Referred to: The Energy and Environment Committee (Chairwoman Greene and Legislators Bruno, Criswell, Petit, and Wawro), The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairwoman Walter and Legislators Fabiano, Haynes, Heppner, and Parete), and The Public Works and Capital Projects Committee (Chairman Fabiano and Legislators Cahill, Greene, Heppner, and Litts)

Chairwoman of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, Eve Walter, and Deputy Chair Heidi Haynes offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted by the County Executive on behalf of the Department of Emergency Services; and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to Resolution No. 377 of August 2016, Capital Project 482 was established for the development of a Countywide Radio System, and

WHEREAS, Ulster County, utilizing the services of its radio consultants, has analyzed the needed improvements to the radio communication system in terms of gaps in service due to lack of coverage from existing radio towers, and

WHEREAS, this analysis shows a coverage cap in the populated area of Saugerties, and after studying alternatives, has identified a site located at 35 Quarry Road that can close significant portions of this coverage gap; and

WHEREAS, the site identified and located at 35 Quarry Road, Saugerties, NY 12477, is a former tire recycling facility comprised of the properties with Section Block and Lot (SBL) No. 8.4-3-24 and SBL No. 8.4-2-1.200, both in the Town of Saugerties (the “Quarryville Site”), and was foreclosed upon by the County in April 2019 pursuant to Article 11 of New York Real Property Tax Law, following the release of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”) liens; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County desires to proceed with the required steps to develop a public safety radio tower to be located at the Quarryville Site; and

WHEREAS, the development and installation of a public safety radio tower and appurtenances at the Quarryville Site constitutes an action as defined under NYCRR Part 617.2(b) (the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQRA), and the County wishes to establish itself as a lead agency and conduct a coordinated review as provided for in NYCRR Part 617.6; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617.6(b)(3) of the Regulations pertaining to Article 8 of the SEQRA, the Ulster County Legislature hereby declares its intent to serve as Lead Agency for the above-referenced project; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature has determined, after review of the criteria contained in 6 NYCRR Parts 617.4 and 617.5, that the project is an Unlisted Action; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature will conduct a coordinated review and circulate its Notice of Intent to serve as Lead Agency, together with the Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) and accompanying documentation to all interested and involved agencies pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617.6(b)(2)(i) and 6 NYCRR Part 617.6(b)(3); and, be it further

RESOLVED, that pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617.6(b)(3), at the conclusion of an otherwise unchallenged thirty (30) day period following the date of transmittal of the Notice of Intent, the EAF and documentation aforesaid to the interested agencies, the Legislature shall become the Lead Agency under SEQRA for this project,

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Passed Committee:  Energy and Environment on ______________.

Passed Committee:  Law Enforcement and Public Safety on ______________.

Passed Committee:  Public Works and Capital Projects on ______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE