MONTICELLO, NY – Sullivan County Legislature Chairman Robert A. Doherty released the following statement:

“Today, [January 27] several of my fellow legislators and I met with members of the Sullivan County Visitors Association’s (SCVA’s) Executive Board. It was a productive and frank meeting, one we look forward to continuing with them this Tuesday, February 2.

"We have been eager to renegotiate the SCVA’s contract, but until today, we did not have all the information we needed to begin those negotiations. Now we do, and tomorrow’s resolution to terminate the SCVA’s contract simply starts a 60-day clock by which we have to hammer out a new agreement. We cannot negotiate without terminating the existing contract, even though our intent is not to end our relationship with the SCVA.

"Let me repeat that this is not about eliminating the SCVA. We have to work together toward a better future for Sullivan County. And this legislature has a responsibility to ensure such. To that end, by April 1 we will be announcing a larger plan (of which the SCVA will be a part) to enhance tourism and improve our economy.

In the meantime, we look forward to negotiating with the SCVA to create a contract that fairly treats both their agency and the taxpayers.”