Referred to: The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Fabiano, Ronk, and Walter)

Chair of the Legislature, Tracey A. Bartels, offers the following:

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

WHEREAS, the Open Space Institute Land Trust, Inc., wishes to purchase a parcel of County ¬owned property hereinafter described, which was acquired by the County by reason of non¬payment of taxes; and

WHEREAS, said parcel # 23 of the 2022 Public Auction, listed as 27.40 acres, rural vacant land, North Mountain Rd., in the Town of Gardiner, section, block and lot number 93.1-1-34 has unpaid taxes in the amount of $4,830.00 dating back to the year 2017; and

WHEREAS, prospective purchaser of parcel # 23 has bid $4,830.00, the taxes due, and is their intent to acquire this property for public use and benefit; and

WHEREAS, by the Open Space Institute Land Trust, Inc. acquiring this property it will be utilized for the public good by means of open space preservation; and

WHEREAS, this parcel contains a portion of the Millbrook Cliff, the largest cliff in the Shawangunks, and has been used for rock climbing by the rock-climbing community since 1935; and

WHEREAS, the prospective purchasers shall be responsible for the 2022-23 school tax and all subsequent tax levies; and

WHEREAS, these conveyances constitute Type II actions under section 4.1.5 of the County of Ulster’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) Type II List that was adopted in Resolution No. 118 on April 20, 2010; and

WHEREAS, as per section 3 of the County’s Type II List, these actions do not pose a significant potential environmental impact and may be progressed as Type II actions in accordance with 6 NYCRR Part 617 of SEQRA; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby finds and determines that the property described herein, and which is intended to be conveyed herein is appropriate for conveyance to the Open Space Institute Land Trust, Inc. for public use and benefit purposes; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Open Space Institute Land Trust, Inc. shall not name the subject property after any political figure; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Commissioner of Finance is authorized to accept payment as follows:

PREVIOUS OWNER       TOWN        BIDDER                          BID AMOUNT

Denton, Lands of Heirs      Gardiner       Open Space Institute          $4,830.00

Anthony                                               Land Trust, Inc.

SBL#: 93.1-1-34                                   1350 Broadway, Suite 201

Parcel # 23                                            New York, NY  10018                

Unpaid taxes: $4,830.00             

and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature is authorized and directed to make, execute and deliver to said party, a Quitclaim Deed conveying the interest of the County in said Parcel, which Quitclaim Deed shall contain the covenant that the said County of Ulster shall in no event be or become liable for any defects in title conveyed for any cause whatsoever, and that no claim or demand of any nature shall ever be made against the County of Ulster arising from such sale, conveyance or the proceedings leading thereto,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                    NOES:                 

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ­­­________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT: $4,830.00 - UNPAID TAXES