Minutes 06-11-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Paul Laughton said a mark up/mark down sheet has been done for several years, allowing the Board to walk through changes in expenses and revenues. He reviewed the following numbers: Manager's Recommended Budget $205,976.110 $65,000 reduction in PAYG $65,000 $180,000 change two CIP Projects $180,000 Board of County Commissioners Compensation $ 24,500 Commissioner Dorosin referred to an email he sent earlier in the day regarding pre-trial programs and their potential move to the Sheriff' Office. He said his email voiced concerns passed on to him from various stakeholders regarding this change. He said further discussion by the Board seems warranted. He said the Manager has proposed continuing the contracts and moving the administrative components to the County Manager's office. He said he would endorse this proposal. He asked if the topic could continue to be discussed over the next six months. He said concerns arise as the judicial process is an adversarial one and the Sheriff's Office is affiliated with one side of said process. He said having services moved from a neutral non-profit to the Sheriff's Office requires careful planning and forethought. Commissioner Pelissier said there was a recommendation that the Drug Court and pre- trial services be brought in house, per the jail alternatives work group. She said this raises two questions: bringing it in house to begin with and where to place it in house. She said the Manager recommended that these both go to Sheriff's Office and be reviewed on an annual basis. She said she is unsure whether contracts are needed or if having a position is preferable. Commissioner Jacobs said the Manager recommended these services to come under the Sheriff, since there was difficulty coordinating with outside agencies. He said he feels it is generous of the Sheriff to be willing to take these services on, but understands the potential issues given the adversarial nature of the judicial system. He agreed that the Board should have a further discussion, and as an interim measure to put it under the auspices of the Manager. Bonnie Hammersley said the Recommended Budget did include the recommendation of moving Pretrial Services and the Drug Court to the Sheriff's Office. She said this recommendation came from concerns raised by various departments and members of the Jail Alternatives Workgroup. She said there could be a conflict of interest with the entity that oversees these services. She said it is not uncommon for these programs to be in a jail. She said in order to protect the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), she is recommending to review this annually as a part of the budget ordinance, and for BOCC to choose an entity to oversee these programs. She said she has also heard from some concerned members of the legal community. Bonnie Hammersley said her email today which stated: "In response to the concerns that have been raised by some of the stakeholders of the Pre-trial Services change in the budget, I would offer an option 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," was an interim solution in her office for oversight and evaluation these programs and then to report back to the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Dorosin said the Manager's proposed compromise would address all of the concerns.