Steuben County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Steuben County committees approve $100K road transfer, $150K contingency transfer

Steuben County's Finance and Administration committees on Aug. 11 approved a $150,000 transfer from the contingency fund to cover judgments and claims, along with a $100,000 transfer for road surface treatments and several capital projects. All motions passed unanimously 5-0.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee approved the following items:

• $100,000 transfer from Road Improvement Unassigned to Surface Treatments
• $26,550 for roof replacement at Pro Action Building
• Up to $55,000 for flooring replacement at Hornell Community Services Building
• Up to $50,000 for paving at Veteran's Building, County Barn, and Mt. Washington fuel pumps
• $150,000 transfer from Contingency Fund to Judgments & Claims
• Accepted $29,529 from Donald J. Guthrie Foundation Grant
• Accepted $354,596 PSAP Grant for 2025-2026
• Approved 2027 STOP DWI Plan

All votes were 5-0.

Administration Committee

The Administration Committee approved:

• $150,000 transfer from Contingency Fund to Judgments & Claims
• Declared specific items as surplus and directed auction
• Authorized creation of one Inventory Aide position, CSEA Grade F
• Appointed Professional Engineer at Management Grade K, Step 12, $124,878
• Appointed Deputy Director of Emergency Services at Management Grade H, Step 14, $98,665
• Reclassified one Receptionist position to Typist, CSEA Grade C
• Appointed Senior Social Services Attorney at Management Grade K, Step 6, $105,454
• Recommended confirmation of Lise Reynolds as Commissioner of Social Services and appointed her at Management Grade L, Step 14, $144,481

All votes were 5-0.

Other recent meetings

The Steuben County Land Bank Corporation met on Aug. 11, but minutes have not been published. Its agenda included awarding bids, an update on Fenderson Avenue, a real estate tax auction discussion, and inventory status updates.

The Inter-County Association of Western New York (ICAWNY) met on Aug. 21 at the Genesee County Airport. The agenda included approval of minutes, treasurer's reports, and a tour. The treasurer reported a balance of $6,677.74 as of July 31, 2026.

Coming up

The Steuben County Legislature will hold its regular monthly meeting on Aug. 24. The agenda includes public hearings on a local law and a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for mobile home replacements, plus votes to adopt the local law, authorize transfers, purchase property in Bath and Rathbone, and create or reclassify positions.

The public hearing on the CDBG grant will be held at the Steuben County Legislative Chambers, 20 East Morris Street, Bath, NY. Written comments are due by Aug. 28 to Marie Myers Shearing, Planning Director.

A separate public hearing on Local Law Tentatively No. Nine for 2026 will also be held Aug. 24. The proposed law would increase the required public hearing notice period for reserve fund transfers from 3 days to at least 5 days, and would rescind Local Law No. Five for 1998.

Steuben County boards weigh charter change, public safety hires, and road funding

Steuben County's legislative and committee meetings over the past two weeks were dominated by proposals to amend the county charter, add new public safety positions, and shift funds for road maintenance. As of Aug. 10, minutes from those meetings have not been published, so no final decisions are confirmed. All items below were on agendas and remain pending until official minutes are released.

Charter and public safety

The County Legislature's July 27 agenda included a public hearing and anticipated adoption of Local Law Tentatively No. 8, which would amend the County Charter to reflect adoption of the Steuben County General Codes. The body also received Local Law Tentatively No. 9, which would rescind a 1998 law and increase the public hearing notice period for reserve fund transfers from 3 days to at least 5 days; a separate public hearing on that law is scheduled for Aug. 24.

Also on the Legislature's agenda: authorization for the Sheriff to install license plate readers countywide, creation of one Deputy Director of Public Safety position and two Deputy positions in the Sheriff's Office, and acceptance of multiple grants including the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant and the Local Government Efficiency Grant. The Public Safety & Corrections Committee separately considered the Deputy Director position in a joint special meeting with the Administration Committee.

At its Aug. 3 meeting, the Public Safety & Corrections Committee was set to accept a $354,596.00 Public Safety Answering Point Grant, a $29,529.00 Donald J. Guthrie Foundation Grant, and contract renewals for Net Motion ($22,032.00) and Priority Dispatch ($1,085.00). The committee also discussed a $35,000.00 budget transfer from the Building Contingency Fund for a jail Wi-Fi project, the 2027 STOP DWI Plan, and EMS billing rates.

Public works and roads

The Public Works Committee on Aug. 3 considered a $100,000 transfer from Road Improvement Unassigned funds to Surface Treatments, along with updates on Cell 6A landfill construction, a steel sign posts bid, and a waiver of procurement policy for park reservation software. The committee also proposed creating one Inventory Aide position (CSEA Grade F, $39,753–$58,803).

Human services and community

The Human Services, Health & Education Committee on Aug. 5 was scheduled to approve remaining 2026 Youth Sports Funding Allocations, discuss 2025 Summer Recreation Programs, and act on several contracts. Items included a new contract with Dr. Kathryn M. Karch, a Surrogacy Psychologist; a NYSBP, Inc. operating and lease agreement for an automatic blood pressure machine at $159/month (Sept. 1, 2026–Aug. 31, 2027); a tuition aid request of $5,665.29 for Social Services employee Christine Colley; and reclassification of a Receptionist position to Typist in Community Services (CSEA Grade A to C, $33,207–$50,797).

The Community Services Board met July 28 to approve minutes from its May 19 meeting; no substantive decisions were listed.

Agriculture and planning

The Agriculture, Industry & Planning Committee on July 27 considered accepting the NYS Septic System Replacement Fund Grant. At its Aug. 5 meeting, the committee reviewed 2027 budget presentations for Arts of the Southern Finger Lakes, Soil & Water Conservation District, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Southeast Steuben Libraries, plus building projects including COB bathroom renovations, reroofing at the Pro Action Building, and flooring replacement at the Hornell Community Services Building.

A separate public hearing notice announced a 30-day review of Agricultural District No. 3 (established 1975) covering parts of Avoca, Bath, Howard, Prattsburgh, Pulteney, Urbana, and Wheeler. The review runs Sept. 1–30, 2026; proposals to modify boundaries must be filed with county clerks by Sept. 30, and modifications require landowner ownership of at least 10% of proposed changes.

Coming up

• **Steuben County Land Bank Corporation** – Aug. 11: The board will discuss awarding bids, a Fenderson Avenue update, the real estate tax auction, and inventory status.
• **Public Hearing on Local Law No. 9** – Aug. 24: The Legislature will hear public comment on changing the public notice period for reserve fund transfers from 3 to at least 5 days.

Steuben County committees packed with grants, road funding, and charter amendments on August agendas

Steuben County's July committee meetings were dominated by agenda items only — minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions held July 27–28, so no outcomes can be confirmed. The agendas, however, signal major pending decisions on charter amendments, public safety staffing, and grant acceptances. Several consequential votes are scheduled for the first week of August.

Recent meetings: agendas only, no confirmed outcomes

Six county bodies met between July 27 and July 28. Because minutes are not yet available, the following items reflect what was listed for discussion or action, not what was decided.

The County Legislature scheduled a public hearing on Local Law Tentatively No. Eight for the Year 2026, which would amend the Steuben County Charter to reflect adoption of the Steuben County General Codes. The legislature also planned to consider authorizing the Sheriff to install license plate readers countywide, creating one Deputy Director of Public Safety and two Deputy positions in the Sheriff's Office, and accepting multiple grants including the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant and the Local Government Efficiency Grant. A second proposed law, Local Law Tentatively No. Nine, would rescind a 1998 law on reserve transfer publication dates.

The Administration Committee and Finance Committee met jointly to review a City of Corning claim, a Hornell appraisal award and fund transfer, and a FOIL Management System contract authorization with transfer of funds.

The Public Safety & Corrections Committee discussed creation of the Deputy Director of Public Safety position in a joint special meeting with the Administration Committee.

The Agriculture, Industry & Planning Committee considered accepting the New York State Septic System Replacement Fund Grant.

The Community Services Board met July 28 at 3:00 p.m. in Room H of the Community Services building at 115 Liberty to vote on approval of minutes from its May 19, 2026 meeting. No other substantive items were listed.

Coming up

August 3 — Public Works Committee: A proposed $100,000 transfer from Road Improvement Unassigned funds to Surface Treatments heads the agenda. The committee will also consider waiving procurement policy for park reservation software, creating one Inventory Aide position (CSEA Grade F, $39,753–$58,803), Cell 6A landfill construction updates, and steel sign posts bid consideration.

August 3 — Public Safety & Corrections Committee: Grant acceptances totaling more than $384,000 are on the table: the SFY 25/26 Public Safety Answering Point Grant at $354,596.00 and the Donald J. Guthrie Foundation Grant at $29,529.00. The committee will also discuss a $35,000.00 jail budget transfer from the Building Contingency Fund for a Wi-Fi project, contract renewals for Net Motion ($22,032.00) and Priority Dispatch ($1,085.00), the 2027 STOP DWI Plan, and EMS billing rates.

August 4 — Public Hearings: The Legislature begins review of Agricultural District No. 3, established in 1975, covering parts of Avoca, Bath, Howard, Prattsburgh, Pulteney, Urbana, and Wheeler. A 30-day public review period runs September 1–30, 2026; modification proposals must be filed with county clerks by September 30 and require landowner ownership of at least 10% of proposed changes.

