Minutes 06-11-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Rich that Pretrial Services and Drug Court continue as contracts, but transferring administration of those contracts to the County Manager's office, to allow for input from stakeholders and also for continued evaluation of where the program should ultimately end up. Commissioner Pelissier said she can accept this motion but said she does not want to see a discussion of contracts occur. She proposed a friendly amendment that, in 6 months, the positions will be in house somewhere. She said this is clearly in line with the recommendation of the consultant that was hired to review the current system. Commissioner Dorosin said he is not in favor of the pre-set review process and would rather stay with the Manager's language and respectfully decline friendly amendment. Commissioner Rich said sometimes she does not feel in the loop on this and other issues; however, she is supportive of Commissioner Dorosin's motion. Commissioner Jacobs said he is confident what Commissioner Pelissier suggested will happen. Chair McKee said problems with the non-profit currently overseeing Pretrial Services and the Drug Court has been ongoing. He has heard of issues for four years and the problems seem to persist regardless of what approach is made to address them. He said it is time to make a change. He said he believes the Sheriff to be highly motivated to keep numbers down at the jail. He said these numbers are constantly monitored. He said he wholeheartedly supports the Manager's original proposal to transfer these services to the Sheriff's Office. He said he recognizes this is a dramatic change and will be traumatic for the non-profit, but he finds the persistent problems to be too great an issue. He said most of the push back seems to have arisen in recent days and not since the budget document has been available. He said this large push back in the past 24 hours may be the result of a coordinated and manipulative attempt to influence the Board. Commissioner Dorosin said he disagreed with Chair McKee's interpretation of the increased push back. Commissioner Price said she agreed with Chair McKee and Commissioner Pelissier. Commissioner Jacobs said someone can make a substitute motion. Commissioner Pelissier said the only policy change in the original recommendation was changing the location to the Sheriff's Office. She said bringing the services in house is not a policy change. A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Rich that the Board adopt what Manager recommended in her email of continuing the contracts but transferring administration of the contracts to the County Manager's office to allow the opportunity for input from stakeholders. This option could also apply to the Drug Court contract that was included in the budget initiative to transfer to the Sheriff Office. A substitute motion was made by Commissioner Pelissier, seconded by Commissioner Price to continue the contracts for three months; bring the positions under the supervision of the Manager's office within 3 months; and study where to place the services in the long run after that, whether they remain in the Manager's Office or go to the Sheriff, and under what conditions they would go to the Sheriff. Commissioner Pelissier said there is already a Jail Alternatives Coordinator in the Sheriff's Office. She said wherever Pretrial Services is placed it will need to coordinate with the Jail Alternatives Coordinator.