Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Prison Labor topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council weighs using Department of Corrections work‑release crew for tree work to save costs
Summary
Staff proposed using a small, trained work‑release crew from the Department of Corrections for tasks such as tree removal and storm cleanup, citing potential cost savings; council members asked about liability, supervision, training and MOU terms.
City staff presented a proposal to use a Department of Corrections (DOC) work‑release crew on small public projects, saying the program could generate significant cost savings compared with private contractors. "We did have Christie reach out to Total Tree to see what the cost difference would be. Got those two quotes," staff member Nate said, and later described the DOC crew as typically being people on work release who would be supervised by a trained city staffer.
Council members pressed on liability, training and who would supervise the crew. One council member said, "As long as we have clear understanding, of what Liability... and the individual... running this group of 5 ish folks is trained adequately," and urged an MOU or some formal agreement to set responsibilities. Staff said the city would likely only bear transportation costs and that staff would work through the details and return with an agreement or recommendation.
