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Legislature approves grant-funded position tied to discovery reform costs
Summary
Allegany County legislators approved accepting grant funding to cover a position created to address increased costs from state discovery reforms; county and the district attorney described the funding as tied to the reforms and temporary while the grant remains available.
Allegany County legislators voted to accept grant funding to support a position created in response to increased costs stemming from state discovery-reform requirements.
The grant and position are “tied to this funding,” and “if it were to go away, that position has to go away,” a county official said during the discussion. The motion to accept the funding passed by voice vote.
The district attorney, D. A. Jones, told legislators the need for the position arises from changes in New York discovery rules. “This is directly tied to the increased costs as a result of the discovery reform, and there is a lot of increased cost as a result of discovery reform,” Jones said. Jones added that the reforms had increased expenses across the system.
When asked whether the reforms produced more justice, Jones offered an evaluative comment: “I do not think that they have produced any greater justice … In fact, I think they've been an injustice,” and said they had produced “a lot more expense everywhere you turn.” Those statements were framed as the district attorney’s opinion.
The county chair called for the vote after brief questions from legislators; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Legislators did not specify the exact grant name or annual award amount during the discussion on the record. They characterized the position as contingent on continued grant funding and said other court coverage needs would persist even if the grant-funded position ended.
The committee moved on to subsequent agenda items after the vote.
