Judiciary & Public Safety Committee

April 4, 2006 - 9:30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

 

Present:                      John Daniels, Chairman; Tom Williams, Vice Chairman; Sean Clark, Larry Cornell, Danny Ross, Don Spaulding, Ron VanDee

                                   

Others present:          Richard Van Donsel, County Attorney; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Lee Price, Cortland County Sheriff; Bob Duell, Director of Fire & Emergency Management; Carl Moses, Director of Weights & Measures; Capt. Ray Lewis, Jail, Cortland County Sheriff’s Department; Dr. Marshall Trabout, Jail Physician; Trish Hansen; Eric Mulvihill, WXHC; Jeremy Boylan, Cortland Standard;

 

Absent:                       Tom Williams

 

Mr. Daniels called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.

Mr. Cornell moved adoption of the minutes of the March 7, 2006 meeting; seconded by Mr. Van Dee.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; minutes approved as printed.

 

RESOLUTIONS

 

Fire & Emergency Management

 

1.                  Amend 2006 Budget – Division of Criminal Justice Services – WMD Grant – FY’03           Mr. Van Dee moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell.  All members present voting

in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

2.                  Amend 2006 Budget – Division of Criminal Justice Services – WMD Grant – FY’04              Mr. Van Dee moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Ross.  All members present voting in

favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

3.                  Authorize Consultant/Agreement – NIMS Compliance Program – Mr. Cornell moved

adoption; seconded by Mr. Clark.  Mr. Daniels explained that this individual has been volunteering the last several months.  He added that the county is very lucky to have someone like this and very fortunate to have received the grant money.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

Sheriff’s Department

 

4.                  Authorize Consultant Agreement – Preparation Jail Population Study – Mr. Clark

moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Spaulding.  Mr. Daniels explained that he had discussed this with Mr. Schrader and this price is the going price for this type of study.  He went on to explain that it is a very detailed study relating to the long-term affects of the Jail and Jail population.  Mr. Cornell inquired about where the funding comes from to pay for this and was it budgeted for.  Mr. Van Donsel discussed that it will likely come from contingency and not from the tobacco money and it was not budgeted for.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

DISCUSSION/COMMITTEE ACTION:

 

Mr. Daniels introduced Dr. Mechthild Nagel to the committee and aloud her to speak regarding alternatives to a Jail Expansion.  Dr. Nagel distributed A Cortland’s Citizen for Alternatives to Jail Expansion (attached).  She explained briefly her background and explained that she is a Professor of Philosophy at SUNY Cortland.  She went on to discuss looking at alternatives to incarceration as opposed to jail expansion.  Dr. Nagel explained that she has traveled and delivered philosophy courses to maximum-security prisons.  She further discussed that the Tompkins County Legislature has twice looked at expansion and twice voted it down.  She believes that it would be more humane if the committee continued to look at expansion of alternatives.  She explained that she has discussed this with Marcy Penello, Director of Cortland County Drug Court. Dr. Nagel discussed alternatives available in Cortland County and went on to discuss some other alternative programs in New York State.

1.         Update on CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) Project – Sheriff Price discussed new

training from New World on use of the lap tops in the vehicles and further training will be given in May.  He further discussed that Mr. Corpora is working on hot spots in downloading information from the laptops.  Sheriff Price discussed that work is being done on the records management with new World.  Sheriff Price explained that it take time to have everyone trained on new software and that there are always glitches with new software but they are trying to work with New World to have everything up and running.   

 

2.            Sheriff’s Department – Jail Physician – Sheriff Price introduced Dr. Marshall M. Trabout and explained that he has been the Jail Physician since 1999 and that was the last time that it went out for bid.  Sheriff Price explained that this year they did not go out for bid and just re-negotiated the contract with Dr. Trabout.  Dr. Trabout discussed his experience.  He further discussed that he tries to do as much in house as possible and minimize any transports.  Mr. Daniels explained to the committee that he received a letter from the Cortland County Medical Society regarding this position and the fact that it had not gone out for bid.  He further discussed that this type of position is more of a specialist with experience.  Dr. Trabout discussed the need to be aware of certain diseases/illnesses that are more common in Jails.  He further mentioned that the last time this went out to bid there was only one other individual that responded.  He also discussed that he works with the staff and tries not to send inmates out to Doctors offices and discussed expenses and risks related to transporting inmates to Doctors offices.  Committee members inquired about whether or not the facility is adequate to see patients.  Dr. Trabout discussed the area being tight and barely adequate.  Dr. Trabout thanked the committee for inviting him. 

 

3.            Department Heads Forum – 

 

Jail - Captain Ray Lewis discussed the Holding Area in the Jail and the Commission of Corrections.  He mentioned that there had been discussion at to limiting the time that a person can be held in that area.  Captain Lewis explained how that area is utilized.  He stated that he believes the three cells are going to be considered as additional cells, increasing the cells from 59 to 62.  He discussed the Commission of Corrections and the light in that area.  Captain Lewis recommended involving the Commission of Corrections in any plans for a new Jail facility. 

 

Fire & Emergency Management Office – Mr. Duell introduced Dean         as the consultant to help with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance.  He went on to discuss that Cortland County is the first county in Region 4 of Central New York to pass a resolution adopting NIMS.  He further discussed that there are still counties in the region that are just beginning to understand NIMS and being referred to his office for assistance.  Mr. Van Dee inquired about how long it will take to train everyone.  DEAN explained the training associated with NIMS.  Mr. Duell explained that the is to be completed by December 31^st but he expects to have most of it completed in August.  DEAN stated that they are pushing to complete the training.  Mr. Duel further discussed that he is coordinating training with the Highway Department.  Sheriff Price discussed that there are only a couple of people left to complete the NIMS training in his department. 

 

Sheriff’s Department – Sheriff Price asked the committee if they were looking for a monthly report from his department and if so what would they like to see in this report.  Mr. Daniels discussed not being a fan of written reports and stating that is a reason why he has added Department Heads Forum to his agenda.  Mr. Daniels did request that if there is a need to distribute some type of report to try and limit it to just one sheet.  Sheriff Price went to discuss the population at the jail, state parolees and weekenders.  He discussed that New York State reimburses the County $34/day and went on to discuss that it costs $80/day to board inmates out.       

 

Mr. Cornell made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Spaulding.  The meeting adjourned at 10:07 a.m.