LEGISLATURE STUFF - 19 May 2024

Bolstering the Public Defenders

By Michael Ryan

CATSKILL - A new Justice Center is currently under construction in Catskill even as the Greene County Legislature amends a longstanding policy related to hiring employees in the Public Defenders Office.

Work is continuing on the Justice Center which will be connected to the existing county courthouse by an elevated walkway.

The building will house the Public Defender and District Attorney offices as well as the local base for the State Office of Court Administration.

Ground was broken in early April for what will be a 3-story structure including interior parking on the first floor for court personnel.

Lawmakers, last November, accepted four separate construction bids and approved up to $25 million in serial bonds to finance the effort.

That bottom line turned out to be an illusion, increasing a month later when officials were told an additional $3.8 million would be needed to cover the cost of bolstering the foundation, situated at the base of a steep hill.

County administrator Shaun Groden emphasized no extra borrowing would be required to make up the difference, instead tapping Reserve Funds.

The present plans call for laying finished sidewalks and blacktop in June of 2025, according to legislature chairman Patrick Linger, who shared very welcome dollars and cents information.

Negotiations with the Office of Court Administration have resulted in the State “changing they way they are financing their part,” Linger said.

The county had asked for a significant increase in the State’s annual lease payments, coming away with less but ending up with more.

“They initially agreed to a higher dollar amount for rent but then said they didn’t want to be locked in for that amount,” Linger said.

Instead, the State will pay $5 million up front with a $140,000 yearly lease, reaping $9.5 million over the life of the county’s 30-year payback period.

“In the long run, we end up with more money than if we had stuck with the higher rent total and the $5 million is that much less we have to bond,” Linger said, noting the overall debt won’t add pain to taxpayers.

County officials say the fresh debt merely replaces an already existing loan that is expiring. While it is still money going out, the impact will not be felt directly within upcoming budget cycles.

Meanwhile, lawmakers, following a public hearing, approved a resolution allowing assistant public defenders to reside outside Greene County.

The resolution states the legislature took the action, “in order to assure an adequate pool of qualified applicants for assistant public defender.”

Change was also necessary to “retain such applicants if hired,” henceforth allowing personnel to reside in Greene County or any contiguous county.

Those counties shall include Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Schoharie or Ulster. The modification does not apply to the position of First Assistant Public Defenders who could move up to the top spot.

In other matters:

—Lawmakers authorized the purchase of a new 2024 Ford F250 XLT crew cab 4 x 4 for the county Buildings and Grounds Department.

The purchase will be made from Van Bortel Ford in East Rochester, New York, for $52,079.45, using a competitive mini-bid process.

—Lawmakers reappointed Mary Ann Kordich as a member of the Greene County Civil Service Commission for a 6-year term at an annual salary of $4,544.02, with the term expiring at the end of May, 2030.

—Lawmakers reappointed members to the Columbia-Greene Workforce Development Board for 3-year terms, expiring at the end of June, 2027.

The members of Scott Brazie (representing ACCESS-VR), Rachel Puckett (representing business Mid-Hudson Cable), James Hannahs (representing Economic Development, Tourism and Planning);

Stephanie Schleuderer (representing Greene County Department of Human Services, Youth),  Patrick Brown (representing New York State Department of Labor):

Katherine Nelson (representing The Bank of Greene County) and Florence Ohle (representing Community Action of Greene County).

The Columbia-Greene Workforce Board and its membership were established to promote collaboration between business, economic development, education, labor and community organizations.

Their collaborative mission is focused on advancing a local workforce development system that meets the needs of all workers and employers.