MONTICELLO — If you need to seek heating assistance from the county this winter, you'll have a choice of at least four new application locations.

Last week, legislators unanimously agreed to make the offices of CACHE (Liberty), Federation for the Homeless, Action Toward Independence and Independent Living (all in Monticello) acceptable sites for taking HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) applications.

(The vote did not include absent legislators Cora Edwards, Cindy Gieger and Kitty Vetter, and Kathy LaBuda abstained because she serves on the Federation's board.)

The county has set aside $15,000 to pay these nonprofits for their time and effort (bolstered by $15,000 from the federal government), and Acting Health and Family Services Commissioner Joe Todora hopes residents head to these spots instead of county offices.

“Our intent is to have nobody come up to social services [in Liberty] over the winter,” he told legislators.

Applications will still be accepted by the county directly - and county officials will still give the final OK on every HEAP payout - but this effort is intended to help the county avoid last year's extreme backlog of heating aid requests.

“It's going to be a really great addition to what we're doing,” predicted Todora.

UPP-ing their game

Legislators also on August 20 unanimously agreed to hire Illinois-based UPP Technology as a consultant to the county's Public Health Services Department.

For $8,675, the company will spend the next year evaluating and updating billing procedures, with the goal of maximizing reimbursements to the county from state/federal agencies and third parties.

Enterprise in driver's seat

The Enterprise rental car company landed a five-year deal with the county Thursday, as legislators unanimously agreed to enter into a fleet leasing arrangement with it.

For the fees listed below, the county will have Enterprise handle the leasing, replacement and maintenance of much of its fleet:

• Year 1: $220,000

• Year 2: $355,000

• Year 3: $500,000

• Year 4: $640,000

• Year 5: $620,000

County Manager Josh Potosek estimates that if the county sticks with Enterprise over 10 years, it could save upwards of $1.4 million.

“It's a great deal - it really is,” observed Legislator Gene Benson. “It will save the county a fortune.”

New to Ethics Board

Longtime Rehabilitation Support Services (RSS) Orange/Sullivan County Managing Director Susan K. Miller was appointed August 20 by legislators to the county's Ethics Board.

Miller, a Woodridge resident who has served as president of the SullivanArc Board and is a licensed clinical social worker, replaces the retired Keith Gilmour and will serve three years.

Transportation plan accelerates

Also that Thursday, legislators unanimously approved the Coordinated Transportation Services Plan, which aims to improve public transit in the county.

“I'm very grateful the resolution went through today, but there's a lot to do,” observed Martha Scoppa, one of the key county employees involved in the plan's three-year-long formation.

The county is already advertising for a transportation director to coordinate efforts, and further funding is being sought, said Scoppa, before the plan can be implemented.

“Hopefully,” she said with a grin, “we'll have a really good, moving future!”