Poloncarz delivers State of the County address to questions from critics

ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. (WKBW) — Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz delivered his annual state of the county address at Buffalo’s Albright-Knox art gallery Wednesday afternoon.

In it, the county executive discussed plans for health, environment, infrastructure, and safety initiatives.

One proposal was drawing criticism even before the address Wednesday afternoon.

Poloncarz’s challenger legislator Lynne Dixon brought up concerns about a proposed office of consumer protection and wants to hear more.

“To me it’s adding another layer [of government], it’s adding more jobs, more bodies, and growing the size of county government at a time we really should be trying to give taxpayers a break somehow,” said Dixon.

This office would be newly formed and replace the current department of weights and measures, which has in the past come under fire for misuse.

The new office would be created under the Department of Public Advocacy, and come with a new director position, as well as two other positions for scanner accuracy monitors.

Poloncarz hopes the office will be a resource for consumers to let them know of their rights at businesses.

He is also proposing any ATM operating outside of a bank register in order to help the newly formed office track and prevent skimmer theft.