Referred to: The Public Works and Capital Projects Committee (Chairman Fabiano and Legislators Cahill, Greene, Heppner, and Litts)

Chairman of the Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, Dean J. Fabiano, and Deputy Chair Manna Jo Greene offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted by the County Executive on behalf of the Ulster County Agricultural Society; and

WHEREAS, effective January 1, 2013, the County entered into a five-year license agreement (the “License”) with the Ulster County Agricultural Society (the “Society”), which was subsequently extended for three additional one year periods, ending December 31, 2020, whereby the County granted to the Society a revocable license to use a portion of property owned by the County, commonly known as the Ulster County Fairgrounds (the “Fairgrounds”) situated on Libertyville Road in the Town of New Paltz; and

WHEREAS, the portion licensed to the Society (the “Premises”) are to be used for the purpose of maintaining and managing the Fairgrounds, and organizing, scheduling and managing events, programs and activities at that location, for the County; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Agricultural Society desires to make capital repairs to the barns at the Premises, construct a new Maintenance Shop, and install a lean-to at the Agricultural Museum; and

WHEREAS, said project is described in the Scope of Work attached as Exhibit A; and     

WHEREAS, the Society is obtaining grant funding and is willing and financially able to execute all aspects of the project including the construction and demolition and/or remodel of the Maintenance Shop on the Premises; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to paragraph 19 of the License, the Society “shall not construct any major improvements or permanent structures upon the licensed premises without the express written approval of the County Legislature” and “such approval shall be granted only upon a majority vote of the Legislature”; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the License, if such approval for construction is granted by this body, the Society is further required to comply with sub-paragraphs (a) through and including (h), and the Society will enter into a written agreement obligating itself to do so; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), this construction is deemed as “agricultural farm management practices, including construction, maintenance and repair of farm buildings and structures, and land use changes consistent with generally accepted principles of farming” and therefore is a Type II action not subject to review under SEQRA, having been determined not to have a significant impact on the environment (6 NYCRR 617.5(c)(2.3)); now therefore, be it

            RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature hereby approves the capital repairs to the barns at the Premises, construction of a new Maintenance Shop, and installation of a lean-to at the Agricultural Museum, by the Ulster County Agricultural Society, as set forth in this Resolution, on the portion of the Ulster County Fairgrounds currently licensed to the Society, and the Society avers, and the Legislature acknowledges, that such project shall be completed at no cost to the County; and, be it further

            RESOLVED, the granting of the construction project shall be subject to the Society obtaining any and all permits or approval from any governing entity that may have jurisdiction,

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Passed Committee:  Public Works and Capital Projects on ______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE