Supervisors August 5 2021
County prepares for new school year
By PETE KLEIN
LAKE PLEASANT—The Hamilton County Board of Supervisors meet on August 5 and passed several resolutions in preparation for the new school year, including the following, plus others needed to run the country government.
PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM – INDIAN LAKE
WHEREAS the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service is required to provide for Related Services (Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy Services) for children aged 3-5, who reside within Hamilton County and have a developmental delay as defined through a comprehensive evaluation, through the Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) process, and
WHEREAS, Indian Lake Central School District can provide these related services through the New York State Department of Education, and
WHEREAS the frequency and duration of services for each child is based on the findings of the comprehensive evaluation and rules applying to section 4410 of the NYS Education Law, as determined by the CPSE committee in preparing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and
WHEREAS the compensation for related services are set at rates in conjunction with the Rate Setting Unit of the NYS Department of Education, be it
RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors is authorized to enter into a contract with said provider to provide the aforesaid services for the period of September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022 pursuant to an aforesaid IEP for each eligible child, with compensation for services rendered at the current approved rates set forth for Hamilton County by the Rate Setting Unit of the NYS Education Department, upon approval of the County Attorney, and the County Treasurer be so notified.
PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM - LAKE PLEASANT
WHEREAS the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service is required to provide for special education and related services for children aged 3-5, who reside within Hamilton County and have a developmental delay as defined through a comprehensive evaluation, through the Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) process, and
WHEREAS Lake Pleasant Central School District is an approved provider of special education and related services through the New York State Department of Education, and
WHEREAS the frequency and duration of services for each child is based on the findings of the comprehensive evaluation and rules applying to section 4410 of the NYS Education Law, as determined by the CPSE committee in preparing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and
WHEREAS the compensation for special education and related services are set at rates in conjunction with the Rate Setting Unit of the NYS Department of Education, be it
RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors is authorized to enter into a contract with said provider to provide the aforesaid services for the period of September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022 pursuant to an aforesaid IEP for each eligible child, with compensation for services rendered at the current approved rates set forth for Hamilton County by the Rate Setting Unit of the NYS Education Department, upon approval of the County Attorney and the County Treasurer be so notified.
CENTER-BASED SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR CHILDREN AGED 3-5 YEARS
WHEREAS Hamilton County is required to provide for Comprehensive evaluations for children aged 3-5, who reside within Hamilton County and have a suspected developmental delay through the Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) process, and
WHEREAS Hamilton County is required to provide for any combination of Center Based itinerant or related professional services including: Special Education Itinerant (SEIT) Services; skilled Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Related services; Counseling and/or one-on-one Aide services for children determined to have an eligible level of developmental delay and require center-based services to fully meet their needs; as defined through the CPSE Process, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4410 of the New York State Education Law, the County is required to maintain contracts with several providers for the provision of comprehensive Evaluation and specialized center-based services as described above; in order to provide parents with a choice for service provision, and
WHEREAS reimbursement for comprehensive evaluation and subsequent center-based services is determined by the extent of the evaluation and results, and based on rates set in conjunction with the Rate Setting Unit of the New York State Education Department, and
WHEREAS Comprehensive Evaluations may be requested at any time and/or professional related service provision may be requested at any time through the regular school year and/or the 30 day summer session, and
WHEREAS the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service represents Hamilton County as administrator of this program, be it
RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to sign contracts, upon approval of the County Attorney, for Comprehensive Evaluation and Center-Based professional service provision for children residing within Hamilton County at rates set by the New York State Department of Education, for the period of September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022 between the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service and, not limited to but including, the following center-based preschool service providers:
The Adirondack ARC, Tupper Lake, Center for Disability Services, Queensbury, Upstate Cerebral Palsy, Inc, Utica, Children’s Development Group for Speech, Keesville, Kelberman Center, Utica.
PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM – WELLS CENTRAL
WHEREAS the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service is required to provide for Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy Services for children aged 3-5, who reside within Hamilton County and have a developmental delay as defined through a comprehensive evaluation, through the Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) process, and
WHEREAS, Wells Central School District can provide these related services through the New York State Department of Education, and
WHEREAS the frequency and duration of services for each child is based on the findings of the comprehensive evaluation and rules applying to section 4410 of the NYS Education Law, as determined by the CPSE committee in preparing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and
WHEREAS the compensation for related services are set at rates in conjunction with the Rate Setting Unit of the NYS Department of Education, be it
RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors is authorized to enter into a contract with said provider to provide the aforesaid services for the period of September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022 pursuant to an aforesaid IEP for each eligible child, with compensation for services rendered at the current approved rates set forth for Hamilton County by the Rate Setting Unit of the NYS Education Department, upon approval of the County Attorney, and the County Treasurer be so notified.
CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES PLAN ANNUAL UPDATE
WHEREAS Resolution No. 119-18 adopted April 5, 2018 authorized the April 1, 2018- March 31, 2023 Child & Family Services Plan, and
WHEREAS Roberta A Bly has provided the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors with the April 1, 2021- March 31, 2022 Child & Family Services Plan Annual Update, be it
RESOLVED, that Roberta A Bly, Commissioner of Social Services; Robert Kleppang, Executive Director of the County Youth Bureau; Amy Granger, Probation Director and the Chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors are authorized to sign.
COLLECTING OFFICER FOR LAKE PLEASANT CENTRAL SCHOOL
WHEREAS, according to Real Property Tax Law Section 578, the County has the right to enter into a contract with a school district for the collection of school taxes, and
WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office has had a contract with the Lake Pleasant Central School to collect the school taxes for the district since 2011, and
WHEREAS the Lake Pleasant Central School Board agreed at its Annual Reorganizational meeting held on July 14, 2021 to enter into a school tax collection contract with Hamilton County for the collection year July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 for $10,500, and
WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Treasurer has agreed to be the tax collecting officer for the 2021-2022 school year for the Lake Pleasant Central School during its normal school tax collection period of September 1 to October 31 with the collection office being the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office, be it
RESOLVED, that Beth Hunt, Hamilton County Treasurer, is authorized to collect the Lake Pleasant Central School District taxes for the School Tax year 2021-22 at the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office for an agreed amount of $10,150 for school tax year to be paid by the Lake Pleasant Central School District, and be it further
RESOLVED, that upon the approval of the County Attorney, the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is authorized to enter into a contract with Lake Pleasant Central School to provide school tax collection services for the school year 2021-2022 for $10,150 and the County Treasurer be so notified.
Seconded by
ABSTRACTING SERVICES FOR THE TREASURER’S OFFICE
WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office each year has stub searches performed on delinquent properties that are part of the foreclosure procedure, and
WHEREAS, last year this was successfully performed by Mountain Abstract Company, Inc., and
WHEREAS, Mountain Abstract Company, Inc. is able to provide the abstracting services needed at the same price as last year’s services; that being $125 per new search and $50 per two year update search, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Chairman is hereby authorized to enter into an abstracting agreement with Mountain Abstract Company, Inc., PO Box 140, Chestertown, NY 12817 under the same terms and conditions as last year.
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE TREASURER’S OFFICE TAX COLLECTION
WHEREAS the proposal to provide application software and support services to the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office, as well as the towns and school districts, for their tax collection has been submitted by Systems East, Inc., and
WHEREAS the Treasurer’s Office is satisfied with the services and support received from Systems East in the past, and
WHEREAS an increase of $166 over last year’s agreement has been proposed for a total contract price of $12,019 to cover the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022, and
WHEREAS a portion of this contract price will be charged back to the towns and schools at the same level as last year ($200 each), be it
RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement as proposed and the County Treasurer be so notified.
COURT CLEANING CONTRACT
WHEREAS, Hamilton County has received the Annual Renewal Letter and Budget for the Court Cleaning Contract #C-300407 authorized by Resolution No. 301-18 adopted October 4, 2018, and
WHEREAS, said Renewal Letter covers State Fiscal Year 2021-2022 with a budget of $123,255, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Letter of Renewal and Budget is hereby approved for State Fiscal Year 2021-2022, and the Chairman is authorized to sign the necessary documents and the County Treasurer be so notified.
SOFTWARE FOR THE TREASURER’S OFFICE, CLERK OF THE BOARD’S OFFICE AND THE PERSONNEL OFFICE
WHEREAS, the Treasurer’s Office has been researching new financial software for use in the Treasurer’s Office, the Clerk of the Board’s Office, and would bring in the Personnel Office, which is in need of Personnel software, and
WHEREAS two presentations by vendors yielded a unanimous agreement by all three departments that one product, that being the “Incode” software from Tyler Technologies was the best fit for the County, be it
RESOLVED, that the County enter into an agreement with Tyler Technologies to provide new Accounting and Personnel financial software at a cost of $79,590, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with Tyler Technologies to provide financial and personnel software to the County of Hamilton, and the Clerk of the Board, Personnel Officer and Treasurer be so advised.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE
WHEREAS the Public Health Nursing Service/Home Health Agency’s certification requires Hamilton County Board of Supervisors to appoint members from the Professional Advisory Committee to the Quality Improvement Committee, and
WHEREAS, the Public Health Service/Home Health Agency’s Professional Advisory Committee has named the following members for appointment:
Dr. David Welch, Ellen Kleppang, Elizabeth Gundel, Charles Taylor, Beth Waldron, Leila Lewis, be it
RESOLVED, said members be appointed to the Continuing Quality Improvement Committee for the two-year period of 2021 and 2022.
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WHEREAS the Public Health Nursing Service/Certified Home Health Agency’s certification requires Hamilton County Board of Supervisors to appoint members to the Professional Advisory Committee (PAC), and
WHEREAS, the Public Health Nursing Service/Home Health Agency’s Professional Advisory Committee has named the following members for appointment: Robert Kleppang, Abigail Eichler, Beth Waldron, Dr. Russell Rider, Elizabeth Gundel, Kristen Sayers, Leila Lewis, Charles Taylor, Kathy Hutchins, Deanna Park, Samantha Peets, Betsy Bain
RESOLVED, that said members be appointed to the Professional Advisory Committee for the two-year period of 2021 and 2022, and be it further
RESOLVED, that terms will include: (1) Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Medical Director, Director of Public Health, Director of Patient Services, and the Supervising Community Health Nurse will serve during tenure of their employment to Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service.
AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
WHEREAS, pursuant to Public Health Law 2550, the New York State Department of Health is the lead agency responsible for the administration of the Early Intervention Program and that each Municipality is responsible for the local administration of the program, which includes accepting referrals of children potentially eligible for program services, assigning initial service coordinators, participating in Individual Family Service Plan (IFPS) meetings, ensuring that services contained in the IFSP are appropriately delivered and reimbursing providers for services not covered by Medicaid or commercial insurance according to rates set by the NYSDOH, and
WHEREAS, the NYSDOH has allotted $25,751 annually, for the period October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2026, and
WHEREAS Hamilton County by and through the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service assumes the responsibilities delineated above, and
WHEREAS, initial service coordinators may be assigned to employees of the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service, be it
RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors be authorized to sign the Early Intervention Provider Agreement with the New York State Department of Health, pending approval by the County Attorney and the County Treasurer be so advised.
PAYMENT TO CHEMUNG SUPPLY FOR HOPE FALLS ROAD
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 117-21 authorized and funded County Road Project No. 2, Hope Falls Road, to improve drainage, recycle base and apply HMA Base and Top, and
WHEREAS the County Highway Superintendent ordered galvanized arch pipes and bands to improve drainage from Chemung Supply under NYS Contract PC69054 Group 37700 Award 23187, and
WHEREAS the County Highway Superintendent confirms delivery and invoice of said materials, be it
RESOLVED, that payment for the galvanized arch pipes and bands is hereby authorized and the County Treasurer be so authorized to send a payment of $15,414.78 to Chemung Supply, PO Box 527, Elmira, NY 14902 to be charged to Account No. D5112.2526 County Road Project No. 2, Co. Rd. No. 7-Hope Falls Road, and the Clerk of the Board and Highway Superintendent be so notified.
EXPENDITURES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY ROAD FUND WHEREAS, there has been appropriated in the 2021 highway budget the sum of $1,304,038.40 for the construction of County Road Fund Projects for 2021 and these funds are 100% reimbursed through the Consolidation Highway Improvement Program (CHIP’s), and
WHEREAS, the County Highway Superintendent has recommended the expenditure of $30,000 for the construction of the following project:
COUNTY ROAD PROJECT NO. 6 Town of Long Lake
Co. Rd. No. 10 – Sabattis Rd., Improve Drainage and Recycle Base @ 20 ft. Approx. 1.0 miles $30,000, Account No. D5112.2530 and
WHEREAS the above designated road is on a completed system of the Hamilton County Road map adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Hamilton County and approved by the Commissioner of Transportation, be it
RESOLVED, hereby that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Hamilton does allot and appropriate from Account No. D5112.202 Capital Projects, the sum of $30,000.00, for the construction of the above designated project as recommended by the County Highway Superintendent and the County Treasurer and Clerk of the Board be so advised.
BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION
WHEREAS, the US Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Broadband Infrastructure Program (Program), and
WHEREAS the Program is designed to provide grant funding for the deployment of qualifying broadband service (25/3 standard) in eligible service areas (a census block in which broadband service is not available at one or more households or businesses) with an emphasis on projects designed to provide broadband service to the greatest number of households, and
WHEREAS the Program also emphasizes broadband deployment in rural areas, and
WHEREAS, Hamilton County is working with Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Warren and Washington Counties, the Lake Champlain – Lake George Regional Planning Board, and several private broadband providers to develop a strategy to deploy broadband within these designated counties, and
WHEREAS the aforementioned entities will create a “Covered Partnership” under the Program guidelines for the purpose of applying for funding under the Program, and
WHEREAS, a subdivision of the state must act as the lead applicant, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that Hamilton County will act as the lead applicant for the Program grant application, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is authorized to execute any and all documents associated with the application and its submission, acceptance of award, execution of contracts and acceptance of funds.
DHSES GRANT PROJECT PS20-1031-EOO DATED: AUGUST 5, 2021
WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Emergency Management Department has been awarded the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Grant Project PS20-1031-E00 in the amount of $137,357, and
WHEREAS PSAP grant funds are used for electrical power for the Oak Mt. tower, PSAP broadcast point, VCAD monthly charges, dedicated internet connectivity to PSAP and the annual salaries of some of the County 911 dispatchers, and
WHEREAS, said funds were budgeted for in the 2021 budget, be it
RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to sign said DHSES Grant Project PS20-1031-E00, and the Director of Emergency Management and Sheriff be so notified.
PROVIDER UTILIZING ELECTRONIC BILLING
WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service submits electronic claims to the State’s Medicaid Fiscal Agent, and
WHEREAS the agency maintains 3 programs for which one or more “Certification Statement for Provider Utilizing Electronic Billing” forms are required and a new ETIN was created by KanTime:
Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service (CHHA):
ETIN: CLHF – Medicaid Provider Number 02997386 – Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is authorized to sign each “Certification Statement for Provider Utilizing Electronic Billing” for the Hamilton County Public Health Nursing Service, as needed, for the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.
INCREASE FUNDING IN PUBLIC HEALTH TEMPORARY STAFF
WHEREAS, Beth Waldron, RN, has been assisting in COVID relief efforts and vaccination clinics for the last year, and
WHEREAS her personal service account will need to be increased to allow her to continue to assist in COVID relief efforts and vaccination clinics, be it
RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer be authorized to make the following transfer: FROM: A4010.0118 PH Certified Home Health Aide $10,000 TO: A4050.0126 PH Temporary Staff $10,000
AWARD OF BID FOR FAYLE ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT
WHEREAS Hamilton County DPW solicited bids for the replacement of the Fayle Road Bridge located on Fayle Road in the Town of Morehouse, and
WHEREAS four (4) bids were received as follows – 1. Tioga Construction - $1,160,000; 2. Winn Construction - $1,190,000, 3. Slate Hill Contractors - $1,818,000, 4. Luck Brothers, Inc. - $2,222,222.22 and
WHEREAS Andrew S. Bell of A.S. Bell Engineering design engineer for Hamilton County has reviewed the said bids and recommends that the award be made to Tioga Construction of Herkimer, NY, be it
RESOLVED, the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors hereby award the bid for the Fayle Road Bridge Project to Tioga Construction, 333 Gros Blvd., Herkimer, NY 13350 in the amount of $1,160,000, and be it further
RESOLVED, the Board of Supervisors hereby authorize the Chairman of the Board to enter into an agreement with Tioga Construction for the said bridge project with the approval of the County Attorney, and the County Treasurer, Highway Superintendent and Clerk of the Board be so notified.
PAYMENT FOR CULVERTS AND ASSOCIATED MATERIALS
WHEREAS Resolution No. 34-21 authorizes the County DPW Superintendent to purchase materials and supplies for County Road fund projects and maintenance for County Roads, and
WHEREAS, the County Highway Superintendent ordered culvert pipes, bands, drop inlets, culvert tees, elbows and top grates from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. for a total cost of $45,266.17, and
WHEREAS the culverts and bands totaling $37,877.69 are under NYS Contract PC69053, and
WHEREAS, the associated necessary drop inlets, culvert tees, elbows, and top grates totaling $7,388.48 are not under NYS Contract pricing, and
WHEREAS the Superintendent needed to purchase the said non-contract items as they are proprietary to connect with the culverts and underdrain system making them sole source to ADS for the said materials, and
WHEREAS these facts make the expenditure of the $7,388.48 a sole source purchase, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that payment for the culvert pipes, bands and associated materials is hereby authorized and the County Treasurer be so authorized to send a payment of $45,266.17 to Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc, PO Box 414044, Boston, MA 02241-4044 out of Account No. D5110.405 Other Supplies, and the Clerk of the Board and Highway Superintendent be so notified.
