Michael P. Hein

Michael P. Hein (born July 20, 1965) is the 1st and current County Executive of Ulster County, having been elected on November 4, 2008. Prior to the creation of this position, the 2008 ratification by referendum of the Ulster County Charter, he was the Ulster County Administrator.

Early life, education and career

Michael P. Hein was raised by his parents on their farm in Esopus, New York. During his childhood, Hein attended school in the New Paltz school system. He attended Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, thus becoming the first in his family to attend college. In 1987, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a special emphasis in Management from Eckerd College. In 1999 Hein became the Bank Manager at Fleet Bank in Kingston, New York. During his time as Bank Manager, he coordinated the Ulster County Small Business Development Center.

Political career

Deputy Treasurer

In 2003, Hein became the Deputy Treasurer of Ulster County. In this capacity, he managed all aspects of the Ulster County Treasurer’s Office. Notable accomplishments during this time include the design and implementation of an overhaul of the Capitol Projects Policies and Procedures.

County Administrator

Michael P. Hein was appointed as County Administrator of Ulster County in 2006. ^[1] Although the County Administrator reported to the Ulster County Legislature, the County Administrator was responsible for the day-to-day operation of Ulster County and oversaw over 2000 employees. These responsibilities are now under the purview of the County Executive.^[2]

County Executive

In 2006, Ulster County voters approved the first-ever county charter. With this came the creation of the elected position of County Executive. In 2008, Hein, then County Administrator, was elected to this position and in January 2009 he began his first term as County Executive.^[3][4]

As County Executive, Hein reduced the cost of government by delivering over $6 million of spending cuts through an attrition plan and contractual reductions in 2009, renegotiating the lease on Family Court building, reducing the county workforce by 100 positions, and joining the Municipal Electric and Gas Association (MEGA) consortium.^[5][6] Hein notably provided a 0% tax increase for 2011, due in large part to his successful “Taxpayer First” initiative enacted in 2010.^[7]

Hein has led by implementing in-house management training programs, instituting a comprehensive fleet management program, introducing an automated “time and attendance” technology to establish a new level of government accountability, and addressing the issue of nepotism with Executive Order No. 1 of 2010^[8]

Hein has supported local business by launching the “Credit for Success” program, initiating a “buy local” campaign, assisting businesses to remain in Ulster County and directing that permitting and review take place at the speed of business.

Hein has made County government more business-friendly by allocating over $27 million for public infrastructure and transit projects in Ulster County, providing 300 summer youth employment positions, and creating the “Ulster Tomorrow,” economic development plan for Ulster County.

County Executive Hein has increased the promotion of Ulster County by initiating a new web-based branding and marketing campaign for Ulster County Tourism, launching UlsterCountyAlive.com ^[9] and creating a satellite tourism office at the County Office Building.^[10]

Hein has also worked to move Ulster County toward being the healthiest county in the state by launching the “Healthy Ulster” initiative, overhauling Ulster County Public Health Department, reshaping the Ulster County Board of Health, Hiring Dr. Lamar Hasbrouck^[11] to implement the “Healthy Ulster” initiative, naming Dr. Debra Karnasiewicz as a special advisor to the Executive to assist with “Healthy Ulster, and initiating the “Healthy Steps to Albany” challenge in four middle schools.

Environmental Initiatives

In the fall of 2010, the New York City Department of Environment Protection began releasing turbid water from the Ashokan Reservoir via a waste channel which feeds into Ulster County’s Esopus Creek. The Esopus Creek became contaminated with turbid water causing major problems to local farmers and residents as well as potentially damaging the aquatic ecosystem.^[12] This action by the agency which oversees the watershed feeding New York City’s drinking water drew the attention of environmental groups and Ulster County residents, as well as that of County Executive Hein and many other local leaders.^[13]

On Tuesday January 12, 2010, after 97 days of contaminated releases into the Esopus Creek, County Executive Hein announced Ulster County’s intentions to file a lawsuit against New York City DEP.^[14] After enlisting the help of the New York State Department of Conservation and the New York State Attorney General’s office, Hein brought an end to these releases and forced New York City DEP to pay for an independent damage assessment in order to evaluate the impact of their actions.^[15][16]

Catskill Mountain Railroad

In October 2013, Mr. Hein included in his budget an amount totaling $642,000 that was to be earned by scrapping a local tourist railroad, the Catskill Mountain Railroad, which under his plan, would be replaced by a "world class" multi-use trail ^[17] In response, the railroad created a plan which would allow for both rail and trail in the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad corridor which is currently leased to the CMRR until 2016.^[18] Upon further clairfication, Hein has stated that his position that the CMRR must vacate all of its active trackage in the Kingston, New York area, to make room for the trail, saying the railroad should railroad retreat to a small section of track between Boiceville, New York (Cold Brook) and Phoenicia, New York.^[19] However, the CMRR's Kingston section has experienced rapid growth since it opened for operation during Winter 2008.^[20] Shortly after Hein announced his plan, the city of Kingston illegally used a dump truck to block the operation of work trains in the Kingston area.^[21] This incident sparked a lively public debate in forums such as the local newspaper, The Daily Freeman.^[22] Shortly after the dump truck incident, the county issued the CMRR a "Notice to Cure" citing alleged lease violations^[23] Meanwhile, Hein had also refused to release FEMA funding earmarked to fix the CMRR's operating section in the Phoenicia area which was damaged during Hurricane Irene in 2011, most notably for the repair of the Campground Curve and the replacement of the Boiceville Trestle, both of which were lost to rising floodwaters. It was presumed that the county would have the upper hand in the ensuing legal battle, however, it was later found that many violations the county alleged were based on faulty premises ^[24] Shortly afterwards, the CMRR rebutted the notice and filed for a Yellowstone Injunction to prevent the county from terminating their lease.^[25] This legal battle is ongoing amidst record ridership.^[18] As of May 2014, it is not clear which side will emerge victorious, although the CMRR's announcement of the coming of the Polar Express has begun to change public opinion.^[26]

Recognition

County Executive Hein was selected by Governor David Paterson to be the county government appointment the New York State Workforce Investment Board.^[27] County Executive Hein was elected by his peers from around the state to serve as the 2011 First Vice President of the New York State County Executive’s Association, a position that provides an even greater opportunity to advocate to Albany for the interests of county governments.^[28] Additionally, the County Executive serves on the New York State Association of County’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of New York Farming.

References

External links

• County Executive Mike Hein Official County Government Site
• Ulster County Alive