[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6593958,"mediaKeyId","3527993-87db4bf6de866cbe94ba3ec7626f058a","parentId",3527993,"title","Map-plan proposes sewer district along Cayuga Lake shoreline; $33 million build could get up to $15 million in state grants","audioSeconds",520,"startMs",3465000,"endMs",3985000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527993-87db4bf6de866cbe94ba3ec7626f058a&start=3465&end=3985","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527993-87db4bf6de866cbe94ba3ec7626f058a/thumbnail_3465000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6593958/Cayuga-County/New-York/Map-plan-proposes-sewer-district-along-Cayuga-Lake-shoreline-33-million-build-could-get-up-to-15-million-in-state-grants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6593958-80ebb1b7e8648bd6a2e958603949aeac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169163&Signature=DvE0krKpTP-zix77n03nyC0n94dOxk~4HhZ5GlVKsgd0S84kS8RWuflgKI7OJYvjhdE2Eme9ISVdc4IusMj33y4TtJCGOYf6D1yr9rGPWkVGEaZa9Agi9aHKCi9rowV1dag2eFpeXwCAWpgeH2TPcjDCWWz4Ba-1QAx5WL~eX3LQl1KNRaAEO~D6g2bcMbDAffh86L1oIEwf3WGX61UfpOmhPvnLEMuJHXkbYHausC1mWDW5z0HrNM-d6IdtShZcFFKk~U1sRDKtKjaC7Y-0MaLXp6ylpIX7NqFqaTNN8F7S35ouf8J94tBw8DeFxIRRJHxj1ZJ3t2-49VUZjorfGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cayuga County, NY","date","2025-04-03T14:33:18Z","article","Consultants for a proposed shoreline sewer told the Cayuga County Legislature on May 20 they have prepared a map, plan and report for a partial county sewer district along the Cayuga Lake shoreline and will ask the legislature next month to form the district so the project can pursue state grant funding.

Tim Carpenter of MRV Group described the project as a low-pressure sewer system intended to protect lake water quality by routing wastewater from properties along the lakeshore to the Village of Aurora wastewater treatment plant, which would receive an upgrade as part of the scheme. The proposed district would not cover entire towns but the shoreline areas in the towns of Genoa and Ledyard down to the Tompkins County line.

Key figures and grant strategy

Carpenter estimated construction at about $33 million, noting a 25% contingency in the planning estimate; he said available grant funds in the current round could total as much as $15 million. He told legislators that forming a sewer district is a precondition for some state grants and that the map-plan-report itself does not obligate the county or residents to costs — the financial obligation would be established later and shared only among those properties that benefit.

Carpenter gave an early example of what remaining resident costs could look like under one scenario, saying that with sufficient grant funds the burden might translate to roughly $2,000 per year per home; he stressed the figure depends on final grant awards and other design details and would be revisited before a decision to proceed.

Why it matters

Consultants and county staff emphasized the environmental rationale: the project would reduce phosphorus and nitrogen inputs to the Finger Lakes and address septic-system failures on densely occupied lakeshore roads. The application window for the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation and other grant programs was described as opening in the current cycle; consultants said awards would be announced in late fall or early winter and that having a formed district improves competitiveness.

Next steps

MRV Group asked to return to the legislature next month for a public meeting and a potential resolution to form the partial county sewer district so the grant application can be submitted in July. If grant awards are announced in November or December, consultants will return with the estimated remaining costs and recommended next steps for property owners and the legislature.

Speakers cited in this article

Tim Carpenter — MRV Group (presenter of map, plan and report) (first referenced 3465.64)
Rick Calvato — legal/technical advisor referenced as assisting with plan preparation (first referenced 3530.975)
Village of Aurora (wastewater treatment plant) referenced as receiving plant (first referenced 3774.415)

Authorities

[]

