Schenectady County Legislature approves package of routine resolutions, authorizes youth detention contract

The Schenectady County Legislature on Dec. 1 approved a package of routine resolutions by roll call, including budget amendments for SUNY Schenectady, acceptance of state mental health funding, a multiyear contract for secure youth detention services, a Thomson Reuters subscription for the District Attorney’s office, and several tax- and administrative-related resolutions.

County Manager Fluman described a proposed multiyear contract with Capital District Youth Center Inc. for secure juvenile detention services as a reengagement of an existing arrangement. Fluman said the facility serves children remanded through family court, covering ages 7 to 17; the center recently expanded by 12 beds, and Schenectady County receives about 23% of the facility's beds. Under the contract the county is guaranteed 12 beds, and when Schenectady County needs an available bed the contract requires the home county of any out-of-county child occupying a preferred bed to move that child to allow local access.

Clerk-read resolutions that passed by unanimous recorded votes (except where noted) included:

- A resolution designating dates for January committee meetings and the biannual organizational meeting (roll call recorded 13 aye, 1 absent, 1 excused). The organizational meeting was announced for Jan. 5 at 5:30 p.m. followed by committee meetings at 7:00 p.m.

- A resolution regarding budgetary amendments for capital improvements at SUNY Schenectady (roll call: 13 aye, 1 absent, 1 excused).

- A resolution authorizing Schenectady County to enter a multiyear contract with Capital District Youth Center Inc. and cooperating counties/partners for operation of a secure detention facility; the clerk recorded the resolution as passed (roll call text recorded as a passage with one absent and one excused).

- A resolution accepting monies from the New York State Office of Mental Health (roll call recorded 13 aye, 1 absent, 1 excused).

- A resolution authorizing a multiyear agreement with Thomson Reuters for online investigative services for the Schenectady County District Attorney (roll call recorded 13 aye, 1 absent, 1 excused).

Other routine items that passed included capital project amendments to purchase a storage area network, adoption of tax apportionment bases, chargebacks of uncollectible taxes to certain school districts, and an extension of return village taxes; each item was read by the clerk, had no discussion on the floor, and was passed by roll call.

Several resolutions were reported out of committee earlier in the evening by the committee on rules; where committee action was recorded, motions to 'move to report' were made and seconded before the full legislature took the roll call votes. No substantive floor amendments or defeats were recorded in the transcript of this meeting.

The meeting adjourned after the final roll call and passage of the evening's business.