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Ulster County Legislature elects Peter Criswell as chair, establishes standing committees and designates official newspapers
Summary
At an organizational meeting, the Ulster County Legislature elected Peter Criswell chair by roll-call vote, adopted resolutions creating standing committees (22–1) and naming official newspapers (23–0), and opened debate about a new housing and transportation committee.
Peter Criswell was elected chair of the Ulster County Legislature by a roll-call vote of 14 to 9 during the legislature’s organizational meeting, which also adopted two routine organizational resolutions to create standing committees for 2025 and to designate official newspapers.
The vote for chair followed nominations from both parties. Legislator Sperry nominated Peter Criswell and Deputy Majority Leader Aaron Levine seconded the nomination. Deputy Minority Leader Craig Lopez nominated Kevin Roberts, who was seconded by Legislator Litz. After a roll call, Criswell prevailed 14–9 and thanked colleagues for their support, saying the chairmanship “is not about me. It's about us, and more importantly, it's about our constituents.”
The legislature then moved to adopt resolution number 1, creating the standing committees for 2025. The resolution passed on the floor by a vote of 22 to 1. Resolution number 2, designating the county’s official newspapers, passed unanimously, 23 to 0.
Why this matters: the chair sets committee assignments and the legislature’s organizing choices determine how proposed laws and oversight are channeled through committees. The creation of a combined housing and transportation committee drew sustained discussion from members across the aisle about homelessness, supportive services and how the county’s housing projects will be developed and governed.
Debate on committee structure centered on housing and homelessness. Minority Leader Kevin Roberts and several other legislators urged the new committee to prioritize warming centers and services in southern Ulster County. Legislators on multiple sides described recent and ongoing county investments in housing: Legislator Nolan said earlier housing investments will produce “about 100” new long‑term units coming online from projects already funded or under construction. Other members cautioned that homelessness and supportive services require more than supply of units, urging case management, mental‑health support and coordinated services at warming centers and emergency hotels.
Legislator Stewart and Minority Leader Roberts requested that the chair consider placing them on the housing and transportation committee. Legislator Stewart outlined two initiatives he is developing: a home‑rule request he described as designed to allow people temporarily housed in county‑funded motel placements to remain beyond a 30‑day classification as tenants, and an effort to enforce short‑term‑rental registration and bed‑tax collection, which he and others estimated could bring in roughly $650,000 to $1,000,000 if fully enforced. Those proposals were discussed but no final committee assignments were made at this meeting.
The meeting also included a brief, unanimous vote to dispense with reading previous minutes and routine memorials. The legislature set the next regular meeting for Feb. 18, 2025.
Votes at a glance: - Chair election — Motion: elect Peter Criswell as chair (moved by Legislator Sperry; seconded by Deputy Majority Leader Aaron Levine). Roll‑call result: Criswell 14, Roberts 9; outcome: approved. - Resolution 1 — Create standing committees for 2025. Floor vote: 22–1; outcome: adopted. - Resolution 2 — Designate official newspapers. Floor vote: 23–0; outcome: adopted.
Ending: With leadership chosen and committees established, the legislature’s next steps will include formal committee appointments and early work by the housing and transportation committee on homelessness, warming centers and related services.