Clarifying details

[ {\"category\":\"construction estimate\",\"detail\":\"Estimated construction cost including contingency\",\"value\":33000000,\"units\":\"USD\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Tim Carpenter\"},{\"category\":\"contingency\",\"detail\":\"Planning contingency included in estimate\",\"value\":25,\"units\":\"percent\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Tim Carpenter\"},{\"category\":\"potential_grant\",\"detail\":\"Potential grant amount cited as required to make per-household costs reasonable\",\"value\":15000000,\"units\":\"USD\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Tim Carpenter\"},{\"category\":\"benefited_homes\",\"detail\":\"Approximate number of homes served along proposed district\",\"value\":370,\"units\":\"count\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Tim Carpenter\"},{\"category\":\"example_resident_cost\",\"detail\":\"Illustrative remaining user cost under a modeled grant award\",\"value\":2000,\"units\":\"USD\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Tim Carpenter\"} ]

Proper names

[ {\"name\":\"MRV Group\",\"type\":\"business\"},{\"name\":\"Village of Aurora Wastewater Treatment Plant\",\"type\":\"facility\"} ]

Community relevance

Geographies: [\"Village of Aurora\",\"Towns of Genoa and Ledyard\",\"Tompkins County border\"]
Funding_sources: [\"New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation grants\",\"state clean water programs\"]
Impact_groups: [\"lakeshore property owners\",\"Finger Lakes water quality advocates\"]

Meeting context

engagement_level: {\"speakers_count\":2,\"duration_minutes\":30,\"items_count\":1},implementation_risk:\"medium\",\"history\":[{\"date\":\"2025-05\",\"note\":\"Map-plan-report prepared; consultants seeking district formation to qualify for grants\"}]

Searchable_tags:[\"sewer\",\"Aurora\",\"map-plan-report\",\"Finger Lakes\",\"water quality\"]

Provenance:{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"block_3465.64\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":250,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"I'm Tim Carpenter with MRV Group... It's a sewer project that would reach from the village of Aurora down to the Tompkins County line from the towns of Genoa and Ledyard, serving about 370 homes along the way there. We've made some progress on it, and I wanted to give you an update because they'll be looking for action in this next next 1.\",\"global_start\":3465,","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cayuga County Legislature Meeting - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Consultants told the Cayuga County Legislature May 20 they have prepared a map-plan-report to form a partial county sewer district along the Cayuga Lake shoreline; the plan would allow the project to apply for state grants that could cover much of the $33 million construction estimate.","taxTitle","Cayuga County, New York","taxId",68314,"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},6593963,"Legislature approves project manager hiring and authorizes remediation funds after contamination found at county office building",5918,3018000,8936000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527993-87db4bf6de866cbe94ba3ec7626f058a&start=3018&end=8936","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527993-87db4bf6de866cbe94ba3ec7626f058a/thumbnail_3018000.jpg","/articles/6593963/Cayuga-County/New-York/Legislature-approves-project-manager-hiring-and-authorizes-remediation-funds-after-contamination-found-at-county-office-building","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6593963-3b1a5b7a5fb02066911820c306e762a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169163&Signature=bV7RGAd5kCCCxMtCUrw4cimWhMp9XlFzbKWdlwviNfAJG82pVVto~2GCli5QVi5dC8rn8nTed5RXuzjk55oHcvNvoZYHY7KDnOuZvcg8UCNSma1eJ3B03mzwuyCDMdkm~AD5YPV-p-Y33O~Medf51jq~P3YIOypK13Y-VLfm3VGPfLzh5vmif5doxXGx5wBxQskmemLEaTqQDq4tHPLiJjTx06sI0-hKxwFy-NmRDePso8NvXWvPQ36HRffXphH4cvkjlACBS7NQEXycUwxA2WnQQw9PsQMRk4At6TEqWv-V~fQlZn~gDW4BMItwAbcjN7wUm-z7B39f7qWSpGKEBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cayuga County Legislature voted on May 20 to move forward with outside project management services and to authorize environmental work after contractors reported contamination in the basement of the county office building at 160 Genesee Street.

Campus Construction Management Group presented its qualifications and proposed role as project manager for renovations of the county building. Mark Esposito, the firm's president, told legislators the company would act as the county’s owner representative, advising on scope, conceptual budgets, contract packaging and construction timelines.

At the same meeting legislators approved a resolution authorizing up to $150,000 for environmental and related professional services to support closure and remediation work tied to the building. County officials said the money will be used for necessary decontamination and to create a controlled environment to retrieve critical equipment, including 9‑1‑1 and IT assets.

