Judiciary & Public Safety Committee

September 12, 2006, 9:30 AM

DRAFT MINUTES

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

Others Present: Marilyn Brown, Legislative Chairman; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Angie Wyatt, Secretary to County Administrator; Sheriff Lee Price; Wendy Franklin, Assistant District Attorney; Jane Goldner, Probation Director; Bob Duell, Fire/Emergency Management; Brenda DeRusso, Fire/Emergency Management; John Steger, County Legislator; Carl Moses, Director-Weights & Measures; Ric VanDonsel, County Attorney; Eric Mulvihill, WXHC; Corey Preston, Cortland Standard; Tom Sanford, BOVIS; Gerald Geoghegan & Toby Dusha, Statewide Wireless Network

The meeting was called to order at 9:31a.m. by Chairman, John Daniels

*MOTION BY DANNY ROSS – 2^ND BY SEAN CLARK TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 17, 2006 JUDICIARY & PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING AS WRITTEN – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – MINUTES APPROVED AS WRITTEN.

A letter was received from Judge Julie Campbell (copy hereto attached) to ask that the minutes of the August 17, 2006 be amended due to disagreeing with a statement, she attributed to Scott Schrader, that the Judges were satisfied with the proposed Local Law regarding the Conflict Attorney’s Office. THE MINUTES WERE NOT AMENDED BUT………. A MOTION WAS MADE BY TOM WILLIAMS – 2^ND BY LARRY CORNELL TO RECEIVE AND FILE JUDGE JULIE CAMPBELL’S LETTER – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – THE LETTER IS HEREBY RECEIVED AND FILED AND ATTACHED HERETO.
Also attached hereto is a letter from Cortland County Bar Association President, Bruce Fein (JPS Chairman, John Daniels requested that this letter also be attached)

RESOLUTIONS:

District Attorney

Accept Grant/Authorize Agreement (Assistant District Attorney Position – DCJS) – MOTION BY LARRY CORNELL – 2^ND BY DANNY ROSS – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion: NONE

DISCUSSION/COMMITTEE ACTION

Addendum to the Sheriff's annual report { JAIL } – The Jail portion of the Sheriff’s annual report was included in the original report.

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Presentation-NYS Office of Technology: Preliminary Planning Agreement (PPA) – Gerald Geoghegan and Toby Dusha gave the Committee a brief history and presentation on the Statewide Wireless Network. The Statewide Wireless Network will provide interoperability between various groups of emergency responders across New York State and other states. There are 3 levels associated with this system:

Level 1- {Infrastructure}: Sharing infrastructures such as towers and shelters; Collocate to minimize tower proliferation; Share some infrastructure costs.

Level 2- {Gateway}: Full control of own communications system and network; Access Statewide Wireless Network when needed; Achieve interoperability; Share date and files with other Statewide users when connected; Share infrastructure such as towers and shelters; Collocate to minimize tower proliferation.

Level 3- {Full Integration}: Always connected to Statewide Wireless Network (for daily use); Achieve interoperability; Share frequencies and spectrum; Maintain control of own talk groups; Option to add features to own system; Always able to share data and files with other Level 3 users; Share infrastructure such as towers and shelters; Collocate to minimize tower proliferation.

The County could join the SWN at any level as outlined above. Bob Duell indicated that he would be in favor of the first 2 Levels of the plan. Construction has begun in Cattaraugus and Chautauque counties. It is strictly a county option but would be a benefit to the county in emergency situations. Lee Price and Scott Schrader will discuss this further and a resolution will be prepared.

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Introduce Local Law No. 1 for the Year 2006: Pulled from August 24, 2006 Session – MOTION BY TOM WILLIAMS – 2^ND BY DANNY ROSS TO TABLE THIS UNTIL THE NEXT JUDICIARY & PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – MOTION TO TABLE LOCAL LAW NO. 1 FOR THE YEAR 2006 BE TABLED TO THE NEXT JPS MEETING ON OCTOBER 10, 2006.

Tom Williams asked that a legal opinion be given based on Judge Julie Campbell’s letter (attached) to Chairman John Daniels indicating that the proposed Local Law is illegal. Ric VanDonsel suggested that members of the Bar Association be invited to attend the next Judiciary & Public Safety Meeting to discuss the proposed Local Law 1 for the Year 2006 regarding the creation of a Conflict Attorney’s Office.

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Departmental 2007 Budgets – Scott Schrader has distributed all county department budgets to the Legislators. The only Budget that is not in is the District Attorney’s Office. JPS Committee members agreed that the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee will review the department budgets that are under their jurisdiction on an informal basis. If Committee members have any questions or concerns they will contact the individual department head or the County Administrator.

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Department Heads Forum:

Sheriff Lee Price and Fire/Emergency Director Bob Duell jointly reported that they represented Cortland County at the special 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City this past Sunday. First responders from all over the state were in attendance. They were presented with a flag to bring back for the County.

Bob Duell also advised the Committee that a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and SEMA (State Emergency Management Agency) assistance team have set up offices and are conducting business in Room 300 on the 3^rd Floor of the County Office Building. They have received 189 individual assistance applications regarding the flood in June.

No other departments gave a report.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:11a.m.

Minutes prepared by Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Scott Schrader.