Referred to: The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairwoman Hansut and Legislators Clinton, Hewitt, Levine, Maloney, McCollough and Walls), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, Roberts, and Uchitelle)

Chair of the Legislature, Peter J. Criswell, and Chairwoman of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, Gina Hansut, offer the following:

WHEREAS, pursuant to § C-11 the Ulster County Charter, the Ulster County Legislature is charged with making appropriations, levying taxes, incurring indebtedness and adopting a budget, including a capital program; and

WHEREAS, in order to most effectively carry out this charge, the Ulster County Legislature conducts many open meetings where members of the public are encouraged to attend and voice their opinions and concerns; and

WHEREAS, safety of Ulster County staff, elected officials, and the general public is of the upmost importance to the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Sheriff has completed a security review and assessment of the Ulster County Office Building; and

WHEREAS, based on the security assessment, the Ulster County Sheriff recommends the installation of additional screening devices and other security improvements to the Ulster County Office Building; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Sheriff has explored the option of leasing certain screening equipment, including 2 Evolv Express Walk-Through Systems and 1 Expedite Automatic Bag Scanner, with a four-year lease including maintenance, software updates, and upgrades for all equipment; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Sheriff recommends that such screening devices be installed at the ground level of the Ulster County Office Building; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature intends to proceed immediately, in partnership with the Ulster County Sheriff and Sheriff’s personnel, with use of said screening equipment as part of the standard safety and security protocol for attendance to all committee meetings and Sessions of the Ulster County Legislature; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Sheriff has obtained quotes for the screening devices to be leased for use in the Ulster County Office Building; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the Ulster County budget to fund the lease of said security screening devices for year one of the lease; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the 2025 Ulster County Operating Budget is hereby amended as follows:

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                    NOES:    

Passed Committee: Law Enforcement and Public Safety on ____________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT: 

$0.00 – ADDITIONAL 2025 FUNDS

$65,000.00 – 2025 COUNTY CONTINGENCY APPROPRIATION DOLLARS

(EQUIPMENT LEASE - YEAR ONE FUNDING APPROPRIATION;

$65,000.00 ANNUALLY FOR THREE ADDITIONAL YEARS TO BE BUDGETED FOR WITHIN SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES IN FUTURE ANNUAL ULSTER COUNTY BUDGETS)