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From YouTube: Legislature Public Forum and Legislative Meeting - including State of the Fisc - June, 12 2023
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B
Good
evening,
distinguished
members
of
the
Albany
County
Legislature,
thank
you
for
making
the
time
to
allow
me
to
present
my
fourth
state
of
the
Fisk.
As
you
know,
I'm
Susan
Rizzo,
your
Albany
County
comptroller
I,
would
like
to
thank
Mike
Cavalieri
Josh
Rousseau,
my
chief
of
staff
and
Mike
mcneff,
who
is
my
chief
accountant,
a
special
thank
you
to
the
chair
of
the
legislator,
Andrew
Joyce
Majority,
Leader,
Dennis,
Feeney,
Vice,
chair
Wanda,
Willingham,
minority
leader,
Frank,
barriello
and
Clerk
of
the
legislator,
Nicole
Chambers.
My
presentation
will
provide
you
with
details
on
the
solid
Financial
Foundation.
B
B
B
General
fund
unassigned
fund
balance
prepared
Bureau
reader
fund
balance
is
essentially
the
accumulation
of
annual
surpluses
on
the
money
the
county
has
built
up
for
future
use.
These
funds
are
used
throughout
the
year
as
cash
flow
fluctuates
each
month.
Therefore,
fund
balance
does
not
remain
idle.
B
As
you
can
see
from
this
Slide,
the
general
fund
unassigned
fund
balance
increased
to
95
million
dollars.
A
32.2
million
dollar
increase.
A
51
increase.
I
would
also
like
to
point
out.
The
debt.
Reserve
was
15.7
million
dollars
at
year,
end
2022,
a
decrease
of
13.4
million
dollars
and
46
decrease
when
capital
projects
are
closed.
The
balance
transfer
to
debt
Reserve
to
pay
the
principal
and
interest
for
that
Bond's
Cadet
payment.
After
an
extensive
review,
we
have
updated
the
County's
debt
Reserve
and
presented
a
schedule
going
forward
to
allocate
towards
future
debt
payments.
B
B
The
increase
was
primarily
due
to
Stellar
sales
tax
results
as
compared
to
budget
net
sales.
Tax
in
accounting
was
increased
from
last
year
by
20.7
million
dollars
for
11
percent
in
2021
post-pandemic.
Our
citizens
are
returning
to
dining
establishments,
entertainment
venues
and
other
group
events
spurring
a
surge
in
sales
tax
collections
in
2022
inflation
is
a
substantial
contributor.
B
B
B
We
are
collectively
investing
every
dollar,
creating
cash
flow
analysis
and
reviewing
Bank
balances
to
maximize
interest
income
for
the
first
five
months
of
2023
for
all
funds.
We
are
at
4.16
million
dollars
in
interest
income,
whereas
last
year
it
was
at
3.75
million
dollars
for
the
whole
year.
That
is
a
significant
increase
when
we
have
seven
months
to
go
slide.
10
is
regarding
Deputy
group.
B
Albany
County
has
a
solid
Financial
Foundation
12.
I
would
like
to
highlight
Albany
County's
long-term
debts.
As
you
can
see,
the
County's
total
debt
has
declined
since
I
took
office.
Again
we
work
in
conjunction
with
management
and
budgets
to
only
borrow
funds
needed
in
the
year
for
the
year
as
interest
rates
go
up
included
in
2022
is
16.2
million
dollars
for
raise
the
age
Renovations
at
the
County
Juvenile
Detention
Center.
B
This
is
a
coordinated
effort
with
dazny
as
a
Consortium
of
several
municipalities,
including
Albany
County
slide
number
13
is
regarding
public
administration.
I
would
like
to
elaborate
on
my
duties
as
the
public
administrator.
The
controller
represents
people
that
die
and
test
it
without
a
will
or
if
a
descendant
has
no
one
to
unravel
their
state.
B
An
emotional
job
as
relatives
sometimes
do
not
get
along
or
houses
are
left
many
times
in
a
hoarder
situation
which
makes
it
difficult
to
sell
the
properties
until
I
have
them
cleaned
out.
There
are
many
misnomers
regarding
this
part
of
my
job.
The
Heirs
get
the
proceeds
after
Medicaid,
liens
and
back
taxes
are
paid.
If
there
are
no
errors,
New
York
state
receives
the
persons.
It
is
one
of
the
hardest,
yet
most
rewarding
jobs
I
have
ever
done.
B
B
average
sale,
price,
105,
000,
total
residential
sales,
740
000,
2023,
full
market
value,
one
million
207
thousand
dollars
increased
value
over
sale,
price
460,
a
thousand
dollars
percentage
increase,
63
percent
2022
I
collected
past
student
taxes,
totaling
69
380
in
2023
I,
already
collected
79
913
in
passing
taxes
and
I
paid
off
190
360
in
Medicaid
leads
slide.
Number
fifteen
bought
a
title.
B
B
Two
during
the
forfeiture
budget,
it
was
discovered
that
the
FIFA
schedule
of
expenditures
of
federal
awards
did
not
include
forfeiture
funds
which
are
required
to
be
classified
as
federal
assistance.
It
was
then
discovered
that
some
sam.gov
registrations,
the
vehicle
to
receive
federal
funds,
were
expired
and
terminated.
B
4.
audit
of
fixed
assets
resulted
in
substantial
corrections
to
accounting
records
and
led
to
the
development
of
a
written
policy
and
procedure
related
to
the
life
cycle
of
fixed
assets.
Five,
the
correctional
facility
annual
cash
flow
related
to
inmate
funds
is
performed
to
ensure
compliance
with
the
New
York
state
regulations.
B
B
The
correction
in
opeb
and
creating
a
fund
policy
and
debt
policy
will
help
Albany
County
obtain
a
better
credit
rating
in
the
future.
The
higher
the
credit
rating,
the
lower
the
bond
interest
rate
I,
want
to
stress
again
the
higher
the
credit
rating,
the
lower
the
bond
interest
rate
conclusion,
when
looking
at
the
strong
unassigned
general
fund
balance,
long-term
debt,
declining
sales
tax
increases
and
our
current
strong
credit
rating
of
double
a
stable,
the
county
has
a
solid
Financial
Foundation
working
together
with
the
county
executive
and
the
other
elected
officials.
B
B
in
the
beginning
of
2020.
Although
we
had
unassigned
fund
balance
of
49.6
million
dollars,
our
outflows
and
cash
were
greater
than
the
inflow
of
cash.
At
that
point
in
time,
in
2021,
the
unassigned
general
fund
balance
was
utilized
to
help
the
county
navigate
continued
Financial
stress
caused
by
the
pandemic
at
year-end
2022,
although
we
had
a
healthy
fund
to
balance
tread
lightly
on
spending
some
of
these
funds.
B
B
B
Another
reason
for
an
increase
in
our
future
credit
rating,
something
to
consider
if
the
county
has
ample
cash,
considered,
not
borrowing
for
all
capital
projects
and
use
general
fund
Surplus.
For
example,
if
we
didn't
borrow
15
million
dollars,
we
would
save
five
million
dollars
in
future
interest
payments,
something
to
think
about
for
the
future.
D
D
What,
specifically,
are
you
obliged
to
do
as
a
county
controller?
Do
you
have
to
sign
off
on
these
expenditures?
Is
that
change,
or
could
you
show
me
a
little
light
of
how
that
actually
works
in
the
charter
forfeiture.
B
D
B
E
F
B
Of
it
has
to
take
into
consideration
your
your
liabilities,
so
we
don't
record
those
till
the
end
of
the
year,
whether
it's
payables
receivables
and
so
that's
why
our
fund
balance,
we
don't
recalculate
it
every
month.
C
B
B
F
B
Well,
when
I
started,
the
capital
projects
were
necessarily
closed,
so
we
were
done
with
a
project.
So
when
the
project
is
closed,
you
put
the
money
in
debt.
Reserve
management,
budget
and
I
worked
well
together.
Finalized
these
closed
projects
and
that's
when
we
utilize
you
have.
G
To
utilize
it
for
principal
interest,
question
number:
two:
total
long-term
debt
includes
16.2
million
attributed
to
raise
the
age.
Those
are
for
the
Capital
costs
for
the
Youth
centers
mandated
renovations.
B
B
B
They
oversees
it.
We
actually
process
the
the
payments
every
month.
It's
our
it's
our
building.
So
that's
why
it's
included
in
that
right.
Calculation.
G
B
C
H
B
G
Us
work
on
our
credit
rate,
okay
and
nobody's
going
to
ask
about
that,
because
that's
what
I
thought
it
was.
G
Can
you
can
you
show
us
or
at
some
point
in
time
get
to
us
the
audit
and
finance
committee
or,
however,
you
would
distributed
how
that
number
is
tracking
over
the
last
four
or
five
years,
including
2022,
because
we
we
change
our
pension
benefit,
our
not
our
friendship
but
our
health
policy
to
go
from
a
20-year
invested
to
a
15-year
investor,
and
that
should
drive
that
number
up.
B
C
H
I
Back
to
the
asset
photo
and
you
let
us
know
that
the
funds
have
now
been
transferred
to
your
office,
as
opposed
to,
let's
say
the
DA's
over
these
County
Sheriff.
So
a
request
for
those
funds
made
to
you
rather
than
to
them
and
that's
first
person
and
if,
depending
on
how
it's
done,
our
name
is
involved
in
the
decision
making
or
making
recommendations
as
to
how
the
funds
understood.
B
So,
just
like
any
claim
that
is
submitted
to
the
controller's
office,
each
department
is
responsible
for
that
expense,
so
they
are
responsible
to
make
sure
that
it's
permissible
or
they
have
funds
to
utilize.
But
because
of
what
has
happened
with
this
audit,
there
were
a
lot
of
abilities.
They
are
responsible
to
make
sure
they
don't.
C
B
Impervisibilities,
but
we
audit
it
to
make
sure
they
don't
so
we
had
a
federal
and
a
state
audit,
it's
very
complex
and
we're
working
together
to,
but
they
make
the
recommendation
of
what
the
money
is
to
be
spent
on
and
it
has
to
be
spent
on
public.
I
I
I
B
J
Well,
thanks
for
the
concise
presentation,
very
unappreciated,
just
a
quick
question-
you
mentioned
collecting
about
76
000
in
property
taxes
this
year,
I
think
69.
was
that
related
specifically
to
the
test
page
work
or
is
that
like
Jeff
Neil
on.
B
J
Okay,
great,
thank
you.
The
other
question
I
would
just
have
this
and
again
this
is
a
little
bit
of
a
laylance
fee
here
you
know
you're
showing
that
year-to-date
we're
about
4.16
million
in
interest
on
money's
assumably,
that's
as
a
result
of
the
money
market
options
that
are
out
there
with
the
rising
interest
rates.
With
that
in
mind,
and
we
may
not
do
we
have
any
Debt
Service
or
debt
instruments
or
the
credit
facilities
that
are
also
variable
in
interest
rate
that
would
outpace
those
or
save.
B
Bonds
are
established
when
we
do
a
bond
the
interest
rates.
We
can't
make
more
money
than
what
the
rate
is
on
the
bond.
It
would
be
Arbitrage
because
the
Investments
weren't
that
great
initially
before
I
started
and
we
worked
with
management
budget.
We
maximize
upon
every
dollar
that
we
we
actually
invest.
B
So
we're
now
approaching
the
fine
line
of
Arbitrage,
so
we're
still
able
to
invest
our
money
because
Arbitrage
is
for
the
period
of
time
of
the
note,
and
since
we
didn't
really
invest
in
the
earlier
part,
we
can
maximize
I'm
making
five
percent
on
a
note
where
we
might
have
had
a
2.7
website
and
percent
interest
rate
on
the
bond,
so
we're
utilizing
all
the
bond
proceeds
and
investing
them
until
they're
actually
spent.
If
that.
J
B
So
we
invest
now
all
our
money
we
work.
We
have
a
cash
flow
management
budget,
does
a
monthly
or
weekly
cash
flow.
So
we
make
sure
that
we
invest
all
our
money
and
we
know
what
we
need
to
pull
the
money.
So
we
might,
we
invest
in
a
vehicle
called
New,
York
class,
your
class
Prime.
We
also
invest
with
m
t
bank.
We
have
CDs,
we
do
three
six
month
different
CDs,
we
have
a
ladder,
it's
a
very
complex
calculation.
B
J
So
is
there
so
we
kind
of
have
a
honeymoon
in
a
sense
until
we
have
to
borrow
again
right
or
we're
able
to
take
advantage
of
that
additional
money
available.
Well,
my.
B
B
J
K
Early
in
the
presentations
where
the
adopted
by
the
revenue
expenses,
we
have
756
million
right
and
then
the
actual,
the
actual
expenses
were
him
on
the
budget.
But
the
revenues
were
812,
you
know,
so
that
was
a
surplus
of
56
million.
K
B
The
budget
did
not
include
the
the
substantial
increase
in
sales
tax,
so
when
a
budget
was
done,
we
didn't
know
what
21
this
is
done
by
management
budget.
We
didn't
know
at
the
end
of
21
budget
was
where
you
can
see.
It
was
a
substantial
increase
of
20
some
percent
and
then
in
22
it
was
another
11.
So
no
the
budget
did
not
identify
those
huge
increases
that
were
that
we
could
actually
was
able
to
get
okay.
K
F
B
Right
and
then
the
the
the
sale
of
assets
that
the
real
property
has
sold
assets,
so
they
made
another
extra
five
million
dollars
and
there
was
also,
if
you
wanted
to
get
out
and
down
to
every
nickel.
There
was
additional
Federal
grant
money
that
was
received.
That
was
not
budgeted.
Okay,.
K
And
what
percentage
of
the
56
million
dollar
Surplus
was
the
Federal
Scranton.
B
Not
as
big
as
the
percent
for
the
sales
tax,
it
might
have
just
been
five
or
six
percent.
The
sales
tax
is
what
was
the
bigger
driving
driver
and
even
though
it
increased
year
over
year
by
11,
I
think
the
budget
there
might
have
been
a
greater
increase,
because
we
we
didn't
know
what
the
21
number
was.
21
number
was
much
higher.
When
you
do
your
budget,
you
don't
have
the
year
in
numbers,
okay,
great.
I
B
I
B
I
B
E
L
B
There's
rules
about
the
seizure
funds
and
so
my
teeth
whitener,
who
was
instrumental
with
this
audit
that
was
ongoing
and
it's
impermissible
to
use
seizure
funds
for
community
activities.
State
seizure
funds,
you,
when
some
things
were
used
to
help
the
younger
individuals
to
keep
them
off
the
streets.
I
met
with
the.
B
And
they
said
clearly,
it's
impermissible,
there's
a
legal
opinion
that
says
that
the
federal
can
utilize
certain
twenty
five
thousand
dollars
that
they
can
actually
utilize
for
things
that
they
feel
are
needed
in
our
community.
But
there's
rules
and
it's
very
clear
and
we
can
call
the
federal
government.
They
have
a
line
that
you
can
verify
if
it
is
permissible.
E
B
Federal,
the
federal
side
and
there's
a
there's,
a
there's,
a
printout
of
what
the
money
can
be
spent
on
and
that
Federal
side
they
have
an
allocation
of
25
000
and
you
have
to
read
what
exactly
you
could
spend
just
25
000
on
So.
G
Thank
you.
Okay,
yes,
are
you
swimming
I,
think
I
understand
what
you
just
said.
Only
if
this
is
accurate,
the
sheriff
and
the
D.A
still
are
the
decision
makers
as
to
how
the
money
is
spent.
You
are
the
decision
maker
as
to
whether
or
not
they
meet
the
federal
of
the
state's
guidelines.
Nobody,
no
other
no
other
department
head
or
the
county
executive
or
any
other
elected
official
can
access
those
funds.
The
sheriff
and
the
D.A
are
still
the
primary
responses.
N
B
B
Quarter,
it
was
greater
than
last
year's
budget,
and
now
it's
it's
less,
it's
a
negative.
It's
less.
N
Than
last
year,
so
at
the
end
of
the
year
we
don't
really
know
yet
whether
we're
going
to
have
sales
revenue
that
exceeds
what
we
had
projected
for
the
full
year
or
not.
B
We're
looking
that
it
will
probably
hit
budget,
but
this
is
being
monitor
regularly
by
both
management
and
Budget
Insurance,
because
that's
a
large
dollar
amount
of
our
revenue
for
all
the
economy.
N
Okay,
now
the
other
I'm
not
sure
what
page
it
is,
but
the
general
fund
unassigned
fund
balance.
You
see
that
going
up
year
over
year,
well,
no
not
40,
almost
50
million
in
2019
down
to
30,
35
and
2020.
up
to
62
in
2021
and
up
to
95
in
2022..
Now
is
that
the
number
that
relates
to
at
the
end
of
year
in
dollars,
you
I
think
said
we
have
a
fun
balance
of
14
point
something
percent.
You.
B
N
Pay
for
account
that
percentage
number-
that's
you
know.
Sweet
spot
is
between
12
and
a
half
and
15..
What's
the
term
for
that,
if
it's
not
fun,
it's
not
Reserve,
which
is
a
dollar
number,
and
it's
not
unassigned
fund
balance.
