Ball, left, and Todora
MONTICELLO – With likely the most brutal cold of the winter settling in for the weekend, and Sullivan County opening heating shelters, one thing not happening this year is problems with getting help to people who need it.
One year ago, following the mess with Sullivan County’s backlogged Home Energy Assistance Program, the county legislature retained the services of the Bonadio Group, consultants out of Pittsford, New York. It didn’t take long for things to start turning around.
Bonadio Manager Tim Ball gave the county another glowing report card on Thursday, and that includes Temporary Assistance (TA), Food Stamps (SNAP) along with HEAP. He said now, the agencies handling the applications is keeping the number in processing down to under ten, and there has been a total turnaround in department morale.
“And now, these teams are working as a team,” Ball said. “They love it. They want to keep that number down below ten. They want to keep that number to zero.”
Ball called that a “phenomenal achievement… taking Sullivan County from the bottom of the state, as far as turning these over, up somewhere near the top.”
Health and Family Services Commissioner Joe Todora said the formula for making that happen was simple.
“We had to change the mind shift from ‘I’ve got 30 days to do this’ to ‘let’s get it done’,” Todora said.
The $150,000 contract with Bonadio ends at the end of March. Ball said he and Todora have been discussing a possible “monitoring and check-back program” that could kick in after that.
