Referred to: The Public Works and Capital Projects Committee (Chair Nolan and Legislators Donaldson, Kovacs, Litts, and McCollough), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, Roberts, and Uchitelle)

Legislator Joe Maloney offers the following:

WHEREAS, in 2007 it was necessary to set policy, procedure and criteria relating to the authorization of County employees to use Ulster County owned vehicles to commute to and from work; and

WHEREAS, on September 11, 2007, the Legislature adopted Resolution No. 319 to establish such policy (“The Charlie Busick Policy”); and

WHEREAS, the intent of said policy was to ensure the proper use of public funds with regards to the County practice of allowing employees to commute to and from work in county owned vehicles; and

WHEREAS, in recent years, it become evident that the County was no longer following the adopted policy, despite no resolution rescinding such, which has contributed to an environment of inequity, abuse and waste; and

WHEREAS, the management of the Ulster County fleet has been called into question, with a large number of take-home vehicles in the fleet, yet little understanding of the justification regarding the assignment of many of these vehicles; and   

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature deemed it necessary to establish a special committee for the purposes of reviewing all existing legislation, operations, policies, internal department procedures and any contractual agreements relating the Ulster County fleet and making recommendations for policy and laws related the county’s fleet management; and

WHERES, on November 14, 2023 the Ulster County Legislature adopted Resolution No. 676 establishing the Ulster County Fleet Management Review Committee (UC FMRC); and

WHEREAS, the UC FMRC met a total of nine (9) times between March 11 and December 16, 2024, during which time they conducted an extensive review of the county’s entire fleet, take home vehicles and their assignment, fleet management costs and vehicle replacement schedules, existing policies and procedures, fleet management best practices, and other items, and meet with fleet management personnel, executive staff and department heads; and

WHEREAS, the UC FMRC determined that revision of the old policy was necessary and required in order to implement reform measures and internal controls for ensuring that the County’s fleet policies are fair, easily understood and enforced, complied with, and designed in the best interest of the tax payer, residents and those receiving services from Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 676 of 2023, the UC FMRC has compiled its findings and recommendations into a revised Ulster County Fleet Vehicle Take-Home Policy for the Legislature’s consideration; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby adopts the Ulster County Fleet Vehicle Take-Home Policy as attached and entitled “Exhibit A”; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Fleet Vehicle Take-Home Policy shall take effect 10 days after adoption,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                      NOES:    

Passed Committee: Public Works and Capital Projects on ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­__________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­__________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE – POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS