Ulster County committee approves mental-health funding and data agreements; measures to terminate Samadhi contract and lease fail

The Health, Human Services and Human Rights Committee on March 6 adopted four resolutions related to mental-health funding and data access and rejected two measures that would have terminated a local provider’s contract and lease.

Committee members unanimously or by voice approved resolutions authorizing routine funding and data agreements: a contract with the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports to continue prevention services (Resolution No. 98); a 2025 budget amendment to accept additional Office of Mental Health funding for PROS and ACT programs (Resolution No. 99); a data-use agreement with the New York State Department of Health to provide annual death data for local analysis (Resolution No. 96); and a budget amendment to fund a deputy medical examiner position (Resolution No. 97).

Resolution No. 98, authorizing the Ulster County Legislature chair to execute a contract with OASAS, was moved by Legislator McCullough, seconded by Legislator Harmon and adopted by voice vote. County staff described the contract as the annual pass-through for prevention services; no program changes were reported.

Resolution No. 99, amending the 2025 budget to accept additional New York State Office of Mental Health funds, was moved by Legislator Harmon, seconded by Legislator McCullough and adopted by voice vote. Committee members were told the funds will expand PROS (Personalized Recovery Oriented Services) and ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) where those programs exist; the county was not singled out for targeted funding — the funds were described as statewide allocations for counties with these programs.

Resolution No. 96, a data-use agreement with the New York State Department of Health, was presented by Director Walter as a permission step that allows local public-health staff to receive individual-level death data for county analysis; committee members asked procedural questions about why the chair’s signature was required. Harmon moved the resolution, McCullough seconded, and the committee adopted it.

Resolution No. 97 amended the 2025 Ulster County budget and position listing to fund a deputy medical examiner. Director Walter explained that the chief medical examiner reduced on-call duties earlier in the year, leaving coverage gaps; the change converts a halftime position to full time and shifts existing salary lines, which the director said yields roughly $4,000 in savings while restoring full coverage. McCullough moved the resolution; Collins seconded and the committee adopted it.

Two related resolutions concerning Samadhi Center Inc. drew extended debate and failed. Resolution No. 100 would have exercised the county’s termination rights under Article 30 of a contract with Samadhi Center Inc.; Resolution No. 101 would have exercised termination rights under Article 25 of a lease with Samadhi Center Inc. Both measures were introduced after a comptroller’s report prompted concern about Samadhi’s financial practices. Supporters said the comptroller’s findings were troubling; opponents warned that termination could disrupt treatment services that serve county residents.

Committee discussion noted that there were no active county contracts with Samadhi at the time of the meeting and that termination language would also bar future contracts. County staff and committee members reported that Samadhi operates a clinic in the County Center for Well-Being that serves nearly 200 people a month, has opened a satellite clinic in Sawkill (including a Spanish-language program), and sought private funding after the organization said it was owed money for 2023 services. Committee members urged review of any corrective-action plan and recent audits before permanently barring future contracts.

A motion to adopt Resolution No. 100 was defeated; the committee recorded a vote described in session as “4 2 1” (transcript tally given by the clerk). A motion to adopt Resolution No. 101 (termination of the lease) was also defeated, recorded in the transcript as 4 to 1 against adoption. Committee leaders said the votes turn on both the comptroller’s findings and the potential service impact of termination; several legislators said they would prefer to review updated audits and corrective-action plans before deciding on permanent contract or lease prohibitions.

The committee adjourned after defeating the Samadhi measures and approving the remaining resolutions.