By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — The Cattaraugus County Legislature’s last meeting of 2025 Wednesday included swearing-in a new district attorney and a Social Services commissioner who both take office Jan. 1, 2026.
Erin Whitcomb, who currently serves as Social Services commissioner, was sworn in as the new county attorney by County Court Judge Ronald Ploetz. Her parents. Brad and Christina Whitcomb, held the Bible as she was sworn in.
She was named two weeks ago to succeed Ashley Smith, who was elected district attorney and takes office Jan. 1.
Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr, R-Gowanda, congratulated Whitcomb on her appointment and said he was “pleased you are taking on this challenging assignment.”
Also sworn in by Ploetz was Jessica Weinman, who was unanimously appointed to succeed Whitcomb as Social Services commissioner.
She is currently director of administrative and fiscal services and will serve for the rest of Whitcomb’s unexpired term, which ends July 30, 2028. Her husband, Doug, held the Bible as she was sworn in.
Smith was presented a gift by Vice Chairman Ginger Schroder, R-Farmersville, who called the county attorney her friend. Schroder, who is also an attorney, expressed her confidence that Smith will make a fine district attorney. She said Smith has already had an impact in the District Attorney’s office by applying for and receiving a $305,000 state Division of Criminal Justice Services for pre-trial services.
Smith will succeed Lori P. Rieman, who did not seek re-election.
“Thank you for your support and your faith in me,” Smith told legislators.
Burr also thanked Smith and wished her well in her duties as district attorney.
IN LEGISLATIVE ACTION, legislators approved a trio of resolutions to contract with the Seneca Nation for law enforcement services on the Allegany Territory to help stem violence and illegal drug activity.
One of the resolutions approved a memorandum of understanding with the Seneca Nation to pay $849,003.91 for police services and equipment. The funds for enhanced law enforcement include $288,329 in salaries and $129,820 for vehicles.
In addition, the Senecas will pay $30,000 for purchase and training for a K-9 and vehicle upgrades.
A separate resolution authorizes the hiring of four new deputies at $30.58 an hour to staff the dedicated patrols. A Seneca Nation Tip Line was also created under another resolution. The county will receive $51,100 a year to staff the tip line 24 hours a day. Another $3,500 will go for training and travel and $400 for supplies.
Prior to the vote, a woman who identified herself as Marie Williams and a member of the Seneca Nation, noted that the memorandum of understanding had not been approved by the Seneca Tribal Council and the Seneca People have not agreed to it. “No one knows about it,” she said. Williams said she’d speak with Sheriff Eric Butler after the m meeting.
Legislators then voted on the resolutions 13-0 on each one. Legislator Jeffrey Stoltenberg, R-South Dayton, was absent.
The Sheriff’s Office has similar contracts for patrol services with the Town of Randolph and for security at the West Valley Demonstration Project. It previously provided security services at the Seneca-Allegany Casino.
Another resolution divided up a portion of the county’s bed tax receipts to three Chambers of Commerce. The Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce will receive $159,236, the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce $81,015 and Seneca Salamanca Chamber of Commerce, $39,111. Each chamber is expected to help promote events in surrounding municipalities as well.
Another $186,240 is available under the resolution to the Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism for advertising and other costs of promoting county-wide festivals, events and other tourism marketing initiatives.
The department was authorized to expend up to $465,602 for tourism promotion and advertising services.
Legislators also approved several resolutions authorizing $32.9 million in capital projects and borrowing for roads, bridges, culverts and buildings and grounds:
- Bridge improvements worth $15.4 million and utilizing $13.7 million in grants, $115,000 in available funds and the sale of $1.5 million in bonds.
- Buildings and Grounds roof reconstruction at the Olean County Center with $1.06 million in available funds and $1.2 million in bonds.
- Culvert replacements worth $3.5 million will be paid for with $250,149 in available funds, $2.9 million in grants and $334,360 in bonds.
- Highway improvements worth $11.3 million, paid for by $1.2 million in available funds, $6.6 million in grants and $3.4 million in bond sales.
Legislators also voted to commemorate Seneca leader Ely Samuel Parker’s recent posthumous admission to the New York State Bar, 130 years after his death.
Born in 1828 on the Seneca Nation’s Tonawanda Territory in Genesee County, Parker later “read law” at an Ellicottville law firm. He was denied admission to the bar and officially practice law because at the time only “natural-born or naturalized citizens were eligible for admission.”
Legislators closed the meeting by thanking 38 employees who retired this year or are about to retire — including former County Administrator Jack Searles who retired in June — and set the 2026 reorganization meeting for Jan. 7 at 5 p.m.