What's
the
term
we
use
it,
15.
B
Yeah,
it's
an
allocation
of
your
fund
policy,
of
making
sure
that
you
have
enough
money
set
aside
when
you
use
percentages
as
a
Target,
so
the
legislators
negotiated
15
and
then
they
negotiated
between
10
to
12
and
a
half
percent
that
after
12
and
a
half
percent
they
can
actually
utilize
some
of
the
funds.
N
B
Figure
out,
okay,
let
me
give
you
an
example:
if
I
and
I
make
so
much
money.
B
Personally,
try
to
use
15
as
the
percentage
for
me
the
allocation
I
like
to
save
money,
I
think
the
county
kind
of
used
the
same
you
know
15
is
a
good
number
to
make
sure
that
our
fund
balance,
so
we
have
enough
money
to
to.
If
anything
happens
like
the
pandemic,
it's
an
allocation.
It's
a
percent
allocation
I.
Think.
B
95.,
the
fund
balance
indicate
I,
can
get
you
a
copy
of
fund
balance.
The
fund
balance
indicates
that
the
Milwaukee
County
would
like
to
keep
at
least
15
percent
in
an
unassigned
fund
balance,
which
equates
to
about
95
million,
but
they
have
the
option
to
spend
between
12
and
a
half
and
15
percent.
N
B
N
B
The
allocation
that
the
Albany
County
would
like
to
say,
Albany
County,
would
like
to
say
15
of
the
templates
adopted
budget
to
keep
it
to
keep
in
a
reserve.
So
we
have
enough
money
if
anything
goes
south.
If
we.
C
H
It's
easy
to
understand:
I
did
have
a
question
in
2019
the
state
passed
internet
sales,
tax
collection
and
also
they
eliminated
the
sales
tax
exemption
for
Energy
service
companies.
Have
you
seen
that
to
be
a
helpful
source
of
Revenue
can
be
differentiate?
You
know
those
things
coming
in
I,
don't
obviously
know
how
it
works
on
your
end.
So
that's
just
a
prefix
185.
B
So
New
York
State
takes
the
top
20
of
where
are
we
receiving
our
sales
tax?
What
are
the
top
20
places?
And
you
see
that
the
top
five
are
pretty
much
the
same
for
us
or
you
know
automobiles
you'll
see.
B
B
Then
you
have
big
box
sales
tax.
You
sometimes
can't
distinguish
between
a
Walmart,
whether
it's
internet
or
wall,
the
big
box,
which
is
fine,
you're,
still
getting
it,
but
it
is
reported,
and
we
do
look
at
to
see
what
the
trend
is
of
what
we're
receiving
our
sales
tax
from.
If
that
answers,
your.
H
B
A
As
I
stated
before,
the
chairman
is
excused,
I
will
run
the
public
forum,
the
legislative
Rules
of
Order
allow
for
a
period
of
public
comment
before
the
monthly
meeting.
The
rules
state
that
speakers
may
not
ask
questions
of
the
legislature
and
the
legislature
may
not
ask
questions
of
the
speakers.
I
will
Begin
by
calling
the
roll
best
thing.
A
M
Q
Q
Anyway,
we
learned
here
when
Lynn
Jackson
spoke.
That
Zarina,
who
is
also
here,
had
called
her
to
for
whatever
age
group
she
was
in.
She
called
her
to
let
her
know
to
come
on
in
well.
It
turns
out,
even
though
a
lot
of
us
think
of
Lynn
as
pretty
special.
She
called
everyone-
okay
and
my
pharmacist
in
Guilderland,
and
he's
good
and
I
like
him.
But
let
me
assure
you
that
he
never
called
me
despite
the
fact
that
I
have
the
triple
whammy
still
due
for
dying
from
covet.
Q
Okay
and
also
they
make
a
lot
of
money
off
me
because
of
my
various
illnesses.
But
nobody
called
me
or
anybody
else
by
the
way.
Now,
if
I
didn't
live
so
far
from
Lincoln,
you
better
believe
I
would
be
grateful
to
have
Lincoln.
As
my
Pharmacy
and
also
I
know.
Zarina
is
here
Zarina
as
my
pharmacist
now.
Here's
why
I
have
I
brought
exhibit
a
okay.
Q
This
little
thing
that
you
may
not
be
able
to
see
from
the
back,
which
is
partly
my
point.
This
little
thing
contains
an
antibiotic
for
people
with
certain
eye
problems
which
I
have
okay
and
it
costs
almost
as
much
as
liquid
gold.
So
I
called
to
renew
it
and
my
pharmacist,
who,
let
me
be
really
clear,.
F
Q
Really
like
he
said
it
was
discontinued,
there
is
no
substitute
for
this.
Okay,
so
I
was,
of
course,
pretty
upset.
Well,
my
pharmacist
with
me
was
able
to
get
two
more
of
these
from
a
different
Price
Chopper,
but
that
was
it.
Okay,
that
was
all
I,
was
gonna.
Get
I
called
many
pharmacists
near
me,
got
the
same
thing
wasn't
going
to
help,
but
I
knew
all
along
because
I
come
here.
Q
Okay
I
knew
all
along
who
I
should
call
so
I
called
Zoomy,
and
she
told
me
she
would
call
look
into
it
and
call
me
right
back
and
generally
when
people
say
that
I'm
kind
of
thinking
yeah
sure,
okay,
but
she
did.
She
can
call
me
again,
okay
and
she
found
out
that
the
name
had
changed
on
the
product
and
she
was
able
to
get
it.
Okay,
and
this
made
a
big
difference
to
me,
then
she
said
because
I
hadn't
thought
about
it.
Q
P
Good
evening,
I'm
Bob,
Stevens
and
I'm
here
to
speak
on
behalf
of
the
legislation
to
provide
funding
for
the
Guilderland
Hill
towns
and
Colony
fire
training
facilities.
I'm
a
deputy
fire
coordinator
in
Albany,
County
and
I
had
the
pleasure
to
address
this
body
last
month
when
you
passed
legislation
to
provide
property
tax
exemption
for
volunteer
firefighters
in
EMS
personnel
and
I
want
to
thank
you
for
that
support
and
that
effort.
This
evening,
you
have
before
you
a
proposed
legislation
to
provide
funding
to
upgrade
and
enhance
three
of
the
County's
fire
training
facilities.
P
Although
the
44
42
fire
departments
in
Albany
County
can
benefit
from
this
as
well
as
law
enforcement
and
EMS
agencies
throughout
the
county.
The
tax
exemption
for
volunteer
firefighters
that
you
passed
will
serve
as
a
tool
to
help
us
recruit
and
retain
more
volunteers.
That
is
a
good
and
necessary
thing.
P
Now
we
have
to
recruiting
more
firefighters,
be
they
paid
or
volunteer.
They
have
to
be
trained.
Have
adequate
training
facilities
is
a
Paramount
importance
to
their
training,
The,
Colony
and
gilderland
fire
training
facilities
have
been
in
existence
for
more
than
50
years
and
have
suffered
thousands
and
have
suffered
from
thousands
of
hours
of
intense
training.
P
Both
the
existing
fire
Towers
in
Guilderland
colony,
had
had
served
beyond
their
useful
life
and
were
condemned
and
must
be
replaced.
Now,
your
funding
will
kick-start
the
necessary
replacement
by
thanks
to
County
Executive
McCoy
legislative,
chair
Joyce
and
the
in
this
legislative
body,
for
your
support
and
I
want
to
thank
Sheriff
apple
and
County
Fire
coordinator
Paris
for
their
support.
Chief
Paris
has
spent
countless
hours,
advocating
with
federal
state
and
government
officials
for
funding
to
upgrade
enhance
the
fire
training
facilities
in
the
county.
P
He
has
met
with
much
success
and
I
know
that
he
knows
that
the
work
that
much
work
still
has
to
be
done.
We
will
continue
to
Advocate
with
federal
state
and
local
officials
to
secure
additional
funding
for
our
training
facilities
on
behalf
of
the
Emergency
Services
Personnel
of
Albany
County
and
again,
I
want
to
thank
you
for
your
support.
F
F
You
your
vote
in
favor
of
resolution,
230.
fire
training
facilities,
Albany
County,
are
an
urgent
need
of
repair
and
upgrading,
mostly
County.
Fire
training
towers
are
well
past
their
useful
life.
These
facilities
are
used
to
provide
training
for
all
the
county,
firefighters,
both
career
and
volunteer.
F
T
Good
evening,
everybody
and
thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
come
address
the
body
in
reference
to
the
fire
training
centers
throughout
the
county.
It's
it's!
It's
a
shame
that
these
centers
have
gotten
to
the
point
they
are,
but
just
give
you
a
little
quick
little
history,
The
Colony
fire
training
center.
We
myself,
Chief
Stevens
we've
worked
very
hard
in
trying
to
ascertain
where
we
can
get
funds
visit
the
different
state
federal
agencies
to
ascertain
and
grab
these
funds
to
get
to
these
different
sites.
T
The
Colony
fire
training
center
has
used
over
40
000
man
hours
a
year.
The
State
Fire
Academy
to
compare
the
two,
the
State
Fire
academies,
a
little
over
50
000
man
hours
a
year
of
usage,
The
Guild
and
Fire
Training
Center
about
five
thousand
man
hours
a
year
at
guildwood.
So
with
that
being
said,
the
man
hours
in
the
amount
of
use
that
these
facilities
are
actually
being
it's
putting
more
of
a
wear
and
tear
on
these
facilities
than
we
were
ever
built
for.
T
Just
to
give
you
an
idea
how
much
of
this
wear
and
tear
it
is
Albany
County
in
New,
York
state,
less.
The
five
boroughs
in
New
York,
City,
Westchester,
County,
downstate,
Suffolk
and
Nassau
County-
that
really
doesn't
participate
in
the
State
Fire
Outreach
training
program.
Albany
County
is
ranked
number
four
in
a
state
for
outreach
fire
training
hours
that
are
used
in
the
whole
state
of
New
York
I
have
lobbied
very
hard
to
increase
our
hours.
T
We
got
an
increase
of
another
650
instructor
hours
a
year
to
be
used
within
Albany
County
and
brings
us
up
to
2650
hours
a
year
of
instructor
training.
With
that
being
said,
the
instructor
training
and
getting
those
extra
hours
we're
rated
number
two
in
the
state
of
New
York
for
outreach
pool
hours
that
are
used.
These
are
hours
from
other
counties
that
don't
use
their
hours.
T
We
have
tapped
into
those
hours
to
make
sure
that
our
firefighters
here
in
Albany
County
get
the
training
that
they
deserve
and
the
training
that
they
need
and
the
training
that
they
want
to
train
our
people
now.
I
want
to
thank
everybody
here
for
passing
that
resolution
last
month
on
the
tax
attempt
for
volunteer
firefighters.
Just
so
you
folks
now
so
far
this
year,
we've
had
88
firefighter
background
checks
in
Albany
County
to
join
volunteer
fire
departments
within
Albany
County
88
new
applicants
to
learn
to
be
firefighters
that
want
to
dedicate
their
time.
T
So
with
that
being
said,
the
importance
of
these
fire
training,
centers
and
I'm,
going
to
probably
you're
going
to
see
me
again
because
I
need
to
revisit
for
the
Bethlehem
fire
training
center,
but
this
will
help
for
the
future
of
Albany
County.
These
new
fire
training
centers
that
are
being
built.
