WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley speaks with Assemblyman Andy Goodell about the recently passed 2024 State Budget and his legislative agenda for the remainder of the session.

Andy Goodell

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel at Boat User Fee meeting (April 12, 2023)

Chautauqua County will move forward with studying a potential boat fee for users of Chautauqua Lake.

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel hosted a public forum that was attended by about two dozen people Wednesday to see if there was a willingness to look at implementing the fee, “We saw a show of hands. The majority of people want to continue. So, we’ll go back. We’ll talk to Planning and Economic Development and start to implement what we’re going to do. Barton & LoGuidice were here. They’ll review what we do going forward and what the scope of work will be.”

Wendel said he expects some pushback but is optimistic about the process.

He said a boat fee would be used to help fund lake maintenance efforts that are currently being done as well to help fund the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance, who uses a metric system to distribute funds for lake efforts. Wendel said this would help reduce the amount local foundations have to support lake efforts.

For 2023, total funding requests for lakes and waterways is $2,953,296 with only $234,000 available funding from the 2% occupancy tax that goes toward protection of lakes and streams. The other 3% of the occupancy tax is designated toward promotion of tourism.

Wendel said a committee to study the boat fee could include members from fishing associations, boat clubs, elected officials, and travel and tourism, “What we’d be looking at is an annual fee. What that fee is is yet to be determined. But you purchase a sticker. The hopes are.. could we work with marinas could we work with other agencies that put the boats in and out, or working with local establishments. Again, we have a couple places that sell fish licenses every weekend. So, working with our businesses around Chautauqua Lake to provide those stickers for people, if they’re coming in for a day, for a week, and understand what that fee would be.”

Wendel said the county still needs to determine how the committee is implemented in terms of whether it needs legislative approval to appoint members or not.

Should a recommendation to create a boat user fee be approved by the Chautauqua County Legislature, it would still require Home Rule approval from New York State in order to be implemented.

State Assemblyman Andy Goodell, who was present at the meeting, said given the legislative calendar, if this moves forward this is something that likely wouldn’t be acted on by the state until 2024 for implementation in 2025.

View slideshow from the Boat User Fee Meeting.

Tune to Community Matters tonight at 5:00 p.m. to hear the Boat User Fee Informational Meeting.

TCC CEO Mike Pease said through the 340b program, TCC has the ability to offer prescriptions at a greatly reduced price for patients, “And the second thing is, it offers another form of income for organizations like us as well as other health centers, hospitals systems, Ryan White clinics, most of us participate in this program. And we reinvest those dollars into programs like care coordination, case management, transportation, translation services – things we don’t traditionally get reimbursed for.”

Pease said while this is a federal program, former Governor Andrew Cuomo‘s 2021 budget introduce a measure to “carve out” the savings healthcare facilities receive and directed it back into the state coffers. That measure was put on hold due to the Pandemic, but is now part of Governor Kathy Hochul‘s budget and is set to go into effect April 1.

Pease said if this goes forward, it means a loss of over $2 million for TCC. According to a report by Buffalo Business First, Buffalo-based Evergreen Health could see $13 million in annual losses to its $117 million budget due to the changes. Business First reports that the change is expected to usher in a $250 million funding loss statewide, and hospitals across New York are predicting losses of $240 million. Pease said this also would affect UPMC Chautauqua and Brooks Memorial Hospital who have their own pharmacy programs.

Pease said TCC is part of the Save New York’s Safety Net Coalition, which has come up with an alternative proposal for the State Legislature, “On how we could continue to get the benefit of the program as health centers but also we would ensure that the program’s guidelines are being met from the standpoint of reinvesting those dollars into programs that are supportive, things like that. So, there is a way that this could benefit both the state, the community – which is the most important, as well as us as providers of those services.”

Pease added that both State Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell have been supportive of the continuance 340b program.

Norm Green addresses Chautauqua County Legislature (February 22, 2023)

The Chautauqua County Legislature is urging New York State to release funds to help get a new Brooks Memorial Hospital constructed.

The Legislature unanimously passed a motion requesting Governor Kathy Hochul release the $74 million toward the project.

Former Democratic Board of Election Commissioner and County Democratic Committee Chair Norm Green spoke at privilege of the floor, calling the project the biggest issue in Chautauqua County, “This isn’t a Dunkirk problem. It’s not a Fredonia problem. It’s not a Brocton problem. It’s not a Silver Creek problem. It goes way beyond those borders and only the County of Chautauqua can be the ones who assist. So I hope tonight, after you pass this motion, that the work won’t stop.”

Green brought up the idea that the County should even consider taking over the hospital.

