Orange County Ways and Means approves internships, $4 million open‑space funding and multiple capital projects

The Orange County Ways and Means Committee voted on a range of budget and capital requests, approving a proposal to create up to 35 paid intern positions and moving ahead on several capital projects and open‑space acquisitions.

The committee approved a county internship program that would create up to 35 temporary, state‑funded intern positions to be managed by Human Resources and assigned to departments based on need. A county staff member leading the proposal said, "We're asking for 35 because it's still in flux," and described pay ranging from the New York State minimum up to amounts set under the CSEA salary schedule (the presenter said $20.25 as a typical rate and noted a minimum of $15.50). The program was described as positions of roughly 20–40 hours per week for up to 90 days, with a not‑to‑exceed appropriation of $300,000.

The committee also moved $4,000,000 into the Orange County Open Space Fund. Planning Commissioner Alan Sorensen said last year the legislature authorized $1 million and that demand has grown; the county’s program provides matching grants (typically up to 50% of project cost, and often 25% when other state funds apply) to support municipal or nonprofit land acquisition for parks, conservation easements and purchase of development rights on farms.

A series of land acquisitions were set for public hearings under New York State General Municipal Law §247, including a 136‑acre community forest project (referred to in the meeting as the Gibraltar Rock/Jivalka community forest), an 18.5‑acre town park expansion and a 25.6‑acre village park proposal in Woodbury. The committee authorized the county attorney to begin negotiating standard acquisition and contract documents; final approval was reserved for a future legislative resolution after hearings and contract drafting.

Among the capital projects the committee approved: - A $2,400,000 bond request for a new building at the Orange County Fire Training Center to house technical‑rescue equipment and a concrete trench simulator used by the county’s Technical Rescue Team. - A $93,000 supplemental appropriation to buy a replacement box truck for Records Management; the existing 1999 truck had multiple safety failures, the records management presenter said. - A $50,000 supplemental appropriation to complete the Orange County Airport sewer installation after construction change orders caused by unsuitable soils. - A $1,500,000 CHIPS and bonding request to replace heavy highway equipment and vehicles. - A request to fund design work for a new Cornell Cooperative Extension facility (study and preliminary design), $150,000 in bonding.

The committee also approved a large set of requests from the sheriff and corrections division for facility and safety upgrades: replacement of aging door and gate control systems and swipe‑card access equipment, $100,000 and $150,000 respectively; $200,000 for kitchen equipment; $1,200,000 for expanded body‑camera purchases and associated storage; $100,000 for lighting upgrades; $500,000 for industrial washers/dryers; construction of segregated “sub‑bedrooms” (to separate certain inmates for safety and compliance with court‑ordered confinement rules), $250,000; a small steel storage building, $50,000; and preliminary funds for perimeter security cameras and a checkpoint gate, $50,000. The sheriff’s office described the upgrades as end‑of‑life replacements, safety improvements and measures to reduce staff risk and better manage detainee populations.

The committee authorized county staff to prepare to bid on the potential foreclosure auction of the Woolworth Building (128–132 Broadway, Newburgh), a building that currently houses county DMV and health offices. County staff told the committee the bank holding the mortgage intends to foreclose and auction the property; the county asked for authorization to be able to bid should that occur so it can try to maintain occupancy and control of the site.

Finance staff also moved an assigned fund balance of $4,000,009.06 into capital projects to reduce future borrowing. Commissioners reported April sales‑tax receipts were below plan and provided a month‑by‑month update; finance staff said they will continue monthly reporting on revenues and noted fluctuations in interest income and federal aid receipts.

Nut graf: The meeting advanced a package of near‑term county investments intended to replace aging equipment, finish stalled capital projects, support land conservation and create a temporary internship program. Committee members asked for details on funding sources, operational impacts and long‑term maintenance costs, and the legislature will receive final contracts, appraisals or hearings (where required) before finalizing many of the capital acquisitions.

Committee discussion highlights and staff directions included: Human Resources will administer the internship positions and work with departments to place interns; Planning will run multiple open‑space application rounds (May and September) and return with final contract approvals after public hearings; the county attorney’s office will draft acquisition agreements for open‑space purchases and return for final legislative approval; DPW and Airport staff will proceed with close‑out and design work where supplemental funds were approved; the sheriff’s office will proceed with procurement for equipment and prepare design estimates for the perimeter gate and cameras. Final costs on bid projects will depend on procurement results and formal appraisals or engineering studies.

Ending: Several items require follow‑up: public hearings and final contract approvals for open‑space acquisitions, procurement and bid results for the training center and building projects, and finance staff’s continuing monthly revenue updates. The committee’s approvals allow staff to move into contract, design and procurement phases but reserves final vesting or construction funding for subsequent legislative actions where required.