Democratic leadership prioritizes agenda
LYNN MARINELLI Legislature Chairperson
As we start 2007 in the Erie County Legislature, I have been given the honor and responsibility of leading this Legislature as we address reform and financial efficiencies in our elected service to the people of Erie County, better ways to conduct the business of the people and other avenues of action.

The committee structure will again provide much of the direction the Legislature takes this year through its meetings, where department heads and elected officials will discuss their proposals and present information the legislators need to make their decisions in a bipartisan fashion. These are the committees' major agenda items for 2007:

Community Enrichment: Chaired by Legislator Michele M. Iannello; Erie Community College budget, Convention and Visitors' Bureau dedication and funding, library systems and cultural funding.

Economic Development: Chaired by Legislator Timothy Kennedy; Waterfront development, Buffalo Bills lease review, Erie County Industrial Development Agency and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority review, Department of Public Works Four-Year Plan and roads.

Energy & Environment: Chaired by Legislator Thomas Loughran; Parks management, Water Authority, Huntley progress, sewer district merger.

Finance & Management: Chaired by Legislator Robert B. Reynolds Jr.; Sales tax, capital budget, New York State mandates on budget, Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority efficiency grants, surplus review, charter impacts (performance based budget) and grant funding approaches, midyear budget hearings.

Government Affairs: Chaired by Legislator George A. Holt Jr.; Board of Elections/ Help Americans Vote Act changes, Framework for Growth, Clerk Four-Year Plan.

Health: Chaired by Legislator Cynthia Locklear; ECMCC/Kaleida merger from New York State hospital commission, Health Four-Year Plan.

Human Services: Chaired by Legislator Thomas Mazur; Blueprint for Change with Social Services, New York State Medicaid cap and impacts.

Personnel Ad Hoc: Chaired by Legislator Kathy Konst; Ethics filings and whistle-blower policy reviews, assess vacancy control, pensions, managed attrition, collective bargaining, Personnel Four-Year Plan.

Public Safety: Chaired by Legislator Daniel M. Kozub; Charter changes: Central Police Services and Emergency Medical Services, state mandates/jail sheriff's road patrol discussions, assess probation.

Regardless of which committee we consider, there are issues affecting finances, personnel, delivery of services, efficiency, working with other governmental agencies and working for the immediate future and years down the road. Following the revisions to the Erie County Charter that the voters of Erie County overwhelmingly approved in November, I instituted a charter implementation working group to see that the county implements the revisions approved.