[4:55] Good morning, everybody. Good morning. Welcome to government services.

[5:30] Okay, we're going to go first to the county clerk. I know you have another meeting coming up.

[5:37] Yes, good morning. We have the State DMV Commissioner coming down to me with us about our office.

[5:44] So we'll have a lot to talk about with the gentleman.

[5:49] So with the month of August, we collected $775,000 in mortgage tax,

[5:55] $452,000 in transfer tax.

[5:58] We've increased our storage by adding shelving units in our storage capacity.

[6:02] So, we currently, just to give an idea, we have 15,000 approximately boxes of records that we oversee,

[6:11] which equates to about 50 million pages of records.

[6:15] So, that's a number.

[6:17] We also have been awarded another grant in the amount of $69,000.

[6:22] This is our third or fourth grant we successfully have been awarded, so that's really good.

[6:28] for the preservation of our older maps, by digitizing them, we help further, it's better to handle

[6:35] these fragile records there. They keep getting worse and worse at the time we pick them up

[6:39] in touch and so it's to help preserve them and also it helps us increase revenue because people can

[6:44] go online and increase and pay a fee to see them. Approximately 4,000 maps we'll be doing

[6:53] And DMV, we collected $916,000, and as Nick always asked me, we retained $34,000 of the

[7:00] $916,000.

[7:02] So not much of the amount of work we do, but it adds up.

[7:08] So it helps.

[7:08] Our DMV renovation is working out very well.

[7:12] We now, the booth used to be in the center, is now we have a wall, we added a window.

[7:17] It's helping very very well with the flow of people and we continue to keep tweaking it and making it better and better

[7:25] But that's working out very well and you also have an accessibility window now. Yes, or folks who are differently

[7:32] So that's great. That is absolutely yeah, and the work down there was really good. It came out well and and that's true

[7:39] we are now, it's we have a handicap assessment, which helps a lot for people that are

[7:43] disabled. So yes, that's a big deal and we're able to get that in place as well. So that's

[7:48] all working working out well. Any questions? Okay, thank you very much. Thanks for that

[7:54] plan Allison.

[8:03] Good morning. The monthly report for Central Services and

[8:05] Purchasing is attached to the agenda. Somebody left me post it. We completed six

[8:12] Bids, rebid for gasoline, public safety communications

[8:15] of facility development in Jeffersonville.

[8:18] Closure removal of above ground petroleum bulk storage tanks,

[8:22] cramontal with operator, stone and gravel,

[8:25] and custom and closed cargo trailer for emergency management.

[8:28] We extended one bid.

[8:29] I have 15 RFPs that are out in various states.

[8:34] We issued three bid security fancy

[8:36] for various locations, liquid cold console heat pumps

[8:40] for DPW for the courthouse and oil lubricants.

[8:44] We have 14 contracts done.

[8:46] We processed 260 purchase orders.

[8:50] And I currently have out psychologists for the CAC Center.

[8:53] CPS related services for DSS,

[8:57] operational and historical programming for parks,

[9:00] behavioral services for DCS,

[9:03] airside operator for the airport,

[9:07] tourism and marketing for Sullivan County,

[9:08] and photovoltaic system for the airport.

[9:12] Does anybody have any questions?

[9:14] Anybody?

[9:15] Thank you.

[9:16] Thank you.

[9:17] Thank you.

[9:18] Next one goes about the board of elections.

[9:21] Nobody here, right?

[9:22] Okay.

[9:23] The board of elections, they had a security work session.

[9:28] August 13th up in Blue Balls.

[9:30] That went well.

[9:32] We still need election inspectors.

[9:35] They had a couple of classes.

[9:36] And I understand the people with every satisfied and I think that covers the board of elections.

[9:45] Well while we're talking about the board of elections, I want to ask a question to the committee.

[9:51] And then the other legislator here, who would like to weigh in, I think that, you know, with elections coming up, what happened in June.

[10:00] Was security was suspended. And I don't think we should be suspending security for anyone coming in the building. And I think we all need to go on the record and say, you know, how we each feel about that, because we have the ability to make that decision.

[10:15] But I think it should be left up to public safety.

[10:18] No, no, no, no, no, no. We're here for government affairs. I mean, anybody here can weigh in.

[10:25] My personal opinion either way, I do worry they're the rest.

