Clinton County Legislature authorizes nursing-home potable water contract and approves a slate of resolutions

The Clinton County Legislature met on June 13, 2018, in the Legislative Chambers in Plattsburgh and approved a bundle of committee-recommended resolutions, including a contract with Frosty Springs to maintain on-site potable water for the county nursing home, a measure the county said responds to a New York State Department of Health audit.

The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. with Chairperson Harry McManus calling the roll; the Legislature accepted the May 23, 2018 minutes on a motion by Legislator Robert Hall, seconded by Legislator Mark Henry, carried 10–0–0. Chairperson McManus also proclaimed June as Dairy Month for Clinton County and recognized Elizabeth Nichols of Churubusco as the county’s 2018–2019 Dairy Princess. Nichols briefly described her role in promoting the dairy industry to the public.

Committee reports covered a range of administrative and program items. The Finance Committee reviewed sales tax receipts, In Rem Foreclosure outcomes, tobacco settlement distributions, the Glens Falls banking contract and bond-anticipation note rates tied to airport terminal work. The Personnel Committee reported two trial Memoranda of Agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association for Mental Health and Addiction Services that will expand clinic hours to Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and establish telephonic crisis services (a 24/7 crisis line) for after-hours, weekends and holidays.

Discussion on Resolution #440, “Accepting Bids Received at Public Auction and Authorizing the Issuance of Deeds,” focused on why some auction bids fall below assessed market value. County Treasurer Kimberly Davis told legislators that “in some instances, the cost of an appraisal is more than the property is worth,” and explained that the Treasurer’s Office cannot seek reassessment until properties become county-owned. The resolution was motioned by Legislator Christopher Rosenquest, seconded by Legislator Jonathan Beach, and carried 9–1–0, with Legislator Mark Dame voting no.

Resolution #446, “Authorizing Contract with Frosty Springs – Nursing Home,” was discussed as a response to a New York State Department of Health audit requiring potable water be available on-site for the nursing home in case of emergency. County Administrator Michael Zurlo confirmed the county rotates bottled water supply to avoid expiration, saying the bottled water is rotated out to eliminate expiration issues. The motion was moved by Legislator Pete Keenan, seconded by Legislator Simon Conroy, and carried 10–0–0.

Other committee items noted at the meeting included a Real Property update from Martine Gonyo about assessing services in the City of Plattsburgh, veterans’ services statistics presented by Veterans Service Agency Director Steve Bowman, and Transportation Committee remarks that Clinton County Public Transit’s deviated service is progressing and that First Transit is expected to begin management duties on July 1. The Public Safety Committee recommended use of Alternatives to Incarceration reserve funds to purchase IT network switches for Probation and a key fob access port for a new Konica/Minolta copier/printer.

County Attorney James Coffey requested an executive session to discuss two pending litigations involving Volo Aviation’s Fixed-Base Operation and Murnane Builders, Inc. at the Clinton County Airport; the Legislature entered executive session at 7:47 p.m. and exited at 8:52 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Acceptance of May 23, 2018 minutes: carried 10–0–0 (moved Hall; second Henry). - Resolution #440 (Accepting bids and authorizing deeds): carried 9–1–0 (moved Rosenquest; second Beach; Dame opposed). - Resolution #446 (Contract with Frosty Springs – Nursing Home): carried 10–0–0 (moved Keenan; second Conroy). - Motion to Waive Rule 13.2: carried 10–0–0 (moved Timmons; second Conroy). - Motion to enter executive session: carried 10–0–0 (moved Keenan; second Rosenquest). - Motion to adjourn at 8:57 p.m.: carried 10–0–0 (moved Hall; second Rosenquest).

What’s next

County Administrator Michael Zurlo said interviews for the Director of Information Technology will begin the following week and interviews for the Economic Development/Industrial Development Agency position will begin the week after; legislators were invited to attend those interviews. Clinton Community College will present budget requests to the Finance Committee in August.