By Holly Crocco
Putnam County lawmakers last week denied a request by the administration to use America Rescue Plan Act funds to renovate or replace a building at Camp Herrlich, and instead voted to put the funds toward a technology initiative for the sheriff’s department and relocation of the county’s youth bureau.
ARPA funds were issued in 2021 for state and local governments to help with expenses incurred and moneys lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The county has until Dec. 31 to allocate all the ARPA funds it received, and until Dec. 31, 2026, to spend the money.
In 2022, the sheriff’s department requested that $1 million of ARPA funds that were designated for infrastructure and school safety upgrades be bestowed to Camp Herrlich on Deacon Smith Hill Road in Patterson, which operates on leased property that is owned by the county.
According to Jen Caruso, director of compliance and intergovernment relations in the county executive’s office, there is an overarching concern to timely incumber all of the ARPA funds by the end of this year. So, with the sheriff’s department seeking to use funds to support school children, the administration felt that putting money toward rehab or replacement of Schweiger Hall at Camp Herrlich is a good fit, since the camp provides before- and after-school care, as well as a summer camp, for children of working families.
However, lawmakers expressed concerns over allocating the money when plans for the building are essentially nonexistent at this point.
“I’m all for replacing Schweiger Hall, and I understand what’s going on and it’s something that we not only need to do – we’re obligated to do,” said Legislator Greg Ellner, R-Carmel, at the Nov. 19 meeting of the Putnam Legislature’s Rules Committee meeting.
But with unanswered questions regarding building size, materials, project scope, and other elements, he said it’s too risky to designate ARPA funds, which could be lost if the project falls through. He said the ARPA funds could be used elsewhere, and the county could use capital funds to make the upgrades at Camp Herrlich once plans take shape.
“Let’s get all the information, process it properly, and do it properly,” he said.
Legislator Addonizio, R-Kent, agreed. “Just to be clear, it doesn’t mean we are not supporting Camp Herrlich,” she said. “It’s just the use of the ARPA funding for that particular project.”
Legislator Ginny Nacerino, R-Patterson, expressed concerns over additional expenses that may be incurred, since the project will undoubtedly cost more than the $1 million sought, with any spending above and beyond that being the responsibility of Camp Herrlich.
“So far, Camp Herrlich has committed only $250,000 to this project,” she said. “We’re putting ourselves at risk of losing this money because we can’t answer all the ‘what ifs’ in this process,” she said, noting that it’s less risky to use general funds.
“I would rather see this project be realized using capital funds, and would seek to reallocate the funds to the AXON officer safety technology project and the youth bureau project.”
The AXON program offers a comprehensive suite of tools and artificial intelligence software designed to improve police operations, including body-worn cameras, advanced taser devices, and case management capabilities.
The relocation of the youth bureau from the Donald B. Smith Government Campus in Carmel to the Tilly Foster property in Brewster is a plan that was supported with the county’s 2025 capital plan.
Legislator Nancy Montgomery, D-Philipstown, said the AXON and youth bureau projects have already been secured.
“We’ve already allocated funds for that – it’s been approved, we’ve voted on that, it’s done,” she said. “I see the Camp Herrlich project as a project that can benefit the entire county. They are providing a service that is sorely lacking throughout the country.”
Montgomery noted the “childcare crisis” that has been reported throughout the country, with working parents struggling to find affordable childcare for their children. “It’s an investment in the working people of Putnam County, and maybe it’s something that can be expanded,” she said. “It’s a shame you’re not considering it.”
Nacerino said the total 120 kids that are enrolled in the camp’s before- and after-school programs does not constitute the “greater community,” and is “not reflective of attempting to alleviate the childcare crisis.”
“It is for-profit; he does charge for it,” she said. “The fact remains we are moving forward with the project… I feel that it would be in our best interest to use the money from the capital fund (as opposed to ARPA funds). It doesn’t matter, it’s getting done. It’s just: which pocket do we use to get this done?”
Legislator Amy Sayegh, R-Mahopac Falls, said Camp Herrlich deserves a “deep dive and a lot of consideration”
“This is a building that needs to either be torn down or repaired,” she explained. “We don’t have any thorough plans for this particular project. We have no idea what the total project will cost. We don’t know if this $1 million is just a tip of the iceberg… I’m not, willing – me, personally – to throw $1 million out to a project that I don’t have any information about.”
After denying the allocation of ARPA funds to Camp Herrlich, the Rules Committee unanimously approved moving $800,000 to support the AXON officer safety training project, and $200,000 to support the relocation of the youth bureau.
According to Commissioner of Finance Michael Lewis, previously, $350,000 was allocated to the AXON project, and $125,000 was allocated to the youth bureau relocation, but with the new funding approved, that $475,000 can go back to the general fund and, in theory, be diverted to the Camp Herrlich project in the future.
Comments