KINGSTON – The Family Court of Ulster County is suffering growing pains, and must find a new home.
With a third judge added to the bench in January, the current rented space at 16 Lucas Avenue in Kingston is now inadequate, according to the state Office of Court Administration.
The question of where and how to move the court, was bounced between
the county legislature’s Ways and Means Committee and the county
executive’s office for over a year – with impatient Office
of State Court regulators applying constant pressure on local officials.
Regulations of courtroom facilities fall under state law. Ulster County Family Court has been on Lucas Avenue since 1988, and the new location must also be within the county seat in Kingston.
Last January, $7 million in renovations were completed at the current obsolete site, converting one office into a makeshift extra courtroom, as a temporary stopgap.
The matter was raised again Wednesday at the bimonthly Ways and Means meeting. Chairman Richard Gerentine tabled the matter due to lack of time available for a full discussion. A special session scheduled September 9 at 4 p.m., will take place an hour before the regular committee meeting next month.
Last year, the Family Court Renovation Cost Subcommittee was formed, chaired by legislator Mary Beth Maio, but met only once, on July 22, 2014. “It wasn’t productive at that time for many reasons, and after that it got dropped,” she said.
A new site will be up to the county, said Deputy County Executive Robert Sudlow.
“The Court does not make recommendations,” Sudlow told the committee members. “This body has got to decide where to go. We have to come up with a solution, and approve what’s going to happen in Family Court. The subcommittee needs to look at sites, cost, size, location, rent or own. They’re talking a building with four courtrooms, plus a hearing room, and they would also like the Surrogate’s Court to join them.”
Sudlow said whatever decision is made will have a long-term impact.
