Greene County Legislature holds CDBG and property tax-exemption hearings, approves routine resolutions and appointments

The Greene County Legislature on Dec. 18 heard public testimony — and no public objections — on the county’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and two proposed property-tax exemptions, then moved through a series of routine resolutions and appointments.

At the opening public hearing, an unidentified presenter said the county’s April 2023 CDBG award totaled roughly $300,000 to fund a micro-enterprise assistance program. According to the presenter, about $255,000 was disbursed to 12 small businesses in Greene County, while roughly $30,000 was paid to a consultant for program delivery and about $15,000 was retained for administrative or consultant fees; the presenter said the program is expected to wind down in April 2025. The chair closed the hearing after no members of the public requested to speak.

During a separate public hearing, the Legislature considered a proposed real-property tax exemption for residents aged 65 or older with incomes at or below $36,000, as described in section 467 of the real property tax law; Tammy and Kelly read the published notice and the chair called for comments but none were offered. The body also opened and closed a public hearing on Introductory Local Law No. 3 (2024), which would amend Local Law No. 1 (2004) to provide a property-tax exemption for certain property owned by persons with disabilities and limited incomes; Amy read the notice and no members of the public spoke.

After the hearings, the Legislature conducted its business docket. Members approved multiple resolutions by voice vote, including resolution 477-24 (authorizing a contract related to county community service support and referencing Howard County Recovery Services), resolution 41-24 (personnel/staffing actions for the public health department), and other capital and administrative amendments. The chair called voice roll for several items and declared motions carried; one item recorded an abstention by a member identified as Martin. The Legislature also read and approved appointments and reappointments to advisory councils and boards — including the Department for Aging advisory council, the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, and the Youth Advisory Board — with terms commencing in January 2025.

The body recognized outgoing legislators Edward Bloomberg, who has represented District 3 (Athens) since January 2019, and Linda H. Overbaugh, who has represented District 1 (Catskill) since January 2013, with proclamations thanking them for their service. Amanda Lyons, identified in the meeting as executive director of the County Department of Human Services (Department name as read in the notice), presented several of the appointment recommendations.

Before adjourning to an executive session, the chair reminded members that the organizational meeting is scheduled for Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. in the legislative chambers. The motion to enter executive session passed on a voice vote and the Legislature recessed to handle additional business.

Votes at a glance: resolution 477-24 — approved by voice vote; resolution 41-24 — approved by voice/roll call; capital and administrative amendments referenced as resolutions 508-24 and 518-24 — approved; appointments to advisory councils and boards — approved. (Vote tallies were recorded in the meeting as voice and roll-call 'aye' responses; where a named abstention was recorded, it was Martin.)

Next steps: Introductory Local Law No. 3 follows the public-hearing process specified in the notice; the Legislature did not take final vote on that local law during the Dec. 18 meeting and will follow statutory procedures for any subsequent vote or adoption.