By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — There were no surprises Wednesday as Cattaraugus County lawmakers held their reorganizaion meeting to get ready for the new year.
Republicans hold all 15 legislature seats. They re-elected Andrew Burr of Gowanda chairman, Ginger Schroder of Farmersville vice chairman, Kelly Andreano of Olean majority leader, Norman Marsh of Litle Valley, assistant majority leader and Donald Benson of Allegany majority whip.
Benson nominated Burr for chairman and Jeffrey Stoltenberg of South Dayton seconded the nomination.
In brief remarks, Burr thanked legislators for their confidence in re-electing him to a third term as chairman. “I appreciate your confidence, and I appreciate all of you and the department heads and the county residents. So thank you, and we ‘ll look forward to continuing iour progress.” He said he would announce committee appointments in about two weeks.
Andreano nominated Schroder for vice chairman, a post she was elected to after former legislator Michael Brisky of Franklinville, then vice chairman, was tapped to become deputy county administrator in July by County Administrator Kelly Reed. Legislator Richard Helmich of Delevan, seconded the nomination.
Schroder said, “It’s been a joy and privlidge and honor to serve with my legislative family here. I’m really greatly humbled by the confidence that you can trust me for a second time, and I am up to the task.”
She announced the other legislative leaders, and noted that one member of the leadership comes from each of the five legislative districts. “So it’s nice to have a good geographic mix in order to represent the legislature.”
After her appointment as vice chairman last summer, Schroder served as Finance Committee chairman as well as continued as chairman of the Labor Relations Committree.
The legislative leaders were sworn in by Cattaraugus County Court Judge Ronald D. Ploetz.
Legislators first adopted the 10-page 2026 rules of order, which did not differ markedly from last year. The 5 p.m. start time for meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays and 4 p.m. for committees on the first and third Wednesdays will continue.
Most of the resolutions for the reorganization meeting were contracts with groups approved for contracts in the 2026 county budget. They include:
- Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library Ssytem, $82,840.
- Cattarauguis County SPCA, $152,320.
- Empire Animal Rescue Society, $17,500.
- Phoenix Humane Society, $10,000.
- Tri-County Arts Council, $11,726.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County, $267,769. The resolution also increased the appropriation by $5,355, which came from the contingent fund.
- Cattaraugus County Land Bank Corp., $150,000.
- Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board, $24,970.
- BOCES Student Government Program, $8,000.
- Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation District, $147,942.
- Ischua Creek Watershed Maintenance Program, $17,434.
- Mercy Flight, $7,650.
- Fly-car funding, $15,300.
- Olean Historical and Preservation Society, $35,000.
- Olean General Hospital 24-Hour Crisis Hotline, $177,699.
- Genesis House homeless shelter services for the Social Services Department. Single person, $100 a night. Single parent with family, $100 a night plus $25 for each child. Two parents and children, $140 a night plus $25 per child. Hotel reimbursement up to three nights at a reasonable rate with Social Services application.
- A $49,350 contract with I Love New York matching funds for tourism promotion.
Another resolution transfers the position of Medicaid coordinator for the Department of Nursing Homes to the county administrator’s office. The 2026 budget transferred central accounting and medical billing operations to the county administrator’s office.
The county legislature’s next meeting is Jan. 28, at 5 p.m.
