UPDATE: Ulster County has just announced a contentious new policy regarding take-home vehicles for Department of Public Works employees, sparking heated debate among local legislators and unions. The agreement, part of a labor contract ratified last month, allows current employees with take-home vehicles to retain them, provided they remain in their assigned positions.
However, the county retains “sole discretion” over future vehicle assignments, raising concerns about oversight and accountability. Legislator Joseph Maloney criticized the policy as a “back-door policy,” claiming it undermines legislative authority. “It eliminates the possibility for any legislator to ever be able to talk about it again,” said Maloney, who first highlighted the vehicle issue earlier this year.
The controversy over take-home vehicles dates back to 2013, when the former head of Public Works was seen driving a county-issued Ford Mustang Mach-E, prompting scrutiny over vehicle usage. Currently, there are 98 take-home vehicles assigned across various departments, including 45 for the Sheriff’s Office and 10 for the District Attorney’s Office.
In response to Maloney’s criticisms, former Legislature Chairwoman Tracey Bartels convened a Special Fleet Management Review Committee to assess the county’s vehicle usage. The committee recommended significantly reducing take-home vehicles, yet none of their suggestions were adopted in the new policy.
Labor relations specialist Howard Baul, representing the CSEA workers, defended the longstanding benefit of take-home vehicles, emphasizing that the county could not unilaterally revoke them without legal consequences. “We would have filed legal actions if they were to do that,” Baul stated. The new policy ensures that existing employees retain their vehicles, but as they leave, the county gains full control over future assignments.
Additionally, the agreement establishes residency and reporting requirements for employees with take-home vehicles, further shaping the framework of this contentious issue. The full Ulster County Legislature is set to vote on this contract on December 3, 2023.
As this situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this policy will affect the county’s operations and employee morale. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
