Referred to: The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairwoman Hansut and Legislators Hewitt, Fabiano, and Uchitelle), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Criswell, Roberts, and Ronk)

Chairwoman of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, Gina Hansut, and Deputy Chair Chris Hewitt offer the following:

          WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of the Public Defender; and

          WHEREAS, the Public Defender has requested that the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature be authorized to enter into an agreement with the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services for the purpose of Ulster County’s participation in the Second Upstate Family Defense (Child Welfare) Quality Improvement & Caseload Reduction, Contract No: C2NDUFD51, for the period 01/01/2023 through 12/31/2025; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Second Upstate Family Defense (Child Welfare) Quality Improvement & Caseload Reduction grant initiative is to support providers of representation of family court defense in upstate New York, and improve the quality of representation for parents involved in Article 10 child welfare matters; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County was awarded up to $215,018.00 for 2023 for the addition of a full-time Mental Health Specialist (Social Worker) and full-time Paralegal for the Public Defender’s Family Court Unit, along with a salary increase elevating a full-time Assistant Public Defender to Family Court Bureau Chief to supervise work under this initiative; and

WHEREAS, the Mental Health Specialist (Social Worker) and Paralegal positions, and Family Court Bureau Chief salary increase, and associated fringe benefits will be funded (by reimbursement) by the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services (NYSOILS) Second Upstate Family Defense (Child Welfare) Quality Improvement & Caseload Reduction, Contract No: C2NDUFD51; and

WHEREAS, the Public Defender requests the 2023 Ulster County Budget be amended to include one new full-time Social Worker, one new full-time Paralegal, and a salary increase for the designated Family Court Bureau Chief; and

WHEREAS, in order to reflect this, an amendment of the 2023 budget is necessary; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the 2023 County Budget is hereby amended as follows:

CREATE

POSITION #                              TITLE                                       AMOUNT

1170-1460                                  Mental Health Specialist              $ 68,360.00*

(PL#)                                          (Full-Time)

*Annual Salary

Annual Benefits $34,214

1170-1461                                  Paralegal                                    $ 59,041.00*

(PL#)                                          (Full-Time)

*Annual Salary

Annual Benefits $29,551

INCREASE

POSITION #                              TITLE                                       AMOUNT

1170-1160                                  Assistant Public Defender             $ 14,000.00*

(PL#)                                          (Full-Time)

*New Annual Salary – $99,813

Annual Benefits Adjustment $2,950

INCREASE                               AMOUNT  

AA.1170.1046-1300.1300            Regular Pay                                $ 141,401.00

(App. #)

AA.1170.1046-8000.8000            Retirement                                  $  18,977.00

(App.#)

AA.1170.1046-8010.8010            Social Security                             $ 10,818.00

(App.#)

AA.1170.1046-8020.8035            Health Insurance                         $ 36,921.00

(App.#),

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:

$208,117.00 – 2023 ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION DOLLARS

$208,117.00 – 2023 ADDITIONAL NYS REVENUE DOLLARS