Legislative Chair Tracey Bartels Announces Appointments
to the 2022 Standing and Special Committee
Eve Walter to Serve as Vice Chair
Craig V. Lopez Designated Deputy Minority Leader
Kingston, NY—Legislative Chair Tracey Bartels has announced appointments to the 2022 Standing Committees.
“The 2022 Legislature has an extraordinary wealth of talented and dedicated public servants. All of our members have the same goal—to improve the lives of Ulster County residents,” states Chair Bartels.
Key areas of focus for the committees will include expanding economic development opportunities, addressing mental health needs and issues of addiction, expanding access to affordable housing, improving infrastructure and enhanced emergency services, and providing long-term solutions to the county's solid waste management.
"I truly appreciate every one of my colleagues' willingness to serve in these important roles and look forward to leveraging their unique expertise and experience to face the challenges ahead and to deliver much-needed services to families, businesses, and communities throughout Ulster County."
Democratic Majority Leader Jonathan R. Heppner (Towns of Hurley and Woodstock, District 23) said, "Building upon the forward-thinking committee restructuring established by the Legislature earlier this month, I'm excited about Chair Bartels' committee assignments. I know that Chair Bartels took input from both caucus leaders and truly considered the wants of all members while ensuring each committee would be successful in carrying out the people's work. We are off to a very productive start, and I am looking forward to our work ahead."
“The Republican Caucus is ready and willing to work together with Chair Bartels in these committees to move Ulster County forward and to protect the taxpayers,” said Minority Leader Ronk.
"I welcome the new changes to our standing committees,” says Legislator Brian Cahill, chair of the Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Agriculture and Arts Committee. "For the first time in more than 20 years, Ulster County farmers, agriculture, and agri-businesses will be a central focus in Economic Development," said Cahill. "I'm eagerly anticipating a full agenda that includes not only agriculture but also arts and education. I firmly believe these sectors are vital to our long-term economic development and the prosperity of all who live and work in Ulster County."
"The past two years magnified the challenges we face in our county around mental health, substance abuse, public health response, and housing health," states Vice Chair Eve Walter, chair of the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee. "I look forward to addressing each of these issues and developing strong policies to make ours a healthier county."
Abe Uchitelle (City of Kingston, District 5), chair of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, states, "Much work still needs to be done to make law enforcement more equitable for our communities, including enhancing our restorative justice program and improving our county's probation process." Legislator Uchitelle adds, "The coming year also marks a critical opportunity to overhaul our county's emergency response infrastructure as we work to keep our residents safe at all times."
Legislator Laura Petit (Town of Esopus, District 8), chair of Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation, adds, “The new committee structure streamlines the work of the legislature. I look forward to focusing on the county’s infrastructure needs and working on existing and new capital projects.”
Chair Bartels has chosen Eve Walter (Village & Town of New Paltz, District 20) to serve as Vice Chair of the Ulster County Legislature.
"Legislator Walter's lifelong work as an epidemiologist and research scientist, specializing in the intersections of criminal justice, violence, and poverty with public health, brings unique policy expertise to the leadership team," states Chair Bartels. "I am grateful that Legislator Walter has agreed to serve in this important capacity."
In addition, Craig V. Lopez (Towns of Shawangunk & Wawarsing, District 14), will continue in his role as Deputy Minority Leader—in previous years, this position was titled Minority Whip.
“I know that I speak for the entire body when I say that we are ready to get to work,” said Chair Bartels.
2022 Standing Committee Appointments
Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture
To set legislative policy and review contracts for all aspects of Ulster County Department of Economic Development, Ulster County Department of Planning, Office of Employment and Training, Ulster County Community College, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District, Arts, Tourism and Libraries. Responsible for issues pertaining to: Ulster County Industrial Development Agency, Ulster County Planning Board, Revolving Loan Fund Committee, Shovel Ready Committee. To foster relations and communications with the Ulster County Economic Alliance and local Chambers of Commerce. To establish policy relating to agriculture and farmland preservation.
Chair
Brian Cahill—Towns of Ulster & Kingston, District 4
Deputy Chair
Herbert Litts, III—Towns of Lloyd & Plattekill, District 9
Members
Thomas Corcoran, Jr.—Town of Marlborough, District 11
Peter Criswell—City of Kingston, District 7
Chris Hewitt—Towns of Rochester & Wawarsing, District 21
Joseph Maloney—Town & Village of Saugerties, District 2
Megan Sperry—Towns of Esopus & New Paltz, District 17
Energy, Environment and Sustainability
To set policy and review contracts pertaining to the Department of the Environment, Environmental Management Council, Fish and Wildlife Management Board, and Forest Practice Board, including the protection of waterways and the County’s recycling efforts. To set policy and review contracts pertaining to but not limited to the activities of the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency.
