Board Hears Festival, Ethics and Homeless Housing Concerns

By BILL BELLEN
OTSEGO COUNTY

The Otsego County Board of Representatives began their October 7 meeting with a public hearing regarding updates to the status of the Otsego County Housing Rehabilitation Program. The program is funded by $750,000.00 of the approximately $45 million in Community Development Block Grants allotted by the State of New York, funds intended for bolstering housing, public infrastructure, and economic development in support of low- to moderate-income communities. A representative from Otsego Rural Housing Assistance was the sole audience member to speak during the hearing, sharing that there are a number of homes undergoing rehabilitations at this time in preparation for the winter months ahead.

With all board members present, the meeting then moved into the privilege of the floor. Oneonta resident Samuel Judd and Otsego County resident Kayla Ver shared their concerns regarding the drag show that took place at the City of the Hills Festival in Oneonta on September 19. Judd and Ver spoke at length about how they feel an event that featured potentially-suggestive performers should not have been able to market itself as a family-friendly gathering. While Ver acknowledged that the performers gave a discretionary warning prior to their show, stating that the material was PG-16, she and Judd shared the sentiment that it should not have been a public display. Judd pointed to numerous laws of the New York State Penal Law that he suggested had been violated by the event. He clarified he was not seeking to ban drag shows, only to ensure these laws were not considered “void in a public, high-visibility venue.”

Later, during the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee discussion, Rep. Keith McCarty inquired as to whether county funds had gone toward the City of the Hill Festival, to which Rep. Andrew Marietta confirmed they had, because of the county’s open support to all event programming grant applicants. McCarty gave his recommendation that the county not support the event with funds again. Marietta pointed out the difficulty in denying funds to one specific organization, while Rep. Jill Basile clarified that the county money went to funding the entire two-day festival, not just the events that the petitioners had brought complaints about.

Marietta clarified that “our role, in terms of Otsego County and the distribution of those funds, has never been about the programmatic approval of any of these events.”

McCarty remarked that maybe it should be.

Cooperstown resident Bill Waller also addressed the board about an ethics complaint he submitted in June to the county’s Ethics Board regarding the obstruction of his right to comment without government prohibition, something he noted was a violation of the Otsego County Ethics Policy, New York State Constitution, and U.S. Constitution. Waller said his complaint should have been heard within 30 days of being filed, but that it had as of yet still been left unheard. He said the reason seems to be that the Ethics Board has had a vacancy on its three-member council, meaning that the body has been unable to meet. He suggested that it may have been an intentional way of delaying potential verdicts.

Following committee reports, Chairman Edwin Frazier Jr. noted that there has been a search for a third member of the Ethics Board but that it has been hard to find someone who meets the qualifications and is willing to hear the complaints currently before the body. The vacant seat must be filled by someone who currently sits on some form of municipal board in the county. Basile requested that position information to be sent to board members so they can reach out to community members who may fit the role.

Rep. Michele Clapperton rounded out the privilege of the floor by reading a letter on behalf of Cynthia Marsh, an Oneonta resident advocating for a clearer approach to addressing the housing of the homeless population in Oneonta during the winter. Marsh wrote about how she understood why some churches became hesitant to house the homeless during cold weather last year due to behavioral issues, but that it was important to not let the actions of a few dictate necessary safety for others. She said that there was an apparent need for more coordination, communication, and acknowledgement of responsibility between government and community than last year.

A 45-minute informational presentation on data centers was given by Assistant Planning Director Trevor Fuller, the contents of which are discussed in a standalone article.

During the Public Works Committee report, McCarty shared that Highway Superintendent Richard Brimmer requested a budget transfer of $123,846.00 to cover fuel invoices for the rest of 2026. Brimmer explained that the shortage was caused by a decreased budget and higher fuel costs, but that the costs could be offset by utilizing remaining funds from two 2025 purchase orders.

Rep. Adrienne Martini spoke for the Health and Human Services Committee, acknowledging the acceptance of $37,000.00 in Code Blue funding. Code Blue is a New York State–mandated emergency program from October through April that ensures overnight shelter during freezing conditions when the forecasted temperature with wind chill is 32 degrees or below. Martini explained that funding for Code Blue is based on the severity of the cold season from two winters ago, which was not a particularly severe one for Otsego County, leading to funding being less than what was spent last year.

Martini also noted that, as of October 6, there were 20 confirmed measles cases in unvaccinated individuals across the county, with all those who were exposed having been contacted. She and other board members encouraged people to get vaccinated and have their titers checked if they were vaccinated many years ago to ensure the vaccine is still effective in their system.

During Rep. James Powers’ Solid Waste and Environmental Concerns Committee report, he said that Solid Waste Director Tammie Harris informed the committee that the Household Hazardous Waste Day was successful, but that the pharmaceutical collection did not occur due to the absence of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officers who offer professional support for the collection.

Rep. Margaret Kennedy delivered the Administration Committee report, highlighting that IT Director Isaiah Gibbs presented an AI and large language model acceptable use policy and requested approval for a board resolution to adopt the policy countywide. The language was adopted via Resolution 383.

Marietta shared that the sign for the Richfield Springs Business Park would be put in place soon, after which there will tentatively be a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Frazier then announced that Kennedy was the president-elect for the New York State Association of Counties, with her term beginning next fall.

The consent agenda passed unanimously, with Res. 389 being pulled to individually recognize the naming of the E911 Communications Tower in Butternuts after the late Rep. Jerry Madsen, a measure that was unanimously approved in the Public Works Committee in August. During late resolutions, Res. 394 was passed, approving Jensen Wiltsie as the Board of Election’s Democratic commissioner. Marietta clarified that the vote was more of a formality, as she was already appointed to the role by the Otsego County Democratic Committee. The board then went into executive session for nearly two hours before returning to adjourn.

The next Otsego County Board of Representatives meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 4 at 10 a.m. This meeting can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdsPE0O3gbE.