🏢 Orleans County Legislature
Orleans County Legislators Accept Surplus Ambulance, Oppose Federal Fire Regulations
The Orleans County Legislature authorized the acceptance of a surplus ambulance from Niagara County and approved funding for new sheriff's office vehicles and equipment during their August 27 meeting. Lawmakers also officially opposed proposed federal changes to OSHA standards regarding volunteer fire brigades.
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Approved the purchase of four new Ford Explorers for the Sheriff’s Office at a cost of $74,774.29 each and leased two additional vehicles.
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Authorized the acceptance of a 2010 Road Rescue Ambulance transferred from Niagara County at no cost.
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Adopted a resolution opposing proposed federal OSHA changes to the Fire Brigade Standard, citing risks to volunteer agencies.
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Approved an agreement for a School Resource Officer at Kendall Central School District, with daily compensation set at $532.20 for 2024.
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Ratified a contract with Genesee County to house prisoners at the Orleans County jail for $90.00 per inmate per day.
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Authorized roughly $53,600 in SWAT equipment purchases, including red dot sights and an indoor drone.
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Filled vacancies in the Sheriff’s Office, including a full-time deputy sheriff and part-time dispatcher positions.
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Applied for a Walmart Foundation grant to support the "Shop with a Cop" program.
ALBION — The Orleans County Legislature met on August 27 to address a slate of public safety initiatives, ranging from the acquisition of a surplus ambulance to significant investments in the Sheriff’s Office fleet.
Chairman Lynne Johnson called the meeting to order at 4:31 p.m. The session began with a moment of silence for Jim Bensley, the county’s Director of Planning & Development who recently passed away.
Public safety dominated the agenda, with the Legislature approving a series of resolutions aimed at upgrading law enforcement infrastructure and personnel.
Perhaps the most substantial financial action involved the modernization of the Sheriff’s patrol fleet. Legislators authorized the purchase of four new 2024 Ford Explorers at a cost of $74,774.29 each, to be paid from the Sheriff’s capital equipment budget. Additionally, the county agreed to lease two more vehicles through Municipal Leasing Consultants, with annual payments of $52,957.60 spread over three years.
To accommodate these new vehicles, the Legislature approved a $10,000 contract with Rebel Liners LLC to install equipment into 25 Sheriff’s vehicles. This was funded by transferring money from the SWAT automotive parts and gas/oil line items into the vehicle maintenance fund.
The Legislature also moved to bolster the Sheriff’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) capabilities. In a unanimous vote, lawmakers authorized nearly $53,653 in new equipment. This includes $16,917.93 for red dot reflex sights and mounts, $11,736.55 for gun-mounted green lasers, and $24,999 for a "LEMUR 2" indoor drone bundle purchased from Brinc, a sole-source provider.
In matters of emergency management, the Legislature voted to accept a 2010 Road Rescue Ambulance from Niagara County at no cost. The transfer was authorized by Niagara County legislators last month after declaring the vehicle surplus.
However, not all business was about spending. The Legislature took a stand against potential future costs by passing Resolution No. 392-824, officially opposing proposed changes to the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Fire Brigade Standard.
County leaders, including the Department of Emergency Management, argued that the proposed regulations are too extensive and costly. The resolution noted that Orleans County relies heavily on ten volunteer fire agencies to protect its roughly 40,000 residents spread across 391 square miles. Officials fear the administrative burden and potential fines associated with the new standards could render local volunteer agencies inoperable.
"Our volunteer agencies comprise the backbone of our emergency response system," the resolution stated.
On the topic of school safety, the Legislature finalized an agreement with the Kendall Central School District to maintain a School Resource Officer (SRO). The two-year contract, running from September 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, will see the district compensate the Sheriff’s Office daily. The rate is set at $532.20 for the 2024-2025 school year, rising to $601.99 by 2026.
The county will also continue to generate revenue by housing inmates from neighboring jurisdictions. A new agreement with Genesee County sets the rate at $90.00 per inmate per day to house prisoners in the Orleans County jail, effective retroactively from January 1, 2024, through the end of 2026.
To ensure adequate staffing, the Legislature authorized the filling of a vacant full-time Deputy Sheriff position in the Road Patrol division, as well as a part-time Public Safety Dispatcher role, both effective September 4.
In other business, the Sheriff’s Office received approval to apply for a Walmart Foundation grant ranging from $250 to $5,000. If awarded, the funds will support the "Shop with a Cop" program, a local outreach initiative benefiting children and families in the community.
The Legislature also recognized a milestone for a local non-profit. Legislator Miller presented a proclamation to Nyla Gaylord, Executive Director of the United Way of Orleans County, declaring September as "United Way Month" in honor of the organization's 60th anniversary in the county.
Legislators Allport, Draper, Eick, Fitzak, Johnson, Miller, and Morgan were all present. All resolutions were adopted with 7 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 absent.
Coverage of the Orleans County Legislature meeting on 2024-08-27,
Village of Albion, NY.
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Related Orleans County Legislature Meetings
2024-09-24
County Legislature OKs $666K Match for New Emergency Operations Center, Accepts Donations for K-9 Unit
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Approved transferring $666,667 from the Infrastructure Reserve to match a $2 million FEMA grant for a new Emergency Management Office facility (7-0 vote).
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Authorized $55,650 in combined STOP DWI grants for increased patrols and youth education (7-0 vote).
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Accepted $2,475 in community donations for the Sheriff’s Office, specifically designated for animal control and the K-9 unit (7-0 vote).
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Approved a $10,726 contract with Patriot Towers for annual inspections of county communication towers (7-0 vote).
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Authorized the Probation Department to add 10 cell phones to the FirstNet account while rescinding old cell phone reimbursement policies (7-0 vote).
