By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — The Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development (SASD) won back funding for 2012 last Thursday, thanks to a resolution introduced by Legislator Cindy Gieger and unanimously approved by her colleagues.
SASD, however, will be going about its “green” education and research duties with $25,000 instead of the $45,000 it received in 2011.
That’s in line with a decision made by the former Legislature late last year but never formally agreed upon.
And more ...
Legislators also agreed to:
• Not take the $1,000-apiece raises granted to them by the previous Legislature.
• Join the Mid-Hudson Sustainability Planning Consortium
• Name Cindy Gieger and Gene Benson to the Sullivan County Soil and Water Conservation District Board, replacing former legislators Elwin Wood and David Sager
• Install Ira Steingart on the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Board, replacing Wood
• Appoint Gieger to the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, replacing Kathy LaBuda
• Reappoint John Conway as the county historian
• Fill a vacant $50,000-a-year investigator position in the District Attorney’s Office
But not all ...
Legislators did not, however, take action on Teamsters Local 445 union rep Sandy Shaddock’s desire to replace Cindy Garlinghouse on the IDA Board.
Garlinghouse is no longer a union leader but has not resigned from what is considered to be a labor rep position on that board.
“Having a representative of the labor movement guarantees an advocate for Sullivan’s workers and ensures that Sullivan’s taxpayers will get a return on investment by fighting for jobs that pay a living wage and don’t force workers to partially rely on public assistance,” Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation Director Beth Soto told legislators.
“Sandy will be a champion of workers in Sullivan, union and non-union, and will make sure that taxpayers get the best deal on economic development.”