Ulster County News

FROM: ULSTER COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

DATE: August 27, 2003  

The Ulster County Legislature met last night for the rescheduled session from the August 14 blackout.

The Legislature passed a resolution which issued and adopted a negative Declaration of Environmental significance under SEQRA for the county’s bridge fabrication facility on Van Dale Road in West Hurley.

The audience consisted of several county residents from West Hurley who lived near the proposed county bridge fabrication facility on Van Dale Road. After almost one hour of video and verbal comments on the subject of leasing the Van Dale Road site, Legislative Chairman Richard A. Gerentine exercised his authority to take the resolution concerning the environmental impact of the site first. Chairman Gerentine stated that "I chose to vote on this resolution first so that all of the residents present who were concerned about this item would not have to sit through the entire session."

The Van Dale Road site is a larger and much better facility than the existing facility in Malden. "This building is more conducive to our needs and offers extremely better working conditions to our employees. It is a win/win situation", concluded Gerentine.

In other action, the legislature passed a resolution authorizing the chairman of the legislature to enter into an agreement with the New York State Department of State for community service provider assistance for the purchase of 50 automated external defibrillators. This was made possible by the efforts of Senator John Bonacic with a grant of $75,000 for this project. Senator Bonacic has a great respect for emergency services.

Without this funding, the county will not be able to provide critical, life saving services that they would be able to provide by purchasing the defibrillators and would, therefore, be less capable of performing an essential governmental service. These defibrillators will be distributed strategically throughout the county by the American Red Cross.

"On behalf of the legislature, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Senator Bonacic for his assistance with securing this grant. The ability to have these types of life saving machines spread throughout the county, and that lives may be saved, has no price tag on it," stated Chairman Gerentine.