POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess County Legislature Chair Yvette Valdés Smith has called for a deeper investigation into the county’s 2022 purchase of Camp Nooteeming and its contractual relationship with Pathfinder Academy, a for-profit organization.

The call for further scrutiny comes after a special report from the Dutchess County Comptroller raised questions about the $4.2 million acquisition of the camp and subsequent financial dealings with Pathfinder Academy.

Valdés Smith said then-County Executive Marcus Molinaro told the legislature that the camp would increase free outdoor opportunities for county youth. She accused Molinaro’s office of misrepresenting the nature of the purchase and hiding the extent to which taxpayer dollars supported Pathfinder Academy. Valdés Smith also thanked the Comptroller’s office for the audit.

Legislator Brendan Lawler (D-Hyde Park) and Chair of the Legislature’s Budget Committee said, “It is abundantly clear that County Republicans can’t miss an opportunity to squander taxpayer money. Camp Nooteeming is just the latest example of poor decisions made out of public view, and which offer little to no benefit to residents. The public demands a full accounting of what happened and who’s responsible.”


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