The
center
is
already
there,
but
we're
going
to
operate
them
with
brand
new
buildings,
we'll
last
another
20
25
years,
so
for
colony
and
Gildan
we're
not
putting
a
Band-Aid
on
a
problem.
T
T
R
C
R
R
If
their
background
checks
are
being
processed
right
now,
also,
and
also
as
a
22-year
employee
of
the
Albany
County
Department
of
Public
Works
in
advance,
I'm
thanking
you
for
support
of
not
only
our
contract
but
the
general
Services
contract
and
as
the
newly
appointed
local
801
president
I
would
like
to
extend
my
invitation
to
our
picnic,
this
Thursday,
it's
the
local
801
picnic
and
anybody's
interested.
Please
see
me
afterwards
and
thank
you
very
much
for
all
that
you
do.
A
U
Good
evening
I'm
Dr
Zarina
Jalal,
the
supervising
pharmacist
at
Lincoln,
Pharmacy
I,
know
I've,
been
here
several
times
in
the
past
a
couple
of
months
to
talk
to
you
about
my
concerns
of
the
pharmacy,
the
Department
of
Mental
Health
today
I
want
to
put
a
face
to
the
people
that
I
and
the
reason
I
come
back
up
here.
Each
time
John.
U
John
followed
suit
a
couple
years
later,
when
his
Pharmacy,
the
Walgreens
on
North
Pearl
Street
closed
and
then,
when
Genoa
opened
at
the
Department
of
Mental
Health
John
trusted
his
Physicians
and
had
his
mental
health
meds
transferred
there.
One
of
John's
prescriptions
is
not
covered
out
of
pocket,
and
this
past
month
when
John
went
to
fill
his
prescription,
the
cost
of
the
medication
went
from
forty
dollars
to
twelve
hundred
dollars.
That's
a
three
thousand
percent
increase.
U
When
you
moved
on
this
contract
in
December,
many
of
you
pointed
out
the
extreme
level
of
care.
The
patients
at
the
Department
of
Mental
Health
required
John
is
not
one
of
those
people.
In
the
years
that
I
have
known
him.
John
has
proven
himself
to
be
a
strong
Advocate,
not
only
for
himself
but
for
Gail,
so
when
he
got
the
new
quote
for
his
medication,
the
first
thing
John
did
was
reach
out
to
me
at
Lincoln
Pharmacy,
because
he
knew
he
could
trust
me,
and
you
know
he
didn't
ask
for
a
quote.
U
He
asked
if
there
was
something
logical
that
happened
in
the
marketplace.
That
would
explain
this
ridiculous
price
increase.
In
case
you
were
wondering
there
was
not
what
John
experienced
was
a
classic
example
of
what
companies
will
do
when
they
have
cornered
the
market.
John
knew
enough
to
ask
questions
and
to
advocate
for
himself,
but
many
of
the
patients
at
the
Department
of
Mental
Health
are
not
in
that
position.
U
In
December.
You
also
promised
to
push
for
change
in
the
RFP
process.
I
know
that
many
of
you
were
unsettled
by
the
concerns
I
raised
aside
from
the
RFP
process
and
that
I
continue
to
raise.
But
to
date
the
RFP
reprocess
Remains,
the
Same
and
the
other
concerns
I've
also
raised
have
largely
been
ignored.
C
A
V
It
is
my
view
that
the
dec
and
the
state
government
do
not
know
and
choose
not
to
know
how
widespread
and
serious
the
health
risks
are.
With
the
dispersal
of
PFS
pfas
substances
that
bioaccumulate
in
animals
and
people
on
June
1,
the
Sierra
club's
Atlantic
chapter
issued
a
report-
titled
sewage
sludge,
fertilizer
contaminates
Farms
with
toxic
pfas
I'm,
going
to
leave
a
copy
of
that
here
and
I'd
like
it
to
be
included
in
the
official
record
of
tonight's
meeting.
V
The
Atlantic
chapters
asserts
that
in
2017,
New
York
state
government
tested
sewage
sludge
for
pfas
at
only
eight
of
the
hundreds
of
Wastewater
sewage
treatment
plants
in
New,
York
state,
the
dec
found
high
levels
of
pfas.
They
did
not
notify
the
sewage
sewage
treatment
plan
operators
of
this.
They
have
not
tested
the
soils
where
the
sewage
sludge
was
spread,
nor
have
they
notified
the
property
owners
where
the
sewage
such
was
spread
of
the
contamination.
It's
my
view
that
the
state
government
is
mostly
ignoring
the
emerging
pfas
science.
V
V
It
is
also
my
belief
that
any
thorough
testing
of
freshwater
fish
caught
in
New
York
state
would
show
widespread
and
high
pfas
contamination,
and
this
would
force
the
State
Health
Department
to
issue
a
freshwater
fish
eating
ban
Statewide
and
that
would
create
a
political
earthquake
in
New
York
state.
We
have
a
right
to
know
and
a
duty
to
determine
how
widespread
and
severe
the
pfas
contamination
is
and
what
the
health
consequences
are.
Thank
you.
W
W
If
you're
not
aware,
vote
4-1-1
allows
every
single
candidate
running
we
reach
out,
and
we
try
and
reach
out
via
email
so
that
you
can
candidates
can
actually
answer
questions
that
they
in
their
own
words.
We
will
post.
We
do
not
edit,
so
that
they
can
put
themselves
forward
with
the
public.
The
public
can
then
go
in
put
in
their
address,
see
exactly
what
will
be
on
their
ballot
and
see
those
candidates
with
their
responses.
If
a
candidate
does
not
respond,
it
will
say.
The
candidate
has
not
responded.
W
It'll
be
clear
that
they
chose
not
to
participate.
We
never
want
to
see
that
happen.
This
is
a
local
election
year.
To
get
information
about
local
candidates
is
not
easy
for
the
average
citizen,
not
at
all.
