The following Resolution was sent to the Delaware County Board of Supervisors on June 23, 2023.
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RESOLUTION
DESIGNATION OF A SECOND PUBLICATION OF LOCAL LAWS AND NOTICES: DEMOCRATIC PARTY
WHEREAS, both the Democratic Committee of Delaware County (DCDC) and the Delaware County Board of Supervisors (DCBOS) represent constituents county-wide, our Newspapers of Record should report on and distribute to as much of the county as possible.
WHEREAS, Delaware County has only two remaining local newspapers with county-wide reach: The Reporter, read mostly in the western side of the Delaware County, and The Mountain Eagle that is read mostly on the eastern side of the county.
WHEREAS, for well over a decade, the Delaware County Republican Committee (DCRC) consistently designated The Reporter as their County Newspaper of Record. Constituents knew it was the reliable place to find important public notices from the DCBOS.
WHEREAS, knowing this, DCDC has consistently designated another paper with coverage that at least approached county-wide. In the past several years that paper has been The Mountain Eagle. Therefore, county constituents have had two multi-town regional sources for these public notices and the DCDC seeks to maintain this broad coverage for public notices.
WHEREAS, the DCDC has consulted County Law §214 and understands that designating more than one newspaper of record is allowed.
WHEREAS, Newspaper of Record designation has traditionally been assigned in January of each year for the calendar year ahead and any changes to designations happen then. It came as a major surprise that the DCBOS had abruptly changed their Newspaper of Record designation from The Reporter to the Hancock Herald over a year ago, mid-year in March.
WHEREAS, the DCRC’s choice of the Hancock Herald, which covers only the town of Hancock, leaves a large sweep of the county drastically underserved.
WHEREAS, in an evaluation of both the printed and online versions of the three county newspapers in question the DCDC found that: In printed versions, The Reporter has the most extensive county-wide coverage of both civic meeting reports and legal notices, followed by The Mountain Eagle, followed distantly by The Hancock Herald that covers only Hancock. In online versions, The Reporter’s legal notices are readily available, The Mountain Eagle’s legal notices are available only to subscribers, and the Hancock Herald has no online access to legal notices.
WHEREAS, at its Business Meeting on Wednesday, April 19th, the DCDC voted unanimously to include The Reporter alongside our previously chosen newspaper, The Mountain Eagle, as our Newspapers of Record beginning immediately and continuing till the end of calendar year 2023.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that pursuant to County Law §214, The Reporter is included alongside the previously designated, Mountain Eagle, as the Delaware County Democratic Party’s designated Newspapers of Record to publish local laws and notices beginning immediately and continuing till the end of calendar year 2023.
Submitted to the Delaware County NY Board of Supervisors, on behalf of the Delaware County Democratic Committee, by Kathleen Hayek, Chair, on June 23, 2023.