Crippling the Department of Public Health

I doubt that many are aware that there has been a purge of sorts going on lately at Sullivan County Public Health Services. The “code of conduct” makes it a lot easier to investigate and fire people, and yes, it does sound a bit medieval.  

I have no objection to cleaning out really bad employees, but losing too many at one time can destabilize this much-beleaguered institution, on which the health of the community relies.  

Once destabilized, the department’s performance will suffer and then it can be discredited, disassembled, and components such as the Certified Home Health Care Agency can be sold.  

That has been on Mr. Robert A. Doherty’s to-do list since he was elected chairman of the Sullivan County Legislature in 2020. He took a break during the worst of the pandemic but here he comes again, with typical unsubtlety.

The latest and greatest casualty is the department head, Nancy McGraw, the Director of Public Health, who was placed on an administrative leave this week.  Anybody who has worked in our county knows that it’s extremely easy to fire a department head for any error or problem that has occurred at any time during their employment, since they lack any meaningful union representation. 

This leaves the new acting director to also fulfill the positions of deputy director, director of patient services, and to supervise all the various programs with currently only two supervisors to help her, amidst the current public health “tridemic” wave of COVID, influenza and RSV. 

There must be important work that isn’t getting done, and the community’s health will suffer for it. I think it’s a damn shame that Mr. Doherty, who calls all the shots in this county, should seek to ruin the reputation of one very upright and tenacious woman who has worked like a dog to protect this community. 

Lise Kennedy
Neversink, NY

Hughes: Less than forthcoming

Thanks to Liam Mayo for his excellent coverage of the garbage pressure-cooking plant the county legislature is considering. 

Hughes Energy is positioning their proposed autoclave as an R&D project. At first I thought that was just to get their foot in the door: A facility processing only 20 tons of garbage a day sounds far less ominous than their full-scale operation, which processes 500 tons a day. 

Then Hughes Energy CEO Dane McSpedon said the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation has a reduced permitting process for R&D projects. Could that be why they are describing this facility as R&D?

Indeed, after the presentation, I heard Bill Orts—the USDA chemist who flew in from California to speak at the meeting—say, “I don’t know why he keeps on calling it an R&D project.” Dr. Orts and his research team consider an autoclave processing 20 tons of organics a day to be a full-scale operation. 

We have other reasons to believe that Hughes is being less than forthcoming. For example, when asked about the DEC’s permitting process, Mr. McSpedon replied, “We’ve never been denied a permit anywhere.” While that is an accurate statement, note he did not say they’ve ever gotten a permit, either (they haven’t). 

There are more rational ways to cope with our waste than trucking in fossil fuel to cook it at 320 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour at 70 psi. To identify better alternatives, we need to shift our vocabulary. 

Instead of labeling what we discard as “garbage,” let’s reframe it as untapped resources. Doing so will open our eyes to new opportunities to optimize recycling, recover materials and compost uncontaminated yard and food waste, while offering the potential to create jobs and generate revenues. 

Rebekah Creshkoff, 
Don’t Trash the Catskills—Sullivan County
Callicoon, NY 

Anthony’s suspension not based in racism

I was surprised the River Reporter decided to publish Karen Hirtz’s letter, which suggested the Highland Town Board might have racist motives for their decision to suspend former constable Marc Anthony. Hirtz provides no supporting details for this inflammatory accusation, and the fact that four other white officers were also suspended seems to make her claims dubious at best, and highly offensive and slanderous at worst.

Chuck Petersheim
Milford, PA

[Editor’s note: Letters to the Editor reflect the opinion of the letter writer. We welcome letters that provide a variety of diverse opinion. The River Reporter utilizes the New York Press Association’s Libel Hotline to review any letter that could be libelous. It’s an essential member service that allows us to utilize the expert opinion of attorneys who specialize in libel. According to the libel lawyer, Hirtz’ opinion refers to allegations and does not reference the Town of Highland Board or its actions. Readers are encouraged to read the original opinion piece, published on November 24 and available online here]