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Ulster County panel approves multiple public‑safety resolutions, postpones Office Building screening measure
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Summary
The Law Enforcement & Public Safety Committee on June 4 approved a slate of resolutions including contract amendments, school resource officer agreements and a COPS‑grant position; it postponed consideration of a proposal to install magnetometers and airport‑style screening at the Ulster County Office Building.
The Ulster County Law Enforcement & Public Safety Committee on June 4 adopted several resolutions authorizing contract amendments, appointments and school resource officer agreements, and clarified a grant‑funded sheriff’s position — while postponing a proposal to add magnetometers and airport‑style screening at the Ulster County Office Building.
The meeting, chaired by Hansett, approved resolutions to confirm traffic‑safety board appointments; authorize a billing contract for the county’s new EMS program; amend sheriff’s office communication and offender‑management contracts; and formalize a position funded by a U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant.
Michael Gaffney, deputy director of Emergency Services, urged adoption of the ambulance‑billing contract, saying, “We’ll be entering into a contract with Professional Ambulance Billing. As the new EMS program rolls out, there’ll be a lot of billing that has to be overseen, and this is the company that’s gonna do that for us.” The committee approved the resolution authorizing the contract, described in committee as an agreement anticipated to exceed $50,000.
The committee also approved Resolution 282, a $38,394 amendment that makes the aggregate contract with New York Communications Company Inc. exceed $50,000; and Resolution 283, a $3,000 amendment for Watch Systems LLC, described by staff as related to the sheriff’s offender‑management system. A committee member asked staff to clarify whether the Watch Systems amendment covered notification/postage services or offender‑management functions; staff confirmed it is for the offender‑management system.
Resolution 281, which amends the 2025 budget for the District Attorney’s Office through an agreement with the New York State Dormitory Authority, was presented with a purchase explanation. “That we bought for $500 from the Town of Ulster,” said Weisau, noting the purchase would be covered by a member‑item grant from Senator Hinchey to replace an existing vehicle. The committee adopted the resolution.
The committee authorized two school resource officer agreements with Ulster County BOCES: one part‑time deputy for summer sessions at the Port Ewing location (four hours per day, July 7–Aug. 15) and a second resolution to provide two deputy sheriffs as SROs at three BOCES locations for the 2025–26 school year. Both measures were adopted.
On Resolution 286, staff told the committee the position was budgeted under a previously accepted COPS grant but had not been properly entered in personnel records; the resolution creates the position to align the budget and staffing records.
Chair Hansett introduced Resolution 245, proposing enhanced security measures for the Ulster County Office Building, including magnetometers and airport‑style screening during public access hours. A committee member moved to postpone consideration and the motion carried.
Committee member Jeremy flagged a forthcoming, rate‑related resolution for the corrections union contract that he expected to appear for consideration at Ways and Means and Rules later in the week.
Votes at a glance: the committee carried motions to approve Resolutions 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285 and 286; it carried a motion to postpone Resolution 245. Several items were presented without extended department head updates because staff were attending trainings or conferences.
The meeting adjourned after the committee completed the listed business.