[10:29] Yeah, and also people have a bite about it and not have to go through the machine.

[10:33] Well, the truth that I'm at, I think, I agree with Canada, that's, that's the rule and

[10:38] that's the law of the county, that's what we're supposed to do, then I feel everybody should

[10:42] do it.

[10:43] It put up a lecture that has a problem that maybe we should rent the tent with a little

[10:47] heating system would apply my viewer weddings and leave it outside on a front lawn and go

[10:52] through there.

[10:53] I mean, or we just say we are not suspending security

[10:57] and if the state wants to file an injunction, let them file an injunction.

[11:00] I mean, listen, we've been talking about it

[11:02] with every title of the wackos that are coming in and going to come in.

[11:04] Exactly. And you know what, there have been wackos.

[11:07] There have been wackos, and I'm not going to go into detail,

[11:09] but there have been people on.

[11:12] I'm talking to one right now.

[11:14] There we go.

[11:15] Here we go.

[11:16] But there have, there have been incidences of people doing things

[11:22] where the Sheriff's Department has had to intervene.

[11:26] Suspending security is highly irresponsible.

[11:28] It disrespects the people who work in this building

[11:30] every single day who feel more comfortable

[11:34] coming to work because people are being screened.

[11:37] The people in the DMV, the people in the treasurers office,

[11:40] these people that are working on the front line

[11:42] to face people who are angry and upset about things all the time,

[11:46] they deserve to feel safe in their jobs

[11:48] because we're not paying them.

[11:49] We don't feed them enough so we'll rent the tent and chairs and tables.

[11:54] Well, I think we should all wait in and we should make a decision right here right now because early voting starts next month.

[12:01] I say we do not suspend security and it's a fight or willing to fight.

[12:05] Yeah, I concur. I mean for the exact same reasons it's employee safety to me and for everybody in the building and you know we have a policy regarding being screen before we come in.

[12:15] You know, we've done our due diligence and we've listed our employees and we wanted to make them feel comfortable at work

[12:21] And I think we should stick to that and that includes everybody that works within the building including

[12:26] Board of Elections, right? I mean, it's for them, too.

[12:28] It is what it is. Yeah, I'm I'm fine. I wasn't fine with suspending it the first time.

[12:34] Yeah, I consider that it is our building, it is the responsibility of every legislator sitting here to ensure the safety and security of the people in this building.

[12:46] You're asking us permission to use the building to build, then you must follow our rules.

[12:51] It's like me asking Matt to plow my driveway.

[12:54] But for it, then no.

[12:56] Next week, he's going to charge me just for the privilege of plow my driveway.

[13:01] I like this so far.

[13:05] You know, in the same way, I mean, this is something.

[13:07] You're doing me a favor, and then...

[13:09] So they have a problem.

[13:11] They're trying to put outside.

[13:12] It is true. Well, I see this tense they use them a lot at the middle. Well, I think the problem is it is timing

[13:20] right? So they have to establish one's prior to where polling place might be. So we're not able to like say not this location

[13:29] But like you said we have options to provide them to not have access to the building and I think in the future

[13:37] or not allowing this to be considered a polling place.

[13:42] Should we should be, should we, should we, should we just,

[13:44] we will go nuts lately?

[13:45] Well, I'm just saying that it, it stabbing.

[13:47] We should.

[13:47] We should add the policy understood that if we're not willing to suspend,

[13:51] which I feel we shouldn't, that should be relayed,

[13:55] Nick.

[13:56] Nick has chair, maybe relayed two board of elections that

[14:00] not to list this as a polling place next year,

[14:04] but find a different neutral location.

[14:06] unless they're about to work within the parameters of the security.

[14:11] And we do have problems about three or four months ago, I was walking into the building.

[14:17] When a guy was screaming and yelling, he was going to take care of DMB and it happens to do it.

[14:22] We did, they share the permit, did a rest of the guy, and he was already in problems in Newbrook and other places.

[14:28] So you never know who's going to come in here with some violent ideas.

[14:31] I'm not, we're not making this up. It can happen.

