Health & Human Services committee approves appointment, mental-health budget adjustments

Kenneth Grama, chair of the Washington County Health & Human Services Committee, opened the meeting and the committee approved minutes before taking several routine actions, including an appointment and two budget amendments.

The committee voted to appoint Duane Vaughn to the Washington Federal Police Service Board to fill an unexpired term; the effective date was read into the record as “12/1925.” A board member moved the appointment and another seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote.

The committee next approved a budget amendment to allow the county to pass through funds received from the New York State Office of Mental Health to Ascend Mental Wellness. As the requesting speaker explained, the change is to “allow for pass through of some funding that we're receiving from the New York State Office of Mental Health,” and the committee approved the amendment by voice vote.

Separately, members approved an amendment to the 2025 budget to permit county payment of psychiatric expenses tied to CPL 730 proceedings. The presenter said a recent bill arrived that was “about $60,000,” and noted the earlier request amount had been increased to reflect that. The motion to add the appropriation was moved, seconded and approved.

The approvals on the record were procedural votes with no dissent. The committee did not record additional conditions or implementation details for the passage of OMH funds to Ascend or for the CPL 730 expense line; staff indicated those items will be managed through existing budget processes.

The committee then proceeded to departmental reports and presentations.

The meeting adjourned later in the session after other agenda items were addressed.