Why it matters

County staff described the 9‑1‑1 and IT equipment as critical infrastructure with replacement costs in the millions. Officials said retesting of basement areas showed contamination in some spaces; the work authorized is intended to protect equipment while the county determines next steps.

What the legislature approved

- Project manager contract: The legislature approved engaging Campus Construction Management Group to provide project management services for the county office building planning and construction oversight. The firm outlined experience with municipal and K–12 projects and said it would assist with feasibility, budgeting and contractor coordination.

- Remediation/professional services authorization: The legislature authorized payment of up to $150,000 to environmental consultants and contractors (identified in committee as firms working on contamination assessment and abatement) to perform work to stabilize and make safe areas of the basement so county staff can retrieve equipment safely and evaluate abatement needs.

Officials' concerns and next steps

County leaders and the presenters emphasized the need to protect the data center and 9‑1‑1 operations. Officials said parts of the basement tested positive on repeat sampling after earlier tests; the plan includes creating a negative-pressure decontamination chamber and controlled retrieval of equipment.

The legislature asked Campus Construction and county staff to review existing reports and scope-of-work drafts before further firm commitments. County leaders said Campus Construction will examine the draft reports and advise whether additional investigation is required or if the current remediation plan is appropriate.

Speakers cited in this article

Mark Esposito — president, Campus Construction Management Group (first referenced 3016.12)
Jason Hammond — director of project development, Campus Construction (first referenced 3056.8252)
Rory Fitzpatrick — director of project partnerships, Campus Construction (first referenced 3056.8252)
County environmental consultant (Sessler Environmental) — vendor referenced in committee and on the record (first referenced 4623.165)
Chair John Denan — chair, Cayuga County Legislature (first referenced 567.625)

Authorities

[]

Actions

[ {\"kind\":\"contract_award\",\"identifiers\":{},\"motion\":\"Authorize the chair to execute a project management services contract with Campus Construction Management Group for county office building planning and construction oversight\",\"mover\":\"not specified\",\"second\":\"not specified\",\"vote_record\":[],\"outcome\":\"approved\",\"notes\":\"Exact vote tally not specified in transcript.\"},{\"kind\":\"contract_award\",\"identifiers\":{},\"motion\":\"Authorize expenditure up to $150,000 for environmental and professional services to address contamination and to support safe retrieval of 9-1-1 and IT equipment at 160 Genesee Street\",\"mover\":\"not specified\",\"second\":\"not specified\",\"vote_record\":[],\"outcome\":\"approved\",\"notes\":\"Resolution passed; transcript records discussion about scope and that Campus Construction will review draft reports prior to additional commitments.\"} ]

Clarifying details

[ {\"category\":\"authorization amount\",\"detail\":\"Authorized professional services/remediation funding\",\"value\":150000,\"units\":\"USD\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"County staff\"},{\"category\":\"critical assets\",\"detail\":\"9-1-1 and IT equipment described as expensive critical infrastructure; retrieval will require decontamination chamber\",\"value\":\"not specified\",\"source_speaker\":\"County staff\"},{\"category\":\"scope\",\"detail\":\"Project manager scope: feasibility, conceptual budgets, construction timelines, owner representation\",\"source_speaker\":\"Mark Esposito\"},{\"category\":\"basement testing\",\"detail\":\"Retesting indicated contamination in basement areas; earlier summer samples were clean on some floors but basement showed contamination on subsequent tests\",\"source_speaker\":\"County staff\"} ]

Proper names

[ {\"name\":\"Campus Construction Management Group\",\"type\":\"business\"},{\"name\":\"Sessler Environmental\",\"type\":\"organization\"},{\"name\":\"160 Genesee Street\",\"type\":\"location\"} ]

Community relevance

Geographies: [\"Auburn\",\"Cayuga County\"]
Funding_sources: [\"county budget allocations set aside for 160 Genesee Street remediation\"]
Impact_groups: [\"county employees\",\"residents dependent on 9-1-1 services\"]

Meeting context

engagement_level: {\"speakers_count\":6,\"duration_minutes\":60,\"items_count\":2}
implementation_risk:\"high\" ,history:[{\"date\":\"2024-05\",\"note\":\"Initial closure and earlier testing of county office building recorded; ongoing remediation conversations since closure\"}]

Searchable_tags:[\"remediation\",\"160 Genesee Street\",\"project_manager\",\"Campus Construction\",\"9-1-1\"]

Provenance:{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"block_3016.12\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":210,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"This time, I'm gonna go to, order and invite mister, Mark Esposito, president of campus construction management. ... We put just together a quick brief presentation in our response. Our proposal that we submitted, for the project management services for the county office building, and reviewing the conceptual plans reports that are there.\",\"global_start\":2998,\"global_end\":3208,\"tc_start\":\"00:50:00\",\"tc_end\":\"00:53:30\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"block_8626.135\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":210,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"This this lehi, resolution is to the continuation of the current sales and potentially future notes related to the expenses associated with 1 60, in regards to the Cecil Environmental, Loteer, and, Colliers, who are our current vendors as far as they're doing help they're dealing with us with the entry with our vendors. And, also, they're able to ... This was placed in the budget for 160 Genesys Street.\",\"global_start\":8626,\"global_end\":8836,\"tc_start\":\"02:23:46\",\"tc_end\":\"02:28:56\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}
","The Cayuga County Legislature on May 20 voted to contract a construction management firm and authorized up to $150,000 to cover environmental and remediation work at the county office building after retesting found contamination in the basement; officials said protecting 9‑1‑1 and IT equipment is a top priority.",{"_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},6593968,"Regional planners urge Cayuga County to commit $7 million to deploy $26.1 million broadband award",1634,1362000,2996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527993-87db4bf6de866cbe94ba3ec7626f058a&start=1362&end=2996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527993-87db4bf6de866cbe94ba3ec7626f058a/thumbnail_1362000.jpg","/articles/6593968/Cayuga-County/New-York/Regional-planners-urge-Cayuga-County-to-commit-7-million-to-deploy-261-million-broadband-award","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6593968-3a709ec7ab756780a0b8a819febb3b0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169163&Signature=RIN41Jh0T74INN5j8h0wBobhM3xI-atg1s8nKjXmrKwtRr9r5a~mNWmeJ~kmbhJz2hspkqhgbRg36-kGAY47MFLCHBZHOC~U8Hkds96GyGlfkumrPtYDeUnAZithE3yMNw4pp3dfhQvtkbuK6g~vDMbU483xDXp-8ur3Gas3ZAXlFE6QSI1ATHvjJ2Wj34uWJLtGKFYOOAeDIuRwGs4Xy86InLq8UtkIWMt8iFMzO7YVrf~AVFVxta7TrbJTwD~4niR8fpTScWcV12yDD3eD7FLy3H5AjpgqpfjLH0Sf8Cy-oWb1ImPZ0wZWkASDVzA25TIywEqDP5SDNPNw0v9AvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Regional planning officials told the Cayuga County Legislature on May 20 that a $26,100,000 state award for a broadband fiber build covering rural parts of Cayuga and Cortland counties requires immediate county financial backing if the project is to meet federal and state deadlines.

The update came from the regional planning board’s presenter, Mr. Bogart, who said the money — drawn from federal pandemic-era capital funds administered through the U.S. Treasury and allocated by New York State — will pay to build a roughly 275-mile fiber backbone serving largely rural roads. Bogart said the state and federal schedules mean work must start this summer and that the regional planning board needs both counties to make an interim construction loan available now.

The county’s $7 million commitment would be provided as a short-term financing instrument so the regional board can pay up-front costs such as pole-permit fees and early material purchase orders. \"We can't wait any longer,\" Bogart told legislators, describing a sequence of permit filings, utility make-ready work and construction that could stretch into late 2026 and early 2027 if the cash flow is not in place.

Why it matters

The award is part of a federal capital fund program intended to close gaps in unserved and underserved areas. The regional plan would create a main fiber “highway” that internet service providers could tap to bring service to local roads; planners said the backbone is unlikely to be built by private providers alone because of the low customer density in many rural areas.