[14:34] Yeah, just the assumption that it's not going to happen because it's voting the it's really not especially

[14:40] Proposites is no security and camera. So yeah, I think that was really a metal geek. Yeah, I think that was really problematic because then it gave anybody who you're walking

[14:50] Yeah, I mean if it happens where they're going to blame

[14:53] The leaders

[14:55] You know what if it happens if it happens if it happens first of all something

[15:00] Somebody's gonna get hurt and then everybody who works here is traumatized by that. And people who work here deserve a better.

[15:06] I agree.

[15:08] I don't know if anybody else wants to weigh in.

[15:10] The only thing is when we did, when we did it in the beginning.

[15:13] Give it weight and on that.

[15:14] A lot of people who didn't want it. They didn't want to go to it more than once a day.

[15:19] Now they got used to it. You know, they was well.

[15:23] I think next year, if it was up to me, I'm not the board of elections. It should be white selfless thing.

[15:29] And they can't serve any food and maybe the town of advocating not being targeted

[15:34] But they need to do one in the seat and the seat is monocetyl

[15:43] Well, I mean

[15:45] Done in the seat and this is monocetyl was the seat. This is where I think the problem is is that you have like we

[15:51] Work in these little microcosms of you know, just this meeting and you know people will maybe catch a bit of this on

[15:58] Facebook because somebody chooses to put it up, right? Like, and then they don't hear the other conversations.

[16:05] Right. Part of the bigger picture is probably beneficial to not just board of elections, but to the building itself,

[16:13] is to find a better location for board of elections and not have it be in this building.

[16:19] And this way they can have a standalone spot. They can have a place that they can welcome the public to.

[16:24] they could have their own security rules, they could have their own storage, they could have their own identity within the seat.

[16:31] It should be a place in Monticello, and we are constantly looking at an expanse of our government just because that's how things work.

[16:41] And we're running into problems of where we put people.

[16:44] So part of the bigger discussion is we've got mandates for a new court where we put in the DA, what are we doing with building?

[16:51] This is all part of that conversation, but for the people that are just here for this little bit,

[16:57] they may only catch a little bit of this conversation.

[17:01] The bigger conversation is,

[17:03] how are we properly expanding for the future?

[17:08] DPW going to Maplewood?

[17:11] Where's the court going to be located?

[17:12] How are we going to deal with traffic?

[17:14] Where are we putting cars?

[17:16] These are the conversations that we try to have, and this is part of it, right?

[17:20] We're creating an issue because of the situation we find ourselves in a board of elections being within a government controlled building with a security protocol that we're now looking to suspend because Board of Elections is trying to run their operations

[17:37] So like just so people understand this is this is a bigger conversation than just you know polling places

[17:46] And there's something we can't avoid. It has to be done.

[17:49] Elections has to go in the operation of the government building has to go for it.

[17:53] Can I make a recommendation? We vote on it. Executive session?

[17:59] Absolutely. Executive session.

[18:01] I think you mean executive committee?

[18:04] At the end of the month.

[18:05] Okay. I don't do we need a resolution.

[18:09] I don't know if the county attorney wants to weigh in on that.

[18:16] Do we need a resolution?

[18:18] Yes, I'm here.

[18:19] I agree.

[18:20] Any resolution that you would like to.

[18:22] I didn't know if we needed one.

[18:23] If we need one, then yeah, I think it should be on executive committee and we should all have the vote.

[18:27] I don't be preparing that resolution.

[18:32] Do do

[18:35] do do.

[18:35] What was that?

[18:36] I'll write it.

[18:37] I don't want to accept your decision.

[18:39] I'm talking about it.

[18:42] All right.

[18:43] Our office can work with county attorney's office.

[18:45] Okay.

[18:48] So what would the resolution be that we're not going to be suspending

[18:52] sending our ready approved policy of security.

[18:55] I think that's what we have.

[18:56] Yeah, originally, right.

[18:57] That's what we're saying.

[18:58] Maybe some patients check with the state board of elections

[19:01] about what they have to say to.

[19:03] They can file an injunction if the state wants to make an issue

[19:07] and they want to fight, then we fight them.

[19:09] The people who work here are worth it.

[19:14] All right, moving on.

[19:15] Well said.

[19:16] Next, can we go on?

[19:17] Yep.

[19:18] Sure.

[19:19] Sorry, should we go on?

[19:21] All right.

[19:22] Go now, go up in the direction.

[19:25] Yeah.

[19:29] Good morning.

[19:30] Everyone.

[19:30] Melinda Menocornel Cooperative Extension.

