Oswego County Legislature Adopts 2021 Budget, Cautious About Spending

by Shea O'Malley | December 11, 2020 3:54 pm

OSWEGO – The Oswego County Legislature held their last monthly meeting for 2020, Thursday evening, Dec. 10, marking a legislative closure to a very challenging year.

The ongoing pandemic, coupled with shutdowns and economic uncertainty produced increased undertakings for members.

Adoption of a county budget and salary caps were main issues discussed throughout the meeting. Minority Leader Thomas Drumm made a motion to amend the vote concerning legislative salaries, seeking a reversal to the original amount relegated in the 2020 budget.

Drumm spoke of the need to be very cautious of what may lie ahead in 2021, in light of the pandemic and the economic upheaval associated with it. Projected salaries for the 2021 budget include $13,894 for Members of the Legislature, $16,672 for Minority and Majority Leaders of the Legislature and $30,565 for Chairman of the Legislature.

“Mr. Chairman, I’d like to make a motion to reverse legislative salaries back to the adopted rate which would include Chairman of the Legislature at $29,674, both the Majority and Minority Leader at $16,186, and the remainder of the Legislature at $13,489. Those are again, the adopted 2020 numbers,” Drumm said. “It’s not to say that folks haven’t earned their money this year; the Legislature has in a lot of ways. But, it comes back to being really overly cautious about what we have ahead.”

The amendment to the resolution did not pass. The original resolution for adoption of a new 2021 budget did pass – 23 in favor, two opposing.

Also discussed and unanimously voted on were the establishment and extension of hiring and purchasing freezes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All departments must cease hiring new employees unless specifically mandated by state or federal law. Also, departments will continue to cease all purchases of discretionary nonpersonal service items.

Other resolutions, the majority of them passed unanimously by the legislature, are as follows:

• Minutes passed from Nov. 12, 2020 meeting.
• Approval for meeting to select new Chairman to be held Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers.
• Authorization for the Chairman and County Clerk to handle all unfinished business through December 31, 2020.
• Authorization of an inter-municipal agreement between Oswego County and Onondaga County for Medical Examiner/Forensic Services.
• Authorization with New York State for the 2021 Stop-DWI Program.
• Authorization for E-911 overtime/budget gaps due to COVID-19.
• Replacement of the Stationary Diesel Fire Pump at the Emergency Response Training Center due to age, wear and tear.
• Budget modifications for Fire Department – unanticipated increase in wages due to COVID-19.
• Re-appointment of three members to the Oswego County Child Protection Advisory Council.
• Budget modification for Deptartment of Social Services to accept New York State Department of Labor Trade Act Funds.
• Authorization for two appointments to the CNY Regional Transportation Board.
• Accept and disburse funds from New York State Office of Housing and Community Renewal (NYSHCR).
• Matching funds for Tourism Promotion Program for Oswego County.
• Budget modification for vehicle repair at Oswego County Health Department.
• Acceptance of Healthy Families Grant Funds.
• Oswego County Health Department – Cares Act Provider Relief Funding.
• Facilities and Technology – Budget modification for part time and temporary work due to COVID.
• Budget modification for IT repair, phone and equipment maintenance.
• Approval for a Tapin Loader Section Replacement for the Department of Solid Waste at a cost of $42,000.
• Department of Solid Waste – $30,000 transfer funds for parts and chemicals.
• Authorization for Chairman to execute a revised utility easement with Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a/ National Grid concerning the Oswego County Office Complex.
• Extension of a lease agreement between the City of Oswego and Legends Softball Complex/Champion Events LLC.
• Department of Solid Waste – vacation buy back and ERF highway expenses.
• An increase in existing appropriations for various funds in several offices/departments.
• Appropriation of funds in the 2021 budget regarding full-funded grant projects.
• Appropriation of Conduct of County Government for fiscal year 2021.
• Adoption of County Budget for 2021.

Legislative member expressed gratitude for a year well spent working together, offering holiday greetings before leaving the phone meeting. Chairman James Weatherup expressed his appreciation for the members and their tireless work over the past year, offering holiday cheer to all.

“It’s certainly been a different kind of year, and we can only hope that 2021 gets better. We did work exceedingly well together this year. I hope that both sides, and all the department heads and all the employees can pull together for 2021,” Weatherup said. “Having said that; certainly a Merry Christmas from my family to yours.”

Yesterday’s meeting was held via teleconference.

All county legislative meetings are held the second Thursday of every month. For a full view of the meeting agenda, please click here[1].

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/oswego-county-legislature-adopts-2021-budget-cautious-about-spending/

---