Albany County health committee seeks $109,353 budget amendment for Hospitality House expansion

At an unofficial Albany County Health Committee gathering, Department of Mental Health presenter Dr. Giordano asked members to support a $109,353 amendment to the 2025 Department of Mental Health budget to pass through state OASIS funds to Hospitality House for a capital expansion of its residential treatment program on Central Avenue.

The request would fund an addition in Hospitality House’s parking area intended to raise capacity from an existing 45-bed residential program for adult males to as many as 72 beds. “They’re expanding their residential treatment program on Central Avenue, and this money, the state is awarding them,” Dr. Giordano said during the discussion.

The item was discussed informally because the committee did not have a quorum. Cindy Hoffman, speaking at the start of the gathering, noted that the session was not an official meeting and that routine actions such as approving minutes would not occur. Because of the lack of quorum, committee members present said they would move items out as individual sponsor requests rather than take a formal committee vote.

Committee member Patty asked whether the project involved relocation; Dr. Giordano said it would not. “They’re building an addition in their parking lot, and that’ll allow them to add [beds] but they’re not going anywhere else,” he said. Several members asked to be added as sponsors for the request; members named during the exchange included Dustin Lockhart and Mr. Moore.

Because no formal vote was taken during the unofficial meeting, the county has not approved the budget amendment. Committee staff said the next step is to circulate the item to individual members for sponsor signatures and to bring it for formal consideration when a quorum is present.