[19:32] I handed out our August report.

[19:35] We've been really busy with lots of programming and August.

[19:38] As you know, we had the youth fair and it was very successful.

[19:44] There are a lot of kids.

[19:45] Are you who had their animals for show?

[19:48] And there are a tease and market.

[19:50] It did really well.

[19:51] And I put a whole compilation of pictures on the back.

[19:53] generally pictures just get the point across so much better but it was a really great weekend and

[19:58] all the youth worked really hard on all their projects.

[20:00] So hopefully everyone was able to come out and check it out and we saw cat at the livestock, our teasing auction. It went really well. It was I think one of our biggest ones.

[20:10] We also had quite a few workshops we went through. We've been working on closing out a risk management grant for farms, so that in tail doing a workshop on for an animal disease.

[20:22] We just hosted a webinar on climate resiliency and what farms have to do to plan for different weather events and we'll have all the different webinars on our YouTube channel coming

[20:33] which hopefully by the end of the month.

[20:35] We've also been busy working with the county ad park board on the farmland preservation projects, bringing in new increase and providing some technical assistance on farms that are interested in the program.

[20:45] We're hoping that the state will release an additional round of funding since the funding from the last round,

[20:50] where we received the grant wasn't used up.

[20:53] So we're getting ready for that.

[20:56] So fingers crossed and then we've also been working on the with the visitor association on hosting farm tours

[21:01] or different agatourism operations to get more farms adding that to their their farm operation to bring the additional revenue.

[21:10] And hopefully our next step will be to create a farm trail map and really start to promote more of the farms.

[21:17] Any questions?

[21:19] Thank you.

[21:20] Thank you.

[21:21] Okay.

[21:21] The next one.

[21:24] A wonderful college president.

[21:27] Good morning.

[21:30] Happy new academic school year.

[21:32] The hallways are full of smiling students.

[21:36] And also students who are new students who are trying to look very cool because they don't know where they're going.

[21:40] but they're afraid to ask.

[21:42] It's been a great start.

[21:43] You heard a lot for me two weeks ago.

[21:45] So I'm going to talk a little less.

[21:47] I've got some students, Dean Johnson,

[21:50] but first, Judge Anthony King,

[21:52] representing the Board of Trustees,

[21:53] wanted to say a few words.

[21:55] I think.

[22:03] Good morning, everybody.

[22:04] Good morning.

[22:05] Good morning.

[22:06] We do have some representatives from student government

[22:08] here this morning.

[22:10] And I'm glad they're here this morning

[22:12] because they've seen this government

[22:16] in action this morning and talking about issues that they may not be readily aware of

[22:25] that a government confronts all the time. But I want to thank you all for your support,

[22:34] especially in these very difficult fiscal times, as outlined by Brian as to all of the other

[22:43] expenses and problems that the county is looking forward to in haste of balance.

[22:50] I can tell you on behalf of the board that we will continue to maximize your efficient

[22:57] use of the resources that you provide us in advancing the educational goals and college.

[23:09] I'm going to be very brief.

[23:10] I am very brief.

[23:11] Thank you very much for this.

[23:13] We look forward to working with you and we look forward to continuing to report increase in our enrollment,

[23:22] although modest it is still an increase where the ship is turning and I'm extremely proud of the college and

[23:35] the role that our president and administration and students and staff play in developing and enhancing

[23:45] its reputation. And we will do, as I said, our best to continue to have the college grow and both

[23:54] academically and in numbers. Thank you very much. Thank you.

[24:01] And then to give you an update on numbers

[24:04] the start of the fall semester, Dean Stacey Johnson. He's got, she's been super busy. We had

[24:09] to pull her away from the college. Good morning everyone. Good morning. Good morning. Thank you again

[24:15] for your continued support of the Sullivan Community College. We are working every day to make sure

[24:22] that we have a meaningful act on our students and the community that we serve. The fall semester started

[24:28] Monday so just four days ago. We're off to a great start. Enrollment is trending in a positive

[24:35] direction. We're up to two students more than we were last year. It's modest, but it is a

[24:40] moving and right direction. Students are still enrolling. They haven't told tomorrow to add classes

[24:45] that I've said 10 before. Our largest enrollment is in health sciences, but we are happy and excited

[24:53] to see growth in childhood education, and also in Apple Hall in July of the New Townsend.

