Referred to: The Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee (Chairwoman Greene and Legislators Hansut, Erner, Maloney, and Stewart), The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairman Uchitelle and Legislators Hansut, Heppner, Hewitt, and Lopez), and The Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee (Chairwoman Petit and Legislators Fabiano, Litts, Nolan, and Stewart)

Chairman of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, Abe Uchitelle, offers the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of 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 funding was provided for Professional Engineering Services; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County, is developing a new simulcast radio communication system and utilizing the services of its radio consultants, has analyzed the needed improvements to the existing radio communication system in terms of gaps in service due to lack of coverage from existing radio towers that result in the need for additional towers as well as improvements and/or replacement of existing towers to support the additional equipment necessary for the simulcast system; and

WHEREAS, this analysis shows that the existing Public Safety Radio Tower located on Tonche Mountain accessed from Pitcairn Estates Rd. in the Town of Olive and included within Tax Map Section Block and Lot ( SBL) 37.1-5-12.412 will require to be upgraded or replaced with a taller facility, to support additional antennas and microwave dishes that enable communication between other towers in the system as well as provide better coverage in the area; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County desires to proceed with the required steps to improve or replace the Tonche public safety radio tower at or near its current location; and

WHEREAS, the development and installation of a public safety radio tower and appurtenances at the Tonche Mountain Site constitutes an action as defined under NYCRR Part 617.2(b) [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 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 pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617.6(b) (3) of the Regulations pertaining to Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law of New York State (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 will conduct a coordinated review and circulate its Notice of Intent to serve as Lead Agency, together with the 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 move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                    NOES:            

Passed Committee: Energy, Environment and Sustainability on ___________.

Passed Committee: Law Enforcement and Public Safety on  ___________.

Passed Committee: Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation on  ___________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE