Seneca County supervisors will confront a wide-ranging agenda Tuesday evening that includes public health staffing shortages, mental health initiatives, infrastructure projects, tourism funding, and several policy updates.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. May 12 at the Seneca County Office Building in Waterloo. Ahead of the regular meeting, supervisors will also hold special Human Resources and Economic Development, Tourism and Housing committee meetings.
One of the more notable issues on the agenda centers on ongoing staffing shortages in the county Health Department. Supervisors are being asked to authorize filling vacant speech language pathologist and physical therapist positions at salaries above the standard hiring rate after recruitment efforts reportedly failed because county pay lagged behind market rates. Officials say both shortages have left significant waiting lists for children qualifying for state-mandated early intervention services.
The board is also expected to consider a sweeping new workplace policy addressing gender-based violence. The proposed policy outlines protections for county employees experiencing domestic violence, sexual harassment, stalking, or related abuse and establishes procedures for accommodations, confidentiality, workplace protections, and anti-retaliation measures.
Mental health and aging services will receive significant attention as well. Supervisors are expected to recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month and approve a two-year, $18,042 contract for the Credible Mind mental health support platform funded through opioid settlement dollars.
Several resolutions tied to the Office for the Aging are also up for approval, including acceptance of $142,430 in state “Unmet Need” funding and authorization to expand transportation services for seniors through an amended contract with the Seneca County Senior Center.
Infrastructure and public works items are also on the docket. Supervisors are expected to authorize bids for countywide recyclable materials services as the current curbside recycling contract nears expiration at the end of the year.
The county is also preparing to move forward with engineering work on the County Road 119 bridge project over Kendig Creek. Barton & Loguidice has been recommended for design and engineering services under the state’s BridgeNY program at a cost not to exceed $175,000.
Another proposal would award Casella Waste Management a contract worth more than $29,000 annually for trash and recycling services at six county office buildings.
Tourism funding will also come before supervisors during a special Economic Development, Tourism and Housing committee meeting scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Committee members are expected to review a request to provide $2,500 to support fireworks for this year’s Ovid Strawberry Festival.
Earlier in the evening, the Human Resources Committee is scheduled to discuss refilling vacancies for a manager of financial operations position in the Finance Department and the county veterans director position.
The meeting agenda also includes presentations from Cornell Cooperative Extension, quarterly gaming revenue communications tied to del Lago Resort & Casino, flood response updates, Cayuga Lake environmental correspondence, and a public hearing notice related to adding land in Waterloo to Agricultural District No. 6.
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