Judiciary & Public Safety Committee

December 5, 2006 - 7:30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

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

Others present: Marilyn Brown, Chairman of the Legislature; Richard C. Van Donsel, County Attorney; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Lee Price, Cortland County Sheriff; Bob Duell, Director of Fire & Emergency Management; Brenda De Russo, Assistant Director of Fire & Emergency Management; Tom Huttleston, Safety Officer; Eric Mulvihill, WXHC; and Corey Preston, Cortland Standard;

Absent: Danny Ross

Mr. Daniels called the meeting to order at 7:32 a.m.

Mr. Van Dee moved adoption of the minutes of the November 14, 2006 meeting; seconded by Mr. Cornell. All members voting in favor; none opposed; minutes approved as printed.

RESOLUTIONS

Fire & Emergency Management

1. Authorize LEPC Designation – Mr. Spaulding moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Cornell. Mr. Cornell inquired about the cost to the County. Mr. Duell explained that there is no charge to the County and further explained that there is just a change in managing operations. He further discussed that the change is in including all hazards, not just chemical hazards. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

2. Renew Agreement (Miller Technical Advisory Services) – Mr. Van Dee moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Spaulding. Mr. Cornell inquired if this has been budgeted for. Mr. Duell explained that funds from the grant would cover the cost of this. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

Authorize Lease Agreement, Cortland County Regional Training Facility – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Spaulding. Mr. Van Donsel stated that due to a conflict, Mr. Walsh would be handling all concerns regarding this. Chairman Brown inquired about the cost of this training facility. Mr. Duell explained that the Town of Cortlandville will be paying the electric and the County will be paying to heating the facility. He added that the Buildings and Grounds Department has looked into necessary renovations and determined that the cost of these of renovations would be approximately $18,000. Mr. Duell explained the history of the building and further discussed that the County does not have a training facility available. Committee members discussed the overall cost and where the funding would come from. Mr. Schrader was not present at the meeting but the Committee members will look to him for this information. Mr. Duell further explained that the annual heating cost of the facility is approximately $4,000. Mr. Williams inquired about the liability insurance. Mr. Van Dee discussed whether or not the County owns the building and it was determined that the County does not own the building. Mr. Williams asked how many people would train at the facility. Mr. Duell explained that there are about 600 active Firefighters Countywide and added that EMS could also use the facility for training. Mr. Williams inquired as to how often the facility would be used. Mr. Duell explained that over 450 hours of training annually and that the facility would be used on a monthly basis. Mr. Cornell discussed tabling this until January meeting. Chairman Brown inquired where the training has been conducted up to this point. Mr. Duell explained that is was done at the Public Safety Building but that the area that was used has been renovated for the 911 Center. Committee members discussed using the Armory as a training facility. Mr. Duell explained that all other Counties have designated training facilities such as this. Committee members discussed when and how often the facility would be utilized for training. Ms. DeRusso discussed the grant money, which Senator Seward helped obtain regarding this facility. She discussed the funding that went to the Town of Cortlandville to help develop a Countywide facility. Ms. DeRusso discussed using the building for what it was originally intended to be used for. Committee members discussed moving this resolution contingent upon obtaining the appropriate figure before it goes to Budget & Finance Committee. Mr. Daniels expressed that he would pull it from the Budget & Finance Committee agenda if the appropriate information was not received prior to that meeting. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved contingent upon the appropriate figures be made available to the Committee members prior to the Budget and Finance Committee meeting scheduled for December 14, 2006.

Sheriff’s Department

4. Authorize Agreement, Cortland County and State of New York Office of Technology Office of the Sheriff, Fire Emergency Management – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Clark. Chairman Brown inquired about the cost involved. Mr. Price explained that the only cost involved is when the computer systems are installed in the towers. He added that this is just to start evaluating Cortland County along with other surrounding counties. He added that Cortland County could back out of this agreement in the future. Mr. Price expressed that this is just for research purposes. He added that this area is the last area to be completed and completion is scheduled for 2010. Mr. Price further expressed that there is no cost to the County for the research. Mr. Price informed the committee that they might want to consider setting money aside for the changing over of radios when the time comes. Mr. Duell explained that the common radio approximately costs between $1,000 and $2,000. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

5. Authorize Agreement Extension, Jail, Oneida County, Central New York Psychiatric Center Forensic Unit Services – Mr. Spaulding moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Clark. Mr. Daniels inquired about what this is to pay for. Mr. Price explained that this pays $125 per day for evaluation. He further explained that unsentenced inmates utilize psychiatric services in Central New York and sentenced inmates utilize services in Rochester. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

6. Authorize Agreement/Amend Budget, Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee – STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) – Mr. Cornell moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Clark. Mr. price explained that this is a grant from New York State. All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

DISCUSSION/COMMITTEE ACTION:

1. Department Head Forum –

Sheriff’s Department , Jail - Mr. Price explained that the population in the Jail is the lowest it has been in a long time. He explained that one female is housed out, one female is housed out for psychiatric treatment, and one male is housed out in Tioga County. Mr. Price expressed that he is hopeful that the population remains this low. Mr. Price expressed that he would like to clarify that females could be housed in Cortland County Jail when capacity allows for it. He explained procedures that are taken to house females in the Cortland County Jail. He added that usually the capacity of the jail does not allow for housing female inmates.

Mr. Williams inquired about the contract with the City regarding the equipment for the 911 Center. He further inquired about who covers the cost of moving the equipment and who actually owns the equipment. He stated that Mr. Schrader was to have the information available at this meeting but he is not in attendance at the meeting today.

Mr. Spaulding made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Cornell. Mr. Daniels adjourned the meeting at 7:55 a.m.

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After the meeting Mr. Schrader was informed of the information that was requested by members of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee and prepared the following:

In response to members' questions regarding the Training Center, it is estimated that the cost of renovations to the facility will total $20,000, which is budgeted as part of the Building Repairs line in the 2007 Buildings and Grounds Budget. It is estimated that the annual natural gas cost would be between $4,000 - $5,000 (which has not been budgeted), depending on the harshness of the winter. There would be no additional cost for liability or property insurance, as the County is blanketed for each.

In response to members' inquiries as to the cost of the relocation of City Alarm equipment, the total cost is approximately $2,000 ($582 for a cabinet, $566 for wire, and the remainder for misc. and labor). A meeting to discuss this with the City has been postponed twice and is rescheduled for later this week or early next week. I will let you know the outcome.

Scott Schrader

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