Orleans Legislature Tackles State Inmate Backlog, Approves Opioid Fund Purchases
The Orleans County Legislature unanimously approved resolutions urging the state to address the backlog of "state-ready" inmates in county jails and authorized purchases using opioid settlement funds. The meeting also featured national awards for the Tourism Department and the District Attorney’s Major Felony Crime Task Force.
●Unanimously approved Resolution 267-625 urging NYS to transfer state-ready inmates and fully reimburse counties (7-0 vote).
●Authorized $87,579 in opioid settlement spending for a new Sheriff's van ($85,000), drone equipment ($2,229), and training ($350).
●Approved the purchase of a $16,500 driving simulator for the STOP DWI program.
●Accepted national awards from the National Association of Counties for the Tourism Department and the DA's Major Felony Crime Task Force.
●Authorized the Sheriff’s Animal Control Division to apply for ASPCA grant funding for spay/neuter programs.
●Recognized Jay Lazarony, retiring Executive Director of the GLOW Workforce Development Board.
ALBION — The Orleans County Legislature held a special meeting on June 24, 2025, focusing on public safety funding and intergovernmental cooperation, while celebrating national achievements by county departments.
Chairman Lynne Johnson called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. with all legislators present: Lynne Johnson, John Allport, Skip Draper, Daniel Eick, Robert Fitzak, Fred Miller, and Kevin Morgan.
The session opened with celebrations of workforce development and tourism. Legislators recognized Jay Lazarony, who is retiring as Executive Director of the GLOW Workforce Development Board. Lazarony reflected on 30 years in workforce development, highlighting the "GLOW with Your Hands" events that connect roughly 1,800 students from 31 school districts with trade and healthcare opportunities.
Following the recognition, Chairman Johnson announced that Orleans County had received two distinct Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The Tourism Department, led by Director Dawn Borcher, was honored for its 2024 advertising campaign. The District Attorney’s Office Major Felony Crime Task Force (MFCTF) also received an award for its efforts to combat drug trafficking and major felonies. District Attorney Susan Howard accepted the award alongside investigators, crediting the behind-the-scenes work of her team for keeping communities safe.
During the treasurer's report, Kim DeFrank noted the county’s financial stability, highlighting the receipt of the annual tobacco settlement payment totaling $454,552.
The legislature then moved to the main business of the evening, adopting five resolutions unanimously.
The most significant policy action came with Resolution No. 267-625. Legislators Draper and Fitzak introduced a measure urging Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to promptly transfer "state-ready" inmates from county jails to state facilities.
Legislators noted that the backlog of inmates sentenced to state prison but currently held in county jails has skyrocketed from approximately 200 to over 2,400 statewide. The resolution argues that county jails are not equipped for long-term incarceration and that the state’s reimbursement rate of $100 per day is significantly lower than the actual cost, which often exceeds $300. The financial strain is exacerbating staffing shortages and increasing overtime costs for local counties. The resolution, which passed 7 to 0, formally calls for full reimbursement of actual costs and immediate transfers.
Funding for law enforcement was addressed through Resolution No. 268-625. The legislature authorized the use of Opioid Settlement Funds totaling $87,579. The majority of these funds ($85,000) will be used to purchase a new 2024 Ford passenger van for the Sheriff’s Office. An additional $2,229 was allocated for a drone spotlight attachment, and $350 was approved for meal reimbursement for a deputy attending Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) school.
In a move to enhance driving safety education, the legislature adopted Resolution No. 269-625. The Sheriff’s Office was authorized to purchase an "ultra cockpit driving simulator system" from Simulator Systems International for $16,500. This purchase will be funded through the Sheriff’s STOP DWI budget.
In matters regarding animal welfare, Resolution No. 266-625 authorized the Sheriff’s Animal Control Division to apply for grant funding through the ASPCA’s New York State Animal Population Control Program. This program focuses on low-cost spay/neuter initiatives to manage animal populations.
The meeting concluded with the acceptance of donations to the Sheriff’s Office, though the specific amounts and donors were cut off in the provided documentation.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned shortly after the resolutions were presented.
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Coverage of the Orleans County Legislature meeting on 2025-06-24,
Village of Albion, NY.
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This article was drafted by AI (claude-sonnet-4-20250514) from the official meeting transcript and reviewed by a human editor.
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Related Orleans County Legislature Meetings
Orleans County Legislators Approve 2% Raises for Management, OK Funds for Opioid Remediation
●Approved Resolution 351-825, extending the 1% additional sales and use tax from December 1, 2027, to November 30, 2027 (Vote: 6-1; Legislator Draper opposed).
●Ratified a complex amendment updating tax rates for compensating use tax, hotel occupancy, and amusement charges to align with the new extension date.
●Authorized the use of net collections from the additional tax for general County purposes.
●Entered Executive Session at 9:03 a.m. to discuss current litigation.
●Adjourned the special meeting at 9:14 a.m.
Orleans County Legislature Approves New Safety Gear for Sheriff, 911 Tech Upgrade
●Unanimously authorized the purchase of ballistic armor and carriers for the Sheriff’s Jail division (Resolution 355-825).
●Approved the purchase of five "less than lethal" launchers for the SWAT team at a cost of $8,455 (Resolution 353-825).
●Adopted a five-year agreement with Rapid SOS to provide data applications to 911 and emergency responders at $0 cost to the county (Resolution 352-825).
●Authorized the purchase of a K9 unit insert for $11,913.73, paid for with Opioid funds (Resolution 354-825).
●Approved a reorganization of the Sheriff's Administration civil service titles, abolishing several clerical roles to create two new Principal Civil Clerk positions (Resolution 357-825).
●renewed a rental agreement with the Public Defender’s Office at a rate of $13.11 per square foot (Resolution 359-825).
●Approved a temporary secretary position in the District Attorney’s Office to cover for an upcoming medical leave (Resolution 362-825).
Orleans Legislature Marks Bicentennial with Gift of Art, Addresses Financial Health as Tobacco Revenue Drops
●Approved $30,850 in STOP DWI grant funding for 2026 to support patrols, equipment, and youth education (Vote: 7-0).
●Authorized a three-year agreement with PrimeCare Medical for jail health services, with a first-year cost of $817,089.96 ($68,090.83/month) and annual increases capped at 3.5% (Vote: 7-0).
●Accepted a $20,000 High Visibility Enforcement Grant from the NYS STOP DWI Foundation for increased patrols during holidays (Vote: 7-0).
●Accepted $11,835 in additional grants from the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee for seat belt enforcement and child passenger safety (Vote: 7-0).
●Approved $15,824 in technology service agreements for jail body scanners and fingerprint systems (Vote: 7-0).
●Received financial update showing county interest earnings grew from $97,945 in 2018 to over $2.09 million in 2024.
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