By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — Majority Leader Kelly Andreano used an I-86 pothole analogy to describe the choices the Cattaraugus County Legislature is facing this year with respect to New York State.
In her acceptance speech at the county legislature’s reorganization meeting Wednesday, the Olean Republican thanked her colleagues for re-electing her to the majority leader’s post.
“This is not just a personal honor, but a reflection of the shared vision and commitment we have as a legislative body to serve the people of Cattaraugus County,” Andreano said.
“On the way over, as I was dodging craters, landmines and potholes that is the disaster of I-86 (East) I drew similarities to the state in which we find ourselves this year,” Andreano said. “You see, New York State is just like I-86 — marred with potholes, never-ending debt, high crime due to a failed bail reform policy and more unfunded mandates as the governor continues to intercept county funds for much needed services.”
Andreano said, “We as a legislature have the same options I-86 today — go in the right lane, lose a tire, wreck or have to pay thousands of dollars to fix the alignment in my car.
“There will be times we need to choose the left lane as I did today — be conservative and protecting an entity that I desperately need to live and make a living for my family — similar to the fiscal outlook we have in front of us,” Andreano said.
“Or at times we will need to get off the highway — take a longer way around to really look at and connect with people — our constituents that we represent,” said Andreano.
Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr of Gowanda and Vice Chairman Michael Brisky were also re-elected by fellow county lawmakers. Burr thanked his fellow legislators for re-electing him chairman.
In Brisky’s remarks, he thanked everyone and said he looked forward to working for the taxpayers with legislators and department heads again in 2025. He also urged legislators to be respectful in disagreement. “We all need to work together even if we disagree,” he said.
There has been very little evidence of disagreement in this legislature if floor votes and comments on legislation — even in committees is any measure.
Republicans control all 15 of the legislative seats across five districts. This the second year under a new redistricting plan that there have been no Democratic legislators. No Democrats filed to run for county legislature in 2023. The next election will not be until November 2027.
During Wednesday’s reorganization session, resolutions authorizing county funds for a variety of organizations, legislators approved $300,000 budgeted for the Cattaraugus County Land Bank for demolition and rehabilitation of tax foreclosure properties and $267,769 for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County.
Legislators set a public hearing on the first proposed local law of 2025, setting uniform guidelines for determining the responsibility of bidders.
The proposed local law sponsored by Burr states that, “based upon its experience, has determined that quality workmanship, efficient operation, safety and timely completion of projects are not necessarily assured by awarding a public works contract solely on the basis of the low price.”
It lists three pages of guidelines including one called vendor procedure. A low bidder will receive a form called the New York State Vendor Responsibility Form. If the form is not completed and returned to the county in five or 10 days, its bid will be rejected and their bond may be forfeited,
The proposed law is listed on the county website at cattco.org. The hearing is set for 5 p.m. Jan. 22.
Legislators also approved a resolution authorizing acceptance of a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for a countywide well, septic and lateral repair or replacement grant.
The program is administered by the Cattaraugus County Health Department. It pays for repair of failed septic systems and contaminated private water systems for eligible homeowners.
Legislators also approved two contracts under the health department’s Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building Grant designed to prevent lead poisoning. They total $300,000 for the Health Community Alliance Inc., Gowanda, to establish a Lead Hazard Control Program.
A separate resolution calls for a contract not to exceed $225,000 for Cattaraugus Community Action for its Healthy Neighborhoods Preventive Health Cornerstone Project.
The low bid for printing the 2025 Enchanted Mountains Activity Guide was awarded to a Vermont firm, Catamount Color of Essex, Vt., for $56,630 for 100,000 copies of the 65-page publication and a fold-out county map insert.
