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Resident urges county review of Department of Social Services after denied services allegation
Summary
A Ulysses resident told the Tompkins County committee Jan. 9 she experienced and observed alleged denials of services at the Department of Social Services and asked for leadership review; the committee had withdrawn two social‑services resolutions from the agenda.
Amanda Kirchgeschner of Ulysses addressed the Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee on Jan. 9 during the public‑comment period, urging the county to examine operations at the Department of Social Services after what she described as denials of services that led to harm.
Why it matters: The commenter said local tax dollars support DSS and that leadership and supervision issues at the department may be producing denials of services. She asked the county attorney to help investigate and described one incident in which an individual denied services was later hospitalized after a violent assault.
What she told the committee: Amanda Kirchgeschner said she has been visiting DSS frequently and meeting people who reported being denied assistance. She said, “please don't use our tax dollars for state sanctioned violence,” and asked that county leadership look into supervision and service‑delivery problems. She said some issues may stem from supervision rather than individual caseworker performance.
Committee response and procedural note: Chair Mike Lane noted that two social‑services resolutions (agenda items labeled C and D) were withdrawn from the agenda and are expected to return next month. Committee members acknowledged the comment and suggested the county attorney could assist in fact‑finding; staff did not take formal action at the meeting based on the public comment.
Next steps: The public comment was entered into the record; withdrawn resolutions related to social services are scheduled to be brought back to the committee at a future meeting.
