Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Great fun but just one of those things and signing off

 Sorry to report that about the only reporting of news from Hamilton County I intended to continue with is the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors.

The reasons are varied but include the following: I don't get paid for this service. I rely almost entirely on minutes and many of the minutes take so long to get posted on town and school websites that they are ancient news and really not worth calling news. In some other cases, the minutes are terrible and hardly readable. 

Supervisors approve purchases by DPW

 Supervisors Feb 4 2021



Supervisors approve purchases by DPW

By PETE KLEIN

LAKE PLEASANT

When the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors met on February 4, it approved the Department of Public Works to make several purchases, including the following. It also approved numerous other resolutions.

WEIGH SCALE FOR LAKE PLEASANT TRANSFER STATION

WHEREAS, the County Highway Superintendent has discussed equipment needs with the Public Works Committee, and

WHEREAS the Superintendent is requesting to replace the weigh scale at the Lake Pleasant Transfer Station, and

WHEREAS the County Highway Superintendent recommends advertising for bids for said scale, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Highway Superintendent is hereby authorized to advertise for public bids to purchase the above-mentioned weigh scale and the County Treasurer and Clerk of the Board be so notified.

PURCHASE A SEMI-DUMP TRAILER DATED

WHEREAS, the County Highway Superintendent has discussed equipment needs with the Public Works Committee, and

WHEREAS, the Superintendent is requesting to purchase a new tri-axle aluminum semi- dump trailer, and

WHEREAS the County Highway Superintendent recommends advertising for bids for said trailer, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Highway Superintendent is hereby authorized to advertise for public bids to purchase the above-mentioned equipment and the County Treasurer and Clerk of the Board be so notified.

PURCHASE FIVE FULL SETS HEAD PLOW AND WINGS

WHEREAS DPW owns and operates eight tandem axle plow trucks for snow & ice operations on county and state roads, and

WHEREAS the department needed to purchase five full sets (head plow and wing) for five of the said trucks for the current winter operations, and

WHEREAS the Superintendent purchased these Built Blades from Chemung Supply Corporation under piggyback bid from Columbia County Contract, and

WHEREAS the cost of the said blades is $90.00 per foot or $990.00 per set along with the purchase of 5 - 24” wing wear plates at a cost of $180.00 each for a total cost of $10,800.00, and

WHEREAS, at said procurement level Board of Supervisor authorization is required, and WHEREAS, the said blades have been received, be it

RESOLVED, the superintendent is hereby authorized to purchase the said blades, be it further

RESOLVED, that payment for the carbide blade sets is hereby authorized and the County Treasurer be so authorized to send a payment of $10,800.00 to Chemung Supply, PO Box 527, Elmira, NY 14902 out of Account No. D5110.405 Other Supplies and the Clerk of the Board and DPW Superintendent be so notified.

HEALTH INSURANCE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION FOR 2021

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors passed Resolution No. 207-20 on August 6, 2020, for 0% COLA increase in 2021 due to the uncertainty of sales tax revenue and NY State reimbursement considering the COVID-19 pandemic, and

WHEREAS, at that point in budget preparation, health insurance rates for 2021 were not available and unknown and have since come in with an increase for 2021 rates, and

WHEREAS the Board of Supervisors do not want employees to bear the cost of the health insurance increase with no COLA, be it

RESOLVED, the County will cover the increase in the health insurance premium and employee’s health insurance contribution will be adjusted back to the 2020 contribution rate of each employee retro to Payroll #1, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Personnel Officer, Treasurer and Clerk of the Board be so notified and authorized.

ANNUAL GIS APPLICATION HOSTING OF THE HOMS WEB 

WHEREAS the Board of Supervisors initially authorized the original agreement with Fountains Spatial, Inc., for hosting and maintaining the server-based County GIS Mapping application known as HAMCOMAPS.NET, and

WHEREAS, Fountains Spatial, Inc., has continued to host, maintain, and modify the HOMS application through coordination with the Hamilton County Real Property Tax Services Agency since the inception in 2010, and

WHEREAS, on 2016 Fountains Spatial, Inc., merged operations with VHB, an engineering firm with offices in Albany, NY, and VHB will continue to provide the same service level agreements and application hosting to Hamilton County on a year-to-year basis going forward, and the Real Property Tax Services Agency recommends the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors renew the annual hosting agreement with VHB for 2021, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors hereby authorizes the renewal of a 1-year annual plan agreement (commencing January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021) with VHB, of 100 Great Oaks Boulevard, Albany, NY, and payment of the annual fee of $6,000 (Six Thousand Dollars) in quarterly payments of $1,500 (Fifteen Hundred Dollars) for hosting the Hamilton County Online Mapping System (HOMS) a.k.a HAMCOMAPS.NET.

HAMLETS TO HUTS IMPLEMENTATION

WHEREAS Hamilton County was awarded CFA #76741 Adirondack Hamlets to Huts Implementation in the amount of $219,375.00, and

WHEREAS, the funds have not been entirely spent, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer is hereby authorized to fund Account No. A6326.0411 Adk. Hamlets to Huts at $21,284.96 to be totally offset by funding Revenue Account No. A3902.0200 Adk. Hamlets to Huts in the amount of $21,284.96.

BUDGET CORRECTION – PUBLIC DEFENDER ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF 

WHEREAS, the Public Defender Administrative Staff’s hours were incorrectly figured for the 2020 budget, and

WHEREAS, due to this miscalculation there is a shortage of funds in Public Defender Account No. A1170.0102 Admin Staff, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer is hereby authorized to transfer $521.80 from Contingent Account No. A1990.0401 to Account No. A1170.0102 Admin Staff.

INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS GRANT

WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Emergency Management Department has been awarded the NYS 2017 Statewide Interoperable Communications Formula Grant SI17-1003-D00 through the NYS 2017 Statewide Interoperable Communications Formula Grant program (2017 SICG Formula) in the amount of $540,339.00, and

WHEREAS, the funds have not entirely been spent, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer be authorized to fund Account No. A3645.0418 Statewide Communications Grant SI17-1003-D00 at $84,837.38 to be totally offset by funding Revenue Account No. A3389.0301 – Statewide Communications Grant at $84,837.38 and the Director of Emergency Management and Sheriff be so notified.

FUNDING STATEWIDE INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS GRANT

WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Emergency Management Department has been awarded the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Grant Project SI18- 1047-D00 in the amount of $544,803.00, and

WHEREAS, the funds have not entirely been spent, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer be authorized to fund Account No. A3645.0402 Statewide Communications Grant SI18-1047-D00 at $511,803.00 to be totally offset by funding Revenue Account No. A3389.0302 – Statewide Communications Grant at $511,803.00 and the Director of Emergency Management and Sheriff be so notified.

HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES GRANT

WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Emergency Management Department has been awarded the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Grant Project SH19- 1020-D00 in the amount of $49,985.00, and

WHEREAS, the funds have not entirely been spent, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer be authorized to fund Account No. A3645.0403 SHSP Grant SH19-1020-D00 at $23,341.20 to be totally offset by funding Revenue Account No. A3389.0124 SHSP Grant SH19-1020-D00 at $23,341.20 and the Director of Emergency Management and Sheriff be so notified.

FUNDING HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES GRANT 

WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Emergency Management Department has been awarded a NYS 2020 SHSP grant through the FY2020 State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) in the amount of $47,731.00, and

WHEREAS, the funds have not entirely been spent, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer be authorized to fund Account No. A3645.0423 SH20-1037-D00 at $47,579.00 to be totally offset by funding Revenue Account No. A3389.0127 SH20-1037-D00 at $47,579.00 and the Director of Emergency Management and Sheriff be so notified.

SUPPLEMENTAL FLU FUNDING

WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Health through the Bureau of Immunization has amended our Immunization Action Plan (IAP) contract to award supplemental federal funding to expand and enhance influenza vaccine outreach, promotion, and mass vaccination activities for the 2020-2021 flu season, and

WHEREAS, instead of amending the IAP contract NYSDOH has issued a standalone contract #T3101GG for the period June 5, 2020 through June 30, 2021, and

WHEREAS, the total grant contract is for $13,565.95, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer is hereby authorized to create and fund Account No. A4052.0407 Flu Funding Grant – Operating Expenses at $13,565.95 to be totally offset by creating and funding Revenue Account No. AA4489.0401, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors be authorized to sign the Contract with the NYS Department of Health through Bureau of Immunization, pending approval by the County Attorney and the County Treasurer be so advised.

BERKSHIRE FARMS CERTIFIED FOSTER CARE HOMES

WHEREAS children placed in the care and custody of the Commissioner of Social Services because of abuse, neglect, maltreatment, or voluntary surrender require out-of-home placement in Certified Foster Family Boarding homes, and

WHEREAS, these foster homes are certified by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and

WHEREAS, maximum state reimbursable rates are established by OCFS, and WHEREAS, the current contract needs to be renewed from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, upon review and approval of the County Attorney, is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an agreement with said Foster Family Boarding Home.

PURCHASE IAMRESPONDING.COM

WHEREAS the Hamilton County Emergency Management Department was awarded a NYS SHSP grant through the FY2020 State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) SH20-1037-D00 in the amount of $47,731.00, and

WHEREAS IamResponding.com is an immediate, reliable, automated and 100% web- based software-as-a-service solution through which emergency responders inform the department and/or response team with whom they are affiliated, other members of that department/team, regional response coordinators, and dispatchers that they are responding to an emergency event. With IamResponding.com, emergency departments, agencies, teams, and dispatchers know within seconds whether a full crew is enroute, or whether a second dispatch needs to be issued for additional personnel. This results in a significant time savings when compared to current dispatch processes and protocols, and

WHEREAS the IamResponding.com program will be offered to any Hamilton County emergency agency that is dispatched by the Hamilton County PSAP Center, and

WHEREAS, $16,000.00 of the SHSP Grant SH20-1037-D00 was allocated for the program of IamResponding.com, and

WHEREAS Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office received a cost proposal of $16,000 from IamResponding.com for two years, and

WHEREAS, IamReponding.com has provided the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office a sole source letter for the program, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to sign the agreement with IamResponding.com pending the approval of the County Attorney, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is hereby authorized to purchase the two-year subscription to IamResponding.com.

SERVICES FOR YOUTH FOR NON-SECURE DETENTION SERVICES

WHEREAS Resolution No. 26-21 adopted January 7, 2021 authorized the agreement with Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth for Non-Secure Detention Services, and

WHEREAS, said Resolution mistakenly stated the per diem rate for an unreserved bed as $475.00 when it should have been $485.00, be it

RESOLVED, that Resolution No. 26-21 is hereby amended to correct the per diem rate for an unreserved bed to $485.00.

PROVIDER SERVICES WITH ADIRONDACK HEALTH INSTITUTE

WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service is required to perform periodic full and updated Community Health Assessments (CHA), and

WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service supported and participated in development and implementation of a regional community health assessment, through grant funding obtained by the Adirondack Health Institute, for completion of the Community Health Assessment, and

WHEREAS the cost share for the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service to remain a part of this valuable regional process is $5,000.00, which has been proposed in the 2021 Municipal Budget and is reimbursable through the State Aid process at 100%, be it

RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is authorized to enter into an agreement on behalf of the Public Health Nursing Service with the Adirondack Health Institute, not to exceed $5,000.00, for the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 upon approval of the County Attorney and the County Treasurer be so notified.

SOLID WASTE TIPPING FEES

WHEREAS the budget appropriation amount for 2020 was set and duly adopted for $205,000.00 for Account No. A8161.401 Landfill, Tipping Fees, and

WHEREAS the budget revenue amount for 2020 was set and duly adopted for

$205,000.00 for Account No. A2376.000 (Refuse and Garbage, Other Govt’s Tipping Fees) to offset expenditures, and

WHEREAS the 2020 budgeted amounts mentioned herein were estimated by the DPW Highway Superintendent based on the previous years’ Solid Waste tonnage and expenditures, and

WHEREAS Account No. A8161.401 (Landfill, Tipping Fees) has been over expended in the amount of $ 30,285.21 due to an increase in the number of tons of solid waste hauled to Fulton County Landfill and the increase in tipping fees, and

WHEREAS Revenue Account No. A2376.000 is also over due to an increase in the number of tons of solid waste billed to the towns and village, be it

RESOLVED, that the 2020 budget appropriation for Account No. A8161.401 Landfill, Tipping Fees be increased by $30,285.21 and Revenue Account No. A2376.000 Refuse and Garbage, Other Govt’s Tipping Fees be increased by $30,285.21 and that the County Treasurer be so authorized and the Clerk of the Board and DPW Superintendent be so notified.