Tompkins County Sheriff Peter Meskill told the Board that he thinks remodeling or expanding the Public Safety Building should be delayed for a year. Meskill said that while more and better-designed space is needed at the Warren Road facility, he would like the County to take other actions before deciding to add cells. "The easy solution is to begrudgingly spend more money for additional cell space in the County jail and simply warehouse people in a larger, modern jail, but it accomplishes nothing," said Meskill. All of the players in the chain that leads to incarceration – including the District Attorney, judges, and probation officers – need to come together to understand what can be done to improve the criminal justice system in Tompkins County, he said. The Sheriff recommended that the Board set aside "several hundred thousand dollars" in the 2001 County budget for alternative criminal justice programs. "We do need to maintain jail cells for violent criminals, but jail is not the answer for all our problems," said Meskill.
TOBACCO RESOLUTIONS SHELVED UNTIL AFTER PUBLIC INPUT EVENT
Citing a desire to hear more public input, Board members withheld or withdrew two resolutions concerning the County’s tobacco settlement money. Rep. Tom Joseph held back a resolution that would have notified the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) of Tompkins County’s interest in learning more about securitizing its tobacco funds. Securitization would allow the County to sell bonds netting it about $17 million in a lump sum instead of waiting for annual tobacco payments totaling approximately $55 million over the next 30 years. Rep. Dooley Kiefer withdrew a member-filed resolution that would have encouraged agencies and departments to bring to the Board health-related proposals for spending tobacco settlement money.
Public Information Coordinator Wendy Skinner told the Board that 34 residents have signed up for a Citizens Study Group on the tobacco settlement money, scheduled for this Saturday. The Study Group will receive in-depth information about the tobacco money options. Their ideas and comments will be shared with the Board of Representatives to help them make their decisions later this year. The deadline for registration for the event has been extended to 4 pm Thursday. Anyone interested should call Skinner at 274-5555.
IN OTHER ACTION
Finance Director David Squires announced that the County audit report is now available for public viewing. The report gives the County high marks for fiscal responsibility and good management. It is available at the Board of Representatives office.
A resolution to revise the residency requirement for County advisory boards was sent back to the Government Operations Committee. The Board asked that the committee list specific instances when a resident of a contiguous county might be allowed to serve on a Tompkins County advisory group.