August Committee & September Session Update
August might have brought the dog days of summer, but the work continued, as important issues and funding requests were discussed at the Legislature's committee meetings and Session.
The August Health & Human Services Committee only had one resolution to discuss this month - the acceptance of JUUL settlement funds in the amount of $1.4 million dollars. The money is coming from the settlement of a multi-state agreement with e-cigarette company JUUL Labs for its role in the explosion of youth vaping throughout New York and Onondaga County, and must be directed to evidence-based practices to address under-aged vaping and e-cigarette addiction.
“It’s been a pretty significant problem in our community” the county’s Director of Community Health, Rebecca Shultz, told the committee. “Between 18 and 20 % of youth statewide actually identify as using these products and so, with the settlement that was part of a national effort we will be able to address prevention of vaping, we’ll be able to enhance enforcement issues around vaping and overall just protect the health of these young people in our community.”
Committee Member Kevin Meaker (2nd District) asked if “enforcement” means providing for enhanced undercover operations, saying retail stores selling to underage youth is a big problem in our county. Director Schultz confirmed that yes, that is part of the plan for how the funding will be used, and that stores selling flavored vapes to any age customer will also be addressed.
The settlement money is expected to be dispersed over several years. Program activities funded by it must fall into these categories:
Public education campaigns to prevent e-cigarette use among young people
Community, school, and university-based anti-vaping programs
Vaping cessation services in communities, schools, and colleges
Enforcement of vaping laws and regulations
Public health research into e-cigarette use among young people and the effectiveness of anti-vaping programs
The Onondaga County Health Department currently operates Tobacco-Free CNY and the Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act (ATUPA) program, as well as enforces the NYS Clean Indoor Air Act in Onondaga County.
The resolution was advanced to the Ways & Means Committee.
The meeting also featured two informational presentations. The first from the Onondaga County Veterans Service Agency (VSA) and the second from the county’s office of Adult & Long Term Care Services.
VSA Director Anne-Marie Mancilla first explained a bit about what her department does, including:
Assisting veterans, military personnel and their families apply for local, state or federal benefits they may be eligible for
Providing information, assistance and advocacy for claimants in actions or claims against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or state and local veterans-related entitlements to include burial assistance
Assisting veterans and their eligible dependents apply for VA Compensation, Pension and Survivors Benefits
Assisting with burial applications for the OC-Veterans Memorial Cemetery
With the numbers increasing, she says more accredited Veteran Service Officers are needed and more community outreach needs to be done. She also reminded veterans and claimants that they should never be paying for VA claims assistance (TV commercials may have them thinking otherwise).
Committee Chair Cody Kelly (14th District) asked, “What’s your vision for your department moving forward? How can we best serve you in the work that you’re doing?”
Director Mancilla answered, “I think this. Asking the questions, knowing what’s going on and really realizing what it is that we’re doing and supporting the growth.”
“Under your leadership, the office has really gone forward to just a whole other level of service” Committee Member Ken Bush Jr. (13th District) said, speaking directly to Director Mancilla. “You’ve really brought this office a long way and the Legislature has really come a long way in supporting your office so you can get out there and do the things that you want to do and need to do for the veterans.”
Committee Vice Chair Richard McCarron (11th District) added, “I appreciate you being here. I feel like there’s never enough we could be doing for our veterans.”
Click here to learn more about the Onondaga County Veterans Service Agency or call their office at (315) 435-3219.
The second presentation was from the heads of the Onondaga County Department of Adult & Long Term Care Services.
Commissioner JoAnne Spoto Decker started by saying that the “mission of Adult & Long Term Care Services is to provide support to improve the quality of life and overall well-being for adults and those with long-term care needs. Our department curates direct service, programs and local resources that we’re very proud of.”
25% of Onondaga County’s population is aged 65 or over. Adult & Long Term Care Services connects individuals to directly provided services, outside organizations, service providers, and community groups to receive assistance for a variety of needs including:
Health Insurance & Benefits
Food, Meals, & Nutrition
Homecare & Caregiver Assistance
Safety, Wellness, & Socialization Programs
Housing Care & Counseling
Long-Term Care Needs
Transportation
Adult Protective Services
Commissioner Decker and Deputy Commissioner Maria Mahar shared specifics and statistics about the department’s core programs, including EISEP (Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program), nutrition programs, caregiver support and education, home energy assistance and transportation services. The goal of each is to keep seniors in their home and in turn, help reduce nursing home costs.