First
of
all,
the
the
media
cannot
cover
the
number
of
races
that
are
out
there
and
every
single
one
of
those
races
are
so
important.
W
I
totally
believe,
and
the
reason
why
I
joined
the
League
of
Women
Voters
was
because
the
best
way
you
can
make
a
difference
in
your
community
is
locally.
You
can
reach
out
to
the
candidates,
who
are
your
neighbors
and
have
conversations
with
them,
and
with
this
we
really
believe
that
vote.
4-1-1
is
the
best
way
to
start
that
education
process.
W
So
right
now
we
went
live.
We're
missing,
actually
email
addresses
because
the
Board
of
Elections
doesn't
carry
email
addresses
they
carry
your
formal
addresses,
but
we're
looking
for
email
addresses
for
several
candidates,
including
those
from
the
conservative
parties.
We
traditionally
like
to
work
with
the
parties,
because
that's
where
we
can
get
information
about
the
candidates
most
easily,
but
we're
missing
some
information
from
Democrats
and
we're
missing
some
information
for
conservative
candidates.
W
W
W
A
X
Good
evening,
I'm
Jeannie
Orr
with
Capital
District
tobacco-free
communities
are
funded
by
the
New
York
State
Department
of
Health
tobacco
control
program,
and
tonight
I
just
want
to
share
with
you
a
resolution
approved
just
last
week
by
the
U.S
Conference
of
Mayors.
The
supports
eliminating
all-fair
tobacco
products,
including
flavored
e-cigs,
menthol
cigarettes
and
flavored
cigars
and
among
the
facts
cited.
X
Whereas
research
estimates
that
prohibiting
the
sale
of
menthol
cigarettes
would
prevent
as
many
as
654
000
smoking
cause
deaths,
including
over
255
deaths
among
black
Americans
over
time
and
would
eliminate
the
disparity
in
lung
cancer
deaths
between
black
Americans
and
other
racial
groups,
whereas
360
localities
across
the
country
restrict
the
sale
of
flavored
tobacco
products.
Now,
therefore,
be
it
resolved
that
the
United
States
Conference
of
Mayor
supports
prohibiting
all
flavor
tobacco
products.
X
This
support
goes
beyond
the
conference
of
Mayors
in
April
Siena
Research
Institute
pulled
adults
in
New
York
and
found
that
57
percent
favor
a
ban
on
menthol-flavored
tobacco
products.
Honestly
I'm
surprised,
I
think
the
numbers
should
be
higher
because
locally
we've
met
with
community
members
and
there's
pretty
much
a
consensus.
Nearly
every
smoker
former
smoker
and
non-smoker
we've
spoken
to
agreed
that
flavored
tobacco
products
should
not
be
available
to
addict
young
people
and
we've
heard
from
plenty
of
people
who
are
desperate
to
quit.
X
X
As
I
mentioned
the
last
time
I
spoke
before
this
body
we're
currently
compiling
a
report
based
on
the
information
we
collected
by
visiting
tobacco
retailers
located
near
schools
in
the
city
of
Albany,
including
what
flavor
tobacco
products
continue
to
be
sold
and
in
what
ways
those
products
are
being
marketed,
and
the
support
will
also
include
the
kind
of
things
communities
across
the
state
and
the
country
have
been
doing
to
address
this
problem
and
to
promote
Health
Equity,
and
we
welcome
conversation
for
a
pass
towards
Apple.
Thank
you.
Y
Hi
good
evening,
everyone,
my
name-
is
Simona
fish.
I
am
the
community
engagement
coordinator
for
Capital,
District,
tobacco-free
communities
I'm
here
today
to
follow
up
on
what
my
colleague
Jeannie
just
spoke
about,
but
I'm,
focusing
on
the
use
of
menthol
cigarettes
in
the
African-American
Community,
specifically
in
our
Albany
Community.
It's
an
issue
that
bears
repeating
because
it's
an
issue
of
Health
Equity,
86
percent
of
African-American
smokers
in
New,
York
state
smoke,
menthol
cigarettes
compared
to
just
29
of
white
smokers,
and
we
know
that
this
is
not
by
accident.
Y
It's
the
result
of
Decades
of
targeted
marketing
by
the
tobacco
industry.
The
industry
has
used
Menthol
to
make
it
easier
to
start
and
harder
to
quit.
There
was
an
opportunity
for
New
York
state
to
be
the
leader
in
a
menthol
free
world
in
this
year's
state
budget.
However,
in
the
final
negotiations,
the
ban
on
menthol
cigarettes
was
removed
and
Menthol
will
be.
Con
will
continue
to
be
sold
in
our
stores.
We've
started
a
community
Spotlight
project
where
we
interview
local
community
members
about
their
experience
with
tobacco.
Y
We're
doing
this
because
we
want
the
voices
of
community
members
to
be
heard
above
the
falsehoods
coming
from
the
tobacco
industry.
Our
first
interview
was
within
Albany
resident
Tammy,
Miller
Tammy
and
her
family
directly
suffered
from
the
tobacco
industry's
aggressive
and
successful
marketing
of
menthol
cigarettes
to
the
black
community.
She
began
smoking
at
a
young
age
and
was
also
exposed
to
second-hand
smoke
from
her
parents
who
were
both
smokers.
Tobacco
use
exacted
an
enormous
toll
on
their
health.
Y
Y
I,
don't
believe
Menthol
flavored
tobacco
is
a
choice
for
black
people,
not
at
all
I
feel
like
we
were
targeted
and
it
became
a
norm
and
that's
why
we're
suffering
now,
as
a
community
Rifka
suffered
a
pulmonary
embolism
at
the
age
of
26
from
tobacco
use,
she
almost
lost
her
life
because
the
tobacco
companies
have
systematically
targeted
African-American
communities
with
Menthol
advertising.
We
have
the
opportunity
to
listen
to
our
community
members
and
learn
from
their
stories.
