Here's the gist of last night's County Legislature meeting: Robutrad is no more, Democrats and Republicans still can't agree on bonding, and sometimes a vote has to be confusing just to protect an issue's future.

Let me explain. And keep in mind, the Lej now records its meetings and we're in a high-stakes election year.

• The big matter up for discussion last night was Robutrad - the county-labor partnership at the center of scandal. Republicans sponsored legislation that nullified legislative action from 1989 and 1996 that let the county executive enter into a contract with the labor group. Because of recent fraud allegations involving the organization, Republicans and the county administration wanted to wipe out that relationship - County Executive Maggie Brooks severed the active contract earlier this month by sending a letter to Robutrad.

Citizens are entitled to know that decisive action was taken, said county attorney and deputy county executive Dan DeLaus. The Robutrad name is "stained beyond repair," he said. The legislation passed unanimously.

A curious moment came near the start of debate when Lej President Wayne Zyra cut off a line of questioning from his fellow Republican, Jack Driscoll. "Just keep it focused," Zyra said.

Otherwise, the debate followed predictable patterns. Republicans said the arrangement worked well for a number of years and the scandal is the result of one "bad actor." The county executive, they said, acted immediately when she found out about what was going on.

Democrats, meanwhile, agreed that the relationship should be disbanded to instill public confidence. But Minority Leader Harry Bronson says he doubts that there was only one bad actor, and that the administration abdicated oversight.

• Earlier in the evening, legislators took up a bonding resolution for a project to shore up areas of the Irondequoit Creek bank in Ellison and Powder Mills Parks. Natural and human activities - like letting dogs run around in the creek - are responsible for the erosion, which could lead to a number of problems, said Parks Director Larry Staub. The stream is an important trout habitat, and further erosion could lead to siltation, which would drive out the fish, he said. Or the creek could expand and dislodge fire hydrants or power poles, or eat up parking areas. The work would be funded entirely by a state DEC grant, and it was DEC that approached the county about the project, Staub said.

Republicans and Democrats all voted for the project. The bonding resolution, which county financial officer Scott Adair said is required to carry it out, was another matter.

For an hour, the two sides argued over whether a bonding authorization was necessary. It's not the first time they've had this argument, and it likely won't be the last, since Democrats and Republicans completely disagree on this issue. Democrats argued that the bonding was unnecessary since the county was receiving a state grant to fund the project.

In the end, the bond measure failed, since a bonding authorization requires a two-thirds vote and none of the Democrats would support it.

The odd vote, if viewed without context, was Zyra's no vote. But a Republican aide explained that Zyra voted no so that the matter could be reconsidered next month - only a legislator on the prevailing side can ask for such a motion.

• Mutiny! Republican Legislator Bob Colby voted against a proposed project to put solar panels on top of the County Office Building. The project will be funded entirely through an $85,000 state grant. But Colby said the money could be better spent on other efficiency measures and that, in the end, electricity from the solar array will cost too much.

"This is a very poor project and I wish the [state] Public Service Commission wasn't supporting it," he said.

The county's Department of Environmental Service commissioner, Mike Garland, defended the project, saying it's an opportunity to test and understand the technology, which could be used in future green building projects.

Colby cast the sole no vote.