Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Sullivan County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
40 issues
Outside counsel for county and county manager
The legislature unanimously approved an engagement letter with the law firm Harris Beach Murtha, securing outside legal services for the county.
Jail staffing and inmate reentry services
The jail has 16 openings and its hiring list has expired, forcing provisional hiring. The committee also moved to extend the jail's private medical services contract to the full Legislature.
911 and EMS strain during summer surge
911 call volume has doubled for the summer and storms triple or quadruple calls in minutes, forcing extra staff call-ins. County fly-car medics are filling gaps, including a save of a heart attack patient in Woodridge.
Adult Care Center at Sunset Lake closure
Speakers slammed the county over the nursing home closure — residents being transferred far away, belongings packed in garbage bags, and alleged pressure on families. Chairwoman Rajsz assured families there's no deadline to place a loved one, and the committee approved paying the facility's 2025 school taxes.
Rising suicide deaths and coroner's unmet recommendations
Community Services flagged an increase in suicide rates as a priority, planning closer collaboration with public health and reinstating the fatality review board to study the data. The community trauma response team made two responses in September and is restocking kits because demand ran them out.
Sheriff's Office staffing crisis and contract dispute
The jail has 18 correction officer vacancies and patrol is down 6 deputies, including a school resource officer position being covered by overtime. A resident immediately raised how this will hit the overtime budget.
Kratom sales ban and synthetic drug concerns
Coroner Albee Bockman reported eight suicides in four months and pressed legislators to treat mental health as a priority. He also urged a county ban on Kratom sales, a substance sold at gas stations and smoke shops that other NY counties have already banned.
First Responder Mental Health Training
The VA is rewriting some combat-related PTSD diagnoses as 'unspecified trauma,' which can mean lower disability ratings and benefits for local veterans. County veterans groups have taken the issue to Congress, and the local agency is fighting individual cases.
Uncollected Care Center debt
During public comment, Martha Scoppa said a District 7 legislator disparaged residents who opposed Infinite Care's takeover of the Care Center; Lou Setren praised Care Center staff and asked whether the county is pursuing roughly $8 million owed by a consulting agency.
Office for the Aging resolution amendments
The Office for the Aging delivered thousands of meals, rides, and benefits applications in March, and the committee moved its annual plan update to the full Legislature. Volunteers are needed for the food security coalition, and a new senior volunteer recruitment campaign is launching.
SUNY Sullivan Report
A public commenter called out the county for decades of stagnant support for the college and demanded the dorm situation — stuck in litigation — be addressed openly, arguing the school can't grow enrollment without beds for students.
Callicoon Riverside Park Trail, phase two
The Calicoon Park project has waited more than six months for federal environmental review. Because tree clearing is banned April 1 through November 1 to protect bats, the county hopes approval comes within a week so work can start.
Economic development pipeline
Sullivan County added jobs faster than anywhere in the region (3.6%), and the Partnership reports 17 committed projects totaling nearly $1 billion and 1,500 jobs — but workforce housing (only ~300 units in the pipeline) remains a bottleneck.
Workforce development programs
The summer youth program has 84 applicants, CDL training graduates are almost all employed, and disability employment services are being expanded — good news for families and job seekers.
Mortgage recording tax increase and IDA exemptions
The county wants to double the mortgage recording tax from 25 to 50 cents per $100, worth roughly $850,000 to $1 million a year. It passed 4-1.
Election Administration Update
The Board of Elections needs poll workers for the November 3 general election, with training in July and August. Amanda Ward suggested recruiting 18-year-old high school seniors who need community service hours.
Outside counsel for Care Center litigation defense
The county is on the losing end of a lawsuit over the Care Center, where a judge found the county liable regarding the transfer of the nursing home and its vulnerable residents. Taxpayers are now footing the bill for private law firm Harris Beach Murtha Cullina to defend the county and its manager — with no cap on fees after the $50,000 limit failed.
Youth Bureau funding contract dates
State OCFS funding for youth programs was advanced unanimously, with a warning that these preventative programs need protection during the tough budget season ahead.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Programs
Sullivan West's FFA program, which sent its first state champion to nationals, credited county Youth Bureau funding for making leadership programs affordable — and legislators offered to explore additional youth programming support.
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.
Countywide community calendar
Fresh off a Bagel Festival that drew an estimated 20,000 people, the Chamber wants to build a countywide community calendar that generates revenue and a Local Business Alliance uniting chambers and business groups countywide.
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.
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.
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.
Jeffersonville Communication Tower Project
The Legislature accepted the environmental negative declaration for a proposed public safety communications facility in Jeffersonville, moving the emergency radio project forward.
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.
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.
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.
Lawsuit Over Senior Home Closure
Sullivan County is facing a new lawsuit over how it handled the closure of a senior home. If you have aging relatives or care about county oversight, this is one to watch because it could expose gaps in how vulnerable residents were protected.
Broadband Expansion Update
Sullivan County is giving a public update on its broadband expansion in Narrowsburg on Nov. 5. If your home internet is spotty, this is a chance to hear what’s planned and when. The source doesn’t include funding or timeline details yet.
Opioid settlement fund spending
The committee advanced two resolutions adopting the 2026-2027 opioid settlement spending plan and made the public safety wellness coordinator full-time using those funds.
County investigation services spending oversight
Members clashed over an open-ended agreement for outside investigations, calling it a blank check, before capping one pending case at $50,000 and promising a deeper policy review next month — including how much has been spent and whether investigations should be in person.
Substance abuse prevention and recovery housing
Garnet Health's inpatient substance use treatment service is on track for early fall, Oxford House has added sober living beds in Monticello, and the Lexington Center for Recovery is preparing to open a site on Broadway pending state approval.
Senior citizens and disabled veterans property tax exemptions
New state budget rules change the veterans exemption and let towns raise the senior exemption income limit from $50,000 to $75,000. Real Property Tax is analyzing how many of the 133 veteran parcels would qualify under the new rules.
Adult Care Center closure fallout
A commenter argued the DOH 'gag order' from the Care Center consulting deal never bound legislators, and asked the county to spell out exactly how much the proposed closure would change the projected tax increase.
Sales tax increase Home Rule request
The committee wants Albany's permission to add a quarter percent to the county sales tax. It passed 3-2 after a heated debate over whether the county is budgeting honestly given an $11 million use of fund balance.
Measles outbreak and public health response
With measles cases resurging nearby, a resident asked for a public education campaign; officials pointed to titer blood tests and the county clinic, which plans to offer such testing once its electronic health record is running.
Employee health insurance switch to self-insurance
Public commenters argued the county's pay and health insurance contributions are why it can't retain CDL drivers and recruit sheriff's deputies, including a deputy with a gravely ill child. Legislators agreed to press state officials on insurance costs.
Human Rights Commission activity
Commission Co-Chair Margaret Gans defended the commission against claims it's been 'weaponized,' explaining only the executive director handles complaints — commissioners never see them. The committee also advanced a lease for new commission office space on High Street in Monticello.
Mobile Home Park Management
Sullivan County’s troubled mobile home park could soon get a temporary manager, a move that matters for residents living with bad conditions. If you care about housing oversight or live nearby, this is one to watch.