Chair Maria Kowalczyk has called a meeting of the Health & Human Services Committee for 6:03 PM on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 in the Legislative Chambers, Montgomery County Office Bldg, 64 Broadway, Fonda, NY.

Minutes of the meeting will be later posted on the Montgomery County website at www.co.montgomery.ny.us

Items on the agenda, at this time, are as follows:

1. (DISCUSSION)

 A.  Privilege of Committee Chair, Committee Members & Legislators to discuss items of interest, etc., regarding departments governed by this Committee 

2. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2024 OPERATING BUDGET (MENTAL HEALTH)

3. RESOLUTION AMENDING 2024 OPERATING BUDGET (SOCIAL SERVICES)

4. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF AMSTERDAM (SOCIAL SERVICES)

5. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING HEAP INFRASTRUCTURE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS AND AMENDING THE 2024 OPERATING BUDGET (SOCIAL SERVICES)

6. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING HEAP INFRASTRUCTURE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS AND AMENDING THE 2024 OPERATING BUDGET (SOCIAL SERVICES)

7. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO RENEW A CONTRACT WITH VENTEK, INC. (SOCIAL SERVICES)

8. RESOLUTION ACCEPTING ADDITIONAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING (SOCIAL SERVICES)

9. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2024 OPERATING BUDGET (MENTAL HEALTH)

10. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2024 OPERATING BUDGET (SOCIAL SERVICES)

11. OTHER

RESOLUTION NO. 228 of 2024 DATED: September 24, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, the Director of Community Services has received notice there is additional funding due from the Office of Mental Health (OMH) due to increase in funds as outlined with State Aid Letter for 2.84% COLA applied to some programs; and

WHEREAS, the funds provided by OMH can only be passed to the not-for-profit organizations that provided services in Montgomery County with proper budget authorization.

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to amend the 2024 Operating Budget as follows:

INCREASE REVENUES:

INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS:

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8).  Legislative District 9 VACANT.(9/24/2024)

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RESOLUTION NO. 229 of 2024 DATED: September 24, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, by Resolution 153 of 2024, the Department of Public Works held the County's Annual Surplus Equipment Auction, raising $61,024.50 in revenues; and

WHEREAS, by Resolution 184 of 2024, it was established that $10,800.00 of that revenue was to be placed in revenue line A-18-3-2665 for the Department of Social Services after the sale of two vehicles; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services would like to use this money to assist with the purchase of a new vehicle for transporting clients and staff, in addition to ARPA funding received; and be it

RESOLVED, the County Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to amend the 2024 Operating Budget as follows:

INCREASE REVENUE (Previously done in Resolution 184 of 2024)

INCREASE APPROPRIATION

Resolution passed with (8) ayes.  Legislative District 9 VACANT.(9/24/2024)

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RESOLUTION NO. 230 of 2024 DATED: September 24, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, Social Services districts may provide, and require applicants for and recipients of public assistance to participate in a variety of activities that include work experience in the public or non-profit sector; and

WHEREAS, a state or federal government institution, a municipality, a public agency, or a public or private non-profit entity desiring to provide work experience for recipients of public assistance under an agreement complying with provisions of law and regulations is defined as a "Sponsor"; and

WHEREAS, the City of Amsterdam is desirous of continuing their status as a Sponsor for Montgomery County DSS's Work Experience Program; and, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Executive, upon review and approval of the County Attorney, is hereby authorized and directed to sign a contract with the City of Amsterdam to provide work experience for recipients of public assistance for the period of October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8).  Legislative District 9 VACANT.(9/25/2024)

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RESOLUTION NO. 231 of 2024 DATED: September 24, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, each year Social Services Districts receive administrative funds to support Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) operations; and

WHEREAS, part of that funding includes Infrastructure Administrative funds that are available to States under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) as supplemental funding; and

WHEREAS, acceptable uses of the Infrastructure administrative funds include but are not limited to equipment purchases to aid in the administration of HEAP; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services has been allocated $3,992 for the above mentioned funds; and

WHEREAS, the funds allocated to the department must be obligated by September 30, 2024; and be it

RESOLVED, the County Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to amend the 2024 Operating Budget as follows:

INCREASE REVENUE

INCREASE APPROPRIATION

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8).  Legislative District 9 VACANT.(9/24/2024)

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RESOLUTION NO. 0 of 2024 DATED: September 24, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, each year Social Services Districts receive administrative funds to support Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) operations; and

WHEREAS, part of that funding includes Infrastructure Administrative funds that are available to States under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) as supplemental funding; and

WHEREAS, acceptable uses of the Infrastructure administrative funds include but are not limited to equipment purchases to aid in the administration of HEAP; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services has been allocated $3,992 for the above mentioned funds; and

WHEREAS, the funds allocated to the department must be obligated by September 30, 2024; and be it

RESOLVED, the County Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to amend the 2024 Operating Budget as follows:

INCREASE REVENUE

INCREASE APPROPRIATION

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RESOLUTION NO. 232 of 2024 DATED: September 24, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services is required to sign authorizations for services on a daily basis; and

WHEREAS, the Department is requesting authorization to renew the contract with VenTek, Inc. for their electronic application that assists in the tracking of case reviews and electronic approval/signature program, which eliminates the printing and manual signing of the LDSS-3209 authorization; and

WHEREAS, the agreement is for the term of 3 years from November 1, 2024 through October 31, 2027; and

RESOLVED, this contract is for a support/maintenance fee of $2,665.00 annually, totaling $7,995.00 for the three-year term.

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Executive, upon review and approval of the County Attorney, is authorized to execute the agreement with VenTek, Inc. for the contract period of 3 years in the amount of $2,665.00 annually, $7,995.00 total.

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8).  Legislative District 9 VACANT.(9/24/2024)

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RESOLUTION NO. 233 of 2024 DATED: September 24, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, per resolution 21 of 2023, the Department of Social Services had received federal funds through the American Rescue Plan Act: Grants to Enhance Adult Protective Services administered by the Administration for Community Living (ACL); and

WHEREAS, per resolution 170 of 2024, the department had requested and been approved for additional funding administered by OCFS in the amount of $25,000, in one-time funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) – Grant #2; and

WHEREAS, resolution 188 of 2024 authorized the amendment of the 2024 Operating Budget to place all ARPA funds received into DSS's Motor Vehicle Equipment line after determining from a list of allowable identified expenditures that our Adult Protective Unit is in need of an additional vehicle to transport clients and staff; and

WHEREAS, the department has made a further request to OCFS and has been granted an additional $20,000 through ARPA funding to cover the remaining cost of the vehicle; and 

WHEREAS, all funds allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act: Grants to Enhance Adult Protective Services must be used by September, 30, 2024; and.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Montgomery County Legislature hereby authorizes the acceptance of the additional $20,000 American Rescue Plan Act funding.

FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to amend the 2024 Operating Budget as follows:

INCREASE REVENUES:

A-6-3-4089-00           Federal Aid, Other            $20,000

INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS:

A-18-6010-00.2230    Motor Vehicle Equipment   $20,000

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8).Legislative District 9 VACANT.(9/24/2024)

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RESOLUTION NO. 0 of 2024 DATED: September 24, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, the Director of Community Services has been notified there is additional funding due from the Office of the Attorney General NYS from National Opioid Settlements; and

WHEREAS, these funds are being provided to the Local Government Unit for Montgomery County to procure at its discretion based on the allowable use of funds per Settlement and Statute; and

WHEREAS, Montgomery County has been noticed these funds are being wire transferred per notice from Office of the Attorney General NYS in the amount of $21,886.76 at this time per notification from Directing Administrator of the National Opioid Settlements.

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to amend the 2024 Operating Budget as follows:

INCREASE REVENUES:

INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS:

 

Attachment

Statement of Legislative and Financial Impact:

I. Nature of Request:

II. Justification:

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RESOLUTION NO. 234 of 2024 DATED: September 24, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services continues to see an increase in need for various services, such as the Child Care (Physically Handicapped Children) Program; and

WHEREAS, the department requires additional funding for the remainder of the year for the above mentioned program; and

WHEREAS, the programs that come out of the State Training School line have cost less than anticipated this year; and

WHEREAS, the department requests transferring funds from the State Training School line in the 2024 budget to cover the costs in the Physically Handicapped Children's Main Program.

RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to amend the 2024 Operating Budget as follows:

TRANSFER FROM:

TRANSFER TO:

RESOLUTION VOTE, passed with Aye(8).  Legislative District 9 VACANT.(9/25/2024)

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RESOLUTION NO. 239 of 2024 DATED: September 24, 2024 RECOMMENDATION:

WHEREAS, the Montgomery County Department of Social Services is required to conduct at least one public hearing during the development of and prior to the submission of the 2024-2029 Children and Family Services Plan; and

WHEREAS, the goal of the public hearing is to inform the community of the services available in the county and how they can be accessed as well as to allow the public to raise issues and offer ways to improve the delivery and provision of services in the county; and

WHEREAS, the plan is due for submission to the Office of Children and Family Services on November 1, 2024; and

WHEREAS, the plan cannot be submitted until 15 days after the public hearing; and

WHEREAS, the law requires that the public hearing be held after a 15 day notice is provided in a newpaper of general circulation in the county; and

WHEREAS, the notice of the public hering must be provided by October 1,2024 so that the hearing can be conducted on October 16th, 2024.

RESOLVED, that the Montgomery County Legislature hereby schedules a Public Hearing on the Children and Family Services  Plan to be held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at the Department of Social Services building at 1 Venner Rd, Amsterdam, N.Y., and

FURTHER RESOLVED, the Clerk of the County Legislature hereby is directed to cause legal notice of said Public Hearing to be published according to law.

Motion made by Legislator Kelly, seconded by Legislator Headwell, Jr., passed with Aye(8). Legislative District 9 VACANT(9/25/2024)

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