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Sheriff seeks contract amendment for jail food costs, creates part-time mechanic post and urges vehicle replacement plan
Summary
The Warren County Sheriff's Office won committee approval Jan. 21 to amend its state correctional-food contract and to create a part-time building maintenance mechanic post; officials also discussed accelerating replacement of aging patrol vehicles.
The Warren County Sheriff's Office told the Public Safety & Emergency Services Committee on Jan. 21 that it needs three operational changes: an amendment to the county's agreement with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to account for higher correctional food costs; creation of a part-time building maintenance mechanic to cover a long-term injured mechanic; and a plan to address the sheriff's aging vehicle fleet.
The committee approved the contract amendment to permit the county to exceed the previously capped food expense amount. The under sheriff said the county had "surpassed the 126, 114, not to exceed amount" and asked the committee to amend the contract to allow higher spending as needed through the year.
The committee also approved creating a part-time building maintenance mechanic position, citing the sheriff's 24/7 operational needs and the extended absence of a current mechanic. The proposed part-time maintenance mechanic wage was included in the meeting materials (hourly rate cited at $28.87). Supervisors discussed whether facility maintenance should be handled by the county's general services group but county and sheriff's office staff explained the jail is a 24/7 operation and having dedicated maintenance staff familiar with the building has been more efficient in past experience.
Finally, the sheriff and county administration discussed the vehicle fleet. The under sheriff said some patrol vehicles are 10—1 years old and up to or past 100,000 miles; upfitting new vehicles is expensive and recycling lights and equipment is becoming less feasible. County administration said the county has been funding a fleet reserve (about $400,000) and is considering increasing it by another $200,000 to $600,000 to allow steady replacements; procurement lead times can be about a year. Supervisors emphasized public-safety benefits of a replacement schedule; the sheriff said staff will return with a recommendation on a replacement plan.
Motions passed by voice vote: the contract amendment for correctional food expenses, the creation of a part-time building maintenance mechanic, and the authorization for staff to continue work on fleet procurement and replacement recommendations.
