Council authorizes engagement letter with Harris Beach Murtha Cullina, PLLC (Resolution 388-26), 8–1

Authorize engagement letter with Harris Beach Murtha Cullina, PLLC (Resolution 388-26)

8 yes, 1 no

Luis A. Alvarez (yes), Catherine Scott (no), Nadia Rajsz (yes), Brian McPhillips (yes), Amanda Ward (yes), Terry Blosser-Bernardo (yes), Joseph Perrello (yes), Nicholas M. Salomone Jr. (yes), Matthew McPhillips (yes)

Authorize Engagement letter with Harris Beach Murtha Cullina, PLLC ID-8848

0 yes, 1 no

Catherine Scott (no)

Amendment to cap outside counsel fees at $50,000

0 yes, 0 no

Motion to adjourn

0 yes, 0 no

Authorize Sullivan County Visitor's Association, Inc., to apply for I Love New York Matching Funds

4 yes, 0 no

FLI-CRR Grant Program Award Application (ID-8767)

0 yes, 0 no

DASNY Contract Amendment for Jeffersonville Communication Tower (ID-8800)

0 yes, 0 no

CISM and Suicide Prevention Training Purchase Order (ID-8821)

0 yes, 0 no

Budget document readability and transparency

A resident called out budget document pages that are impossible to read — tiny type, portrait-format org charts, unreadable tables — and asked legislators to require corrected, revised versions posted online ASAP.

What it means: Any resident trying to actually read the county budget, including Charter Review Commission members.

911 and EMS strain during summer surge

The county ambulance answered 226 calls in six weeks and helped decompress 911, with billing retroactive to September 15. A draft EMS comprehensive plan is due to the state next month.

What it means: Billing for ambulance service began retroactively to September 15.

Uncollected Care Center debt

A resident pressed legislators on the roughly $8 million-plus reportedly owed to the county by the Care Center, arguing the county should collect that 'bonanza' before saying it can't afford security upgrades.

What it means: Roughly $8 million-plus in reportedly uncollected funds owed to the county by the Care Center.

Outside counsel for county and county manager

The county is hiring Harris Beach Murtha Cullina, PLLC to defend the county and its manager, in the wake of the Care Center litigation in which a judge ruled against the county. The unresolved question is cost — an attempt to cap fees at $50,000 failed, leaving the engagement without a stated ceiling.

What it means: Legal fees will be billed hourly with no cap approved — the failed amendment would have limited them to $50,000.

Sheriff's Office staffing crisis and contract dispute

The patrol union says 13 deputies took Orange County's civil service test and could transfer out this spring, three senior members plan to retire, and the proposed budget cuts a deputy, two dispatcher positions, and shifts SRO costs onto schools. The union president asked legislators what they'll do to fix recruitment and retention.

What it means: The SRO program brings in about $1 million a year, and the county wants schools to pay 100% of SRO costs instead of 70% — potentially raising school taxes.

Election Administration Update

Early voting at the Government Center means voters skip building security, and legislators worry it puts employees and the public at risk. Options floated — relocating the polls, a walled-off voting entrance (~$500,000), or a tent setup (~$30,000) — divided the committee, so the fix got kicked to a future joint discussion.

What it means: A permanent enclosed voting entrance was estimated at around half a million dollars; a temporary tent setup about $30,000.

Jail staffing and inmate reentry services

The jail cut its vacancy count from 20 in July to 10 using a faster hiring survey, but mandations strained existing officers. New partnerships aim to give released inmates housing, clothing and resources so they don't re-offend.

What it means: Inmates reentering the community and county residents at risk of property crimes committed by people with no resources.

Rising suicide deaths and coroner's unmet recommendations

The coroner reports a staggering increase in suicide fatalities and says he's made three recommendations to this committee and Health and Human Services — but no legislator has met with his office. He called that 'very disturbing.'

What it means: Residents in mental health crisis would benefit if the recommendations are acted on.

Mortgage recording tax increase and IDA exemptions

The Industrial Development Agency's September-October activity report shows what tax-incentive deals and business projects are moving in Sullivan County.

What it means: Businesses receiving incentives and communities gaining investment.

Fire Loss Investigation and Community Risk Reduction Grant

The county wants to tap a three-year state grant program for fire investigation and community risk reduction work. Accepting the award could expand fire prevention and investigation capacity without local dollars.

What it means: Fire departments and residents across Sullivan County benefit from stronger fire investigation and prevention efforts.

