Referred to: The Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit

Committee (Chairman Briggs and Legislators Allen, Archer, Bartels, Litts, Maio, and

Maloney), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gerentine and

Legislators Allen, Belfiglio, Briggs, Gregorius, Maio, Maloney, and Richard Parete)

Chairman of the Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning, and Transit

Committee, Thomas J. Briggs, and Deputy Chairman James F. Maloney offer the

following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted by the County Executive on

behalf of the Department of Planning; and

WHEREAS, County Executive Michael Hein has identified the

disproportionate negative impact to the Ellenville/Wawarsing area as evidenced by

the local unemployment rate in part due to the loss of manufacturing jobs from

overseas competition, the closing of the Nevele Resort and the lack of local funding

to invest in the necessary infrastructure, incentives, cultural and recreational

attractions and needed marketing to encourage private sector investment and job

creation; and

WHEREAS, in the 2015 State of the County Address, the County Executive

announced the formation of the Ellenville Million Committee and dedicated one

million ($1 million) in County funding to support projects recommended by such

Committee; and

WHEREAS, in February 2015, the County Executive appointed the Ellenville

Million Committee, comprised of well respected business leaders and citizens whose

mission was to recommend those specific projects that its members determined

would improve the economic condition of the Ellenville/Wawarsing area; and

WHEREAS, the Ellenville Million Committee held a public information

meeting on February 5, 2015, seeking public input and recommendations for best

investing one million dollars to help spur economic growth and development in the

Ellenville/Wawarsing area; and

WHEREAS, after extensive review and careful consideration, the Ellenville

Million Committee prepared its findings and recommendations consistent with its

charge and presented them to the County Executive for consideration and, include the

following projects and funding amounts as described herein: 

a) $150,000-to be utilized to help defray the costs of the needed water and sewer

infrastructure improvements that will allow the shared services between the Village

and Town;

b) $175,000 – to establish a “soft landing” fund for developers and new business

enterprises within the Village and Town to apply for assistance in defraying

engineering costs and other necessary costs associated with potential new

development;

c) $100,000 – for tourism promotion including year-round outdoor activities,

historic sites, Shadowland Theater and Ellenville’s walkable downtown;

d) $150,000 – for the expansion of outdoor recreational opportunities such as rail

trails, town and village parks including pavilions, expanded parking, trail

connections, and bathrooms;

e) $75,000 – assistance to Shadowland Theatre for its planned renovations and to

be used to leverage other available grants;

f) $100,000 – for use by the Hunt Memorial Preservation Committee to assist in

the complete restoration of the Hunt Memorial Building and the establishment of a

tourism center;

g) $25,000 – to be utilized for Main Street improvements and beautification

projects in the downtown historic district to emphasize assets and complement the

surrounding natural beauty and vistas;

h) $75,000 – to provide for project management including allocations oversight;

grant writing, liaison for public relations and marketing efforts and festivals/events;

and

i) $150,000 – directed to the provision of high speed internet such as high speed

fiber within the US Rt. 209 corridor, critical public entities and businesses, schools,

hospital, library, and other relevant sites; and

WHEREAS, funding for the implementation of the Ellenville Million is

available within the County’s existing fund balance and contingency funds; and 

WHEREAS, Section 1411 of the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law of the State

of New York (the “LDC Act”) authorizes the establishment of not-for-profit local

development corporations operated exclusively for the charitable or public purposes

of relieving and reducing unemployment, promoting and providing for additional and

maximum employment, bettering and maintaining job opportunities, instructing or

training individuals to improve or develop their capabilities for such jobs, carrying on

scientific research for the purpose of aiding a community or geographical area by

attracting new industry to the community or area or by encouraging the development

of, or retention of, an industry to the community or area or by encouraging the

development of, or retention of, an industry in the community or area, and lessening

the burdens of government and acting in the public interest; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that the Ulster County Economic

Development Alliance (UCEDA), as a local development corporation, has the ability

to provide the appropriate oversight and offers the County accountability that the

funding provided by the County for the Ellenville Million will be used appropriately;

and

WHEREAS, the County wishes to utilize UCEDA for the purposes of

effectuating the Ellenville Million; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section C11(O) of the Ulster County Charter and

Section A2 5(15) of the Administrative Code, the Ulster County Legislature shall

have the power to approve the execution of certain contracts and amendments in the

amount of $50,000.00 or in excess of $50,000.00 entered into by the County; now,

therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby approves the

execution of a contract by the Director of Purchasing between Ulster County and

UCEDA for the implementation of the Ellenville Million Committee

recommendations, in the form as filed with the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislator,

or as modified with the approval of the County Attorney; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the UCEDA shall provide a quarterly report to the

Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit Committee on

the progress of the disbursements of the funds; and, be if further

RESOLVED, that the 2015 Ulster County Budget is hereby amended as

follows:

 INCREASE AMOUNT

AA-8020-3401-4600-4660 Other Misc. Contractual $ 1,000,000.00

 DECREASE AMOUNT

AA-1990-1331-4600-4660 Contingency $ 500,000.00

AA-0917-3205 Fund Balance $ 500,000.00

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED AS AMENDED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: 21 NOES: 2

(Noes: Legislators Bartels and Wishnick)

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit

on August 4, 2015

Passed Committee: Ways and Means as amended on August 18, 2015

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$ 1,000,000.00- COUNTY DOLLARS

Legislator Bartels motioned, seconded by Legislator Gerentine, to amend Schedule

A, Scope of Services, Section III of the contract between Ulster County and UCEDA

to read “UCEDA shall submit copies of all approved plans and budgets to the Ulster

County Planning Department and the Ulster County Legislature.”

MOTION ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: 23 NOES: 0

Legislator Gerentine motioned, seconded by Legislator Bartels, to insert an additional

RESOLVED as indicated above in bold font.

MOTION ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: 23 NOES: 0

STATE OF NEW YORK

 ss:

COUNTY OF ULSTER

I, the undersigned Clerk of the Legislature of the County of Ulster, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is

the original resolution adopted by the Ulster County Legislature on the 18th Day of August in the year Two Thousand and

Fifteen, and said resolution shall remain on file in the office of said clerk.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the County of Ulster this 19th Day of August

in the year Two Thousand and Fifteen.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk

Ulster County Legislature

Submitted to the County Executive this Approved by the County Executive this

19th Day of August, 2015. 26

th Day of August, 2015.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella |s| Michael P. Hein

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk Michael P. Hein, County Executive

Ulster County Legislature