The Yates County Legislature approved a wide range of personnel actions, contracts, bid awards, policy changes, compensation updates and intergovernmental agreements during its regular meeting Monday.
Among the actions, legislators authorized the District Attorney to add a forfeited 2014 Chevy Impala to the county fleet for shared office use, adopted new non-union employee compensation and employment terms, approved multiple labor and service agreements, filled or authorized recruitment for several county positions, adopted a new countywide insurance claims policy, and awarded numerous highway material bids for 2026.
Personnel actions, compensation policy and labor agreements
The legislature formally adopted new Non-Union Employee Compensation and Employment Terms, effective Feb. 9, 2026. The resolution establishes standardized guidelines for non-union employee classifications, salaries, compensation, performance appraisals and employment terms. Lawmakers said the policy is intended to ensure fair, equitable and competitive compensation practices, support performance-based growth opportunities and maintain a consistent framework for non-union staff across county government.
The sheriff was authorized to fill two supervisory positions: a full-time Deputy Sheriff Lieutenant position effective Feb. 27, 2026, with an annual cost not to exceed $154,728, and a full-time Deputy Sheriff Sergeant position effective Feb. 9, 2026, with an annual cost not to exceed $129,713. Both actions allow promotions or reclassifications at the same pay step and authorize the sheriff to fill any resulting vacancies.
Lawmakers also authorized the county administrator to begin recruitment for a full-time Director of Information Technology position, which will become vacant April 10 due to a resignation. The non-union salary range was set at $82,167 to $92,438, with total annual costs, including benefits, not to exceed $146,054. The appointment may take effect on or after April 11.
In labor matters, the legislature authorized the chair to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association and employee Eladio Martinez to advance one week of vacation leave from May to March. A separate memorandum of agreement was approved to provide additional compensation to three Building Maintenance Workers who were required to report to work during a snowstorm while other Buildings and Grounds employees were not.
The legislature also amended the 2026 non-union, non-exempt employee wage schedule, increasing the hourly rate for “Laborer (Seasonal – HWY)” from $16.97 to $21.94, effective Feb. 9.
Contracts and service agreements
Several professional service agreements were approved. The chair and probation director were authorized to execute a service agreement with Ashley Lewis, LCSW, for clinical services for youth supervised by the Probation Department, using Raise the Age reimbursement funding. The agreement runs through Dec. 31, 2026, with specified hourly and per-session rates for therapy, assessments, supervision, consultation and training.
The chair was also authorized to sign an agreement with Alexandra Turner, Speech Therapist, to provide services in the Preschool Special Education Program from Feb. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026, at a rate of $70 per service session.
In addition, the legislature authorized the chair to sign a contract with Stacey Pollack for a contracted 1099 administrative assistant position for Assigned Counsel, funded with $30,000 authorized by New York State Indigent Legal Services, for the period Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026.
An agreement with the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office was approved for autopsy services, including basic toxicology and non-specialized ancillary tests, covering the period from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2028.
Appointments
The legislature made numerous appointments, including naming members to the Yates County Fire Advisory Board for the 2026 term, appointing Sarah Purdy as Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Liaison Officer for the Yates County Airport DBE Program, and appointing residents to community services boards and subcommittees.
Cierra Wagner was appointed to the Community Services Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee through Dec. 31, 2029. Danielle Narrows was appointed to the Community Services Board and the Community Services Behavioral Health Subcommittee, with both terms ending Dec. 31, 2029.
Highway projects, bids and intermunicipal agreements
Lawmakers authorized participation and local funding for a state Marchiselli program-aid eligible bridge rehabilitation project in the Village of Dresden and the towns of Torrey and Milo. The legislature appropriated $18,000 from the 2026 budget to cover the county’s share of right-of-way incidentals and acquisitions and authorized the chair to execute necessary agreements with the state Department of Transportation.
The legislature also authorized the chair to sign a new intermunicipal agreement with Steuben and Schuyler counties for the Tri-County Paint Truck for the years 2026 through 2028.
Multiple highway material bids were awarded for 2026, including abrasive sand, cold mix patch, gravel and crushed stone. Awards were made either to all bidders for F.O.B. pricing or to the lowest responsible bidders by product type and delivery location, subject to material approval and specifications.
Policy changes and financial actions
In addition to adopting the new non-union compensation framework, the legislature approved a new Yates County Property Damage Insurance Claim Process, Procedures & Guidelines policy. The policy establishes procedures for documenting incidents, determining claim eligibility, capturing costs, submitting insurance claims and recovering expenses related to damage to county-owned assets.
Lawmakers also approved authorized exceptions to the county procurement policy, allowing departments to purchase from a specified list of cooperative contracts, including OMNIA Partners, GSA and Sourcewell, for the 2026 calendar year.
A contract amendment was approved with C&S Engineers, Inc. for the Highway, Office of Emergency Services and Public Health Facility Project. The amendment decreased the not-to-exceed contract amount by $107,008, bringing the revised total to $1,816,476.
Other actions
The legislature authorized the chair to sign and send a letter to Congresswoman Claudia Tenney requesting congressional action on recent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program rule changes, citing concerns about increased administrative costs and impacts on counties and residents.
Lawmakers also amended a prior resolution to change the date of a public hearing on the Yates County Local Solid Waste Management Plan from Feb. 9 to March 9 to accommodate public notice requirements.
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