO BE MAD WHEN I, WHEN I ANNOUNCE THIS, SHE STARTED AS A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR WITH INSIDE HOUSE.SHE THEN BECAME A CASEWORKER AND, YOU KNOW, STARTED AND I LOOKED BACK AT THE RECORD AND THEIR STARTING PAY THEN WAS $13,186 I THINK WAS THAT AT THAT TIME. SHE THEN MOVED UP TO A SENIOR CASEWORKER, CASE SUPERVISOR, GRADE B SUPERVISOR, GRADE A SUPERVISOR, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AND FOR A VERY SHORT TIME INTERIM, AND THEN BECAME THE COMMISSIONER OF DSS. COLLEEN FAY BACK STARTED WORKING IN ONEIDA COUNTY GOVERNMENT. AS I SAID IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM ACTUALLY WAS ONE OF YOUR FIRST JOBS IN 1983. AND I MENTIONED A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR AND THEN MOVED OVER INTO THE SERVICE DIVISIONS, WHERE SHE SPENT A GREAT PART OF HER CAREER. COLLEEN, IS TO SAY THAT, I MEAN, SHE'S RESPECTED AMONG HER PEERS ACROSS THE STATE, BUT IN THIS COUNTY, IN THE AREAS OF HUMAN SERVICES, SHE IS RESPECTED WITH EVERY AGENCY THAT SHE DEALS WITH. THE STAFF HERE AT DSS LOVE HER. WE ARE GOING TO MISS HER. SHE IS GOING TO RETIRE LATER THIS MONTH. SHE'S GOING TO HANG AROUND A LITTLE BIT TO HELP US ON A FEW THINGS, BUT IT'S VERY HARD. WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER VERY CLOSELY OVER THE YEARS. I'VE BEEN COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND, YOU KNOW, THROUGH HER TIME AS DIRECTOR IN SOCIAL SERVICES. AND THEN SHE MOVED INTO DEPUTY COMMISSIONER. AND SINCE THAT TIME, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S A WEEK THAT'S GONE BY THAT WE HAVEN'T WE HAVEN'T WORKED ON SOMETHING. HER WORK WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION, HER WORK THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, HER WORK, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH THE CHANGES AND THE DEMANDS THAT COME OUT OF ALBANY, HER, HER, HER ALWAYS SMILING. IS ANYBODY EVER NOT SEEN COLLEEN WITH A
[01:10:01]
SMILE ON HER FACE? I DON'T KNOW THAT I DID HEAR HER YELL ONE TIME, WHICH I WON'T TALK ABOUT, BUT IT WAS ONCE. ONLY ONCE. RIGHT, RIGHT. YOU KNOW, I MEAN. RIGHT, GINA. THERE'S NOT A THERE'S THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE THIS. THIS THIS WOMAN, SHE'S A LEADER.SHE'S LOVED WHAT SHE'S DONE FOR ALL THESE YEARS. SHE SHE COULD HAVE GONE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND BEEN A PART OF WHATEVER SHE WANTED TO DO, HER KNOWLEDGE, HER COMPASSION, HER INTEGRITY. I MEAN, I COULD JUST GO ON AND ON. AS YOU COULD TELL, I'M GOING TO REALLY TERRIBLY MISS HER LEADERSHIP. YOU KNOW, I HELD ON TO HER FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. SHE TRIED TO LEAVE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND I, I BEGGED HER TO STAY AND SHE DID. BUT I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH. I MEAN, THERE'S AGAIN, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS DEDICATED THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT SHE DOES WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF, OF, OF DSS. YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I KNOW THAT I MEAN, I'M NOT BEING INSULTING TO THE BOARD OR TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THE AMOUNT OF THINGS THAT GO THROUGH THAT DEPARTMENT, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DID THE CONSOLIDATION HUMAN SERVICES WITH, WITH, WITH, WITH HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, VETERANS, YOUTH, ALL OF THOSE AGING, ALL THOSE SERVICES. SHE HAS BEEN A LEADER. I ALWAYS CALL HER THE COMMISSIONER. I AM GOING TO MISS HER TERRIBLY. SHE IS ONE OF A KIND. AND WE OWE HER A GREAT DEBT HERE IN ONEIDA COUNTY. COLLEEN, GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
COLLEEN. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU TERRIBLY. AND WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THIS BOARD, OF COURSE, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WAS ONE OF MY COMMITTEES. I CHAIRED IT FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND I CALLED YOU ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I COULD ALWAYS GET YOU. I COULD ALWAYS GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS JUST LIKE THAT. YOU'VE JUST BEEN A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO THIS COUNTY.
AND I KNOW ON BEHALF OF ALL THE LEGISLATORS, WE'RE GOING TO TRULY, TRULY MISS YOU AND JUST GO OUT AND HAVE FUN, TRAVEL, HAVE FUN, AND I HOPE YOU MISS US TOO, I WILL THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SECOND, EVERYBODY'S.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.