I f the Erie County Legislature was an episode of Sesame Street (insert your own punch line here), the month of February would be sponsored by the Letter “B.” Indeed, much of this month will be devoted to bullying, bonding and books.

Last year, my colleagues Ed Rath and Ray Walter proposed a local law aimed at combating the growing problem of cyber-bullying. The law would make it a misdemeanor to engage in cyber-bullying against a minor.

Since then, Walter has moved on to the state Assembly, Rath was re-elected and the proposed law sat on the table. Recently, the chairwoman of the county Legislature promised to put it on the agenda of our Feb. 16 meeting. Hence, we will soon be voting on the measure. Although I feel that such laws are best enacted on the state level, I am prepared to vote in its favor. I view it as one more tool for the adults charged with protecting the welfare of our community’s youth.

The question of bonding to cover the costs of a lawsuit settlement will also be on the front burner in February. The county executive has asked the Legislature to approve bonding the entire $7 million cost of the settlement. Although I would prefer to pay this expense out of money currently in the county’s 2012 budget, I have told the executive that I would be willing to compromise. I even offered to go more than halfway by consenting to the bonding of $4 million. I suggested that the $3 million balance could be taken from the county’s risk retention fund. This fund was established for this very purpose and currently contains about $5.5 million. At some point we have to realize that we cannot borrow our way out of every problem. We need to make some difficult decisions, and I am ready to make them.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo and Erie County Library System’s Board of Directors is continuing its push to create a countywide library district. Such a move would require the passage of special state legislation and the approval of the county’s voters. This referendum would simultaneously set up the library district and approve its initial budget. This represents another difficult choice. Although I have been a skeptic from the start and have not been shy about sharing my reservations, I have agreed to maintain an open mind. I look forward, therefore, to hearing the views of my constituents on this issue, as well as others.

If you have thoughts you would like to share, I would love to hear from you. I can be contacted by phone at 858-8672 or via email at kevin.hard wick@erie.gov.