Committee amends and approves 'Victory Garden' preservation pilot, allocates $100K from contingency

Ulster County’s Ways and Means Committee on July 14 amended and adopted Resolution 244, which creates a Victory Garden preservation program pilot and initiates procurement for program services. Committee members and county staff discussed the need for a partner organization and for administrative oversight because the county lacks the staffing capacity to run the program directly.

Deputy Executive Laval said the amendments reflect that program development will require a partner agency with staffing and oversight. Legislator Peters proposed and the committee adopted language directing the Director of General Services, in coordination with other relevant departments and at the discretion of the Director of General Services, to proceed with procurement and program setup.

Legislator Grossman asked whether the $100,000 allocation would cover both the third‑party administrator’s fee and program costs such as plants and tools; staff confirmed the fund would include a fee for the administering organization. “So this project all in, including fees and expenses, would not exclude a $100,000,” a member said, and the chair confirmed that the funding source is the legislative contingency fund.

The committee voted on the amendment and then on final adoption; the amendment passed 6–1 and the resolution was adopted as amended.

Next steps: County staff will begin procurement for a partner organization and set up project oversight through General Services per the amended language.