Washington Co residents react to prison closure

FT. ANN, N.Y. (NEWS10) — As part of the state budget, lawmakers authorized New York’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to close five prisons. On Thursday, DOCCS announced the closure process will begin immediately at Sullivan Correctional and Great Meadow Facilities.

Fort Ann is one of the many Washington County communities that says they'll be economically devastated by the closure of Great Meadow, not just from the loss of jobs, but the loss of patronage those prison employees bring to surrounding businesses as well.

The prison is in the Fort Ann Hamlet of Comstock. The nearly 600-worker facility is one of the largest employers in Washington County. Nathan Brown is a manager at the Fort Ann super stop on Route 149, which relies on prison employees for business.“A lot of breakfast sandwiches, a lot of lunches. We deliver there a lot. So we’ll definitely feel the impact for sure," said Brown.

Brown was helping his friend, lifelong Fort Ann resident Chris Osborne, with a veggie stand at the super stop. “I'm hoping that they can transfer to a nearby prison like Danne-Mora or Auburn, something in New York state or downstate. Maybe they can relocate if they have to? But it's going to be tough on everyone without a doubt," said Osborne.

But Fort Ann’s town supervisor Samuel J Hall is concerned that relocation may mean an evaporation of tax revenue.“The individuals that are not old enough to retire but the younger people have been employed there and you move them out of your community who do you have left in your community to pick up your tax base” said Hall.

The reasons given for Great Meadow's closure are prison understaffing and a declining prison population. Hall doesn’t buy it. “Of all the reasons that were given, they spent millions of dollars there in the last year and a half doing all kinds of capital improvement projects to Great Meadows. So it just doesn't make sense" said Hall.

Scott Hahn, town supervisor of nearby Hartford was vexed to learn of the closure from the media rather than the state. “New York State didn't have the decency to come out first and say listen this is what's going on. Let the employees process it, and then take it to their families and start to deal with it," said Hahn.

The lack of an alternate employer for town residents ignited fears of an exodus from Hartford. Hahn says their geography hampers growth."Our location is not near an interstate. A lot of places that you know produce and sell want to be close to an interstate they don't want that extra travel when their trucks are coming and going," said Hall.

Both Hartford and Fort Ann are figuring out their next steps. They’re also waiting to hear from Governor Hochul on relocation plans for prison employees and inmates. The facilities are slated to close on November 6th.