Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden is now admitting that it was he who approved the sale of various architectural details from the county sheriff's former office on Bridge Street in the village of Catskill. Groden initially pleaded ignorance when rumors of the sale arose during a Public Safety Committee meeting last week. At the time, Groden insisted he did not know who was selling the items, and said the auction was unauthorized. On July 15, Groden fessed up, confirming that he green-lighted the sale. “I actually authorized it in an email I must have read at 80 miles an hour,” Groden said. “In parentheses there was wooden windows and doors that I must not have caught.” The email was sent from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, he said. “I responded and told them to proceed,” he said. “I told the board I take full responsibility for it.” Five doors were sold for $250, as well as some wood molding that was not picked up. “We are asking the winners to return the items,” Groden said. “They won fair and square, so it is the purchaser’s option.” The jail, which opened in 1905, is a historical asset to the community, local historic preservationist Meg Nowack said last month. “To ignore that legacy is irresponsible, in a sense, and it’s really sad,” she said. County officials want to demolish the office building and jail, but leave a carriage house on the property intact, Deputy Greene County Administrator Warren Hart said. Five hundred thousand dollars has been set aside for the demolition. Due to the historic significance of the property, the county must get permission from the state Historic Preservation Office and the village planning board for demolition, Nowack said. The Legislature will discuss the fate of the old jail at a workshop meeting, 6 p.m., Wed., July 24 in the Caucus Room at 411 Main Street, Catskill. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.