Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Greene County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
10 issues in public safety with high priority
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.