KINGSTON – The Ulster County Legislature gave itself more power over how the county’s Resource Recovery Agency acquires debt.
Currently, the RRA had the ability to bond up to $40 million without county approval. The current bonded total is just over $12 million.
A resolution, approved after some debate Tuesday night, would require county legislature approval for any bonds totaling $500,000 or higher.
The measure passed 21 to 1 but several legislators expressed some frustration, including Republican Carl Belfiglio.
“Giving the legislature the ability to vote ‘no’ on any contracts, any bond over $500,000 is meaningless if we can’t control the rest of their budget,” Belfiglio said
The county is is responsible for only 25 percent of the RRA budget. Republican
Richard Gerentine, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee, said the measure
adds some protection for the taxpayer, who ultimately pays the bill.
“This is a small step regarding the oversight regarding the Resource Recovery Agency but I think we’d better start taking the bull by the horns and look at exactly how we can work with the Resource Recovery Agency in some way, shape or form,” Gerentine said.
In other business during a brief monthly meeting, the legislature approved, without discussion:
The community college budget which holds tuition at the current level
A lease agreement with Ulster County Community College to operate an extension Center in the former Sophie Finn elementary school on Mary’s Avenue in Kingston
