Referred to: The Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit

Committee (Chairman Briggs and Legislators Allen, Archer, Bartels, Litts, Maio, and

Maloney)

Legislator Ken J. Ronk, Jr. offers the following:

WHEREAS, in it’s heyday, the Ulster & Development Delaware Railroad

(U&D) ran from Kingston Point to Oneonta, passing through four counties (Ulster,

Delaware, Schoharie and Otsego); and

WHEREAS, transit in the U&D once delivered visitors to stops along it’s

route the corridor and maintained the economy for many hotels and tourist

destinations as well as the local region; and

WHEREAS, in 1979, Ulster County purchased the former U&D Railroad for

one and a half million dollars with the State reimbursing the purchase price following

the adoption of the Cambridge Seven Associates report and recommendations; and

WHEREAS, the 1981 Cambridge Seven Associates report noted the corridor

would connect “hiking trails, bicycling paths, special calendar events and other

outdoor activities”; and

WHEREAS, for several decades, the Ulster County Legislature hasve

continued to encourage efforts to develop this multimodal transit in the railroad

corridor; and

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 275 of 2014 expresses support for a multipurpose trail connecting Kingston with the Ashokan Reservoir and the pursuit of

continued tourist railroad operations west of Boiceville in the U&D; and

WHEREAS, the long-term economic success in these efforts warrants more

exhaustive public examination and study to establish a lasting plan for the full U&D

corridor located within Ulster County boundaries; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Ulster County Charter Section C-16 and the

Administrative Code Section A2-11: “Advisory committees, commissions and

boards. Members of all citizens' committees, commissions and boards appointed

pursuant to § C-11K of the Charter shall serve at the pleasure of the County

Legislature. They shall serve without compensation other than for actual and

necessary expenses within appropriations made therefor, unless otherwise provided

by resolution of the County Legislature. The Chairman of the County Legislature

shall be a member ex-officio of all such committees, commissions and boards;” and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 70 of 1985, the Railroad Advisory

Committee was established and re-established pursuant to Resolution No. 127 of

2010 for the purpose of continuing the on-going efforts of the previous Railroad

Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, as evident in the dissolution of the Catskill Gateway Advisory

Council to establish the Railroad Advisory Committee pursuant to Resolution No. 70

of 1985, changes to the process of obtaining the advice of citizens is necessary when

community priorities modify; and

WHEREAS, that the Ulster County Legislature remains committed to not

only, the development of the U&D railroad corridor, but also the development of a

long term plan based on the advice and input from citizens of Ulster County; now,

therefore be it

 RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Railroad Advisory Committee shall be

dissolved and re-established as the U&D Railroad Corridor Advisory Committee for

the purposes of:

a) conducting an exhaustive examination and study on the economic

viability of the U&D Railroad Corridor, and promoting an orderly

transition from current tourist train operations to future multi-modal

uses; and

b) to serve as the County’s entity responsible for appraisal of proposed

development or contracts related to the county-owned U&D

property; and

b) to present any recommendations to the Economic Development,

Tourism, Housing, Planning & Transit Committee and the Ulster

County Legislature regarding said proposed development or

contracts related to the county-owned U&D property to the Ulster

County Legislature; and

c)

d)c) to assume any remaining responsibilitiesy given to the former Ulster

County Railroad Advisory Committee per existing lease agreements;

and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the membership of the U&D Railroad Corridor Advisory

Committee shall be comprised of the following members for a term commencing

March 17, 2015 through December 31, 2015:

1) Mary Wawro (District 1 – Town of Saugerties) Mary Beth Maio (District

10 – Towns of Lloyd and Marlborough);

2) David Donaldson, (District 6– City of Kingston);

3) Ken J. Ronk, Jr. (District 13 – Town of Shawangunk) *Temporary

Chairman;

4) Richard A. Parete (District 18 – Towns of Hurley and Marbletown) Carl

Belfiglio (District 8 – Town of Esopus);

5) Manna Jo Greene (District 19 – Towns of Marbletown and Rosendale);

6) Tracey A. Bartels (District 16 – Towns of Gardiner and Shawangunk);

5)7) Donald Gregorius (District 23 – Towns of Hurley and Woodstock);

and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature shall appoint

future members of the U&D Railroad Corridor Advisory Committee for two-year

terms; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the U&D Corridor Advisory Committee will seek input from

groups including, but not limited to, the Environmental Management Council, the

Ulster County Trails Advisory Committee, and the current leasee; and, be it further

RESOLVED, after consultation with and approval of the County Executive,

the U&D Railroad Corridor Advisory Committee will seek input from the

Department of Planning and, the Department of Environment, the Trails Advisory

Council, and the Environmental Management Council; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the County Executive may appoint staff from the Executive

branch of government to assist the U&D Railroad Corridor Advisory Committee in

its work,

Formatted: No bullets or numbering

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES:

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning, and

Transit on _________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE