[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6321334,"mediaKeyId","2350770-eea348b68a823920639dbba055ab5c06","parentId",2350770,"title","Finance & Rules Committee approves series of resolutions including cybersecurity contract, vehicle cameras and grant applications","audioSeconds",544,"startMs",1144000,"endMs",1688000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2350770-eea348b68a823920639dbba055ab5c06&start=1144&end=1688","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2350770-eea348b68a823920639dbba055ab5c06/thumbnail_1144000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6321334/Lewis-County/New-York/Finance-Rules-Committee-approves-series-of-resolutions-including-cybersecurity-contract-vehicle-cameras-and-grant-applications","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321334-219868c450c9f21cd810fcf62f5965db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141875&Signature=NYO1tPqWllPE7HRbIIxkb~9Kh7WmmJNUvSdSHr8rispdqAAhfArdGtz2WM~liOejJEKYJ~xs2vSznD1Jv6Uh1mlh5wgGFdwhYWeKFp9Hs8YVGH6cu6KvkFCIufAxoxZvCl33Hv4QTFeDz3KAR6aQ6nT~2xdwCbox4VwIC3Kc0V0W3~WQ4b2fgJELnrkKbZd6j2QaPAh4wUlcw6MG8YqJC5Sp22ZjXO1uQi2nKxMQE9J3yXISgewaJ6ASlmKoF~cmd38IVHm1RZO3HAXkJkBdwUQ5D3lI7ubjr3DmCyk7OMLL9qvBk-ie~S9bNj6muJvIVXCQPN3~XsdFSroJ7fTvIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lewis County, NY","date","2025-02-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Lewis County Finance & Rules Committee approved a package of resolutions and motions covering cybersecurity licensing, equipment purchases, grant applications, land transfer and other administrative actions during the meeting. Most measures were presented as draft resolutions and carried on voice votes with little discussion.

Key approvals included a three-year agreement with Shy International to provide Fortinet software licensing and maintenance, not to exceed $75,000 for the 04/11/2025–04/10/2028 term; acceptance of a Samsara vehicle-camera proposal for a portion of the county fleet ($21,146.40 first-year cost, $20,990.40 in years two and three); and contracting with General Code LLC to digitally codify the county’s local laws into the Ecode360 platform at a cost of $15,995 with annual maintenance and licensing. The committee also authorized planning staff to submit multiple grant applications: up to $2,000,000 under New York State ConnectALL for digital equity (10% local share), a $500,000 FEMA road-scoping request with a 25% local match, a $500,000 NYS DEC municipal zero-emission vehicle infrastructure grant paired with a National Grid Make‑Ready application (20% local share, potentially covered by National Grid), and a $500,000 U.S. DOT PROTECT program application for East Martinsburg Road improvements with no local match required.

The board authorized the transfer of approximately 0.44 acres behind the residence of David C. Hodge and Michelle L. Smith (7458 Emmy Lane, Wobble, New York; tax parcel 195.00-02-15.300) to the named owners for $4,000, subject to the written consent and waiver of reversionary rights from the Lewis County Agricultural Society and with owners responsible for transfer costs. The committee also approved placing roughly 163.4 acres owned by William and Millie McQuaughlin into Agricultural District Number 6.

Other actions: directing the treasurer to appropriate ATC, DASNY and Wynn Denmark funds into bus operations and to submit an MEP/ATC request to NYSDOT for vehicles and bus equipment; charging back $10,071.26 to various towns related to Time Warner Cable franchise deductions; urging approval of a home-rule request to support New York State Senate Bill S4858 and Assembly Bill A5514; and approving the committee’s 2025 goals. Many of these items were presented with minimal discussion and recorded as carried on voice votes in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lewis County Legislative Committee Meetings - 2025-02-19 (Part 2)","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved multiple resolutions authorizing contracts, grant applications and land actions, including a three-year Fortinet software licensing contract, purchase of vehicle cameras, several grant applications, and placement of a parcel into Agricultural District 6; most motions carried with limited discussion.","taxTitle","Lewis County, New York","taxId",56524,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6321337,"Committee authorizes Lewis County severity fund for workers' compensation; sets $2M target and policy steps",1137,521000,1658000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2350770-eea348b68a823920639dbba055ab5c06&start=521&end=1658","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2350770-eea348b68a823920639dbba055ab5c06/thumbnail_521000.jpg","/articles/6321337/Lewis-County/New-York/Committee-authorizes-Lewis-County-severity-fund-for-workers-compensation-sets-2M-target-and-policy-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321337-8b2da08ac1df9cda98cba85910d04734/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141875&Signature=HpwlpjYA7hYVPX1bINNzLimyzu-0ONvIO9FRLWOnw4puK~eFgBZqRC5QlYfK7ljkyQnlkJgXr7tvn9efkYtGp1pU2ZqqK8LZ98FS~Jyo9uEcaYQVBk~1YAvAYP6KYJY5nfsYOfi-32x0BgyVyjXsNDcpKsZVKeosIffdC6YQiPkWBod7ZxCbXDcxDvHGQSYGdh6WxkLAUGPIRRrQlBT6C6aXsbsRBGcMHZO-fB-J-aIHng3Ld3LJ8DYA4tjX8SORo7hPDfgHmZ~g14~HA8YRstWHO8s7ar47k0frpQ83fFIcdUGAF64pqKeUO96fFcReLFylYzuspAksu8H0tozf4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County self-insurance administrator Cassandra proposed creating a \"severity fund\" to give the county more control over catastrophic and high-cost workers' compensation claims. The Finance & Rules Committee approved a motion directing the administrator to set up the fund, obtain a standalone employer's liability policy, and cancel the county's Midwest workers' compensation excess liability policy by April 1, 2025.

