Legislature approves SUNY Orange Phase One after floor fight over county oversight

The Orange County Legislature on April 10 approved Phase One of SUNY Oranges Facilities Master Plan, authorizing final design and engineering and separate authorization for construction costs of the first phase. The full phase was listed at an estimated $59,900,000; the design and engineering line item is $3,400,000 and the construction portion is $56,500,000. The county will cover 50 percent of those costs and the state is expected to match the county portion. The Legislature voted 18-0 (with three members absent) to adopt the measures after a contentious amendment failed on a tie vote earlier in the session.

The sharpest debate centered on a floor amendment offered by Legislator John Ruszkiewicz (motion to amend), which would have "made the county, through the Department of Public Works (DPW), responsible for the oversight and contract administration" of the multi-year project. Advocates of the amendment said DPW has experience administering major capital projects and that the county, as a large funder, has a fiduciary interest in project oversight. "Our Department of Public Works staff have talented, experienced staff resources, and engineers, who are in the best position to guide major construction projects," said Mr. Cheney during floor debate, arguing DPW could help manage risk and control costs.

Opponents objected to the timing and the way the amendment was presented. "Collaboration is not imposing something on someone else," said Ms. Ramos, who said college leadership had not been brought in before the amendment appeared on the floor. SUNY Orange President Dr. Young said the college welcomed county collaboration but said she and college representatives had not had the promised conversations about project management. College representative Mr. Martland asked for time to "set up a meeting with the county, with DPW, with Finance, with them, and the person from the state who handles this, and talk through how the project is going to be handled." The amendment was defeated on a 9-9 vote; the underlying phase-one approvals then passed unanimously (18-0) where recorded. The Legislature also approved a separate resolution authorizing construction costs for Phase One; sponsors said work is expected to proceed through 2029.