Chair
Manna Jo Greene—Towns of Marbletown & Rosendale, District 19
Deputy Chair
Gina Hansut—Towns of Lloyd & Marlborough, District 10
Members
Phil Erner—City of Kingston, District 6
Joseph Maloney—Town & Village of Saugerties, District 2
Eric Stewart—Towns of Hurley & Marbletown, District 18
Health, Human Services and Housing
To set policy for and review contracts pertaining to the following County Departments and Divisions: Health, Mental Health, Social Services, Community Action, Office for the Aging, Youth Bureau, and Veterans Affairs. To set policy relating to housing issues including but not limited to temporary, emergency, affordable, workforce, and senior housing.
Chair
Eve Walter—Town & Village of New Paltz, District 20
Deputy Chair
Craig V. Lopez—Towns of Shawangunk & Wawarsing, District 14
Members
Thomas Corcoran, Jr.—Town of Marlborough, District 11
Phil Erner—City of Kingston, District 6
Kathy Nolan—Towns of Denning, Hardenburgh, Olive & Shandaken
Laura Petit—Town of Esopus, District 8
Abe Uchitelle—City of Kingston, District 5
Law Enforcement and Public Safety
To set policy and review contracts pertaining to the following County Departments and Divisions: Ulster County Sheriff and the Law Enforcement Center, Public Defender, District Attorney, Probation, Restorative Justice, Emergency Management/Emergency Communications, Arson Task Force, Fire Coordinator, EMS Coordinator, STOP DWI, Consumer Fraud Bureau, Weights and Measures, and Safety Office.
Chair
Abe Uchitelle—City of Kingston, District 5
Deputy Chair
Gina Hansut—Towns of Lloyd & Marlborough, District 10
Members
Jonathan R. Heppner—Towns of Hurley & Woodstock, District 23
Chris Hewitt—Towns of Rochester & Wawarsing, District 21
Craig V. Lopez—Towns of Shawangunk & Wawarsing, District 14
Laws, Rules, and Government Services
To set policy and review contracts pertaining to the following County Departments and Divisions: Board of Elections, County Clerk, County Attorney, Human Rights, Insurance and Board of Ethics. To oversee legislative policy and legislative proposed revisions to the Ulster County Charter and the Administrative Code. To review and maintain the Rules of the Legislature and to review and approve all local laws for legal sufficiency only, unless Laws and Rules, Government Services is the committee of original jurisdiction. To approve all late resolutions, considering lateness and content prior to submittal to the full Legislature. To approve resolutions required to be referred to it under the Rules of the Legislature.
Chair
Jonathan Heppner—Towns of Hurley & Woodstock, District 23
Deputy Chair
Kevin A. Roberts—Town of Plattekill, District 12
Members
John Gavaris—Town of Wawarsing & Village of Ellenville, District 15
Aaron J. Levine—Town of Saugerties, District 1
Kenneth J. Ronk, Jr.—Town of Shawangunk, District 13
Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation
To set policy for and review contracts pertaining to the following County Departments and Divisions: Public Works (including Parks, Highways, and Buildings and Grounds), Transportation (including Fleet Management and Ulster County Area Transit), the Electrical Licensing Board, and Capital Projects.
Chair
Laura Petit—Town of Esopus, District 8
Deputy Chair
Dean Fabiano—Towns of Saugerties & Ulster, District 3
Members
Herbert Litts, III—Towns of Lloyd & Plattekill, District 9
Kathy Nolan—Towns of Denning, Hardenburgh, Olive & Shandaken, District 22
Eric Stewart—Towns of Hurley & Marbletown, District 18
Ways and Means
To recommend the Legislature’s position on all budgetary and financial matters of the County. To review contracts pertaining to the following departments: Comptroller, Finance, Innovation Division, Personnel, Purchasing, Information Services and Real Property Tax Services. To approve all resolutions with financial impacts to the County, excluding those financial impacts limited solely to legislative advertising expenses.
Chair
John Gavaris—Town of Wawarsing & Village of Ellenville, District 15
Deputy Chair
Kenneth J. Ronk, Jr.—Town of Shawangunk, District 13
Members
Brian Cahill—Towns of Kingston & Ulster, District 4
Dean Fabiano—Towns of Saugerties & Ulster, District 3
Eve Walter—Village & Town of New Paltz, District 20
American Rescue Plan Act Special Committee
Dedicated to the investment and allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds utilized to help turn the tide on the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery. To review all proposals related to the expenditure of ARPA funds prior to forwarding to any Standing Committees of jurisdiction.
Chair
Peter Criswell—City of Kingston, District 7
Deputy Chair
Thomas Corcoran, Jr.—Town of Marlborough, District 11
Members
Aaron J. Levine—Town of Saugerties, District 1
Craig V. Lopez—Towns of Shawangunk & Wawarsing,
District 14
Megan Sperry—Towns of Esopus & New Paltz, District 17
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