Referred to:  The American Rescue Plan Act Special Committee (Chairman Criswell and Legislators Corcoran, Levine, Lopez, and Sperry), The Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee (Chairwoman Petit and Legislators Fabiano, Litts, Nolan, and Stewart), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Fabiano, Ronk, and Walter)

Chairman of the ARPA Special Committee, Peter J. Criswell, and Deputy Chair Thomas Corcoran, Jr. offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of the Department of Public Works; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Housing Action plan calls for increasing the supply of supporting and transitional housing to meet a critical housing need and break the cycle of homelessness and poverty by providing these units with onsite services; and

WHEREAS, the County of Ulster has identified an opportunity to utilize an existing boarding house located at 21 Elizabeth Street in the City of Kingston to meet these goals as articulated in the Housing Action Plan while ensuring that this type of housing opportunity remains in the City, an urban area, close to existing services, and with transit access; and

WHEREAS, the 2022 – 2027 Ulster County Capital Improvement Program is required to be amended to  include funding for the purchase of 21 Elizabeth Street real property and provide for its renovation; and

WHEREAS, it is the intent to use American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for the purchase of this property; and

WHEREAS, a design consultant will be hired to design the renovations of the buildings to best meet the County’s goal to provide a safe and secure environment for the residents of the property and preserve the neighborhood character; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the County Legislature has identified the purchase of 21 Elizabeth Street for the purposes of improving and continuing its operation as a facility to provide supportive housing as an “Unlisted Action” as said term is defined pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617.6 of the Regulations of Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law of New York State (“SEQRA”); and has conducted an uncoordinated review of the purchase pursuant to NYCRR Part 617.6(b)(4); and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby determines that the purchase of 21 Elizabeth Street in the City of Kingston will not have a significant adverse environmental impact, that the County is satisfied that any possible environmental effects of any future actions associated with the purchase of this property or any change in use is capable of being adequately addressed through subsequent discretionary, administrative and environmental review, and will not require the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement with respect to the Disposition, and has made a determination of non-significance under SEQRA (“Negative Declaration”),   a copy of which is annexed to this Resolution and made a part hereof; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature is hereby authorized to execute an agreement, any amendments thereto, and such other documents as may be necessary to establish the terms and conditions pursuant to which the County of Ulster shall purchase and take title to 21 Elizabeth Street located in the City of Kingston, County of Ulster and State of New York, in the form as filed with the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature, or as modified with the approval of the Ulster County Attorney,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:      

Passed Committee: American Rescue Plan Act on _____________.

Passed Committee: Public Works and Capital Projects on _____________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on _____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$700,000.00 – COUNTY CAPITAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS

   (TO BE OFFSET BY ARP FUNDING)

$700,000.00 – COUNTY REVENUE – SERIAL BONDS