SECOND REGULAR SESSION
Johnstown, NY February 8, 2021
|LS|Held via Zoom Video-teleconference|RS|
[Held via Zoom video-teleconference]
Roll Call – Quorum Present
Supervisors: Argotsinger, Blackmon, Born, Bowman, Bradt, Breh, Callery, Fagan, Goderie, Greene, Groff, Horton, Howard, Kinowski, Lauria, Perry, Potter, VanDenburgh, Wilson, Young
TOTAL: Present: 20 Absent: 0
Mr. Stead welcomed everyone to the meeting. He introduced Chairman John Callery. Chairman Callery stated that he hopes the pandemic ends soon so we can get back to normal.
Chairman Callery called the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, Chairman Callery noted that the meeting was being held by video-teleconference due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
REPORTS
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2020 Annual Report, Fulton County Board of Elections
UPDATES FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
Public Works: Supervisor Fagan stated that curbside recycling is anticipated to start back up on 16 February. Chairman Callery stated that is the plan. Mr. Stead stated that the recycling will start-up next week and noted that the Workforce Alternation Plan will be ending effective 12 February. He advised that this Plan has avoided several department shutdowns over the last few weeks. He also noted that the Personnel Director reported to him that it was probably the right decision.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Chairman Callery stated that Deputy Administrative Officer Beth Lathers has kept him busy with the signing of 2021 department contracts.
Mr. Stead advised that there are several Resolutions on the Preferred Agenda today to help lessen the amount of roll call voting needed. He noted that proposed Resolutions 1 through 30 will be on the Preferred Agenda and held with one roll call vote. Proposed Resolutions 31 through 35 will all be separate roll call votes.
RESOLUTIONS
Resolutions on the Agenda were then deliberated on.
Resolution No. 57 (Resolution Authorizing County Participation in the Legal Defense of an Assessment Reduction Action by Holland Meadows Golf Course within the Town of Mayfield) Supervisor Horton asked if the school district is involved in this? County Attorney Brott stated that the school district handles it separately. He also noted that the County pays a pro-rata share in the defense of this case. Attorney Brott also stated that the school district may not have been properly served. Chairman Callery asked Mr. Horton if that answered his question. Mr. Horton stated “yes”.
Chairman Callery asked for any “Old Business” or “New Business”.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Stead provided an update regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He advised that Fulton County’s positivity rate is down from a couple weeks ago but still at one of the highest rates in New York State. Mr. Stead stated that Superbowl parties may lead to another small spike. He noted that once there is nicer weather, he hopes that people will get outdoors, and it will help bring the positive rate down.
Mr. Stead noted that Fulton County received 200 COVID-19 vaccine doses last week and a Public Health Department Vaccination POD was held last Thursday. He also noted that “second dose allocations” were also received last week and a small POD was held on Wednesday and Friday to administer the second doses that were received.
Mr. Stead stated that New York State “earmarks” doses for specific groups of people. He expressed that most officials in Fulton County believe more doses need to be assigned to senior citizens and expressed that they should be a top priority.
Mr. Stead also stated that the Governor’s Office and the New York State Department of Health are stressing that local pharmacies should be the priority vaccinator for seniors. He expressed that can be difficult because pharmacies are using online registration systems which can be hard for senior citizens to use. He noted that Walgreens is now a vaccinator in the Mohawk Valley Region and advised that they only have an online appointment system.
Mr. Stead advised that Fulton County is expecting a small shipment of vaccines this week. Supervisor Greene stated he heard that the State was allowing vaccinations if an individual has a compromised condition and asked if that was true. Mr. Stead stated that is a recent development and over the weekend the Governor announced a list of comorbidities. Mr. Stead read the comorbidities list from a set of meeting notes he recently received.
Mr. Stead expressed appreciation for the Fulton County Public Health Department for keeping up with all of the changes related to COVID-19 vaccinations and executive orders.
Upon a motion by Supervisor Fagan, seconded by Supervisor Horton and unanimously carried, the Board adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Certified by:
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Jon R. Stead, Administrative Officer/ DATE.
Clerk of the Board
RESOLUTIONS