[25:00] Creating a great student experience is my number one priority, and this year we're focusing on making sure that students feel for things.

[25:11] Known connected, supported, and prepared. Next week we'll have our generals rally, also known as convocation.

[25:19] It is a great opportunity for students to connect to one another.

[25:23] participate in team building activities, meet their advisors, and participate in a

[25:31] resource and club fair.

[25:36] Sorry. The energy around campus at the start of this

[25:40] semester has been amazing. We're excited for the new semester and a new

[25:45] academic year and again thank you for your support. Thank you. Thank you.

[25:50] Sure, we have our student government here. We have the president

[25:56] Good morning everybody my name is April Lopez, and I'm the president of the SGA

[26:02] Good morning. Oh wait. Let me pause. April Lopez. I know you. I know your father. Yes, oh my

[26:12] goodness

[26:14] Hi

[26:15] Hi. Hello, and congratulations and welcome and this is what it's about. Oh my goodness.

[26:25] I will be following up after a delight. Wow.

[26:31] Oh, okay. I'm a liberal arts and science major with the concentration and history.

[26:35] I'm originally from Ellenville, New York, but I moved over to Solomon County.

[26:39] A couple months ago, I live in Cochectin now.

[26:42] Beautiful district five on my day.

[26:44] Okay. It's a part of our drive. I have the rest of more of my team up here.

[26:49] I've dolly of my wonderful secretary. Get up here.

[26:53] And I have Cory, the best treasure in the world.

[26:56] Wow. Each of you say something, dolly.

[26:59] Come on. Yes.

[27:01] Good morning.

[27:02] Everyone. My name is dolly.

[27:04] I'm a English and liberal arts sciences major.

[27:07] I am one of those people in childhood education right now.

[27:12] And, um, I'm from Jeffersonville.

[27:14] Awesome.

[27:15] I've lived in Salve County, my entire life.

[27:17] And I am very happy to hear your guys' concern about what's going on in the county.

[27:21] I really appreciate all of the work that you guys do.

[27:23] Thank you.

[27:24] Thank you.

[27:24] Well, spoken.

[27:27] Hi, my name is Corey.

[27:29] I'm like able to say this.

[27:31] My current major is business administration.

[27:35] I moved from quite a bunch of places.

[27:36] First, the Bronx, and then I moved up to Motu Town around 2016.

[27:40] And then just recently in 2020 is Bloomingburg.

[27:45] And yeah. Wow. Nice. Very welcome.

[27:49] I, so you guys know I'm die hard city Sullivan.

[27:52] I was an adjunct there for over 10 years.

[27:56] And I will say it again like the college is a treasure.

[28:00] You guys are gems.

[28:02] I will probably be working for you guys one day.

[28:05] And I'm excited about the work study program

[28:09] that it has come to fruition. So I'm just congratulations. You guys are incredible and you

[28:16] have energized me in a whole other way this morning. So thank you.

[28:19] Thank you.

[28:24] That's that's what we get really excited about coming to work. That's just super briefly.

[28:30] A little bit of things going on. I want to reemphasize just the massive support.

[28:35] The massive thanks that we have for the support you give in the college.

[28:38] really is energized all our pre pre semester planning and really the start of the semester.

[28:44] A couple of quick things. There's a meeting later today that is the kickoff to the change over of

[28:49] our enterprise system. You'll be hearing more about this. It's going to be a two-year process,

[28:53] but we're really excited because that's going to get us the ability to do a lot better job

[28:59] in terms of tracking students, tracking finances, all the rest. It'll take about two years, but you'll

[29:07] September 17th, we hope to have the revisions to the strategic plan approved at that point.

[29:13] You've seen those drafts and go forward and if they do that, we expect October 7th,

[29:20] we'll be receiving an invitation for October 7th for a small event to not only celebrate

[29:25] the strategic plan but also the B&G team did some amazing renovations on our cafe, becomes

[29:31] an open space and we're using that for a lot of different activities.

[29:35] And then also on the student success front, one of the things that we realized is we weren't celebrating our students who are completing as much as we wanted to.

[29:44] We're going to have a December graduation for those students who finish this fall.

[29:49] That will be December 21st Monday right after the end of semester will be inviting you to that as well.

