manich@leaderherald.com
JOHNSTOWN The Fulton County Department of Social Services with many daily public contacts estimates nearly 70 percent of its employees have received COVID-19 vaccinations.
DSS Commissioner Anne Solar told the Board of Supervisors’ Human Services Committee recently that there’s no way of knowing for sure how many of the over 100 agency employees have been vaccinated.
But she said the department “believes” at least 69 percent have been vaccinated.
“We were able to avoid a few quarantines,” she said.
Solar explained that potential quarantine situations were avoided due to caseworker vaccinations. She said incidents resulted from normal DSS recipient/consumer contacts.
manich@leaderherald.com
JOHNSTOWN The Fulton County Department of Social Services wants to continue use of three caseworkers in schools, which it feels are benefiting troubled and absentee students.
DSS Commissioner Anne Solar recently addressed the Board of Supervisors’ Human Services Committee about the youth education situation at the County Office Building.
She requested authorization to continue a contract with the Gloversville Enlarged School District for two School Intervention Partnership Program, or SIPP caseworkers. The total cost for the caseworkers with salary and fringes is approximately $152,000. The school district reimburses DSS for the local share (25 percent) of costs for salary and benefits. Federal and state funding is also kicked in, and there is no county cost after reimbursement.
manich@leaderherald.com
JOHNSTOWN The Fulton County Board of Supervisors recently authorized Sheriff Richard Giardino to commence the process for state accreditation of his department’s Road Patrol Division.
The sheriff’s office division would be accredited through the state Department of Criminal Justice Services.
Giardino has requested to commence the application for accreditation, which stems from the newly-adopted Fulton County Police Reform and Reinvention Plan. The plan enumerated five sheriff’s “goals and objectives for the future,” including DCJS accreditation.
The plan was the product of the Fulton County Police Reform Advisory Committee, which was formed after Gov. Andrew Cuomo last June 12 issued an executive order requiring local governments to adopt a police reform plan.
manich@leaderherald.com
Fulton County Department of Social Services Commissioner Anne Solar addresses the Board of Supervisors Human Services Committee recently at the County Office Building in Johnstown. (The Leader-Herald/Michael Anich)
JOHNSTOWN The Fulton County Department of Social Services’ Financial Assistance Unit is being restructured.
The Board of Supervisors’ Human Services Committee recently authorized a plan for the restructuring after hearing from DSS Commissioner Anne Solar at the County Office Building. The full board will study the proposed plan Monday.
Solar said DSS recently had two resignations at its Cooper Building on Daisy Lane, and is now looking at the “bigger picture.”
manich@leaderherald.com
JOHNSTOWN The Fulton County Board of Supervisors last week approved the sale of a tax-foreclosed property in the city of Gloversville to a private owner in what officials said is a “unique” situation due to COVID.
The board authorized sale of a property at 59 Bloomingdale Ave. to adjacent property owner Keith Lachmayer as part of the county’s Operation Green Scene. The vacant parcel sold for $500.
The resolution approved at the County Office Building indicated that County Treasurer Terry Blodgett was contacted by Lachmayer.
“Mr. Lachmayer has expressed interest in improving the vacant parcel to be used in conjunction with his next-door residence,” the resolution said.