Big decisions were on the table June 10 as the Seneca County Board of Supervisors weighed a hotel tax, tackled budget changes, and signed off on road and bridge work.
The board opened the session with a public hearing on Proposed Local Law B of 2025, titled the “Seneca County Hotel or Motel Occupancy Tax, 2025.” The law proposes a 3 percent tax on hotel and motel room rents within the county. The tax applies to overnight accommodations in hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, inns, and similar facilities, but exempts permanent residents and certain nonprofit organizations. No public comments were made during the hearing, which was then closed by unanimous vote.
Following the hearing, Jeff Shipley, president of the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce, delivered the quarterly Tourism Promotion Agency (TPA) report. He highlighted a decline in overall overnight visitation compared to 2024, though noted an encouraging rise in repeat visitors, up from 39.1 percent to 54.7 percent year-over-year. Shipley attributed the increase to targeted marketing efforts within New York State. He also presented analytics on popular visitor sites and advertising campaign performance, and discussed ongoing projects including accessibility mapping and preparations for Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary.
Budget Amendments and Appropriations
The board adopted several resolutions to amend the 2025 budget:
- Authorized $50,000 from contingency funds to cover unanticipated mandated mental health hospitalization expenses for a jail inmate.
- Approved a $28,000 one-year contract with Three+One Company, Inc. for cashVest liquidity monitoring services, reallocating $14,000 from contingency for the current year’s portion.
- Transferred $172,937.90 from capital project contingency to support overages in renovations at the Office for the Aging and Three Bears Cupola.
- Allocated $10,000 from Sewer District 3 fund balance for needed repairs and maintenance.
Contracts and Infrastructure Projects
The board also took action on infrastructure and service agreements:
- Approved a two-year extension of a rabies control grant from the New York State Department of Health, totaling $20,468 over the term.
- Awarded a contract to Seneca Pavement Marking, Inc. for 2025 county road striping services.
- Authorized funding and implementation of two Bridge NY projects: $1,120,997 for CR 136A Mill Street over Mill Creek, and $1,041,599 for CR 119 over Kendig Creek.
- Approved a $47,733 agreement with Air Temp for replacement of two make-up air units at the Law Enforcement Center.
- Amended a contract with Streeter Associates to fund $8,738 in additional repairs for the Three Bears Cupola project.
- Awarded on-demand architectural service contracts to John Snyder Architects and Barton & Loguidice.
- Entered into a maintenance agreement with Christopher Roberts for the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery through March 2026.
Personnel and Policy Updates
The board approved revisions to its travel policy, placing limits on reimbursements and requiring stricter documentation. A policy change also abolishes a Psychiatric Social Worker II position and creates a Mental Health Clinical Therapist role, which is expected to be more conducive to recruitment and reduce budget costs.
In other action, the board authorized a new three-year agreement with NCA Comp, Inc. to administer the county’s workers’ compensation program, with options for two additional years.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. A quorum was established with multiple supervisors in attendance.
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