Judiciary & Public Safety Committee

May 5, 2004 – 10:00a.m.

DRAFT MINUTES

Committee Present: Dave Wern, Chairman; Marilyn Brown, Tom Hartnett, Kay Breed, Kurt Behrenfeld, Larry Cornell, Merwin Armstrong

Others Present: Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Scott Steve, Legislative Chairman; Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Scott Schrader; Jane Goldner, Probation Director; Manny Lann, Youth Bureau Director; Lee Price, Sheriff; Paul Allen, Legislator; John Steger, Legislator; Nicole Flatow, Cortland Standard Reporter

The meeting was called to order at 10:09a.m. by Chairman Dave Wern

MOTION BY LARRY CORNELL – 2ND BY MARILYN BROWN TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 1, 2004 MEETING – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

 

RESOLUTIONS

 

  1. Amend 2004 Budget/Transfer Funds-Clothing and Uniforms (Sheriff’s Department) MOTION BY MARILYN BROWN – 2ND BY KAY BREED – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

    2. Justification: Semi-Annual uniform allowance used to be paid through payroll accounts and due to a change in the contract the checks are now being issued through a contractual account.

  2. Amend Resolution No. 129-04 – Replace Radio Equipment at Virgil Tower Site-Cortland County Department of Fire and Emergency Management – Amend Budget – MOTION BY KURT BEHRENFELD – 2ND BY MARILYN BROWN – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR - PASSED

    3. Justification: Resolution No. 129-04 only placed part of the funds necessary for the purchase of radio equipment.

  3. Amend Resolution No. 44-04 Authorize Agreements – Youth Development/Delinquency Prevention (Youth Bureau) – MOTION BY LARRY CORNELL – 2ND BY MARILYN BROWN – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Justification: There are additional funds available for After School Programs.

DISCUSSION/PRESENTATIONS

Fire Advisory Board Report (Merwin Armstrong) – Merwin reported that the Board was very appreciative of the purchase of the radios for the tower. He further reported that there is a great deal of concern of burn barrels. Presently there is State Legislation which would prohibit burn barrels. Currently any municipality with a population less than 20,000 can allow burn barrels and there is no enforcement for abuse of burn barrels except from the NYSDEC.

Sheriff’s Department/Virgil Tower (Lee Price)- Lee reported that Skyward Towers will be coming down to change the connectors that are defective at the Tower and that they will pay for them.

Lee advised the committee that they will need a new record keeping system when they merge with the city because the amount of calls will be increasing. A new booking system will also be needed. Grant money will be used for inkless fingerprinting. Funds for this purpose will come from Terrorism and 911 grants.

Lee said that some of the increasing costs include gas prices and inmates needing more medical attention.

Lee’s meeting with Kurt Behrenfeld went well.

Probation Department (Jane Goldner) – The 2003 Probation Department Annual Report had been distributed and Jane gave a brief overview of the report. Jane will make herself available at the next JPS meeting to answer any questions about the report. This will allow committee members more time to review the document.

Jane indicated that the incorporation of the A.T.I. Department with Probation is going well.

She also advised the committee that they are using a polygraph on sex offenders for therapeutic purposes. Two employees from Mental Health run this program.

The number of people on Probation is growing. Currently, there are 599 people on Probation.

The Probation Department participates with Mental Health and DSS on the Wraparound Program for PINS individuals.

District Attorney’s Office (Committee)- Committee members and John Steger have had complaints that the town and village courts are only getting representation from the District Attorney’s Office every other month. These courts need to be covered every month. Dave Wern indicated that David Hartnett just filled an ADA position on Monday and so this should alleviate the problem somewhat. It was recommended that the District Attorney be present for the next CTVS (City/Towns/Villages/Schools) meeting after the next Legislative session. Angie Wyatt indicated that the Minutes from the April 1, 2004 reflected that David Hartnett would be attending the May 20, 2004 CTVS meeting.

MOTION BY KAY BREED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PERSONNEL DISCIPLINARY ISSUE – 2ND BY LARRY CORNELL – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED – WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 11:08A.M.

Present in Executive Session: Dave Wern, Merwin Armstrong, Marilyn Brown, Kay Breed, Tom Hartnett, Kurt Behrenfeld, Larry Cornell, John Steger, Paul Allen, Scott Steve & Scott Schrader

OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 12:04P.M.

MOTION BY LARRY CORNELL TO ADJOURN – 2ND BY DAVE WERN – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED – ADJOURNED AT 12:05P.M.

Minutes Prepared By Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Scott Schrader

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