Ways and Means committee: roll-call of routine resolutions, blocks and notable votes from Feb. 13

The Ulster County Legislature Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 13 considered a long consent calendar and several contested items. Below is a concise listing of the resolutions and their outcomes as recorded during the hearing. Where the transcript did not name a mover or provide a roll-call tally, outcomes are reported as recorded in the proceeding.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 5-53: Postponed in Laws and Rules (as announced at the start of the meeting). - Resolution 7-31: Motion and second recorded; discussion followed; outcome: postponed/handled in committee business (transcript: motion and second recorded). - Resolution 6: Motion and second recorded; carried by voice vote. - Resolution 7: Motion, second and carried by voice vote. - Resolutions 9, 10, 13, 14, 15: Motions, seconds and recorded as carried. - Resolution 16: Motion, second; later discussion (this was the warming-center resolution described in a separate article); adopted as amended. - Resolutions 17 and 18: Motion, second and carried. - Resolutions 19–22: Passed as a block following explanatory comments from Planning Director and Deputy (items include a construction contract with Jory Construction, a revenue recognition related to Penrose and a conditional congressional grant mechanism). Committee discussion clarified that one item (Res. 21) is a revenue rather than an expense. - Resolution 23, 24: Motion, second and carried. - Block including Resolutions 25, 206–209, 30–31: Block adopted; one member recorded an abstention or other reservation on item 32 (transcript noted an abstention request for #32 earlier). - Resolution 32: Motion and second; carried (for the purpose of employment as recorded). - Resolution 35: Motion and second; carried. - Resolution 36 (bond): Defeated after a recorded 4–4 split; several members said they would vote against bonds until fund balance is reduced. The chair announced the result as defeated. - Resolutions 37 and 38 (bonds): 37 carried; 38 carried with one opposition recorded. - Resolutions 39–41, 45–47, 48–51, 53, 56–66, 67–69, 70–79, and other numbered items: Motions and seconds recorded; majority carried by voice votes or block votes. Several items were adopted in blocks as noted by the chair. - Resolution 64/63/65: Federal grant-funded salary and PSAP/communications items were discussed; carried as presented. - Resolution 62: Motion referred to electronic gates at the Law Enforcement Center; description provided and resolution carried.

Where the transcript provided a specific tally or recorded a defeat, that result is reported above (Resolution 36: defeated, 4–4). For most routine items the committee used voice votes or block adoption; the transcript records those as carried or secured. When a resolution was amended in Laws and Rules and then presented to Ways and Means (for example, Resolution 73, which committee said was “amended in laws and rules — school board language removed”), the committee moved, seconded and carried the amended item.

Members asked for more detail on a small number of items (SUNY Ulster capital authorization, tourism grant-related ad campaign, flood-mitigation equipment list, and cannabis-distribution allocations) and committee staff or department representatives provided short clarifications during the meeting.

Several items will require follow-up from staff: further documentation on the SUNY Ulster bonding approach, corrected cannabis revenue allocations after OCM response, and the controller’s audit reports once management comments are resolved.