Sullivan County is currently ranked 61 out of 62 counties statewide in health care rankings, which raises the question, why would the state move the Department of Health field office location from there to Orange County?

George Nikolados, mayor of the village of Monticello, is owner of the busy Miss Monticello Diner on Broadway.

As a restaurant owner, he’s had to rely on the New York State Department of Health Field office on North Street in Monticello for everything from help with forms to multiple food inspections a year.

"To be able to have someone come in and be able to explain to you and help you with the process when you're opening a place or when you're doing renovations in your kitchen, it's extremely advantageous to have them here within the village here," Nikolados said.

But that could soon change.

The New York State Department of Health is considering moving the office from Monticello to Middletown in Orange County.

Elected leaders and county officials came together to demand Gov. Kathy Hochul stop the move.

"There's only so many hours of the day, and if employees are stuck spending more time behind the wheel of the car, that means they're spending less time ensuring regulations are being followed," Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther said.

Sullivan County leaders also worry that in the summer months, when the county’s population has a tendency to triple in size, hotels and camps in the area that rely on water, food and air-quality inspections to operate safely, will suffer.

"It's hurting new businesses from starting, or seasonal businesses from opening, where we have a ton of businesses that open for 10 weeks and they all need to open within a two-week period, and now I believe that’s going to slow production down," Nikolados said.

The move could also take customers from local businesses like his.

"On the other end, it's also for businesses, their customers," Nikolados said. "You're also taking out an office full of people who are here eating every day within the village​."

State Senator Mike Martucci said when they asked the health commissioner why the office was moving out of Monticello, they were told there wasn’t enough office space in the area.

"Listen, you drive down Broadway in Monticello, especially if they’ve been searching for a couple years now, there's plenty of opportunities for them to come in on Broadway," Nikolados said.

In response, the New York State Department of Health said, “We have heard the concerns about the relocation of our Sullivan County office. In response, we are exploring plans to stay in the current office through the summer and keep some staff in Sullivan County starting in the fall.”