Oswego County SWCD approves 2026 budget, elects officers and grants 3% salary increase to full‑time staff
January 01, 2026 | Oswego County, New York
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The Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District board approved a modified 2026 budget, several routine financial motions and a 3% retroactive pay increase for full‑time staff during its Jan. 13 meeting.
At 10:02 a.m., Chairperson Jeff Richards presided over the meeting at the District conference room in Fulton. Directors unanimously approved the December 2025 minutes and the January bills and accepted the financial report for December 2025. Director Linda Lockwood made the motions to approve the minutes and financial report; Director Tom Bonoffski seconded. Each motion carried, recorded as 3 yeas, 0 nays (Directors Jeff Richards, Linda Lockwood and Tom Bonoffski).
The board reviewed and approved the 2026 modified budget as submitted and approved the January 2026 payroll certification. The board also reviewed December reconciled bank statements; Chair Richards presented District Manager Joe Chairvolotti with a recognition gift for 20 years of service.
The board approved a set of administrative payments and adjustments: it authorized payment of a $2,424.50 unemployment insurance invoice (motion by Director Bonoffski, seconded by Director Lockwood) and voted to pay a $7,752.00 invoice from Seneca County Soil and Water Conservation District for AEM technical assistance. The board also authorized payment of a $41,420.00 New York State & Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) invoice prior to its due date, using funds from the liability and FLLOWPA grant accounts.
The board approved minor updates to the district's 2026 policies and then, by unanimous ballot cast by the acting secretary, elected the 2026 officers: Jeff Richards, Chairperson; Linda Lockwood, Vice Chairperson; Sandy Tuori‑Bell, Member at Large; and Laura Romanowicz, Secretary and Treasurer. The motions to approve the policies and to cast a unanimous ballot were made by Director Lockwood and seconded by Director Bonoffski and recorded as 3 yeas, 0 nays.
Following an executive session convened at 11:36 a.m. to discuss personnel matters, the board returned at 11:53 a.m. and approved a motion to increase each full‑time staff member’s annual salary by 3%, with retroactive pay effective Jan. 1, 2026. Director Bonoffski made the motion; Director Lockwood seconded. The vote was recorded as 3 yeas, 0 nays. The board adjourned at 11:59 a.m.
The board set its next meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the District conference room.
At 10:02 a.m., Chairperson Jeff Richards presided over the meeting at the District conference room in Fulton. Directors unanimously approved the December 2025 minutes and the January bills and accepted the financial report for December 2025. Director Linda Lockwood made the motions to approve the minutes and financial report; Director Tom Bonoffski seconded. Each motion carried, recorded as 3 yeas, 0 nays (Directors Jeff Richards, Linda Lockwood and Tom Bonoffski).
The board reviewed and approved the 2026 modified budget as submitted and approved the January 2026 payroll certification. The board also reviewed December reconciled bank statements; Chair Richards presented District Manager Joe Chairvolotti with a recognition gift for 20 years of service.
The board approved a set of administrative payments and adjustments: it authorized payment of a $2,424.50 unemployment insurance invoice (motion by Director Bonoffski, seconded by Director Lockwood) and voted to pay a $7,752.00 invoice from Seneca County Soil and Water Conservation District for AEM technical assistance. The board also authorized payment of a $41,420.00 New York State & Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) invoice prior to its due date, using funds from the liability and FLLOWPA grant accounts.
The board approved minor updates to the district's 2026 policies and then, by unanimous ballot cast by the acting secretary, elected the 2026 officers: Jeff Richards, Chairperson; Linda Lockwood, Vice Chairperson; Sandy Tuori‑Bell, Member at Large; and Laura Romanowicz, Secretary and Treasurer. The motions to approve the policies and to cast a unanimous ballot were made by Director Lockwood and seconded by Director Bonoffski and recorded as 3 yeas, 0 nays.
Following an executive session convened at 11:36 a.m. to discuss personnel matters, the board returned at 11:53 a.m. and approved a motion to increase each full‑time staff member’s annual salary by 3%, with retroactive pay effective Jan. 1, 2026. Director Bonoffski made the motion; Director Lockwood seconded. The vote was recorded as 3 yeas, 0 nays. The board adjourned at 11:59 a.m.
The board set its next meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the District conference room.
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