Judiciary & Public Safety Committee

April 8, 2008 at 10:00AM

APPROVED MINUTES

Committee Present:  Tom Williams, Chairman; Gene Waldbauer, Vice Chairman; Chad Loomis, Tom Hartnett, Don Spaulding, Danny Ross, Tony Piombo

Other Legislators/Staff Present:  Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Angie Wyatt, Secretary to County Administrator; Dianna Claflin, A.T.I. Coordinator; Nick Wagner, 911 Center Coordinator; Dave Tanner, 911 Center; Lee Price, Sheriff; Bob Duell, Fire/Emergency Management Director; David Hartnett, District Attorney; Keith Dayton, Public Defender; Sandy Price, Legislator/Majority Leader, Jane Goldner, Probation Director; Mark Suben, County Attorney

Others Present:  Evan Geibel, Reporter-Cortland Standard; Eric Mulvihill, News Director-WXHC Radio

The meeting was called to order at 10:00a.m. by Chairman Tom Williams

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 11, 2008 MINUTES MADE BY MR. SPAULDING – 2^ND BY MR. PIOMBO – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MINUTES APPROVED

RESOLUTIONS

Sheriff’s Department

1.      Authorize Agreement Sheriff's Department/Jail (K&A Radiologic Technology Services, Inc.) – MOTION BY MR. PIOMBO – 2^ND BY MR. HARTNETT – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  Sheriff Price explained that it saves the County a lot of money when X-rays are able to be taken on the premises.  The company comes in and takes the X-rays there which saves a substantial amount in overtime pay and security is much better.

2A  Discontinue Monitoring Alarms Sheriff's Department – MOTION BY MR. SPAULDING – 2^ND BY MR. PIOMBO – NO VOTE TAKEN

MOTION TO TABLE THIS RESOLUTION MADE BY MR. WILLIAMS – 2^ND BY MR. LOOMIS – ALL VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  Sheriff Price has requested that the 911 Center stops monitoring the private alarm systems.  Mr. Tanner started to provide a list of individuals and companies with alarms.  Sheriff Price does not feel that this information should be public.  Mr. Schrader believes that it should be public.  Mr. Suben indicated that this matter would have to be referred to the County’s Records Officer which is Mr. Schrader.  Mr. Suben is the Appeals Officer.  Mr. Schrader would allow this information to be reviewed so it would never make it to the Appeals Officer.  Mr. Williams feels that this information should not be in the paper until the involved parties are notified.  Mr. Williams further feels that a letter should be sent to advise these people that we are going to discontinue monitoring the alarms.  Mr. Williams would like a letter sent to all individuals and businesses which will be affected by this.  Sheriff Price will be sending a letter out.  Mr. Loomis asked if we could start charging for the service for additional revenue.  Mr. Wagner pointed out that it would be an extra risk to start charging with no redundancy.  Mr. Ross commented that we would be competing with private companies.  Mr. Loomis offered to get the fee schedule from Tompkins County .  Mr. Schrader asked Mr. Loomis to also get the Local Law.  MOTION BY MR. WILLIAMS – 2^ND BY MR. LOOMIS TO TABLE THIS RESOLUTION UNTIL THE MAY MEETING – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Probation Department

2.      Amend and Update Agreements Alternatives to Incarceration (NYS Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives) – MOTION BY MR. ROSS – 2^ND BY MR. SPAULDING – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  Mr. Waldbauer asked why we spend $112,579 and we only get $20,000.  Ms. Goldner indicated that the state reimbursement is only 20%.  Mr. Schrader commented that it use to be 50%/50%.

Conflict Attorney

3.      A Resolution Requesting New York State Representatives to Sponsor Legislation Authorizing Counties to Create the Office of Conflict Attorney – MOTION BY MR. SPAULDING – 2^ND BY MR. HARTNETT – ALL PRESENT VOTING IN FAVOR – MOTION PASSES

Discussion:  This resolution was suggested by outside counsel.  It was pulled 2 meetings ago.  Mr. Suben indicated that this will not impact the lawsuit and that there is no problem moving forward with this resolution.

DISCUSSION/REPORTS

Mr. Williams asked Probation Director, Ms. Goldner and A.T.I. (Alternatives to Incarceration) Coordinator, Ms. Claflin to speak about the jail in relationship to the Probation Department and A.T.I.  Comments from Ms. Goldner, Ms. Claflin, Committee members and others in attendance were as follows:

• Ms. Goldner indicated that there are 620 people on probation with 40-50 of them being juveniles.  There are DWI offenders, sex offenders and drug dealers.  2/3 of the offenses are alcohol and drug related and there is some mental health.  The department needs to monitor and supervise these people in the community.  Drug Court is using jail time as a sanction.  Some people are remanded to jail while waiting for arraignment.  The use of the jail will remain the same or increase.
• District Attorney, Mr. Hartnett indicated that more people were arrested last year than 5 years ago.  Everything is a jailable offense, even speeding.  A judge could give jail time for speeding.  The amount of people in the criminal justice system is growing.  The City Court Judge is now a full time position with more staff.
• Ms. Claflin indicated that women offenders are on the rise and they are being housed out to other counties.
• Legislator, Mr. Hartnett asked if the half way houses in Cortland are successful.  Ms. Goldner indicated that the people in the half way houses are not from Cortland .  Mr. Hartnett asked if there are any state or national percentages.  Ms. Goldner is not aware of any.
• Sheriff Price praised Ms. Goldner and Ms. Claflin on the job they are doing.  Sheriff Price also commented that Drug Court has been a big help with keeping the jail population down.  Ms. Claflin commented that there are 41 people on release today but the jail is still full.
• DA Hartnett commented that he appreciates that this committee is studying the needs for a new jail but said that we do need a new jail!

District Attorney Mr. Hartnett pointed out his frustration with the Courthouse renovations because his staff of 9 people is on 3 floors and it is difficult to operate.  They are moving today.

Mr. Williams advised the Committee that there will be a special JPS meeting on April 22, 2008 at 8:00a.m.  The meeting was requested by the County Judges .

Mr. Williams commented that today was the first time that we have met on time.  Next month he would like General Services to start at 7:30a.m., Highway to start at 8:30a.m. and Judiciary & Public Safety to start at 9:30a.m. (9:30a.m. will be the published time but if Highway runs longer it will be later).

The meeting was adjourned at 11:05a.m.

Minutes taken and prepared by Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Scott Schrader

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