Referred to: The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairwoman Walter and Legislators Fabiano, Haynes, Heppner, and Parete), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Archer, Bartels, Haynes, Maio, Parete, Ronk, and Walter)

 

Chairwoman of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, Eve Walter, and Deputy Chair Heidi Haynes offer the following:

 

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the Ulster County District Attorney; and

 

          WHEREAS, the District Attorney advises that due to Discovery Reform legislation passed in 2020, Criminal Procedure Law 245, the office of the District Attorney requires the creation of a “Discovery and Records unit”; and

 

          WHEREAS, it is estimated that during an average annual period said law will require accelerated, mandated, expanded and automatic discovery in approximately 1,000 felony cases and 2,500 misdemeanor cases; and

 

          WHEREAS, as a result of the COVID –19 pandemic no criminal jury trials occurred between March 2020 and March 2021, causing Assistant District Attorney caseloads to double and triple in number, exacerbating the burden of accelerated and expanded discovery; and

 

          WHEREAS, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services has allotted a grant award amount of $768,733.00 to Ulster County from the New York State Division Criminal Justice Discovery Compensation Fund; and

 

WHEREAS, A Discovery Reform Funding Plan requesting $768,733.00 for discovery and bail reform related expenditures, made between March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, including costs related to staff and personnel, will be submitted on May 19th, 2021, seeking reimbursement directly to Ulster County in the amount of $425,198.36 for Ulster County District Attorney related expenses; and         

 

WHEREAS, the purpose of the criminal justice discovery compensation fund is to annually provide funding to law enforcement and prosecutorial entities for expenses related to discovery reform implementation; and

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, the Ulster County District Attorney has concluded that in order to handle the impact of Criminal Procedure Law 245, the following positions are necessary and should be created: (a) Chief of Discovery Unit; (b) one assistant district attorney; (c) one paralegal; (d) one records and operations manager; (e) one video and technical support technician; and (f) one administrative assistant; and

 

WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2021 County Budget to provide funds to meet the County’s obligation for these expenses, now, therefore, be it

 

RESOLVED, the Legislature hereby authorizes and creates the permanent positions of (a) Chief of Discovery Unit; (b) one assistant district attorney; (c) one paralegal; (d) one records and operations manager; (e) one video and technical support technician; and (f) one administrative assistant, and be it further

 

RESOLVED, that the 2021 Ulster County Budget is hereby amended as follows:

 

                                                  CREATE

 

POSITION #                    TITLE                                                 AMOUNT

 

 

11651456                         Discovery & Records  Unit Chief          $81,996.00*

(PL#)                                Mgt (Full-Time)

* Annual Salary

Annual Benefits $42,392

(Salary to Year End – 7/5/2021 $40,841)

(Benefits to Year End – 7/5/2021 $21,115)

 

 

11651457                         Assistant District Attorney                     $68,567.00*

(PL#)                                Mgt (Full-Time)

* Annual Salary

Annual Benefits $35,449

(Salary to Year End – 7/5/2021 $34,152)

(Benefits to Year End – 7/5/2021 $17,657)

 

 

 

 

 

CREATE

 

POSITION #                    TITLE                                                 AMOUNT

 

 

11651458                         Paralegal                                              $52,344.00*

(PL#)                                CSEA – Grade 15

* Annual Salary

Annual Benefits $27,062

(Salary to Year End – 7/5/2021 $26,072)

(Benefits to Year End – 7/5/2021 $13,479)

 

 

11651459                         Records & Operations Mgr                        $48,616.00*

(PL#)                                CSEA – Grade 14

* Annual Salary

Annual Benefits $25,135

(Salary to Year End – 7/5/2021 $24,215)

(Benefits to Year End – 7/5/2021 $12,519)

 

 

11651460                         Video & Tech Support Tech                   $52,344.00*

(PL#)                                CSEA – Grade 15

* Annual Salary

Annual Benefits $27,062

(Salary to Year End – 7/5/2021 $26,072)

(Benefits to Year End – 7/5/2021 $13,479)

 

 

11651461                         Administrative Ast./Typ                         $42,642.00*

(PL#)                                CSEA – Grade 12

* Annual Salary

Annual Benefits $22,046

(Salary to Year End – 7/5/2021 $21,239)

(Benefits to Year End – 7/5/2021 $10,981)

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCREASE                               AMOUNT  

 

         

AA-1165-1031-1300-1300           Regular Pay                                $172,591.00

(App.#)

 

AA-1165-1031-8000-8000           Retirement                                  $ 28,789.00

(App.#)

 

AA-1165-1031-8010-8010           Social Security                            $ 13,204.00

(App. #)

 

AA-1165-1031-8020-8035           Health Insurance                $ 47,237.00

(App. #)

 

 

DECREASE                                    AMOUNT                   

 

AA-0917-3205                                 Unassigned Fund Balance              $261,821.00

(Rev.#)

 

and move its adoption.

 

 

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

 

AYES:                 NOES:    

 

 

Passed Committee: Law Enforcement and Public Safety on ______________.

 

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on_____________.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$261,821.00 -ADDITIONAL 2021 APPROPRIATION DOLLARS

  ($542,603 ANNUALIZED)

$261,821.00 - REDUCTION IN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE