Morning News Briefing

City Council members in Batavia gave approval, amending a sales tax allocation with Genesee County, after State and County lawmakers signed off on the new deal.
At their Council Board meeting last night members voted 8 to 0 in favor of the 40-year contract that is said to clear up financial questions concerning the funding of proposed capital projects.
With the new agreement the county will be provided the necessary time to fund a new jail and to manage the long-term debt payments associated with the jail construction along with other capital projects.
City Manager Moore also proposed a plan to develop a Deer Committee with City residents to strategize a plan to reduce the deer population at last night’s meeting.
Once interested and qualified committee members are approved Council will need to approve the official establishment of the Deer Committee.

Moore said a DEC wildlife management specialist has given him a “verbal commitment” to attend an upcoming Council meeting in order to advise the board on the proper way to reduce the deer population.

Trick or treaters could be facing a High Wind Watch in Western New York
A High Wind Watch is in place for Thursday evening.
The National Weather Service issued the Watch for Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, and Chautauqua counties.
Winds are expected to pick up on Halloween night and last into Friday morning.
Gusts could be strong enough to knock down trees or create power outages.

Voters with disabilities in Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties can get free rides to the polls on election-day.
The rides are being provided by Western New York Independent Living.
They can take people to and from their voting location from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a break for lunch from noon to one.
Anyone interested in getting a ride is asked to email or call the group to set it up.

The state Assembly Health Committee chair will hear testimony this morning on the effects of banning tackle football for youth organizations.
The hearing will focus on the effects of prohibiting children ages 12 and under from participating in tackle football.
It will be streamed live on the Assembly website at 10 a.m.
A state law takes effect on December 2nd that requires all tackle football programs to provide parents with informational packets.
Right now, there is no state law banning the sport.

A law is in the works to help cut down on single-use plastic in New York.
It’s called the Right to Refill Act, and it was introduced yesterday by Senator Jen Metzger.
It would allow folks to bring their own reusable containers to restaurants for leftover food and beverages.
There’s not currently a law on the books that bans customers from bringing their own containers, but restaurants can forbid it if they choose to.