Commissioner Decker also shared details of their Adult Protective Services division.
Committee Chair Kelly summed up the presentation saying, “I appreciate the work that you do and it really provides a comprehensive and holistic approach to healthy aging.”
Click here to learn more about the Onondaga County Department of Adult & Long Term Care Services or call their office at (315) 435-2362.
The August County Facilities committee meeting was held at Onondaga Community College, and while it was just days before the start of their fall semester, the first topic at the meeting had to do with winter.
The Onondaga County Department of Transportation had two resolutions on the agenda. One was an agreement with the New York State DOT for snow and ice removal, and another was with Cayuga County towns for the same.
Committee Chair Deb Cody (5th District) called them “good partnerships” while Committee Vice Chair Dave Knapp (12th District) added, “This is a win for both the county and the towns. If the county had to do this, we’d need many, many more trucks and more people, and quite often, the towns and villages are driving our roads to get to their roads anyway, so it makes sense for them to drop their plows and take care of our stretches of roads.”
The DOT also brought forth a local law authorizing the extension of a 20-year lease agreement with the Town of Tully for the use of a garage and salt shed in the Town. The DOT uses it to store 2 trucks and salt in winter and enables them to get out faster to do snow and ice removal in the southern end of Onondaga County. In turn, the county pays for utilities which can range from about $3,800 to $7,000.
DOT Commissioner Martin Voss said all the credit for this agreement goes to Legislator Knapp who he says was instrumental in brokering and negotiating the agreement.
The only other agenda item was presented by Commissioner Archie Wixson from the Department of Facilities Management. They are requesting $185,816.00 for enhanced security measures to further protect the public and county employees at the John H. Mulroy Civic Center and the Kochian County Office Building. Phase 1 of a larger project, this funding will go towards the installation of magnetometers and x-ray machines and additional contract security guards in the lobby area of both buildings to screen all members of the public and any bags. The funding will also go towards the purchase of portable radios to facilitate communications between security staff and the Sheriff's Special Patrol Officers assigned to both buildings.
All of the above items were advanced to the Ways & Means Committee.
Then, it was on to the presentation that brought the committee to OCC’s Ferrante Hall. The college’s Executive Director of Communications, Roger Mirabito, writing about it on OCC’s website:
OCC Alumni Cassie Raymond and Curt Henry both work with Dwyer Architectural and are helping design the learning spaces of the future in the School of Health, Wellness & Human Services in Ferrante Hall. Read more about them here. Raymond and Henry provided Legislators with more details of the project, including showing them designs and drawings, before taking a tour so the Legislators could see the areas to be renovated for themselves. The Legislature approved $15,000,000 in funding for the project in September 2022.
Of the above items that came before this month’s Ways & Means committee, all were advanced to September Session.
Committee Chair Colleen Gunnip (4th District) spoke to the enhanced security at the Kochian County Office Building and the John H. Mulroy Civic Center, where she previously worked for the Department of Social Services. “I’m glad to see this is finally happening” she said. “It’s long overdue and I’m happy to see this.”
Committee Member Julie Abbott (6th District) wanted clarification about the $1.4 million in funding coming from the JUUL settlement and how it will be allocated. The money must be used to address under-aged vaping and e-cigarette addiction. OCM BOCES and the Syracuse City School District received their own settlement money.
Legislator Abbott: How are you going to ensure this is equitably distributed to all of the districts including rural?
Rebecca Shultz, Director of Community Health: “I think that what we’re planning to do sooner rather than later is convene a call with the other recipients from our area and just make sure not only that it is being equitably allocated but that we’re not going to be duplicating each other’s efforts in terms of the new information and programming that we’re trying to get out there. So, I think that the impetus for bringing the schools involved will certainly, we have some partnerships already through our youth action program, but also I think the city schools and BOCES will also have some input into how that rolls out.”
Director Shultz added that the county will likely offer programming to school districts, but that school districts would want to allow the Health Department to come into their schools and offer it.
New items brought before the committee that were all advanced to September Session:
Confirming the appointment of Kristen C. Jackson as the Onondaga County Director of Probation
Accepting and approving the contract between Onondaga County and the Onondaga Corrections Captain’s Association
Approving and directing the correction of tax errors on bills
Confirming appointments to the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency and to the Region 7 Fish and Wildlife Management Board
Two resolutions calling for public hearings: one, on the 2025 Onondaga County Budget and two, in connection with the proposed adoption of an amended schedule of sewer rents for the Onondaga County Sanitary District
The only other items on the agenda were three resolutions related to the Onondaga County Board of Elections, all of which were advanced to September Session. Two were related to grant funding and appropriating it for the update of election software, on-demand ballot printers, cyber security and pre-paid postage for absentee applications and ballots along with early mail applications and ballots.
The third was a request for $475,000 in funding to cover costs for Election Inspectors and other workers needed for Early Voting and the General Election. Some of it comes from grant funding; the majority comes from operating contingency, placed in that account following the 2024 budget review last fall. It was also advanced.
Committee Vice Chair Brian May (1st District) used the opportunity to bring up last year’s election cycle and the unnecessary drama that played out with the Board of Elections. 2024 is a Presidential election year, so in their proposed 2024 budget, the BOE’s Democratic Commissioner asked for much more funding than would likely be needed, wanting cash up front to have on-hand to cover possible expenses rather than request more if it was needed. When he didn’t get exactly what he wanted, he tried to paint Legislators and other county officials in a bad light.
On the floor, Committee Vice Chair May – who is also the Legislature’s Majority Leader – said, “The department failed to convince the administration they needed more money with their request. Despite some pretty serious shortcomings in the way the request was put together and presented, and I think this is important to point out, this committee worked very hard to figure out what exactly was needed and I specifically want to thank Commissioner Sardo for helping us do that, because if she didn’t, I think we’d still be working on it today. It was very confusing. It was the game of ask for twice as much as we need so we can get half as much.”
Continuing, Leader May said, “It just became political and it just was completely unnecessary to me. I also think it’s worth noting that the administration should be thanked because this committee, after working very hard to figure out what was needed, went back to the administration and worked with them and they worked with us to come up with nearly a half a million dollars to solve this problem which looks like it’s almost a bullseye for what is going to be needed this year. Unexpected expenses notwithstanding, maybe that’s luck, maybe that’s an effort or result of hard work. I’d like to think it was the latter.”
Leader May also brought up what he calls a “nasty” opinion piece written by the BOE’s Democratic Commissioner and published by Syracuse.com. “This committee and the administration, after a lot of effort, more so than any other department, brought half a million dollars back into the budget to logically and responsibly meet those financial needs, and that was the thank you we got. There’s a comment in it that counties don’t know how to fund democracy. I contend in our little world of Onondaga County, the BOE failed to explain to us what the real cost of democracy needs to be, and when we go to the public and engage the media because we’re losing an argument, that’s not a good thing. Despite all of that unnecessary nonsense, we rose above and did what we needed to do.”
Leader May finished by stating a fact. “We should be working together to get this stuff done, get it right, bring a great election process to our voters and we’re doing that this year but all the other stuff in between is just political and there’s no place for that.”
All of the above items that had been advanced to September Session were approved by the full Legislature, along with several ‘housekeeping’ items.
Afterwards, Legislator Mark Olson (10th District), who is Chair of the Public Safety committee, spoke about the approved funding for enhanced security at John H. Mulroy Civic Center and the Kochian County Office Building. “This is an important project for the county, most especially our employees and the public who come to these buildings in need of assistance and services” he said. “It’s critical we are proactive rather than reactive, and this is a great first step towards protecting everyone.”
Also at Session, Legislature Chairman Timothy Burtis (3rd District) honored former Legislator Willie Morgan, who passed away. Mr. Morgan was appointed to the Legislature in July 1997 and he served through the end of that year. He represented the people of the 23rd Legislative District, which covered a large portion of the City of Syracuse. Mr. Morgan is also credited with helping found the Syracuse Community Health Center and the Southwest Community Center in Syracuse.