A county lawmaker who has been pushing for the Chautauqua County Legislature to apologize to an organization hired to implement universal screenings for newborn children but had its contract terminated is putting her request on hold.

During the legislature’s Administrative Services Committee meeting, Legislator Susan Parker, D-Fredonia, asked to table a motion she had prefiled called “Apologize to the Healthy Community Alliance and the Strong Starts Coalition.”

In 2021, the legislature contracted with Strong Starts Chautauqua to implement a universal screenings program, however County Executive PJ Wendel canceled the contract in November, stating there is “internal concern over proper policy and procedures, which is being reviewed by external counsel.”

The original contract for the program was for $378,000. The money came from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act funds, which was provided by the federal government to help municipalities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. By canceling the contract, the county has saved $150,000, although the county has not earmarked those funds for anything else.

Healthy Community Alliance was the fiscal sponsor of the program. At the beginning of the Administrative Services Committee meeting, Wendel read a letter from HCA, thanking his office for his support.

“I am writing to acknowledge our recent conversation where you recognize Healthy Community Alliance’s financial stewardship and affirm the county’s position that Healthy Community Alliance conducted all of its contractual responsibilities with the utmost integrity.

Furthermore we are pleased to have read your quote in the Post-Journal (and OBSERVER) on November 20, 2023, in which you thank Healthy Community Alliance for our work as Strong Starts Chautauqua fiscal sponsor and clarified to the press and the public that the cancellation of the ARPA funding contract was due to an internal county concern and an ongoing investigation of proper county policies and procedures.

“As a New York State rural health network, Healthy Community Alliance offers many programs and services across both Chautauqua County and Cattaraugus County with a mission of improving quality of life and quality of care for rural communities. Healthy Community Alliance looks forward to future opportunities to collaborate on projects that improve the health and well-being of Chautauqua County residents. Sincerely, Ann Battaglia, chief executive officer of Healthy Community Alliance,” the letter read.

Copies of the letter were given to committee members.

During the regular portion of the committee, Parker said she had spoken with Legislature Chairman Pierre Chagnon and he recommended waiting on any apology or anything else until the investigation is completed, which she agreed with.

Still, Parker expressed her support for the program.

“We believe that Strong Starts is a very effective program that is still in process of being formed,” she said, speaking on behalf of herself and Legislator Tom Nelson, D-Jamestown. “I don’t know if we appreciate or understand what Strong Starts actually represents for early intervention, assessment, evaluation and treatment for children, particularly between zero and age 3 for prenatal substance exposure, which as we know in our county is five times the New York state rate.”

According to Parker, Strong Starts Chautauqua is still working with Jamestown Public Schools, pediatric practices, obstetrics practices, and other places. They were planning on also working with the Chautauqua Center and Chautauqua Opportunities.

“I think there’s an opportunity here for continued collaboration but my fear is that there is a wedge that has been created. I am hopeful that this doesn’t continue, that the collaboration will repair and the collaboration will happen,” she said.

Parker added she plans on bringing this topic up again next month.