August 5 — Agriculture, Industry & Planning Committee: The committee will hear 2027 budget presentations from four outside agencies: Arts of the Southern Finger Lakes, Soil & Water Conservation District, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Southeast Steuben Libraries. Building projects include an RFP for engineer and architect services for COB bathroom renovations, reroofing at the Pro Action Building, and flooring replacement at the Hornell Community Services Building.

August 5 — Human Services, Health & Education Committee: Items include approval of remaining 2026 Youth Sports Funding Allocations, a new contract with Dr. Kathryn M. Karch as Surrogacy Psychologist, an NYSBP Inc. lease for an automatic blood pressure machine at $159/month (September 1, 2026–August 31, 2027), a tuition aid request of $5,665.29 for Social Services employee Christine Colley, and reclassification of a Receptionist position to Typist (CSEA Grade A to C, $33,207–$50,797).

August 11 — Steuben County Land Bank Corporation: The board will review the treasurer's report, inventory status, a Fenderson Avenue update, real estate tax auction discussion, and bid awards.

Steuben County committees approve $1.68M guiderail project, $1.3M communications grant in July meetings

Steuben County committees moved forward on several public safety and infrastructure items in early July, including a $1.68 million guiderail replacement project and acceptance of a $1.32 million state communications grant. The Administration and Finance committees met July 14, but minutes from those meetings have not yet been published.

Public Safety & Corrections Committee — July 6

The committee approved a series of grant acceptances, contract renewals, and personnel changes, all by 4-0 votes.

The largest item was acceptance of the SFY25/26 State Interoperable Communication Grant of $1,323,874.00, which funds emergency communications infrastructure. The committee also accepted the SFY25 SHSP Grant of $69,656.00 and the SFY25 Local Emergency Management Planning Grant of $34,253.00.

For the backup 911 Center, the committee authorized a Motorola contract for radio equipment totaling $346,125.74 and an Intrado contract for phone equipment totaling $117,179.80.

Personnel actions included reclassifying a part-time Assistant District Attorney Trainee to full-time Management Grade I. The committee also authorized an amendment to School Resource Officer contracts increasing annual reimbursement to $50,000.00.

Other approved items: a 2025-2027 Bullet Proof Vest Grant of $8,697.79 per year, a Crash Data Group software license renewal at $1,500.00 annually, an Axon payment of $27,672.00 for drone air storage and fund transfer, a Tyler contract renewal for the Records Management System, an Occustar contract renewal for Corning City Hazmat Team physicals, and a District Attorney contract renewal with the Institute for Human Services.

The committee's summary noted discussions about potential deputy staffing increases.

Public Works Committee — July 6

The committee approved a $1.68 million guiderail replacement project, funded largely by a $1,596,000 Roadway Departure Safety Action Plan Grant from the state. The committee created the Guiderail Replacement Capital Project and appropriated $1,680,000 in total funds. All votes were 4-0.

Members also authorized an addendum to transfer carbon credit ownership from WAGA back to the County under the landfill gas rights agreement, and awarded a gas well pipe installation bid to Core and Main for $17,118.03.

The committee declared Bradco Supply Company a non-responsive bidder and awarded the traffic sign/delineator bid to Osburn Associates, Inc. It rescinded a street sign post bid award to Canuck Power, Inc. due to non-responsiveness, and extended an overhead garage door services award to Overhead Door Co., Elmira through July 6, 2027.

A $6,000 addition for a Line Boring Kit with Drill was authorized for Highway Major Equipment.

Administration & Finance Committees — July 14

Both committees met July 14, but only agendas are available; minutes have not been published, so no decisions can be confirmed.

The Administration Committee agenda listed appointing an Assistant Public Defender to full-time at $101,745, creating two Deputy Sheriff positions at a range of $59,869–$80,906, approving the 2027 Workers' Compensation Budget, awarding an Auctioneering Services RFP, and reviewing a City of Corning claim.

The Finance Committee agenda included items also acted on by the Public Works and Public Safety committees, including the $1,596,000 Roadway Departure Safety Action Plan Grant, the $1,323,874 State Interoperable Communications Grant, the Guiderail Replacement Capital Project, and the $8,697.79 Bullet Proof Vest Grant. The committee also planned to set the date and terms for the 2026 Delinquent Real Property Tax Auction.

Coming up

• **July 27 — Public Hearings:** The Steuben County Legislature will hold a public hearing on Local Law Tentatively No. Eight for the Year 2026, which proposes amending the Steuben County Charter to reflect adoption of the Steuben County General Codes. Proposed charter sections cover the County Legislature, County Manager, and various county departments.