MONTICELLO, NY — The battle that has been brewing for nearly two years in the Sullivan County Department of Family Services (DFS) boiled into the open on July 22, with a lawyer for DFS commissioner Randy Parker issuing a press release that harshly criticizes an investigation that targeted Parker.

The legislature in June passed a resolution to spend $175,000 to pay for an investigation into various complaints within DFS.

The press release from Orseck Law Offices says, “After the resolution was passed by the legislature, the County Attorney’s office admitted, in a sworn affidavit, that the purpose of the resolution was specifically to hire a firm to try to smear Parker. Once the legislature discovered that this $175,000 was to be spent in a vengeful attempt to spite one man, several members properly sought to revoke the resolution. The County Attorney’s Office responded vehemently, wrongfully threatening and attempting to bully the legislators.”

A meeting has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the government center in Monticello on July 24 to rescind the resolution in question.