Seneca County supervisors moved a slate of public-safety, personnel, infrastructure and economic measures forward Tuesday during more than two hours of committee meetings at the County Office Building.
Public Safety
The Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee unanimously endorsed renewing a contract that places an armed deputy at South Seneca schools’ extended-day program. The school district will reimburse the Sheriff’s Office $60 an hour for coverage from Oct. 6, 2025, through May 20, 2026.
Human Resources and Government Operations
Supervisors acted on a crowded personnel agenda:
- Vacancies – Nine budgeted positions, ranging from highway equipment operator to mental-health therapists and correction officers, were cleared for refilling.
- Correction officers’ pay – The panel blocked six resolutions together, granting step raises for newly hired officers whose state experience exceeds the contractual minimum.
- Sheriff’s staffing – Two part-time special-patrol officers were created at $25.08 per hour to expand court and meeting security. A vacant senior mental-health therapist slot in the jail was reclassified to substance-abuse counselor, generating savings, and a part-time assistant public defender post was added using Hurrell-Harring grant funds.
Health and Human Services
Health Director Vickie Swinehart told lawmakers the county will exercise the final one-year extension of its preschool transportation contract with Transpo Bus, holding 2021 rates steady despite inflation.
The committee also:
- Reappointed Sara Bruzee, Steve Clemenson, Randi DiAntonio and Dr. Robert Nye to new three-year terms on the four-county Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board and added Lucinda Trask (one-year term) and Ryan Davis (two-year term).
- Updated and advanced the county’s 2025-26 Supervision and Treatment Services for Juveniles Plan after shifting its submission deadline to Aug. 18; counties must simply acknowledge intent by June 30.
- Accepted $215,009 from three school districts and Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES to continue in-school substance-abuse prevention and clinic services next year.
Economic Development, Tourism and Housing
At the county-owned Finger Lakes Regional Airport, a 6,000-gallon split fuel tank was declared surplus and will be sold at auction.
The committee revised two tourism-grant requests funded by occupancy-tax revenue:
- Seneca Lake Resorts – Funding for the July 4 fireworks at Sampson State Park was reduced from $10,000 to the $2,500 cap for community celebrations.
- It’s a Wonderful Run 5K – Organizers will receive $2,000 to upgrade downtown Seneca Falls holiday lights after wording referencing fireworks was struck from the resolution.
Ways and Means
Supervisors approved mid-year budget adjustments, including:
- $940,716.71 in additional state Consolidated Highway Improvement Program revenue and matching construction costs;
- A $40,000 transfer in the County Manager’s budget to fund a contract with Pracademic Partners;
- A $20,000 shift within Human Services to cover rising emergency-domestic-violence expenses.
Water and Sewer
The Water and Sewer Committee advanced amendments to engineering contracts with Wendel to align with Environmental Facilities Corporation grant terms for upgrades at the Willard and Five Points sewage plants.
Chair Jeff Trout also announced the state Department of Environmental Conservation has awarded Fayette a $5.6 million Water Quality Improvement grant for the Cayuga Lake Sewer District, crediting consultant Lori Fox for the successful application.
Agriculture and Environmental Affairs
Lawmakers introduced Local Law C of 2025, extending a pilot program that lets licensed adults mentor 12- and 13-year-old deer hunters through Dec. 31, 2028. A public hearing is set for Aug. 12 at 6 p.m.
The committee meetings adjourned without additional new business, sending all resolutions to the full Board of Supervisors for action on July 9.
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