Office for the Aging resolution amendments

Two resolutions would modify prior county resolutions (No. 444-25 from November 2025 and No. 323-26 from September 2026) sponsored by the Office for the Aging. The agenda doesn't spell out what the changes do.

What it means: Programs and providers operating under the two amended resolutions.

County Purchasing Report (ID-8827)

Purchasing and Central Services will walk the committee through its November report, giving a window into how the county is buying goods and services.

What it means: Residents interested in how tax dollars are spent on county purchases.

Court contempt findings against county

A resident cited October 29 criminal contempt findings against the county and county manager and demanded legislators obtain the court record, conduct a documented review, and issue written findings.

What it means: A documented, transparent legislative review would benefit county residents relying on accountable government.

Workforce development programs

The Division of Community Resources reports monthly on workforce development — training and job-placement efforts that connect residents to local employers.

What it means: Job seekers and employers who use the county's workforce programs.

Resort Facilities LDC dissolution

The IDA filed dissolution paperwork for the Resort Facilities LDC with the Attorney General's office. Officials emphasized no public money was spent on the failed casino-bond effort — all costs were Resorts World's.

What it means: County taxpayers get clarity that they're not on the hook for the failed bond effort.

Economic development pipeline

Seventeen projects worth nearly $1 billion and 1,500 jobs are in various approval stages, with big construction years expected 2028-2030. White Lake Foods is working through approvals, and officials flagged how equipment-ordering decisions hinge on permit timing.

What it means: Nearly a billion dollars in potential investment and 1,500 jobs could reshape the county economy over the next several years.

First Responder Mental Health Training

A proposed purchase order would bring in PF Volkmann & Associates to deliver critical incident stress management and suicide prevention training — a direct investment in the wellbeing of police, fire, EMS and dispatch personnel.

What it means: First responders — sheriff's deputies, firefighters, EMS crews and dispatchers — get tools to handle job-related trauma.

SUNY Sullivan Report

SUNY Sullivan will brief the committee, touching on the community college's operations and its role in the county.

What it means: Students and county residents who rely on the community college.

Callicoon Riverside Park Trail, phase two

A contract modification with the Fisher Association would cover design, engineering, and permitting for the second phase of the Callicoon Riverside Park Trail. It's an early-stage step toward extending the riverside trail.

What it means: Trail users and Callicoon residents who would gain an extended riverside trail.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Programs

Cornell Cooperative Extension will update the committee on its local programs, which typically cover agriculture, youth development and family services.

What it means: Farmers, families and youth served by extension programs.

Fort Delaware Museum operations agreement

The committee will consider an agreement with The Delaware Company to keep Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History running and to provide programming and events at Minisink Battleground Park. It's about keeping a historic site open and active for visitors and locals.

What it means: Residents and visitors who use Fort Delaware Museum and Minisink Battleground Park, plus local event-goers.

Youth Bureau funding contract dates

A resolution would change Youth Bureau Funding Program contract dates to run up to November 1, 2026. It's a housekeeping fix, but it affects when youth service providers get paid.

What it means: Youth Bureau funding recipients and the young residents their programs serve.

I Love New York tourism matching funds application

Sullivan Catskills was ranked the #4 DMO in the country and won a rare platinum state tourism award for the county-backed grant program. A new story-driven video campaign aims to lift hotel occupancy, which sat at just 40% in July.

What it means: Local hotels, short-term rental owners, attractions, and the county tax base all benefit from stronger tourism marketing.

Countywide community calendar

The Chamber is building one central calendar for every event in the county, launching publicly in 2027. Sponsorship revenue will be reinvested into a new local business alliance supporting chambers and tourism groups.

What it means: Residents, visitors, nonprofits, and small businesses all get one easy place to find and promote county events.

Adult Care Center at Sunset Lake closure

Residents tied the Kingston nursing home situation to Sullivan County's adult care center closure, demanding accountability and open decision-making rather than 'back room' actions.

What it means: Residents would benefit from open processes and preserved services.

Jeffersonville Communication Tower Project

The new Jeffersonville tower should rise above the trees next week, and DASNY contract paperwork advanced to keep the project moving. There's also a push to fix radio gaps in the Mountain Dale area.

What it means: First responders and residents in western and mountainous parts of the county who rely on radio coverage.

Kratom sales ban and synthetic drug concerns

The coroner warns kratom sold at gas stations now contains synthetics as strong as other street drugs. A county ban resolution passed last month remains unfinished, while the Governor considers a state bill and Ulster County put its own action on hold.

What it means: Consumers, especially young people buying kratom products at smoke shops and gas stations.