[29:56] The golf tournament, September 18th, the advancement folks in the foundation.

[30:01] We're looking forward to sharing more data, more information. We're just a super excited to start the year.

[30:07] And again, thank you and any questions.

[30:13] Hope to see everybody soon. Thanks.

[30:15] Thank you.

[30:16] Public comment.

[30:22] Good morning.

[30:25] I mentioned 4-H. I spent 3 days at the fair.

[30:29] And it's always about the animals, but there's also, in the building, there's a lot of activity that goes on.

[30:36] Other things that 4-H does, and one of the things that that students can, that student, that young people can participate as in demonstration.

[30:44] So it's more than just animals, they've urbanized themselves in many ways, and there's just more than life, more to life than that.

[30:51] the elections and who's in charge? You are? So you're building. They are just a tenant here.

[31:00] They have a responsibility to make sure elections take place and done properly.

[31:06] And you have to worry about the security and I wish you luck in what you're doing.

[31:12] So I want to touch another subject. I want to talk about the adult care center and priorities.

[31:17] To me, dollars, in short, while we're cost me $67 a year, by $57 a month, 19 cents a day.

[31:27] That's all.

[31:29] So, thank you to a majority, supposedly, allegedly, we want to close it.

[31:38] But what cost?

[31:39] What's the real cost of closing the center?

[31:42] The people who call it at home, those in memory care and elderly are now displaced, what about the employees who work there, what about the devastating effect of transfer trauma and relocation stress syndrome, which are real, not made up terms, which accelerate cognitive decline and even premature death.

[32:11] So, why is it worth it, saving a few pennies, operating lives, and creating irreversible

[32:18] harm?

[32:19] To those of you who are responsible, I hope you have enjoyed a happy re-election.

[32:25] Let's not forget the course, be behind these decisions.

[32:29] Thank you.

[32:39] Since you voted to close the ACC, I thought you might like to know how that's going.

[32:44] For several individuals who told me that it's a shit show there, with the rush to transfer residents out, approximately half the staff holding pink slips and a disrupted chain of command.

[32:56] There are now about 70 residents left there and the ones who have departed have been sent

[33:02] far and wide, a few of them were sent to the Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center, which

[33:08] is a facility rated at one star with a big red stock hand next to it indicating a recent

[33:15] citation for abuse.

[33:18] The rated one star for Medicare and all three categories of inspections, staffing, and quality

[33:23] of care.

[33:23] I think that the powers that be at the ACC see this facility as the perfect place to send hard to place residents.

[33:32] The peaceful transition with thoughtful and considerate transfers, which the residents were promised, is simply not taking place.

[33:41] Thank you.

[33:41] My

[33:49] name is Star Hesse, I'm a member of the Civil, excuse me, Senior Legislative Action Committee in Sullivan County.

[33:57] And I want to emphasize that what these two people have said is absolutely crucial to keeping Sullivan County a safe and good place to live.

[34:09] You cannot close the adult care center, it's too needed by too many people in this county and other places.

[34:19] I also just want to touch on the discussion about closing out the security and the lobby, possibly for just the elections.

[34:30] And I say just in quotes, and possibly getting rid of it completely as an unnecessary service and expense.

[34:39] I think the original idea of putting insecurity in the lobby of this building was to ensure in these times that we don't have some kind of a mass execution, if you will, which is a threat to the employees and the people who use this building.

[35:01] I just don't see how anybody can rationally talk about closing security, especially for elections when we've all seen the huge volatility that's been created in politics in general and in elections specifically.

[35:24] So I'm very thankful to Kat. Thank you for bringing this subject up and sticking to your guns and

[35:31] Let's see what happens.

[35:33] Thank you. Those guns are proverbial. Just for the record.

[35:38] You went through metal protection.

[35:40] Everybody else?

[35:41] Nope.

[35:44] We've got a resolution.

[35:46] Number one.

[35:47] To a fan.

[35:50] To a fan.

[35:51] To a fan.

[35:51] Second by Kat.

[35:52] Okay.

[35:53] Will it play by? Hi. Hi.

[35:55] My body of pose. Okay.

[35:57] Slow down to adjourn.

[35:58] Tell us.

[36:00] Frank.

[36:01] Thank you.

[36:05] Economic development.

Government Services Committee on 2026-09-03 9:00 AM

Agenda

Transcript