As COVID-19 spread slows down, Legislators Lorigo, Greene, Todaro, and Mills seek to revoke County Executive’s power of executive authority

Modified: March 17, 2021 10:21am

03/16/2021

Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro

Erie County Legislators Joe Lorigo, Chris Greene, Frank Todaro, and John Mills have introduced a resolution to remove County Executive Poloncarz’s temporary executive authority that was granted to him at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of granting executive authority was to expedite decisions and spending during the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as case numbers quickly rose. Since then, the number of COVID-19 cases has gone down and the local economy is beginning to re-open with the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Legislator Lorigo said, “We haven’t even received the next round of funding from the federal government yet and the County Executive is already talking about using it to fund pet projects that are not directly related to the pandemic. Thanks to the diligence of Erie County residents, we’ve made huge progress in slowing the spread of the virus. The urgent spending power isn’t something the County Executive should have anymore. We aren’t in the same situation we were a year ago and as the oversight body of county government, the Legislature needs to be part of the conversation. I hope my colleagues across the aisle will agree it is time to move on and get back to the appropriate legislative process.”

Legislator Greene said, “We are about to get $178 million from the federal government. Before the County Executive commits to spending this money, it’s time we do the right thing and return to business as usual. Executive authority is no longer necessary as we enter what are hopefully the final stages of the pandemic.”

Legislator Todaro said, “We’re finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the COVID-19 pandemic. As we move forward with the next round of federal funding, the Legislature needs to be part of the decision-making process when it comes to spending it. We represent all different areas of Erie County and have a responsibility to make decisions that best serve everyone. When one person is calling all of the shots, our voices as legislators and the voices of all Erie County taxpayers are lost. We need to have a seat at the table when this $178 million comes in from the federal government.”

Legislator Mills said, “Our resolution is simply saying it’s time to restore the order of the legislative branch. We’ve been through months of one-sided decision making and it’s no longer necessary as COVID-19 numbers have dropped significantly. If something needs urgent approval, we can call a special session within 48 hours. The bottom line is that we need to get back to a system of checks and balances, especially before we get a huge pot of money from the federal government.”

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