Health and Human Services Committee authorizes senior services contracts and proclaims Youth Month

The Saratoga County Health and Human Services Committee approved authorizations for new senior services contracts and a Youth Month proclamation during its March 3 meeting.

Sandy, a staff member, told the committee she seeks authorization for the chairman to execute agreements with three home‑care providers to offer level‑one and level‑two personal care under the county's expanded in‑home elderly services program. She named the providers in the transcript as Wesley Home Care and Accent in Fort Hudson. “At the moment, not exactly. Right now we're about 50,” she said when asked how many residents are served, adding that recent changes in Medicaid eligibility have shifted many clients to state coverage.

Sandy said the county uses a 40‑page in‑person assessment for each applicant to determine eligibility for in‑home services and that the program is constrained by a state‑provided annual budget. Committee members asked how many residents the program serves and whether higher hourly rates meant serving fewer people; Sandy said the budgeted amount sets the limit and that staff are helping eligible residents enroll in Medicaid.

The committee also authorized a contract recommendation for legal services for seniors from a firm listed in the transcript as Okonnell and Oranowitz. Sandy said the first procurement returned a single New York City bid for $389,000, which exceeded the anticipated contract amount of $30,000; after rebidding Okonnell and Oranowitz applied and were recommended.

Separately, Sandy requested authorization to contract with a taxi services provider to transport seniors (age 60 and older) in certain towns for medical appointments, shopping, nutrition sites and social activities. She said the previous contract paid $450 and the new bidder offered a price of $325, representing substantial savings.

Sandy also requested a proclamation proclaiming April 26 Youth Month in Saratoga County and described a three‑day jump‑roping program for elementary and middle school students hosted at local community centers and parks, concluding with a countywide exhibition.

Each authorization was moved and seconded on the record and the chair called for the vote; the transcript records the motions and calls for approval but does not include roll‑call tallies.

The committee did not provide full vendor contact details or contract durations in the transcript. The transcript lists vendor and place names using the spellings provided by meeting speakers; where spellings appear unclear in the record, the county's published procurement documents should be consulted for official vendor names and contract amounts.