Referred to: The Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee (Chairman Hewitt and Legislators Donaldson, Greene, Litts, Nolan, Stewart, and Walls), The Health, Human Services and Housing Committee (Chairman Uchitelle and Legislators Collins, Corcoran, Harmon, Kitchen, Lopez, and McCollough), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, and Roberts)

Chairman of the Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee, Chris Hewitt, and Deputy Chair Richard Walls offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of the Youth Bureau; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Environment seeks legislative approval to create a Climate Justice Fellow Position, partially funded by the award of the Climate Justice Fellow under Program Opportunity Notice (P.O.N.) No. 4772 to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); and

WHEREAS, theClimate Justice Fellow will be responsible for aiding in the implementation of the Climate Corps, assisting in the development and implementation of the Climate Justice Plan, and assisting in county-wide initiatives aligned with Executive Order 1; and

WHEREAS, NYSERDA’s Climate Justice Fellowship P.O.N No. 4772 will fund $37,000.00 of the fellow’s salary (68.9%) as well as $3,000.00 towards professional development training/mentoring and/or wrap-around services with a total maximum award of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00); and

WHEREAS, the county share of this position will be $42,984.00 ($16,700.00 Salary, $26,284.00 Benefits) from June 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025; and

WHEREAS, it is requested that this position be funded at this time for the period of June 1, 2024 through the December 31, 2024, by amending the 2024 Ulster County Budget; and

WHEREAS, the creation of this position will benefit projects that align with achieving Ulster County’s Climate Agenda; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby authorizes the creation of a Climate Justice Fellow position; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the 2024 Ulster County Budget is hereby amended as follows:

CREATE

POSITION #                                    TITLE                                               AMOUNT

7310-XXXX                                     Climate Justice Fellow                  $53,700.00*  

(PL#)                                                  (Non-Union; 70-hours) 

*Annual Salary                                

Annual Benefits $26,284.00

INCREASE                                       AMOUNT                

AA. 7310.3102-1300.1300             Regular Pay                                       $ 31,154.00

(App. #)

AA. 7310.3102-8000.8000             Retirement                                         $   4,820.00

(App.#)

AA. 7310.3102-8010.8010             Social Security                                 $   2,384.00

(App.#)

AA. 7310.3102-8020.8020             Health Insurance - Dental               $     374.00

(App.#)

AA. 7310.3102-8020.8035             Health Insurance                              $  7,618.00

(App.#)

AA. 7310.3102-8020.8055            Health Insurance - Optical              $       53.00

(App.#)

AA. 7310.3102-4300.4345            Professional Services Training       $  3,000.00

(App.#)

AA. 7310.3102-3300.3089            State Aid – Other                              $ 24,583.00

(Rev.#)

AA.-9900.9900-3700.9990            Appropriated Fund Balance            $ 24,820.00

(Rev.#),

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                     NOES:    

Passed Committee: Energy, Environment and Sustainability on ______________.

Passed Committee: Health, Human Services and Housing on ______________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$49,403.00  - Additional 2024 Appropriation Dollars

$24,820.00  - Increase in APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE

$24,583.00  - Federal Revenue Dollars