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Agreed to a partnership with Dr. Cayla Guadalupe-Murdoch to provide domestic violence evaluations and treatment at no cost to the county (7-0 vote).
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Approved the purchase of $5,898.40 in legal reference books for the Public Defender’s Office, paid for by a state grant extension (7-0 vote).
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Issued proclamations recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
2024-07-30
Orleans County Legislators Approve Funds for School Resource Officer, New Narcotics Detection Tech
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Albion Central School District for a School Resource Officer (SRO) from Sept. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, with daily compensation rates rising from $509.74 to $601.99 over the term.
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Authorized the purchase of two TruNarc drug analysis devices for the Sheriff and Probation departments at a cost of $38,285 per unit, utilizing opioid settlement revenue.
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Expanded work hours from 35 to 40 hours per week for two First Assistant District Attorneys, increasing their respective salaries to $95,503 and $87,859.
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Accepted a $70,577 state grant from the NYS Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives to fund Certified Pretrial Services through March 31, 2025.
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Authorized the acceptance of a $536,900 Law Enforcement Technology grant for the Sheriff’s Office to purchase equipment.
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Approved a $9,200 expenditure to install security cameras on six county Land Mobile Radio (LMR) communication towers.
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Authorized a $55,402.36 payment to LaBella Associates for design services regarding the new Emergency Management Office facility.
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Approved a $1,000 lifetime membership fee for Project Lifesaver to assist the Sheriff’s Office in locating residents who wander.
2024-10-22
Orleans County Legislators Face $5.4M Budget Gap While Approving Sheriff’s Security Deals
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Key Actions & Decisions
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2025 Budget Warning: CAO Welch reported the county is currently $5.4 million over the 2024 county cost for the upcoming year due to rising health insurance, retirement contributions, and a 1,000% increase in mental health forensic expenses.
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Walmart Security Contract: Unanimously approved an agreement for the Sheriff's Office to provide security detail at the Albion Walmart from Nov. 23 through Dec. 31.
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Grant Acceptance: Accepted $9,409 from the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and $63,098.88 in Operation Stonegarden funding for border security cooperation.
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Holiday Events: Approved "Bring Christmas Back to Albion's" request to place 12-15 decorated trees on the Courthouse lawn from Nov. 30 to Jan. 20.
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Surveillance Technology: Authorized the purchase of Flock Safety Falcon cameras for $47,450, with a recurring annual fee of $39,000 for four years.
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Jail Equipment: Approved $12,607.30 for the purchase of 10 ballistic armor carriers for corrections officers.
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Shop with a Cop: Accepted a $5,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to fund the Sheriff’s Office holiday outreach program.
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SWAT Gear: Approved the purchase of breaching tools for the SWAT team in the amount of $8,390.
2024-06-25
Orleans County Puts District Court Referendum on Hold; Legislature Approves Funds for Sheriff’s Office Technology
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Voted to suspend the District Court referendum to wait for New York State Legislature direction (vote: unanimous consensus).
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Approved $17,475 for "Mega Range" signal boosters for Sheriff’s vehicles, fully covered by a 2023 state grant (vote: 7-0).
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Authorized a $5,123.19 repair bill for a 2023 Chevy Tahoe to be paid for through insurance recovery (vote: 7-0).
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Accepted a $43,000 rebate check from the county’s credit card purchase program.
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Approved a month-to-month contract with AT&T FirstNet for 50 device lines at $1,249.50 per month (vote: 7-0).
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Authorized a $10,762 grant application for the Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) community service program (vote: 7-0).
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Approved a $25 per specimen stipend for Animal Control Officers handling rabies specimens (vote: 7-0).
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Appointed Sheriff Christopher Bourke as Chairman of the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (vote: 7-0).
2024-11-19
Orleans Legislature Tackles Jail Staffing, IT Upgrades in Post-Election Session
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Filled five vacancies in the Sheriff’s Corrections Division, including four part-time officers and one full-time officer, plus a temporary Lieutenant role (Vote: 7-0).
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Approved the hiring of two IT specialists to staff the Senior Computer Specialist and Computer Specialist positions (Vote: 7-0).
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Authorized a $10,500 retainer for a forensic expert for the Public Defender’s office, paid for by a state grant (Vote: 7-0).
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Approved a cyber security information sharing agreement with NYS ITS and DHSES at no cost to the county (Vote: 7-0).
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Accepted $450 in community donations to the Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit (Vote: 7-0).
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Authorized the payment of a $3.15 million retirement bill by December 15 to save roughly $22,675 in discounts.
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Set a public hearing for December 17 regarding salary increases for various elected and appointed county officials.
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Approved secretarial services for the County Attorney’s office at a cost of $19,620 annually for 2025 and 2026.
2024-05-28
Orleans County Legislators Accept EMS Grants, Address Staffing Shortages in Sheriff’s Department
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Authorized the purchase of a Sheriff’s Office mobile app and website for $31,780 to modernize public communication.
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Approved the creation and filling of four new positions in the Sheriff’s Office to address resignations in the Marine, Alternatives to Incarceration, and Communications divisions.
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Accepted a five-year agreement extension with the University of Rochester for emergency training through 2027.
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Applied for the Emergency Medical Services Support Grant to enhance countywide EMS sustainability.
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Authorized the sale of four outdated .45 caliber handguns to the Medina Police Department for $1,240.
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Approved $50,000 in spending for new radios and accessories for the Department of Public Works and Probation.
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Approved applications for the 2024 Statewide Interoperable Communications Formula Based Grant (SICG FY24).
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Recognized retirements of Dr. Clark Godshall (BOCES), Lt. Lawrence Manning, and Deputy Bill Larkin.
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