Key details and timeline

- Grant/program: US Treasury Capital Fund (ARPA-era), with the state receiving an initial disbursement and allocating $26.1 million for the Cayuga/Cortland build. The state is coordinating with the BEAD-related activities that will fund later last-mile work. (referenced by this article)
- Project scope: roughly 275 miles of fiber; about 6,000 utility poles affected.
- Up-front permit costs: planners estimated roughly $1.5 million to apply for utility pole attachments and begin the make-ready process.
- Early material purchases: a near-term fiber purchase order was described as roughly $2 million.
- Schedule: planners said permit applications should be filed in July to begin utility processing; expedited utility review could shorten historical 9–12 month lead times to roughly six months in many cases. If the schedule holds, construction of the backbone could occur in mid-to-late 2026 with substantial completion targeted by December 2026 and final state reimbursement of grant claims in mid-2027.

Financing structure and legal steps

Bogart and county officials described a financing structure in which counties provide short-term notes (bond anticipation notes or similar short-term revenue notes) to the regional planning board while a nonprofit local development corporation is formed to hold ownership of the asset and limit county exposure during construction and the reimbursement period. Chair John Denan explained the county would use short-term notes rather than an immediate long-term bond, allowing a bridge until state reimbursements are received.

Uncertainties and limits

Planners warned that the award does not guarantee every household will receive direct fiber. Bogart said the build should serve a large share of unserved addresses in the counties but estimated it would not reach every very-remote address without additional funding. He said planners expect to serve a substantial portion of the unserved addresses (discussed as roughly 75% in remarks) and that subsequent BEAD or state funds would be needed for further coverage.

Next steps

Planners asked the legislature to finalize the county's short-term loan commitment and legal agreements so permit applications and early purchases can proceed on July timeline. Cortland County recently voted to proceed and directed its counsel to complete legal documents; Bogart said county action here is now time-sensitive.

Speakers cited in this article

Mr. Bogart — presenter for the regional planning board (first referenced 1362.06)
John Denan — chair, Cayuga County Legislature (first referenced 567.625)
Legislator Straub — Cayuga County Legislature (questions during the briefing; first referenced 2853.02)
Jonathan — county attorney (questions about bonding and resolutions; first referenced 2973.135)

Authorities

[ {\"type\":\"grant\",\"name\":\"U.S. Treasury Capital Fund (ARPA-era broadband capital fund)\",\"referenced_by\":[\"broadband-project\"]},{\"type\":\"grant\",\"name\":\"New York State allocation from U.S. Treasury Capital Fund\",\"referenced_by\":[\"broadband-project\"]},{\"type\":\"other\",\"name\":\"BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program (federal/state last-mile funding)\",\"referenced_by\":[\"broadband-project\"]} ]

Clarifying details

[ {\"category\":\"grant amount\",\"detail\":\"State award to regional planning board\",\"value\":\"26100000\",\"units\":\"USD\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Mr. Bogart\"},{\"category\":\"network length\",\"detail\":\"Proposed backbone length\",\"value\":275,\"units\":\"miles\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Mr. Bogart\"},{\"category\":\"utility poles\",\"detail\":\"Estimated poles requiring permits\",\"value\":6000,\"units\":\"count\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Mr. Bogart\"},{\"category\":\"permit cost\",\"detail\":\"Estimated cost to apply for attachment/permit fees\",\"value\":1500000,\"units\":\"USD\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Mr. Bogart\"},{\"category\":\"near-term material purchase\",\"detail\":\"Estimated early fiber purchase order\",\"value\":2000000,\"units\":\"USD\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Mr. Bogart\"},{\"category\":\"timeline\",\"detail\":\"Target for substantial completion of backbone\",\"value\":\"2026-12-31\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Mr. Bogart\"} ]

Community relevance

Geographies: [\"Cayuga County\",\"Cortland County\"]
Funding_sources: [\"U.S. Treasury Capital Fund\",\"New York State allocation\",\"future BEAD funds\"]
Impact_groups: [\"rural households\",\"unserved addresses\",\"local internet service providers\"]

Meeting context

engagement_level: {\"speakers_count\":4,\"duration_minutes\":120,\"items_count\":1}
implementation_risk:\"medium\"
history:[{\"date\":\"2024-12\",\"note\":\"County previously passed resolution committing subject to caveats to provide interim loan\"}]

Searchable_tags:[\"broadband\",\"fiber\",\"ARPA\",\"BEAD\",\"Cayuga County\",\"regional planning\"]

Provenance:{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"block_1362.06\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":267,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"I'm bad. Everyone asked me to, come, for you tonight and just give you an update on the status of the bridal project. Let me just review once it's secured. Pending legislation over the past 6 months, 9 months, 12 months. So that we've been working on this.\",\"tc_start\":\"00:22:42\",\"tc_end\":\"00:27:42\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"block_2954.72\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":300,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"I think we're in the 75% of unserved addresses in this county will be served by this network. The remaining addresses in the state well, the state may come along with additional grama funds that haven't been to the bill once yet.\",\"tc_start\":\"00:49:14\",\"tc_end\":\"00:49:56\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}
","At the May 20 Cayuga County Legislature meeting, regional planning staff updated legislators on a $26.1 million state award to build about 275 miles of fiber in Cayuga and Cortland counties and urged the county to provide a $7 million short-term loan so permit applications and construction can begin on a tight federal timetable.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6593953,"Legislature adopts temporary county hiring restrictions after debate and several exemptions",615,4847000,5462000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3527993-87db4bf6de866cbe94ba3ec7626f058a&start=4847&end=5462","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3527993-87db4bf6de866cbe94ba3ec7626f058a/thumbnail_4847000.jpg","/articles/6593953/Cayuga-County/New-York/Legislature-adopts-temporary-county-hiring-restrictions-after-debate-and-several-exemptions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6593953-d76c239e9b937276b659ceaa20b84440/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169163&Signature=NAtqDH4su5rfHo-0QMxmhEZZ9aVj9zo84XuPHlmAhgv~kJnOCkSgDqsv3XHm5VPHok831TDd9-cAsq5HxRHGgfVVO1SE8dbjJix~CK3pQdAu7Tuclv2HKfyRg6FvGcEKjbstgUxvIsg89EWA5jTV8TcAWMiQb~JgN447upVFQKCFceNlsin7eLBVUVhMNIVB07HCAfNh45InT7hgjErFVowS44S1cPIbuZYY1Ml5rSeWGR6fURC-BexOat1cZDt1A388Z1R8IQT2FqVBxAIbeRLNmjVkjtbDTg1cFZzpWsVyUWwJfEVQXDSAVxeqMB0ATNyW44RzhCtDuE9N72Z6Ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cayuga County Legislature passed a temporary hiring restriction (WM2) on May 20 after extended debate and several amendments that added exemptions for specific positions, including sheriff’s road patrol deputies and named Social Services titles.

The measure was presented by committee leadership as a short-term step to curb personnel spending while the county addresses a budget gap. Committee members and department leaders said the policy is intended to preserve statutorily required and critical services while pausing nonessential hires.

Major points and amendments

- Original intent: The resolution would place a temporary restriction on filling many county positions to reduce near‑term payroll obligations while Ways & Means and department heads review FY25 and plan for FY26.

- Exemptions and clarifications: Committee discussion and two floor amendments added exemptions to allow filling of several categories of positions that committees and department heads said are critical. The exemptions discussed and added during the meeting included custody officers for the jail, 9‑1‑1 emergency services dispatchers, seasonal and EMS staffing, and — after an amendment on the floor — road patrol deputies from the sheriff’s department. Later in the floor debate legislators also added specific Social Services titles to the exemption list: the head social welfare examiner and the supervising social services investigator, both noted as critical because of imminent retirements and caseload concerns.

- Staffing risks discussed: County officials and the sheriff described the time needed to refill certain positions. A sheriff’s deputy vacancy could take up to 18 months to fill via academy training without a lateral transfer; lateral hires and background investigations for some roles were discussed as taking weeks to months. The county’s Social Services director warned that pending retirements in key welfare examiner positions could leave critical benefit and eligibility work unaddressed.

Why it matters

Legislators framed the freeze as a temporary fiscal-control measure while budget performance and staffing needs are evaluated. Supporters said the pause creates space for priorities-setting; critics raised concerns about continuity of operations and the potential for service gaps if too many positions are withheld.

