MONTICELLO, NY — Wendy Brown, formerly the deputy commissioner of Sullivan County’s Division of Health and Human Services and co-chair of the Sullivan County Drug Task Force, announced her retirement at a Thursday, June 1 meeting of the county legislature’s public safety committee. 

“This is, in fact, my last public safety meeting in this capacity,” said Brown. “I will be staying in the area and being involved on different levels [with] a lot of really exciting things. I want to get through this without starting to cry because that’s what I do, but this is something that’s been very passionate to me and thankfully very passionate to many of you here on the board.”

The drug task force was a state-renowned program, said Brown, and she highlighted the different pillars of that program, including financial, treatment and maternal/child health. Brown said the task force was in talks with multiple agencies to provide services for Sullivan County residents. 

Brown started in her current position in 2021; she previously served in other public health positions within the county. During her two years in the role, the task force brought multiple new service providers to the county, including Hope Not Handcuffs (a police/treatment partnership, the Bridge Back to Life mobile treatment unit and a methadone treatment center with the Lexington Center for Recovery. 

The county does not yet have its designation as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, another of Brown’s aims while in office. Its most recent application is pending; “My theory is that [because] my last day is tomorrow, I’ll probably find out Monday,” Brown said. 

The Sullivan County Legislature presented Brown with a certificate honoring her service. “You’ve done a phenomenal job moving this to such a positive direction,” said legislator Nadia Rajsz. 

State senator Peter Oberacker honored Brown earlier in May, designating her as New York State Senate District 51’s 2023 “Woman of Distinction.” “Wendy Brown is dedicated to helping others and her innovative ideas are truly saving lives,” he said. 

Brown told the legislature that Camille O’Brien will be taking over in the interim with the drug task force. “She’s phenomenal. She’s dynamic. We’ve been working very closely together and I really see nothing but success going forward for the drug task force.” 

O’Brien has served as the community outreach director for Oberacker, and served in that position for former state Sen. Mike Martucci as well.

Brown told the River Reporter that she plans to run for Bethel Town Board and to take time considering her next options. 

One out, one in

The legislature welcomed at that same meeting Scott Schulte as the county’s new public safety commissioner. 

The position changed hands in September, 2021, as Thomas Farney came in to replace long-time commissioner Rick Sauer. Farney himself resigned in November, 2022, and the legislature confirmed Schulte to replace him in April of this year. 

Schulte introduced himself as an experienced hand with EMS and law enforcement. Coming from Ulster County, Schulte had spent the last 16 years with SUNY New Paltz [with] “kind of a shared services approach, utilizing law enforcement and emergency management together,” he said. Schultz has served as well as a chief court officer in New Paltz and as a fire investigator. 

Schulte’s father had worked in Sullivan County, giving him a small connection to the place, he said. “It’s good to be back and I’m looking forward to the opportunities here.”

John Hauschild, the Sullivan County fire coordinator, welcomed Schulte, saying, “I’ve known him for two days so far [and] it’s been excellent.”

A vacuum at the top?

These two positions aren’t the only areas in which Sullivan County has lost experience in recent months. 

Adrienne Jensen, former executive director of the Human Rights Commission, resigned in May, citing a lack of support for the position within the county. Nancy McGraw, former director of public health, resigned that same month; she had been placed on administrative leave in December 2022. 

Freda Eisenberg, former commissioner of the Sullivan County Division of Planning, Community Development and Real Property resigned in April. Jill Weyer, formerly Eisenberg’s deputy commissioner, resigned earlier in the year to take a position with the Town of Thompson. 

Heather Brown has been serving as the acting planning commissioner for the county since Eisenberg’s resignation. According to county manager Josh Potosek, the division may restructure around the two high-level vacancies it has, but it doesn’t have a concrete proposal at the moment.