KINGSTON – Despite claims by Saugerties legislator Robert Aiello of gerrymandering in his district, the Ulster County Legislature adopted, 29-2, a redistricting plan that downsizes the legislature from 33 to 23 members.

As outlined in the Charter and voted into law in 2006, the final plan uses 2010 census data to convert 12 multimember districts with 33 legislators, into 23 single-member districts. The new districts each contain approximately 7,900 people.

Two legislators, Republicans Aiello and Catherine Terrizzi opposed the plan. Terrizzi, of Wallkill, took exception to the plan because she felt that the town of Shawangunk was split into three "very oddly shaped" districts.

Aiello, a 16-year incumbent, decried the plan that would force him to primary against first term legislator, Walter Frey. "I've been here for 16 years and he's been here 9 months," he complained.

Chairman of the Legislature Fred Wadnola thanked the reapportionment committee for completing a "Herculean task in a very short period of time."

The plan now goes to County Executive Michael Hein, who, according to the Charter, must hold a public hearing before deciding whether to veto the map or sign it into law. The executive has said that he would approve the independent commission's plan as long as the legislature didn't alter it.

Legislators on the Health and Human Services Committee said they were blind-sided last week to find out from Mental Health employees that outside consultants were being brought in to look at the department's operations.

Legislator Robert Parete, D-Stone Ridge, said that he requested clarification from the county executive's office regarding what looks like a move toward privatizing mandated Mental Health services, and, to date, has still not received a response.

Legislator Walter Frey, who chairs of the Mental Health subcommittee, said that it "shouldn't be a shocker" that the ad hoc committee charged with merging the management teams of the Public and Mental Health department would be looking at cost-effective ways to save taxpayer money and still deliver high-quality Mental Health services.

Frey argued that Hein doesn't need the permission of the legislature to perform what he considers "operational" changes to the department. "This is not a policy decision, which is the legislature's responsibility," he said. "Rather, it is an operations decision and, as such, it falls under the purview of the county executive."

Legislator Robert Parete, D-Stone Ridge, disagrees. "When basic operational discussions ascend to the point that a potential private suitor or vendor physically tours the facility, that crosses into a policy matter, and the Health and Human Services committee should be included in discussions."

The exact role of the legislature has been a bone of contention for many legislators since the Charter form of government was implemented in 2008, but Parete said the distinction is quite simple. "Policy is a formal directive on any given subject, while procedure is the process that implements the policy," he said.

Minority leader Jeanette Provenzano said that the HHS committee is fully aware that Hein's office is reviewing the Mental Health Department. She said the executive told her that due to the cuts being made to Mental Health at the state level, with many centers, including Hudson River Psychiatric Center, the Haven House and the Tudor House, having been recently consolidated or closed, that "everything is on the table," but that no decisions had been made.

Provenzano said that she did voice her "strong opinion" to Hein that the HHS committee should have been notified by his office that the service "is possibly being considered for privatization." She said that if the county executive makes a proposal to privatize Mental Health services, it would have to be approved by the Legislature.

After less than a year on the job, Ulster County Republican Party Chairwoman Robin Yess has resigned her post, following her discovery that other top Republicans were planning a coup to remove her through a "no confidence" vote at the party's nominating convention next month.

Learning of the plan, Yess decided to terminate her "four years of volunteer service," effective immediately, on Friday, May 13.

In an email sent to party members, Yess blasted Republican officials and the county Republican committee's "GOB," or good old boys, "who don't stand up for Republican Party platform and principles."

Specifically, she criticized a group of Republican legislators she called the "Golden Hill Five," who, she said believe "that the county should not only continue to run a nursing home, but that we should spend and borrow upwards of $80 to $100 million to make that happen."

A Highland resident, Yess was picked to head Ulster's GOP last September when former chair Mario Catalano stepped down. She was the first woman to hold the post.