Final action and implementation guidance

The legislature approved the hiring restriction as amended. Members directed Ways & Means, the chair and department heads to continue budget reviews this month and return with detailed recommendations on which positions should be filled or held. Officials said the resolution is a short-term tool and that the legislature can make additional exemptions by vote if emergent needs arise.

Speakers cited in this article

Chair John Denan — chair, Cayuga County Legislature (first referenced 567.625)
Legislator Mark Strong — Cayuga County Legislature (questions and comments about Social Services and staffing; first referenced 480.28497)
Sheriff (unnamed in transcript) — provided staffing timelines and academy information (discussion referenced at 5017.4004)
Jonathan — county attorney (legal clarifications about resolution and vote thresholds; first referenced 2973.135)
Legislator Heidi Nightingale — Cayuga County Legislature (participated in debate and raised concerns about Social Services retirements; first referenced 481.00497)

Authorities

[]

Actions

[ {\"kind\":\"other\",\"identifiers\":{\"agenda_item_id\":\"WM2_hiring_restriction\"},\"motion\":\"Adopt temporary hiring restriction resolution WM2 with listed exemptions and floor amendments including additions for road patrol deputies and specified Social Services titles\",\"mover\":\"not specified\",\"second\":\"not specified\",\"vote_record\":[],\"outcome\":\"approved\",\"notes\":\"Measure passed after two amendments adding road patrol deputies and two Social Services titles; exact vote tally not specified in transcript.\"} ]

Discussion and concerns

Legislators and department leaders debated how long it would take to fill critical roles: the sheriff estimated up to 18 months to fill a deputy position via academy training without lateral transfers; background investigations for lateral hires could take roughly six weeks. Social Services leaders warned that imminent retirements of senior welfare examiner staff could interrupt Medicaid, HEAP and other benefit processing if the positions remain unfilled.

Next steps

The legislature directed committee chairs, the county’s budget director and department heads to schedule meetings to evaluate FY25 budget performance and present recommendations on fills and cuts ahead of FY26 budgeting. Members noted the legislature retains authority to make additional exceptions by majority vote for critical positions.

Clarifying details

[ {\"category\":\"fill timeline\",\"detail\":\"Estimated time to fill a deputy via academy if no lateral transfer available\",\"value\":18,\"units\":\"months\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Sheriff\"},{\"category\":\"background investigation time\",\"detail\":\"Estimated time for background checks for lateral law-enforcement hires\",\"value\":2,\"units\":\"months\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Sheriff\"},{\"category\":\"Social Services risk\",\"detail\":\"Pending retirements in Social Services could affect Medicaid/HEAP and other eligibility processing; staff warned of service gaps if not exempted\",\"source_speaker\":\"Legislator Heidi Nightingale\"} ]

Proper names

[ {\"name\":\"Cayuga County Legislature\",\"type\":\"other\"} ]

Community relevance

Geographies: [\"Cayuga County\"]
Funding_sources: [\"county general fund\" ]
Impact_groups: [\"county clients receiving social services\",\"residents relying on sheriff patrols and 9-1-1 services\"]

Meeting context

engagement_level: {\"speakers_count\":12,\"duration_minutes\":180,\"items_count\":1},implementation_risk:\"medium\",\"history\":[{\"date\":\"2025-05-20\",\"note\":\"WM2 passed with amendments; chairs to review staffing and budget activities in June\"}]

Searchable_tags:[\"hiring_freeze\",\"personnel\",\"budget\",\"social_services\",\"sheriff\"]

Provenance:{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"block_4847.23\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":240,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Ways and means 2, which is the, hiring restriction resolution. I'm hoping, to the county attorney, where the amendment was made, the actual clear term is care management, not care managers, not case managers. So we just changed the s to an r.\",\"global_start\":4847,","The Cayuga County Legislature on May 20 approved a temporary hiring-restriction resolution intended to control payroll spending this year; after extensive debate members voted to exempt certain public-safety and social‑services positions and added road patrol deputies and specific Social Services titles as amendments before passing the measure.","actionData","errors"]

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