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Ulster County Legislature approves broad package of resolutions, adopts owner-liability school-bus measure and immigration policy
Summary
The Ulster County Legislature on April 21 adopted a large consent package of contracts, appointments and capital projects, passed a demonstration local law imposing owner liability for failing to stop for school buses, and approved a county policy on federal immigration enforcement after a 19–4 vote; several other personnel and budget items drew recorded opposition.
The Ulster County Legislature on Tuesday approved a broad slate of resolutions covering contracts, capital projects, appointments and local laws, and recorded several divided votes on personnel and policy items.
A large consent package passed with mostly unanimous tallies, approving contracts ranging from technology and emergency-services procurements to capital work at SUNY Ulster. The Legislature recorded unanimous votes on many consent items (for example: Verizon contract $72,325; Procomm Systems, Inc. $347,695; Crown Castle Fiber LLC $854,180), and adopted bond and capital project measures to fund SUNY Ulster roof and pavement-preservation work.
The meeting’s most visible policy actions included adoption of Proposed Local Law No. 4 of 2026, a demonstration program that imposes owner liability when a vehicle operator fails to stop for a school bus displaying a red visual signal and stop-arm. The local law (Resolution 179) was adopted unanimously.
Another notable non-consent vote approved a county policy relating to federal immigration enforcement (Resolution 189). That measure was adopted by a recorded vote of 19 in favor and 4 opposed (Noes: Legislators Kovacs, Lopez, Roberts and Walls). Two other personnel and budget-related items also recorded split votes: a home rule request to allow Ulster County to hire assistant district attorneys residing in adjoining counties (Resolution 194) passed 21–2, and an amendment creating a new mental-health position funded by the New York Office of Mental Health (Resolution 205) passed 21–2.
Votes at a glance — selected items: • Resolution 179 (Local Law No. 4 — owner liability for failure to stop for school buses): adopted, AYES: 23, NOES: 0. • Resolution 180 (contract rates with BusPatrol America, LLC): adopted, AYES: 23, NOES: 0. • Resolution 189 (policy related to federal immigration enforcement): adopted, AYES: 19, NOES: 4 (Noes: Kovacs, Lopez, Roberts, Walls). • Resolution 194 (home rule request to permit ADAs from adjoining counties): adopted, AYES: 21, NOES: 2 (Noes: Kovacs, Roberts). • Resolution 205 (create new mental health position with OMH funding): adopted, AYES: 21, NOES: 2 (Noes: Roberts, Walls). • Resolution 210 (create Public Health Education Assistant in place of previously intended position): adopted, AYES: 22, NOES: 1 (Noe: Roberts). • Resolution 233 (electing cents-per-gallon sales tax rate on motor fuel): adopted, AYES: 21, NOES: 2 (Noes: Briggs, Sperry).
Legislative leadership and the clerk read a long set of communications and county-executive announcements into the record, including appointment letters, grant awards, and a PFAS testing and mitigation rebate pilot. Committee reports for standing committees were delivered and the Legislature approved several capital funding resolutions and bonds to fund county infrastructure and SUNY Ulster projects.
Public comment before the votes included registered speakers both opposing and supporting specific measures: Alex Pantea spoke against Resolution 180 (BusPatrol America), while multiple speakers — Joseph Caserto, Patricia Haidaoui and Daniel King — spoke in favor of Resolution 233 (gas sales tax rate). The meeting also recorded memorials and a ceremonial reading of names in memoriam.
The Legislature adjourned at 8:40 p.m. after closing remarks and a moment of remembrance. The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2026.
