[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6571478,"mediaKeyId","3200267-8a066e9231e35434369cad050994a65e","parentId",3200267,"title","Albany County holds public hearing on proposed local law to expand county notification for elevated drinking‑water findings","audioSeconds",290,"startMs",1401000,"endMs",1691804,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3200267-8a066e9231e35434369cad050994a65e&start=1401&end=1691","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3200267-8a066e9231e35434369cad050994a65e/thumbnail_1401000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6571478/Albany-County/New-York/Albany-County-holds-public-hearing-on-proposed-local-law-to-expand-county-notification-for-elevated-drinkingwater-findings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571478-a133955391b112bede16f761a6eeb3bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770996879&Signature=ZHOiaQqr0MrmJFeANOAxfKahFp8zuenYHfPQbSrByV5Kro9p6LHp5i0Tlq3wApOWu0S1ZR6I-g5a8VEvtGG7J6gnqTp73n7hvDW-OjVLV8IXdsFpa2oIr8yjmEUsK9pEQa1fBn8QXqMlw3-6V0wnLHWYpWmsgmoz81-V~NrbBCc50o9ljyoz5Cq36zJ0mfbOUPUTMGUo85fbgUum5Um7e2LvRKcZgTjc2bO1Ddo-G2VNqVy1Q59TFLOWVE-syHG1bWlimebA4qMlt164Na5XY4Q5szYixAYczlNtOGIdrs3HSZeSR52973JNFRTogSk49gZ5YPtJHlKbTTWMdoswzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Albany County, NY","date","2025-05-02T16:49:53.767Z","article","Albany County held a public hearing on proposed Local Law B‑2025 on May 1 that would amend the county code to require the Albany County Department of Health to notify local officials when elevated contaminant or algal toxin levels are found in drinking‑water testing.

Presenters said the draft law was revised after consultation with the county executive's office and environmental health staff to narrow the department's responsibilities to what it can operationally perform. \"We did remove language regarding testing of soil, and I think there was some discussion of air quality testing. The department doesn't do that kind of testing,\" the presenter said, describing edits that focus the local law on water testing and notification.

The changes also add operational detail about notifying adjacent municipalities. The presenter recounted a recent local incident in which well tests in New Scotland prompted a response: the locations of private wells were closer to a county reservoir than initially realized, prompting broader notification needs. \"The point of this is notification: if DOH is doing that kind of testing to not just notify the municipality, but the adjacent municipalities,\" the presenter said.

Other edits described at the hearing include relying on state and federal test results (for example, from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) when appropriate, trimming the list of officials who would receive automatic notices to limit volume, and switching from mailed notices to email to expedite delivery to local leaders. The presenter said the version posted on the county's agenda (Granicus) was the updated draft developed with the executive office and environmental health experts.

The public hearing record in the meeting closed after discussion and a clerical amendment was made to correct the hearing date to May 27 where required. No final committee vote on the local law was recorded in the transcript excerpt; the presenter said the committee had voted the item out the previous night and this hearing reflects the public‑hearing step in the local‑law process.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health Committee Meeting 05.01.25","oneSentenceSummary","At a May 1 public hearing, county health and executive staff described edits to proposed Local Law B‑2025 that would require the Department of Health to notify adjacent municipalities and select officials when elevated contaminant or algal toxin levels are discovered in county testing.","taxTitle","Albany County, New York","taxId",3730,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6571481,"Albany County Health Department renews state contracts for drinking‑water monitoring and expanded HIV partner services",123,1230000,1353000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3200267-8a066e9231e35434369cad050994a65e&start=1230&end=1353","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3200267-8a066e9231e35434369cad050994a65e/thumbnail_1230000.jpg","/articles/6571481/Albany-County/New-York/Albany-County-Health-Department-renews-state-contracts-for-drinkingwater-monitoring-and-expanded-HIV-partner-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571481-48737c351568ee7cf233fa0c246cb095/orig.mp4?Expires=1770996879&Signature=hqUx7Aea2Kcx~HCUgtbexttsxbRZyB3SGmSo7wLDXIgxd9kBBzE7SBk45hKlc~t8TuhKn9K2NoWgEdw0l8tha3odZVRi7mkMDqWxop0CLpAvBlLTCXmC6Dw1G-DQI22i3kR12Gjsndt2hEPajr-OImHcZncbcUn0x6RAdwTTFaek5OzI3WqPg4Dv7la7UB72-wZq1NdCL5lk3lS-hgdE8kfJyOb8g~F9CdcLK~13Kwi5eqBaCwq31DP7UUdfMmU3nXCD9tGVTDsRV-R1yRFwLhzAjLU03T6evDCy6q5bQ9MC951WBHpEcnCPYHAMIhGFINIKUdxgcamVyXa2oZ-l9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Albany County Legislature's Health Committee on May 1 authorized two state contract renewals for the county Health Department: a five‑year Drinking Water Enhancement Program agreement with the New York State Department of Health and a renewal of the county's Expanded Partner Services program with the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute/Health Research Inc.

The drinking‑water agreement was presented as a five‑year renewal at $110,006.90 per year, for a five‑year total of $550,034.50. The county said the Drinking Water Enhancement Program allows the Health Department to monitor public water‑supply data, verify compliance with New York State regulations, and oversee reporting from local water districts. \"We typically don't do testing. The water districts do most of the testing,\" the presenter said, adding that districts are required by law to report results to the state and county.

The committee also approved a renewal of the Expanded Partner Services contract, a long‑running program that helps identify people who have tested positive for HIV but are not in care and assists in linking those individuals and their partners to medical and prevention services. The presenter summarized the work as prevention, education and linkage to care.

Both contract renewals were moved and seconded on the record and advanced by the committee.

","The Health Committee approved a five‑year Drinking Water Enhancement Program contract with the New York State Department of Health and renewed the county's expanded partner services program contract to link people testing HIV‑positive to care.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6571486,"Albany County amends 2025 mental‑health budget to expand mobile outreach, fund recovery center and move jail addiction funds",1093,127000,1220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3200267-8a066e9231e35434369cad050994a65e&start=127&end=1220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3200267-8a066e9231e35434369cad050994a65e/thumbnail_127000.jpg","/articles/6571486/Albany-County/New-York/Albany-County-amends-2025-mentalhealth-budget-to-expand-mobile-outreach-fund-recovery-center-and-move-jail-addiction-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571486-771b85090cc6187a68f5705c57235766/orig.mp4?Expires=1770996879&Signature=l7J39Ts-D7MI5Neyel5fETTR3toF8WB3weFFdfHpApZ-rvrBW65a3LRAcULD23E1QnmeTOBfM1B3YUW6GSY6BcRxbzA6yLdiVrqE8Xpdem5N25thPBtZK3u3HNYigOp~6u0B-LIXCqIdPJy1S6l3ghH2Dz1z2hxpZpk4vg1tBkLam38iMBrbfOiN0FyCeUOcLUMoieigxOYztycyKu4cIsUWOmcHevtcx~4CkIT8Ju6ZaAEM9oX69r6tvaVpSS-qNmWQQDIlqtl6j2UgvDl2iNug074GVCSIzf-evJ8LZtVxQr3o2gUJ8Jf5NR5B9Of-aX-kiJIrsQbGe3zL1Swxzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Albany County Legislature's Health Committee on May 1 approved several 2025 budget amendments to expand county mental‑health services, including a multiyear expansion of mobile outreach teams, a state‑funded recovery center contract and a transfer of jail addiction funds to the sheriff's department.

The committee voted to amend the Department of Mental Health budget to add $966,388 over three years to support the county's Mobile Outreach, Treatment and Overdose Response (MOTOR) program, which county staff said will create two full outreach teams and add three new staff positions. \"The goal is to maximize and enhance what we're doing right now,\" said Dr. Giordano of the Department of Mental Health, who presented the request and said two customized vans are expected to arrive in June and July.

The MOTOR program performs mobile outreach, links people to the substance abuse clinic, and responds to nonfatal overdoses reported by police. Dr. Giordano said the county currently partners with police departments in Colonie and Guilderland and fields roughly 300 cases a year for laboratory or coroner‑related work in another agenda item. He told the committee the expansion would allow the county to provide two full teams for countywide response and community outreach.

Also approved was a $535,000 state grant, routed through the county, to support Second Chance Opportunities, a recovery center described by county staff as a program for people who have completed initial substance‑use treatment and need continued recovery services. Dr. Giordano said the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) — referred to in the meeting as OASIS — provided the operating funds to the county, and that the county already put a contract in place in February to receive and pass the funding to the recovery center.

Separately, the committee approved an amendment moving $278,450 in jail‑based addiction services funding from Addiction Care Center Albany (ACCA) to the Albany County Sheriff's Department. Presenters said ACCA had not been operating at previously funded levels in the jail after COVID disrupted services; the state sought to redirect the award to the sheriff's department, which had already been providing the services in the interim.

Committee members asked about the stability of state and federal funding for these programs. Dr. Giordano and county staff said state and federal grant decisions are fluid; staff reported daily updates from state offices and ongoing contingency planning at the county Office of Management and Budget level. \"Right now, our services are intact,\" Dr. Giordano said; county budget staff said they are reviewing line‑by‑line which funds are federal, state (federal pass‑through) or local to prepare for possible cuts.

Motions for the budget amendments were moved and seconded on the record and approved by the committee. The actions were described as amendments to the 2025 mental‑health budget to enable program expansion and to transfer existing state funds per the state's direction.

Looking ahead, committee members requested an update next month about contingency planning for potential cuts to federal and state behavioral‑health funding.

","The Legislature's Health Committee approved multiple mental‑health budget amendments, including $966,388 over three years to expand a mobile outreach and overdose‑response team, $535,000 in state funding for a recovery center, and a $278,450 transfer to sheriff‑run jail addiction services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Albany County holds public hearing on proposed local law to expand county notification for elevated drinking‑water findings

Albany County Health Department renews state contracts for drinking‑water monitoring and expanded HIV partner services

Albany County amends 2025 mental‑health budget to expand mobile outreach, fund recovery center and move jail addiction funds