GOSHEN – Orange County officials offered their priorities for state legislation in 2016 to their area Senate and Assembly representatives.
This was the second year the meeting has been held, following a general acknowledgement of last year’s success.
A number of county department heads submitted priority items to the state panel comprised of aides to the lawmakers. Only Assemblyman Karl Brabenec attended in person.
Neuhaus, standing outlines priorities. Brabanec, left, was the only state lawmaker to attend
Prior to the meeting, County Executive Steven Neuhaus obtained from department
heads their priority issues – an interstate mutual aid emergency
response plan; allowing counties to take on “lead agency”
status if a large annexation like that in the Village of Kiryas Joel expands
its municipal border more than 10 percent.
Neuhaus proposed having the $50 million State Game Licensing Fee from the Montreign Casino and Resort used to improve local highway and public safety infrastructure that will be affected by the influx of new visitors, a proposition supported by Ulster County Executive Michael Hein, Dutchess Executive Marcus Molinaro and Sullivan County Legislature Chairman Luis Alvarez.
The Health Department identified a number of areas that need funding including the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and the Rape Crisis Center.
Neuhaus agreed that the Rape Crisis Center is a priority, as they were almost in a situation where victims would not have been able to receive services. He asked the county to hold the state officials accountable.
“This is one that hits home with us and I hope you guys hold these guys accountable because if we didn’t have the money, if this was two years before when we had not a penny to put into this, women that were sexually assaulted in Orange County on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, which is the biggest part of when they happen, would not have been treated and that’s not me talking, that’s not Darcie [Miller] talking, that’s the people that run the Rape Crisis Center,” said Neuhaus.
Acting County Mental Health and Family Services Commissioner Darcie Miller proposed reforms regarding laws that affect opioid dependent individuals. She said, although fatal overdoses are down due to Narcan availability, she would like to see recovery coaches on scene for when an individual needs Narcan administered, a lift on the 100 patient limit Suboxone providers have, more methadone slots and Medicaid activation upon 30 days release from jail for addicts and mentally ill inmates in need.
Public Works asked the panel of officials for a reform to minimum dollar amounts for bids on public works and commodities projects. The department believes that the current minimum is inhibiting the county from doing as much business as they could and are asking for the commodities amount to be raised to $75,000 and the public works to be raised to $125,000. Also, DPW Commissioner Chris Viebrock asked that weight limits stay off of county bridges. With the casino opening approaching and the possibility of Lego Land coming to Orange County, he believes more commercial traffic will be utilizing county routes and doesn’t want to have businesses refrain from shipping within the county because their transport vehicles are too heavy.
Other proposals were made by Probation Department Director Derek Miller to have increased funding since recent studies are showing probation reduces recidivism rates and their staffing is down by approximately 20 employees currently. Also, Veteran Services Director Christian Farrell asked the panel to submit legislation that would send information, via mail, to help veterans identify various benefits they are entitled to but, few know about.
Brian Maher, who participated on the panel on behalf of Senator William Larkin (R, Cornwall-on-Hudson), said he believes there will be immediate action following the meeting on some of these proposals.
“Whether it’s legislation, conversations in the budget, or something we just talked about, about getting a veterans’ mailer put out to inform people about services that apply to them, there are things that are going to happen immediately following this meeting,” said Maher. “Good things happen when you bring these people, from both parts, to the same table.”
Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R, Deerpark) said the open communication between representatives, at both state and county levels, is very important and he is hoping, this year, some of the bills that represent current county interests will make it to the floor.
“That’s the most important thing is to get these things forward,” said Brabenec. “We have some battles up in Albany still that are partisan battles, that they won’t allow certain bills to the floor on the minority side and we’re trying to get past that with a lot of rules changes, but we’re hoping that the commissioners here, the leadership in the county, that they’ll contact the Speaker’s office, allow some of these minority bills to come to the floor which address a lot of these issues.”
With the State budget deadline fast approaching it is still unclear how many, if any, of these proposals will be acted upon.
