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NINTH REGULAR SESSION
Johnstown, NY September 10th, 2018

Roll Call– Quorum Present

Supervisors: Supervisors: Argotsinger, Blackmon, Born, Bradt, Breh, Callery, Fagan, Greene, Handy, Howard, Kinowski, Lauria, Perry, Rice, Selmser, Waldron, Wilson, Young TOTAL: Present: 18 Absent: 2 (Supervisors Groff and Potter)

In the absence of Chairman of the Board Groff, Vice-Chairman Wilson called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Vice-Chairman Wilson asked if there was anyone from the public who wished to address the Board.

Stephen Smith, Executive Director of Mohawk Valley Economic Development District – Mr. Smith explained that he was present to provide an update to the Board on the NYSERDA Clean Energy Community Program. He advised that Fulton County is receiving a $150,000.00 grant through the program. Dan Sullivan, Clean Energy Coordinator, has been working with Superintendent of Highways and Facilities Mark Yost on the grant. The grant will be used for a LED Lighting Project in certain County Buildings. Mr. Smith further advised that MVEDD has also provided small business loans to some Fulton County businesses such as Gloversville True Value and Deli Master Foods. Mr. Smith further advised that MVEDD, which covers six counties in their Region, has obtained more grants than any other Region in New York State from the Clean Energy Communities Program.

Mr. Stead advised that Marc Barraco, Governor’s representative for the Mohawk Valley Region, sent an e-mail on Sunday to the Board Office advising that he could not attend the meeting today.

Vice-Chairman Wilson asked Mr. Stead to proceed with the reading of the Late Communications on the Late Agenda.

LATE COMMUNICATIONS

L-1 Letter from National Grid to the Chief Executive, dated 31 August 2018 Subj: Semi-Annual PCB Report covering 1 January 2018 through 30 June 2018 (Supervisor Lauira requested a copy).

L-2 Letter from the Energy Improvement Corporation to Chairman Groff, dated 8 August 2018 Subj: Acceptance of Membership of Fulton County into the Energy Improvement Corporation (Supervisors Born, Howard and Young asked for a copy)

Mr. Stead advised that he had traveled to Washington, to represent the County at a White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Conference for county officials from New York and New Jersey on August 23 and 24. Mr. Stead then provided a summary report that he distributed to Board Members outlining the highlights of the conference. Mr. Stead further advised that this event has been held the past two years where the Trump Administration has been inviting local government representatives for briefings on federal priorities.

White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
NY/NJ Local Leaders Briefing
(23 August 2018)

REPORT TO THE BOARD
by Administrative Officer Jon Stead

1. Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
   
   Douglas Hoelscher, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
   
   Opening Remarks Theme: Administration is trying to make a concerted effort to push decision-making down to state and local government.
   
   1. Priorities of Administration:
       
      
      1. Opioid Epidemic
          
      2. De-regulation
          
         
         1. Goal is to eliminate 2 regulations for every one that is created.
             
         2. In year 1, the administration actually eliminated regulations on a 22 to 1 ratio.
             
      3. Expand market access for U.S. manufacturing and agriculture around the world.
          
      4. Provide more vocational training and apprenticeships to create a more skilled, employable workforce.
          
      5. National Defense Authorization Act a. Included the largest pay raise in history for members of the military.

2. Office of Assistant to the President and Senior Counselor
   Kellyanne Conway
   
   1. Topic: Opioid Crisis/Drug epidemic
      
      1. The Trump Administration is trying to take a “horizontal & vertical approach”
         
         1. a. Horizontal – policies across all agencies (House Resolution No. 6 pending in the U.S. Senate)
         2. b. Vertical – federal, state & local monetary assistance

Fighting the Opioid addiction crisis is being waged through a “Three (3) Front” Approach:

1. Prevention and Education (Goal: reduce opioid prescriptions by 30% over the next 3 years)
    
2. Treatment and Recovery (Goal: Increase access within local communities)
    
3. Law Enforcement & Interdiction (Emphasis on preventing the expansion of fentanyl abuse)

“Make every day TAKE BACK

 

3. Department of Energy
   Doug Little, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental & External Affairs
   
   Department of Energy is responsible for nuclear weapon development & testing.
   
   1. Priorities:
      
      1. Concentrating on remediating environmental dangers that were created (contamination) from prior nuclear testing.
      2. Protecting the Electric Grid & natural gas pipeline system from terrorism (create resiliency).
      3. Renew efforts to harness thermonuclear fusion for commercial energy production.

Note: West Valley, NY Research Lab is being cleaned up of radioactive waste
(However, delays have occurred because Yucca Mountain is closed to new waste right now)

“DOE is still concentrating on how to make fossil fuels cleaner because the brunt of energy sources is still fossil fuel based.”

4. Office of Domestic Policy Council
   Andrew Grimberg
    
   
   1. Priorities: “Make every day TAKE BACK DAY.”
       
      
      1.  Cross-agency support for workforce development a. Job re-skilling, tech colleges emphasis
          
      2. Health insurance costs, particularly prescription drug costs a. Taking on practice of setting very high MSRP for drugs that face uninsured/underinsured residents.
          
      3. High College Tuition Costs (Student Loan Costs)
          
      4. Monitoring Veterans Affairs Officials and their performance (strengthening accountability/removal).

5. Office of Legislative Affairs
   Ja’Ron Smith, Special Assistant to the President
    
   
   1. Priorities:
       
      
      1. Urban Revitalization
         
         1. Investment & Opportunity Act (Opportunity Zone Program)

Tip of the 
- Company that invests receives tax benefits by reducing Capital Gains Tax if investment is in “Opportunity Zone”

 

6. Office of U.S. Trade Representative
   Stewart Young, Deputy Assist. Trade Rep. for Intergovernmental Public Engagement
    
   
   1. Priorities: Breaking down trade barriers & tariffs
       
      
      1. Enforcing Laws already on the books in international trade practices.
      2. Rebalancing existing Agreements with other countries.
      3. Pursue future areas for new engagements a. (new partners in Asia/Expand with true friendly partners)
      4. Rebalancing NAFTA commitments is also a big effort right now.

7. U.S. Office of Customs & Immigration Enforcement
   Corey Price, Acting Deputy Associate Director
   
   1. Priorities: Importance of ICE partnerships/cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.
      
      287-G Agreements:
      
       
      
      1. a. MOA for federal authority to enforce immigration violations within local jails
          
      2. b. This is a preferred goal because it is safer to take custody of a removable criminal alien in a jail, rather than pursue them at large in a community.
         
         
         ICE “IMAGE Program”
         
         1. a. Enforcing laws related to employment of illegal aliens
             
         2. b. Increase participation in the E-Verify System

8. U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Bill Northey, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation
   
   1. Priorities: Aggressive pushing for free, fair trade
       
      
      1. Market Facilitation Program (Sept 4, 2018) (Payments to Farmers because of foreign countries’ retaliation with increased tariffs on agriculture products.) Note: Approximately 40% of foreign tariff impacts against U.S. is against agricultural products
          
      2. Trump Administration’s roll-back of limits on dairy products in school lunch programs.
          
      3. Improving “Farm to School” programs

- Mentioned that EPA is working on partial roll-back of former Administration’s “Waters of the U.S.A.” regulations.

- Expressed support for FFA (Future Farmers of America) in schools

9. U.S Department of Education
   Frank Brogan, Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education
    
   
   1. Priorities: Goal should be to allow local schools to be somewhat independent of federal authority/federal planning.
       
      
      1. Accountability from federal level, but innovation & “how-to” should be developed at local level.

10. Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
    William Crozer, Special Assist. to the President & Dpy. Director of Intergov. Affairs
    
    Closing Remarks Theme: The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs is making a concerted effort to establish contact staff that can be accessed by local governments. (contact lists were distributed)

UPDATES FROM STANDING COMMITTEES

REPORTS

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

(No Report)

RESOLUTIONS

No. 336 (Resolution Authorizing Recoupment Payment to the NYS Department of Health for Purported State Overpayments to the Former Mental Health Clinic (COPS Program): Supervisor Callery asked if this is the last time that the State could tell the County that they owed money for prior services. Mr. Stead explained that Ernie Gagnon, Community Services Director, reported to the Human Services Committee that he believes this would be the last recoupment payment and doesn’t believe that there are any more audited payments owed. Also, Mr. Stead reminded the Board that the former Mental Health Clinic was closed in 2012, so there should certainly not be any recoupment payments owed after that date.

No. 342 (Resolution Authorizing a Contract Between the Department of Social Services and Gloversville Enlarged School District for a School Intervention Partnership Program (SIPP) : Supervisor Young stated that the SIPP Program a was a great program and he was sorry to see it end a few years ago. With the SIPP Program, a student can get the help they need.

Supervisor Born agreed with Supervisor Young and said that it was a great program and it can help with children that are liable to “slip through the cracks” in the system.

Supervisor Lauria agreed with both Supervisor Young and Born and stated that the program can work with children at a young age and keeps them from getting into the detention or correction systems.

No. 358 (Resolution Waiving the Work Week Limits Policy for Per Diem Voting Machine Custodians in the Board of Elections Office During 2018: Supervisor Callery asked if the extra week would force the County to offer health insurance coverage. Mr. Stead said that he checked with the Personnel Director, who advised that the extra week would not trigger the “Obama Care Mandate” to offer health insurance to these part-time employees.

No. 355 (Resolution Authorizing County Participation in the Legal Defense of Certain Assessment Reduction Actions by Wal-Mart Corporation Within the City of Johnstown: Supervisor Young commented that this was a very important issue for the County to get involved in and that the assessments on the Wal-Mart Corporation Distribution Center are reasonable.

Mr. Stead advised that the final meeting of the 2018 Shared Services Panel would be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 for approval of the 2018 Shared Services Plan.

Upon a motion by Supervisor Fagan, seconded by Supervisor Waldron and unanimously carried, the Committee entered into Executive Session at 1:52 p.m. to discuss collective bargaining.

Upon a motion by Supervisor Waldron, seconded by Supervisor Callery and unanimously carried, the Committee re-entered into Regular Session at 2:07 p.m.

NEW BUSINESS

Supervisor Handy commented that he often has coffee with some retired friends, one of whom lives across from 35 Eagle Street in Gloversville. The Eagle Street property was recently demolished and this friend complimented the County’s Demolition Team and what a great job it did with the removal of the building and how the property was graded perfectly. Supervisor Handy said that it was nice for the County to get this credit.

Upon a motion by Supervisor Waldron, seconded by Supervisor Selmser and unanimously carried, the Committee adjourned at 2:11 p.m.

Certified by:
Jon R. Stead, Administrative Officer/DATE Clerk of the Board