County Legislator Susan Parker, D-Fredonia, made the right decision in pulling a prefiled resolution calling on the county to apologize to the Healthy Community Alliance and the Strong Starts Coalition.

Pierre Chagnon, R-Bemus Point and legislature chairman, is right. Such a resolution is premature until the results of the county’s investigation have been reviewed by external lawyers to see if internal county policy and procedures had been followed and if any legal wrongdoing took place. Once that review is done, the reason for the separation should be made public.

We’re not sure, though, that the focus on apologies is the right idea in the first place.

Parker said during the county’s Administrative Services Committee meeting last week that a wedge has been created between the county and Strong Starts Chautauqua that may prevent future collaboration. What does an apology resolution really do if the players remain the same? An apology on paper likely won’t do much to assuage the lack of trust between the county and the Strong Starts Coalition, especially if there was wrongdoing.

The only way an apology makes sense is if County Executive PJ Wendel feels a new contract with Strong Starts Chautauqua is the best way to accomplish the goals the county had when it partnered with Strong Starts Chautauqua in the first place. Otherwise, the county’s focus should be on finding a partner that can accomplish those goals. There is still $150,000 remaining from the original Strong Starts contract. The county’s first focus should be finding a new partner with a similar program for that money.