Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Greene County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
20 issues in public safety
County EMS service contract for 2027
Greene County EMS President Mark Evans was scheduled to brief the Finance Committee on the state of the county's ambulance service. Updates like this often cover staffing, funding, and response-time concerns that affect residents countywide.
Town of Halcott emergency medical funding
Windham's ambulance budget is jumping 21.5% next year and Ashland's 14.5%, driven by higher wages, insurance, and a new hire. Mountaintop towns are asking the county to keep or increase the ambulance assistance they received this year, and plan to apply for a state grant together.
Sheriff's Authority to Execute Mandated Contracts
The Legislature approved a contract for speech services for preschoolers with disabilities, required by state education law — with Bulich dissenting.
Rapid Hepatitis C testing capability
Public Health proposed buying a machine that can detect active Hepatitis C from a fingerstick in about an hour, letting patients get tested and linked to treatment in one visit. The $26,407 cost is covered entirely by a state grant.
2027 STOP-DWI Plan
The county's annual plan for drunk-driving prevention and enforcement was up for committee review before going to the state. It underwrites local DUI patrols, education, and safety programs for the coming year.
Greene County Office Building roof replacement
The county's main office building gets a long-overdue new roof, and reserves already set aside for exactly this purpose cover the full $741,839.69 price tag — no new taxes needed.
Verizon Copper Landline Discontinuation
Verizon is pulling the plug on copper landlines, and lawmakers worry rural and elderly residents will lose phone service during power outages — fiber backups only last about eight hours, and storms here can knock out power for days. Legislator Legg wants the county to lead a protest, with letters going to the FCC and Public Service Commission. The county administrator plans to have a letter of protest on Tuesday's full board agenda.
High-potency 7-OH (synthetic kratom) sale ban
7-OH is a synthetic compound derived from kratom that the FDA warned about in July 2026 and that the DEA considers an imminent hazard to public safety. The state Legislature passed a ban on selling products above 2% total alkaloids or 1 mg per serving, and the county is adding its voice urging the Governor to sign it.
NY Connects and HIICAP services for seniors and disabled residents
The Hearthstone Care contract now covers Level II personal care — help with bathing, dressing, toileting and walking — at $35 an hour, with an extra $2 an hour for the seven remote Mountain Top towns where help is hard to find.
Community Action cash-flow crisis from late state payments
Community Action of Greene County told the committee that late state contracts forced a partial staff layoff and heavy reliance on a line of credit. The agency sheltered 23 people, served 101 domestic violence victims, distributed over 4,000 food packages, and paid $434,790 in rent and security deposits to local landlords last year.
Court-ordered competency evaluation services
The county Mental Health Department needed a licensed psychologist for court-ordered competency-to-stand-trial evaluations. The committee advanced a contract with Blue Line Psychological at $250 an hour, capped at four hours a month through 2026.
Emergency Services Upgrades and Disaster Planning
Six to eleven inches of rain caused major flooding in Greenville, New Baltimore, Coxsackie, and northern Athens. Emergency alerting, shelters, water distribution, and a multi-agency resource center are ongoing; public damage estimates top $500,000, though the county didn't hit the statewide threshold for a federal disaster declaration.
Challenge to NY Sanctuary Legislation
Sheriff Kusminsky plans to join a free legal challenge by FAIR against a new state law barring sheriffs from federal ICE detention contracts, and asked legislators to consider county support.
911 Center Security and Communications Resiliency
The county is hardening its 911 center — new door access controls, plus a consultant study on making emergency communications networks more resilient.
Columbia Memorial Hospital bed reduction plan
CMH's parent Albany Med wants to cut from ~100 operating beds to 25 inpatient and 4 ICU beds to pursue a federal critical access designation. Critics say the DOH bed data looks fabricated and that EMS crews already bypass CMH for critical patients. A failed federal application could leave the community with 25 beds and no reimbursement boost — feeling, some say, like a step toward closure.
School Resource Officers in Six Districts
Every school district in Greene County will have Sheriff's Office resource officers for the 2026-27 school year, with districts reimbursing the county. Cairo-Durham gets two officers; the other five districts get one each.
Matthew 25 Food Pantry lease renewal
The county is re-leasing 8 Union Street in Catskill to the Matthew 25 Food Pantry for five more years at nominal rent, keeping food assistance running in the community.
New Deputies' Association Contract
The county locked in a three-year labor agreement (2026-2028) covering salaries and working conditions for county deputies. It passed 12-2, with Bulich and Hobart dissenting.
AI Assistant for Social Services Eligibility
The county is trying a $15,000 AI-powered phone assistant to answer benefits calls and speed up food, housing, and medical eligibility determinations that have been lagging.
First Responders Benefit Concert, June 19
Cairo's Ted Banta presented a June 19 benefit at the Barn at Bowery Creek Farm in Acra featuring local singer Logan Mudge, with proceeds going to first responders through his new Teddy Bear Heroes foundation. He's hoping for 300 attendees and a $4,000–$5,000 raise — and challenged Legislators to a line dance lesson.