County lawmakers OK plan to bring county museum under Economic Development, Planning & Tourism

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

LITTLE VALLEY — Cattaraugus County lawmakers approved a local law Wednesday that will bring the Cattaraugus County Museum under control of the Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism.

No one spoke at a public hearing prior to legislators voting on the local law to amend the duties of the Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism to include the museum.

The change comes at a time when the museum in the Stone House in Machias is about to welcome its first full-time county historian.

Brian McClellan, who is currently museum curator, will take on the additional duties and title of historian next month. He has held the part-time post of curator for 19 years.

Longtime Historian Sharon Fellows recently retired, creating the opportunity to combine the historian and curator posts into a full-time position, which McClellan expressed interest in.

A resolution to use $5.9 million from county surplus to “buy” $11.8 million in funding for the county’s two nursing homes was also approved.

The Supplemental Medicaid program for nursing homes provides for an Intergovernmental Transfer (IGT) payment upon payment of 50% to the state. The county has felt this is a good investment as long as it continues.

The resolution states the county’s The Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Centers are eligible for payments of $5,538,020.00 for the Olean facility and $6,312,821.00 for the Machias facility.

Legislators also approved a five-year contract with the state Department of Health for $309,500 for the county’s lead poisoning prevention plan. The funds are paid in annual installments of $61,900.

In another matter, legislators approved an application for $45,000 to the Meals on Wheels Program’s Social Connection Grant Program.

The grant is designed to fund local programs to expand individuals’ social connections to address senior isolation and loneliness.

Another resolution that was approved authorized Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr to apply for up to $182,172 for youth-related programs between Oct. 1, 2026 and Sept. 30, 2027.

Also, Spencer Phinney was named director of Information Services for a four-year term.