Cassandra told the committee the county currently maintains a workers' compensation fund balance of about $6,000,000. The county's excess liability policy has a $2,000,000 self-insured retention (SIR) — a threshold claims must reach before the excess policy provides benefits — and the board has not received a benefit from that excess policy since it began in February 2019. Cassandra said the prior annual premium was roughly $72,468 and the renewal quote would have been about $97,576, driven largely by payroll increases and audit adjustments. \"The cost in the past was $72,468. However, the renewal would be at $97,576,\" she said.

Cassandra recommended establishing a severity fund with a maximum balance of $2,000,000, considering a lower self-insured retention (options discussed included $750,000 to $2,000,000), adopting utilization rules that would allow the county to pay portions of high-cost claims from the fund, and adding a budget line (for example, $50,000 annually) until the fund reaches its target. She also recommended obtaining an employer's liability policy with a $1,000,000 limit as a standalone policy. Committee members asked about claim size drivers, participants covered (including the county hospital, fire departments, villages, search and rescue, and soil and water), and whether state regulations cap payouts; Cassandra described indemnity caps and medical-cost drivers.

Committee members approved the motion directing the administrator to create the severity fund, obtain employer's liability coverage, and cancel the Midwest excess liability policy by the stated deadline. Cassandra said she would monitor the fund and report back to the board on outcomes and utilization policy.","After a presentation on workers' compensation costs and uninsured exposure, the committee approved a motion directing the county self-insurance administrator to establish a severity fund, obtain an employer's liability policy, and cancel the current Midwest excess liability policy by April 1, 2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6321343,"Lewis County to offer assessing, data-collection services to towns at $10 and $3.25 per parcel",1514,44000,1558000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2350770-eea348b68a823920639dbba055ab5c06&start=44&end=1558","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2350770-eea348b68a823920639dbba055ab5c06/thumbnail_44000.jpg","/articles/6321343/Lewis-County/New-York/Lewis-County-to-offer-assessing-data-collection-services-to-towns-at-10-and-325-per-parcel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321343-6b3bd0d21b7513d5c676ee8b6e310bda/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141875&Signature=datQnrkduRCEgxNSvIWmtcOFPHVa6ftGYKPiL7qEKRRcZ3gfill42hnc5t5ZM68sezzKC3DNLleqziPG2RD9jX93VzYYSSro9MwCoYj1KbnuWVRBZXYveUF1I~YmR8qfPA6LjDiehwbB9Nx7HwO~EU7-JV~3b-EIxfvkYh4fQ0rXwCxhQY9P~OTP3am0n-0hR-jGYFy59AiO-aKt4RQYgC3suV5xU4apRd2yF1P3cOIQzDJ8CVkrsrCg5iReAKAFrhFcd--Xdf7cpuMosclE-5bm7Ztk84PC2j5UHEEzGl6LhKI4QzdXamU4muL~3mdlk~DUtM8AwQIVoR3yIRz6~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Candy Aiken, the county assessor, told the Lewis County Finance & Rules Committee that the county will offer assessing and data-collection services to towns and townships at per-parcel rates aimed to cover employee costs. The committee approved the intermunicipal agreements and the initial rates, with the county retaining the right to annual rate increases.

Aiken said Lewis County currently has just over 25,000 parcels and a shrinking pool of assessors, with retirements expected by Sept. 30 of this year. To cover the county’s expenses for staff who perform town work, the proposed first-year rates are $10 per parcel for assessing services and $3.25 per parcel for data collection; contracts would include a 2–5% annual increase clause and a 60-day written termination provision. \"It's not we're not looking to make money off the towns by offering these services, but at least covering our expenses that we do have going out the door for employees holding these positions,\" Aiken said.

The county added two positions last year: one assessor who has one certification course remaining and one data collector who has completed data-collection courses and is working in the field. Aiken said the county’s short-term goals for 2025 are to enter agreements with at least three towns for assessing services, two towns for data collection services and to assess at least 7,500 parcels. She told the committee one town is waiting for the resolution to pass and named the town of Denmark as planning to seek county assessing assistance when its assessor retires; she also said the town of Diana is considering county data-collection services.

A town representative from Kogan praised the county work after a vacancy there, saying the county’s staff had \"caught up\" work that had gone undone. Aiken noted the proposed $10-per-parcel assessing rate sits near the midpoint of county charges statewide and emphasized the county does not intend to profit from the service.

The committee approved a resolution authorizing intermunicipal agreements for assessing and data-collection services for the term beginning April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, at the stated rates and with the county’s right to annual rate adjustments. Staff will proceed to prepare contracts (commonly called \"15 37 agreements\" in the meeting) with towns that express interest.","The Finance & Rules Committee authorized intermunicipal agreements allowing Lewis County to charge towns $10 per parcel for assessing services and $3.25 per parcel for data collection, aiming to cover staff costs and address assessor shortages, County Assessor Candy Aiken told the committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance & Rules Committee approves series of resolutions including cybersecurity contract, vehicle cameras and grant applications

Committee authorizes Lewis County severity fund for workers' compensation; sets $2M target and policy steps

Lewis County to offer assessing, data-collection services to towns at $10 and $3.25 per parcel