Legislator Kevin Muldowney said he agreed with Green’s comments, which is a rare thing, and that it’s vital the legislature presents a united front in asking governor to release the funds issued in 2016, “It’s an economic development motivator. If we do want to recruit and continue to recruit businesses into Chautauqua County, we have to have a viable, state of the art hospital. And this is a regional issue. Stop thinking parochial and start thinking regional.”

Muldowney said access to a hospital is also important for north county residents from a safety standpoint.

County Executive PJ Wendel said in his monthly interview with WRFA that his biggest fear is that the state will release the funds for the construction of the hospital, and then the money will run out, “The model has some questions, as far as their sustainability financially. And my biggest concern is that they get the funding and the monies run out and the hospital isn’t finished. You know, prior to this large sum of money that Governor (Andrew) Cuomo first put aside from Brooks, and now Governor (Kathy) Hochul has it as well, they were supporting Brooks quite substantially, the Department of Health, with funding for two years prior to that.”
Wendel said the state required that the hospital have a sustainable financial model moving forward, which he doesn’t believe has been presented.

He said the blue ribbon task force he formed with Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas, State Senator George Borrello, Assemblyman Andy Goodell, and numerous health experts have worked with Brooks Hospital officials on moving forward with the proposed new hospital building.

Wendel added the hospital board is aware of the guidelines set by New York State and that they shoulder the responsibility in getting a completed plan to them.

Ellery Town Supervisor Larry Anderson addresses Chautauqua County Legislature (February 22, 2023)

The Town of Ellery has asked the Chautauqua County Legislature to support and help implement a six-point plan for improvement of Chautauqua Lake.

Legislator Lisa Vanstrom requested that Legislative Clerk Olivia Lee read the letter outlining the proposal from Ellery Town Supervisor Larry Anderson out loud for all members present to hear.

The plan for future lake improvement includes lakeside municipalities, the county, and state leaders reaching an agreement on the goal for Chautauqua Lake management. It also calls for contracting with a university-led group of scientists, engineers, and project managers to develop a multi-year management plan. The third point requests that $7 million in the County’s American Rescue Plan funds be designated toward the development and implementation of the plan. The fourth point seeks to revisit a county-wide funding mechanism for Chautauqua Lake protection and rehabilitation including use of existing property, sales, and occupancy tax revenue with the potential for increases in those tax rates.

The proposal would use an organization of lakeside municipality mayors and supervisors with support from county government to oversee the development and implementation of the plan and manage lake and watershed activities consistent with the goal set. This organization would be unaffiliated with lake organizations.

The last point in the proposal asks State Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell to work to obtain state funding for the lake and to work with the State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Larry Anderson, speaking at the second privilege of the floor, thanked the legislature for reading the letter and said it took 50 to 60 years for Chautauqua Lake to “get this bad,” “And it’s not going to get fixed overnight. It’s going to take some time. But I really feel that our six-point plan is the way to start and if we can get enough support and everybody comes together with the townships, the villages along the lake, that I think we can finally go in the right direction.”

The Chautauqua Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Agency, which was formed in 2018 to study the creation of a lake protection and rehabilitation district, voted in January to not move forward with a tax district.

Bemus Point Mayor Jeff Molnar also addressed the Legislature and said after attending various CLPRA and lake organization meetings, it was clear that “not everyone was rowing in the right direction,” “I’ve learned about the proposal that the town of Ellery has put forward. And unless I get any negative feedback from my Board of Trustees in the village, then I intend to support, at least, the portion about the mayors and supervisors organization.”

Mayville Mayor Rick Syper also made a short statement saying he supports Ellery’s plan.

County Executive PJ Wendel said the lakeside municipality leaders group proposed by Ellery to oversee the effort would be a new group.

He said while 3 of the 9 leaders are in agreement, it’s been tough to get consensus, “I don’t think they’re too far off but everybody has their different opinions and philosophies. And we’ve said this, we’re not going to get a unanimous consensus, but we do have to look at what’s happening. My push for this year is a collaborative effort. We have yet to do that in Chautauqua Lake. We harvest and we use herbicides. But I have a big push with our working group, if you will, between the Watershed (Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy) , CLA (Chautauqua Lake Association), and CLP (Chautauqua Lake Partnership) to have a collaborative plan this year to start.”

Legislature Chairman Pierre Chagnon gave credit to Ellery for developing the plan. He said there’s significant overlap between what the town and County Executive Wendel are working on, “I know that the County Executive has met with the town of Ellery representatives to discuss his directions and their plan. Personally, I think that it’s exciting, the concept of getting all of the towns and villages around the lake agreeing on what should be done and working together to help the lake.”

Chagnon said he’s looking forward to learning more about Wendel’s plan in the near future.

