Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building And Security Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sergeant at Arms reports staff changes, mezzanine reopening and urgent camera replacement window
Summary
The Sergeant at Arms updated JLMC on personnel changes, completion of the mezzanine suite and related space benefits, a pages-housing equity concern, and an urgent federal grant procurement window to replace building security cameras destroyed in a flood.
The Sergeant at Arms updated the Joint Legislative Management Committee on personnel and building matters, reporting three staffing changes, completion of a mezzanine committee suite, and an urgent procurement window for security cameras previously approved for the State House.
Personnel: The office reported that an officer, Maya Winn, moved to part-time status; the visitor services coordinator, Martina Michalova, resigned with a last day next Thursday and will be temporarily backfilled; and a new doorkeeper, Tom Hardy, has been hired.
Mezzanine suite and space: The Sergeant at Arms said the mezzanine committee suite passed a fire inspection and is on budget; the office plans to reuse existing furniture where possible, and the suite is expected to open the following Tuesday with some punch-list work to follow. The suite will include three or possibly four single-user reservable offices intended to relieve pressure on currently oversubscribed reservable rooms. For safety and access, the suite’s public entrance will be propped open after an initial one-week period; fire-door hardware will close doors on alarm.
Pages program housing concern: A senator raised a new-business charge about inequities in the pages program: current arrangements make the program accessible mainly to families that can pay for lodging, rent Airbnbs or reside locally. The senator asked JLMC to explore options to provide safe, equitable housing so the program can be available to students from across the state.
Security cameras and federal funding window: The Sergeant at Arms reminded the committee that a federal grant-funded camera system had previously been approved by joint rules but the originally purchased cameras were destroyed in a flood. Staff and the Capitol Police have been working with FEMA and IT staff to assemble a replacement procurement package. A representative of the Joint Fiscal Office (Scott Warren) said a vendor price point remains valid for about 30 days; staff cautioned that the opportunity to buy replacement cameras at the quoted price is time-limited. The committee was told the likely replacement cost is about $200,000 and that JLMC may be asked to reconvene within the 30-day procurement window to authorize purchase and any required budget adjustments.
The Sergeant at Arms and staff named Kevin Moore (IT) and court personnel as key partners on the mezzanine project and the camera work; staff said some restroom doors are temporarily reused until shipments arrive and that the mezzanine project remains on budget.
