Public commenter urges separation of county nursing home from InfiniteCare; Legislature moves through package of routine resolutions including override of state

A public commenter urged the Sullivan County Legislature to form a task force to plan separation of the county-owned adult care center (ACC) from contractor InfiniteCare, saying recent surveys and two years remaining on a contract indicate a need for strategic planning.

The commenter said the county appears ‘‘at a stalemate’’ with InfiniteCare and requested a task force to “design a strategic plan for the separation of the ACC from InfiniteCare instead of continuing on with the status quo until the contract expires.” The speaker also criticized the use of consultants to fill management-level positions with staff who did not meet the county’s posted requirements.

After public comment, the Legislature addressed a long series of routine resolutions and motions. Highlights included approvals by voice vote of multiple contracts, reclassifications, budget modifications and program authorizations. Notable items included a roll-call vote on a proposed local law authorizing the Sullivan County Legislature to override the New York State real property tax cap; that local law passed by roll call 6–3. The roll-call votes recorded in the transcript were: Terry Blaser Bernardo — No; Amanda Ward — Yes; Louie Alvarez — Yes; Catherine Scott — Yes; Nick Salomoni — No; Brian McPhillips — Yes; Matt McPhillips — Yes; Joseph Perillo — No; Nadia Reich — Yes (result recorded as 6–3 passes).

The Legislature also adopted a programmatic framework for a county initiative (transcript item labeled Number 34). Speakers noted conflicting statements during debate about whether money was already budgeted for the initiative: one legislator said “there's no money in the… it's only discussion,” while another stated “there's budgeted money for it.” The resolution passed (the transcript records a voice vote of 7–2 at one point). The transcript records that the resolution had no immediate appropriated funds attached and that further planning remained to be done.

Votes at a glance (selected items recorded in the meeting transcript):

- Resolution 1: Enter into contract with On the Job and Off LLC for community services — approved (voice vote).

- Resolution 2: Abolish RSVP advisory council — approved (voice vote).

- Resolution 3: Provide resource officers to Sullivan West schools — approved (voice vote).

- Resolution 5: Authorize application for funding to write a county comprehensive plan — approved (voice vote).

- Resolution 10 (executive): Authorize Sullivan County Probation Department to enter contract with Montrain Operating Company, LLC, DBA Resorts World Catskills for probation-sponsored training — approved (voice vote). (See separate article for discussion on funding clause.)

- Resolution (local law): Proposed local law to authorize the Legislature to override the New York State real property tax cap — passed by roll call 6–3 (see tally above).

- Resolution 20: Set public hearing 08/21/2025 at 10:20 for the 2025–26 tentative Sullivan County Community College budget — approved (voice vote).

- Resolution (broadband): Authorize an advance from the general fund for development of a countywide broadband infrastructure network — approved (voice vote).

- Resolution 34: Adopt programmatic framework for Sullivan County initiative (written version provided at meeting) — passed (voice vote recorded as 7–2 in transcript); speakers stated program plan and funding details still to be determined.

Several other routine items were approved by voice vote during the same meeting (contract renewals, grant acceptances, reappointments and task-order extensions). The transcript records most as approved with “Aye” but does not include roll-call tallies for routine items.

The meeting closed after the package of resolutions and scheduling of public hearings; no immediate action was recorded on the public commenter’s request for a task force to study separation of the ACC from InfiniteCare.