State Assemblyman Andy Goodell shares his thoughts on Governor Kathy Hochul‘s proposed 2024 State Budget.

Andy Goodell

Andy Goodell

State Assemblyman Andy Goodell wants more fiscal restraint in the state budget than what Governor Hochul has proposed.

Kathy Hochul presented her $277 billion spending plan Wednesday that increases spending by $5 billion over the current financial year’s budget.

Goodell said with Federal funds related to the Pandemic drying up, state lawmakers need to look at how to make New York more efficient and less expensive for residents. He said while there are not general tax increases in the proposed budget, he was disappointed with the carbon tax proposed that he says will affect everyone, “Because one of the largest generators of carbon emissions in New York State are the utility companies, including here in Jamestown. And so Jamestown is already paying over $2 million surcharge to help support clean energy and that’s coming right out the pocket of all Jamestown BPU customers. And her proposal would increase those expenses by an estimated billion dollars statewide.”

Goodell said he thought the increase to mental health services was a positive move, and hopes the increase in funding for housing mental health patients is approved.

He also was encouraged by Hochul’s budgetary plans for public safety, including gun violence, “In the category of addressing violence, she included $84 million for Youth Employment programs, which I think is good because the more youth are involved in positive activities, particularly ones that give them job experience, the less likely they’ll resort to gang violence.”

Goodell hopes that the 10% increase in school aid in addition to the full funding of Foundation Aid to school districts will result in tax decreases.

In terms of AIM, or the Aid and Incentives to municipalities program, Goodell thinks funding should increase given that it had been frozen or even decreased 12 years ago.

During the budget process over the next two months, Goodell will be advocating for funding for the 2-1-1 program and support for the Cornell Cooperative Extension program.

Goodell said he and State Senator George Borrello made specific requests for increases in funding for lake maintenance and for the Jefferson Project, “Which is an amazing project with both public and private funding to do a very, very detailed scientific analysis of harmful algal blooms. And that data would be helpful for every lake in the state.”

Goodell added he’s also hoping the $100 million budgeted for transformational hospital construction funds will include money for the new Brooks Memorial Hospital construction in Fredonia.

State Assemblyman Andy Goodell discusses his reaction to Governor Kathy Hochul‘s State of the State address as well has his own agenda for the legislative session.

Andy Goodell

Andy Goodell

Assemblyman Andy Goodell supports a number of items highlighted in Governor Kathy Hochul‘s State of the State address, but says her solutions fail to grasp underlying causes to issues.

Goodell said he was glad to see that Hochul highlighted her concern over inflation and cost of living in the state, “She highlighted crime rates and what’s going there. Housing crisis was mentioned by the Governor as well as the need for more mental health services. So, in terms of acknowledging what the issues are, I appreciate where the Governor was coming from.”

Goodell said Hochul’s solutions to problems miss other possible things, giving Hochul’s concern over the dramatic increase in energy prices as an example, “But didn’t acknowledge that New York State itself has turned down every single permit for new generating plants in New York State, which is causing a supply shortage, and has blocked every single new natural gas pipeline, again causing a supply shortage.”
Hochul has proposed a pilot program to help low-income families retrofit their homes and upgrade appliances in accordance with the Climate Act.

Goodell said he supports Hochul’s proposed increase in funding to the GIVE program as well as funds to help add prosecutors to District Attorneys offices across New York State. He also supports her proposed $1 billion investment in mental health programs that would add 1,000 in-patient psychiatric beds, 3,500 housing units for those with mental illness, and create systemic accountability for how hospitals handle admission and discharge of mental health patients.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist addresses City Council (December 12, 2022)

The City of Jamestown is asking City Council for approval to do a school zone speed camera demonstration.

Mayor Eddie Sundquist said while the city still needs home rule approval from the State Legislature and the Governor to install the cameras to ticket those who speed in school zones, they have another option in the meantime, “TrafficPax has offered to put mobile sensing units in our school zones to get us data on how many cars are actually speeding in school zones. So, it would not be to ticket anyone. It would be to see the number of cars that are actually speeding in school zones. It’s not something we need to do but it’s something that (state) legislators have asked us.”

Sundquist said that data can also help the city determine if they want to move forward with the school zone speed camera program.

In order to do the demonstration, council would need to approve a contract with TrafficPax, LLC for the program. If the city decides to move ahead with the camera program, the service would provide for a $50 fine for anyone speeding ten m.p.h. over the speed limit in a school zone, of which the city will receive $32.

Assemblyman Andy Goodell and State Senator George Borrello are in support of the home rule needed for the program and have brought it forth to the legislature twice before, but it was not acted on in previous state legislative sessions. Sundquist said the representatives hope to get that legislation moved forward in January.