Referred to: The Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee (Chairman Hewitt and Legislators Donaldson, Greene, Litts, Nolan, Stewart, and Walls), and The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairwoman Hansut and Legislators Clinton, Hewitt, Levine, Maloney, McCollough and Walls)

Chairwoman of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, Gina Hansut, and Deputy Chair Chris Hewitt offer the following:

WHEREAS,thisResolutionhasbeensubmitted at the request of theCountyExecutiveon behalf of the Department of Emergency Communications / Emergency Management; 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 to address gaps in service in 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 a new Public Safety Radio Tower (PSRT) on lands owned by the Town of Wawarsing, located at 7284-7286 Route 209 and further identified as Real Property Tax Parcel No. 83.6-4-1, is suitable for a proposed Public Safety Radio Tower (PSRT) and is needed to provide better coverage and interconnection for the County’s public safety radio system, including communication between other towers in the system; and 

WHEREAS, Ulster County desires to proceed with the required steps to consider the feasibility and environmental impact of a new public safety radio tower at this location; and

WHEREAS, the development and installation of a public safety radio tower and appurtenances at the Wawarsing 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 Chair of the Ulster County Legislature is hereby authorized to execute an agreement, and any amendments thereto, with the Town of Wawarsing allowing access to lands owned by the Town located at 7284-7286 Route 209and further identified as Real Property Tax Parcel No. 83.6-4-1 for the purposes of conducting the needed analysis for the construction of a Public Safety Radio Tower at this location; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature has determined, after review of the criteria contained in the State Environmental Quality Review Act that such analysis is a Type II Action and no further action under SEQRA is required; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature has determined that Project as a whole is, as provided for in 6 NYCRR Parts 617.4 and 617.5, 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 moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:             

Passed Committee: Energy, Environment and Sustainability on ________________.

Passed Committee: Law Enforcement and Public Safety on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE