Ulster County News

FROM: ULSTER COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

DATE: October 11, 2002  

At the October 2002 Session, the legislature passed a local law imposing a surcharge on wireless communication devices. This surcharge will allow Ulster County to dramatically enhance the wireless 911 emergency capabilities and implement an increase in the location determination technology. Criminal Justice/Public Safety Committee Chairman John Naccarato stated that "the enhancement of the system will greatly assist in protecting our citizens. Police, fire and EMS agencies will be able to find locations of victims much easier and quicker".

In other action, the legislature passed a resolution calling for the Governor and state legislature to cap Medicaid. Since the enactment of the Medicaid program, counties in New York are mandated by the state to contribute 25% matching share with the exception of long-term care and mental health services. Recent actions by the state, including the shifting of medical managed share costs to counties, the expansion of various Medicaid payment rates, the creation of the Family Health Plus Program, and expanded funding for health care worker recruitment and retention, have compounded the local Medicaid problem, thus attributing to the fiscal crisis currently facing Ulster County.

Ulster County Legislature Chairman Ward D. Todd stated, "The state leaders in Albany must recognize the position that counties are in. By capping the Medicaid costs to the county, it will provide local governments significant budgetary relief as well as provide county taxpayers with real property tax relief in 2003".

A resolution urging Congress and the Senate to vote against the authorization of unilateral action against Iraq was defeated 23-9.

Also, at the October Session a number of county employees were recognized for reaching milestones in service to the county by Personnel Chairman, Robert Aiello. The following awards were presented:

Albert Spada

John Stewart

35 Years

Arthur Althiser

Burton Markle, Jr.

Suzanne Bottigliero                                    J. David Secreto

Louise Boyle                                             Linda Sharpe

Thomas Burt                                             J. Wayne Snyder

James Cannizzaro                                     Wayne Spada

Maureen Rahilly                                        Robert Sudlow

Dianna Reynolds                                      William Warnecke

Henry Rua                                                Debra Werner

Barbara Althiser            Christina Hillje             Justin Prendergast

James Anzalone, Sr.       Jeffrey Hudson           Deborah Prusack

Jeanette Baggot              Hilda Kastanis            Joan Ryan

Susan DeSanna              Jean Kennoch             Raymond Schrader

Ronald Dreiser               William King               Glenn Schwenk

Bradford Ebel                 Lewis C. Kirschner    Chester Scofield

Susan Fabbie                  Joan Millham             Carol Sparling

Dorothy Fagiolo              Timothy Murphy        Dorene Tichenor

Edward Felipe                Sandra Osina             Harry Van Vliet IV

Cathy Giuffre-DuMond   Nancy Parsons          Francis Woods, Jr.

Gail Handelman               Don Pecora

District No. 4 Legislators, David Donaldson, Frank Dart, John Naccarato and Jeanette Provenzano, presented Pride of Ulster County Awards to Kingston’s Moose All-Stars in recognition for being selected All-County Baseball Team and winning the 2002 championship. The following people received the award:

Bud Lukaszewski, Coach

Paul Steers, Coach

Norm Good, Manager

Nelson Houghtaling, Administrator

Tom Baschnagel

Chris Connolly

B J. Doyle

Chris Ferraro

Dominick Gallo

Justin Good

Matt Jordan

C J Lukaszewski

Kevin Mayone

Jonathan McEvoy

Jonathan Perrin

Sean Perry

Dan Steers

Scott Steinebach

Legislator Brian Hathaway, Chairman of the Environmental and Consumer Affairs Committee, and Jonathan Van Vlack, Consumer Affairs Director, presented a Pride of Ulster County Award to Louis Gordon in recognition of his outstanding service to the citizens of Ulster County as a Volunteer Consumer Advocate.

District No. 3 Legislators, Gary Bischoff, Robert Aiello, Joan Feldmann, Kevin Hinchey, Joe Roberti, Michael Stock and Alice Tipp, presented Pride of Ulster County Awards to Rickie Tamayo, Chairperson, Barry Benepe, Nancy Campbell, Pat Reppert, Judith Spektor, James Tamayo and Saugerties Mayor Robert Yerick, in recognition of organizing and running a successful farmers’ market in Saugerties.

Legislators Alice Tipp and William McAfee presented Lydia M. Reidy, Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, with a Proclamation designating the week of October 6-12 as Cornell Cooperative Extension Week and National 4-H Week in Ulster County.