Monticello, NY – The Sullivan County Legislature today unanimously approved the return of the final furloughed clerk in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Office, effective August 3.

“Our intent is that our local DMV Office be fully staffed so that a tremendous backlog of transactions can be addressed,” said Legislature Chairman Robert A. Doherty. “I thank people for being (and continuing to be) patient, but our citizens have understandably been stressed and frustrated by the inability to timely obtain licenses, registrations, plates and renewals.”

Monticello, NY – Legislators today unanimously agreed to extend this morning’s public hearing to Thursday, July 16, 2020 to further hear comment from the community about the potential sale of the Care Center at Sunset Lake in Liberty.

“We had more people today who wanted to speak than we could accommodate,” said Legislature Chairman Robert A. Doherty. “We want to hear from everyone who wishes to weigh in, pro or con, before we make this significant decision, so we’ll continue the public hearing this Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Hearing Room of the Government Center in Monticello.”

Monticello, NY – The Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program provides an opportunity for eligible seniors to support local farmers and improve nutritional health by increasing their consumption of locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables and fresh-cut herbs. 

“Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables can increase the quality of your diet and decrease your risk of hypertension, cancer and cardiovascular disease,” says Sullivan County Office for the Aging Nutrition Coordinator Jane Bozan.

Liberty, NY – The Sullivan County Department of Community Services will be expanding their by-appointment-only hours (beginning July 20) to Mondays-Thursdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Barryville, NY – The annual commemoration of the Battle of Minisink has been cancelled for 2020.

The commemoration, typically held on the Saturday afternoon closest to the actual day of the battle - July 22 - had been scheduled for July 18 this year, the 241st anniversary of the battle. For several years now it has been a collaborative effort between the Sullivan County Historian, the County Parks and Recreation Department, the non-profit history education group The Delaware Company, and the Sullivan County Historical Society.

Monticello, NY – Legislature Chairman Robert Doherty announces that Garnet Health Medical Center-Catskills (formerly Catskill Regional Medical Center) CEO Jonathan Schiller will once again join Legislature Vice Chair Mike Brooks, County Manager Josh Potosek and Public Health Director Nancy McGraw at the next Live Town Hall this Thursday, July 9 at 1 p.m.

Monticello, NY – As part of the ongoing response to the serious fiscal crisis Sullivan County is facing, legislators on Thursday unanimously voted to set a public hearing to transfer the Care Center at Sunset Lake (the Sullivan County Adult Care Center) in Liberty to a Local Development Corporation (LDC), as a first step toward selling the nursing home and short-term rehabilitation facility.

Albany, NY- The County of Sullivan, in partnership with New York State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYSDHSES) and the University at Albany’s Visualization and Informatics Laboratory (AVAIL), is currently updating their Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. This update is part of a state pilot program, funded by FEMA and administered by NYSDHSES. It is tasked with testing web-based software and integrated planning approaches designed for local hazard mitigation planning across New York State.

Monticello, NY – A NYS Supreme Court judge has dismissed a case brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) against the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office and the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Bethel, NY – Lake Superior State Park in Bethel, operated by Sullivan County, will temporarily close for the July 4 weekend, starting the evening of Thursday, July 2 and running through the morning of Monday, July 6.

“Since the beach has not opened this season, we decided to take this action in order to minimize issues with crowds and revelers at the park for the Independence Day holiday,” Parks Director Brian Scardefield explains. “We’re sorry for any inconvenience, but during this unprecedented time, we’re choosing a prudent and cautious path.”