We
can
take
steps
to
make
flavored
tobacco
products
like
menthol
cigarettes,
less
accessible
and
appealing.
Z
Z
Tonight
you
will
be
voting
on
a
measure
which
will
provide
funding
to
the
town
of
Guilderland,
the
hill
towns
and
the
town
of
Colony
fire
training
centers.
This
funding
is
desperately
needed
and
will
provide
much
needed
repairs
and
replacement
of
the
fire
training
Towers
at
Guilderland
colony
and
upgrades
to
the
facilities
in
the
hill
towns.
Z
Funding
which
you,
which
you
will
provide
to
the
tower
Colony,
will
not
only
benefit
the
fire
service
of
the
town,
but
the
fire
service
throughout
the
county.
Several
County
sponsored
State
fire
training
courses
are
conducted
each
year
at
our
facility
in
2022,
over
2500
hours
of
County
sponsored
State
training
was
conducted
at
the
colony
facility.
This
training
benefited
firefighters
throughout
the
entire
County.
Z
In
addition
to
the
fire
service,
local
law
enforcement
and
EMS
agencies
also
use
the
facility
and
will
benefit
from
the
improvements.
Your
funding,
in
conjunction
with
funding
from
New
York
state
and
local
governments,
will
provide
state-of-the-art
training
facilities.
This
will
allow
for
realistic
scenarios
enhancing
First
Responders
Readiness
to
respond
to
emergencies.
Z
Z
A
A
V
D
A
A
E
I
E
E
Gun
ownership
so
supports
evidence-based,
gun
violence
prevention
strategies
and
enhances
access
to
Mental,
Health,
Resources
and
support
services
for
our
residents
within
Albany
County
I
ask
each
of
you
to
join
us
in
this
Proclamation.
Thank
you.
So
now
we
will
start
with
the
first
item
under
previous
business.
E
C
E
E
E
E
E
O
Responded
was
able
to
put
the
fire
out
and
push
it
in
the
house,
and
thank
you
because
I
bet
everybody
in
this
room.
Every
legislator
has
been
to
a
fire
communication
and
watch
those
firefighters
work,
a
fire
in
the
exhaust
Studio.
We
all
know
on
the
pounds
and
pounds
of
clothes
that
they
wear
and
the
hours
that
they
put
in
to
protect
the
many
many
lives
and
I.
Just
think
that
this
is
such
a
good
investment
in
the
future
firefighters.
O
O
O
O
E
S
I
advise
and
support
purpose
of
resolution
and
I
visited
the
fire
tower
with
sexting
and
requested
in
the
fire
department,
because
everybody
supports
us.
M
Also
rise
in
support
for
all
the
reasons
listed
by
my
two
colleagues
earlier,
also
because
the
power
that's
going
to
be
reconstructed
in
building
is
in
my
district
in
the
Northeast
industrial
park
in
Building
Center.
So
this
is
not
just
a
question
of
Public
Safety.
This
is
a
question
of
economic
development
in
that
particular
part
of
town
in
the
county.
I
think
our
staff
had
asked
that
I
have
to
be
added
as
a
sponsor
I'm,
not
sure
that
that
got
through
okay
and
I
guess
all
the
other
minority
members
that
had
asked
to
included
himself.
L
Complement
the
share
for
his
leadership
and
our
accounting
executive
for
his
leadership
on
this
project,
but
I
just
would
like
to
speak
on
behalf
of
the
city
Hall
you
heard
about
you
know:
Colony,
Hill
town
to
be
Ableton.
Well,
actually
the
city
hall
be
trained
in
communities,
so
I
I
think
that
everybody
who
represents
the
city
of
Wally
I
hope
this.
L
N
When
I
read
this,
this
proposed
resolution
I
noted
that
the
bachelor
in
power
was
not
included.
I
wasn't
sure
why
okay,
today
I
learned
that
the
it's
in
the
works
and
I
look
forward
to
supporting
that
as
well.
For
all
the
reasons
everyone
has
stated,
but
I
think
some
great
service
with
you
guys
do
and
better
trained
people
the
better
for
their
own
safety
and
for
the
safety
of
people.
I
believe.
D
No
thank
you,
madam
chair
yeah.
I,
just
wanted
to
say
how
difficult
this
was
putting
the
financing
together.
This
would
this
required
money
from
State
lawmakers
borrowed
money
from
some
of
the
nursing
homes
and
acquired
listeners,
and
then,
of
course,
the
county
put
in
98
Degrees
College,
which
is
pretty
substantial,
and
it's
been
a
lot
of
work.
D
Chair
repairs
to
put
this
all
together,
but
what's
going
to
happen
tonight
and
those
Powers
will
last
20
to
25
years
of
the
current
towers
are
just
not
useful
anymore,
so
this
is
pretty
remarkable
example:
coordination
among
many
municipalities
and
I'm
glad
that
all
of
us
will
be
part
of
it.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
A
E
E
E
A
A
C
I
C
I
That
we
care
about
them
being
stable,
any
Financial
we
need,
we
can
provide
for
them.
I.
Think
it's
an
opportunity
to
contribute
to
the
quality
of
life
with
them
and
anytime.
You
can
give
people
an
opportunity
to
stay
in
their
own
home
without.
G
Just
would
like
to
add
whoever
is
responsible
for
supplying
us
through
the
American
flags.
N
G
E
E
All
those
in
favor
opposed
unanimous
thank
you.
Finally,
we
have
one
more
rule,
11
and
and
another
appropriation
of
Opera
funding
this
one
for
the
Workforce
Development
board
can
I
have
a
motion
to
invoke
the
rule.
11
Mr
Feeney
motion,
second
by
Mr,
McLean
Lane,
all
those
in
favor
opposed
unanimous.
Thank
you
clerk.
Please
read
resolution
2
45.