Residents and legislators press for transparency on proposed jail project

Public commenters at the April 13 Yates County Legislature meeting urged the body to increase transparency around the proposed Public Safety Facility and to work collaboratively with the public and legislators on next steps. Speakers during the public comment period included Alex Andrasik of the Finger Lakes Justice Partnership, Jack Ossent, Robert Gillespie, Michela Schultz of the Penn Yan Action Coalition and others who expressed concern about perceived gaps in information and public outreach.

Clerk Emilee D. Miller summarized how the county posts meeting notices and agendas, explaining that "they are typically advertised in the Chronicle Express and the Dundee Observer" and that agendas and minutes are posted on the county website and shared via the county Facebook page; she also noted that interested residents can sign up on the website to receive notifications. Several speakers and some legislators said that more proactive notice and public engagement would help address community concerns as the project advances.