Referred to: The Legislative Programs, Education and Community Services Committee (Chairman Delaune and Legislators Collins, Donaldson, Haynes, and Wawro), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairwoman Archer and Legislators Gerentine, Maio, James Maloney, Joseph Maloney, Petit, and Rodriguez)

Chairman of the Legislative Programs, Education and Community Services Committee, James Delaune, and Deputy Chair Heidi Haynes, offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution is submitted by the Acting County Executive on behalf of the Veteran Services Agency; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Article 7-A, Section 148 of the New York General Municipal Law, at present the County of Ulster pays for burial of Veterans of the armed forces of the United States and their families who die in the County without leaving sufficient means to pay for their funeral expenses and for the purchase of a grave marker; and

WHEREAS, the New York General Municipal Law ensures such Veterans and their families receive an honorable burial, despite lacking the means to pay for funeral services; and

WHEREAS, County funeral homes provide an invaluable service at prices far below market, to inter the remains of such Veterans and their families with honor; and

WHEREAS, the current reimbursement rate to funeral homes for such burials was established in 2010; and

WHEREAS, the Director of the Veteran Services Agency has requested that the Ulster County Legislature amend the policy set forth in Resolution No. 101 dated April 20, 2010, to increase the nominal payment for such burials from $3,100.00 to $3,500.00; and

WHEREAS, the expense to the County for each such interment shall not exceed $3,500.00, with exceptions being made on a case-by-case basis for extenuating circumstances such as oversized and winter burials; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby approves and adopts the amendment to the policy for the burial and purchasing of grave markers for indigent Veterans and their families to increase the payment for such burials to $3,500.00,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Passed Committee: Legislative Programs, Education and Community Services on __.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on _____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$95,000 – BUDGETED 2019 APPROPRIATION DOLLARS