Orleans County Legislators Approve Funds for School Resource Officer, New Narcotics Detection Tech
The Orleans County Legislature approved a new two-year agreement with the Albion Central School District for a School Resource Officer and authorized the purchase of new drug analysis equipment using opioid settlement funds during their July 30 meeting. Additionally, the body moved to expand hours for two Assistant District Attorneys and accepted a state grant for pre-trial services.
●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.
●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.
●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.
●Accepted a $70,577 state grant from the NYS Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives to fund Certified Pretrial Services through March 31, 2025.
●Authorized the acceptance of a $536,900 Law Enforcement Technology grant for the Sheriff’s Office to purchase equipment.
●Approved a $9,200 expenditure to install security cameras on six county Land Mobile Radio (LMR) communication towers.
●Authorized a $55,402.36 payment to LaBella Associates for design services regarding the new Emergency Management Office facility.
●Approved a $1,000 lifetime membership fee for Project Lifesaver to assist the Sheriff’s Office in locating residents who wander.
ALBION — The Orleans County Legislature moved to bolster school security and public safety capabilities during its regular meeting on July 30, approving a new contract for a School Resource Officer (SRO) and authorizing the purchase of advanced narcotics detection equipment.
Vice Chairman William Eick called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. With Legislator Johnson absent, the six members in attendance unanimously adopted a series of resolutions impacting county law enforcement and legal services.
School Resource Officer Agreement
In a move to maintain security within local schools, legislators approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and the Albion Central School District. The agreement ensures the continued presence of an SRO effective September 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026.
Under the terms of the contract, the district will compensate the Sheriff’s Office based on the school calendar. The daily rates are structured to increase over the three-year period: $509.74 for 2024, $553.89 for 2025, and $601.99 for 2026. The resolution also accounts for after-hours events, establishing an overtime hourly rate—including fringe expenses—that will rise from $60.73 in 2024 to $71.81 in 2026.
Investment in Drug Detection Technology
To address ongoing substance abuse issues, the legislature authorized the purchase of two TruNarc devices from Thermo Scientific at a cost of $38,285 per unit. These handheld analyzers allow officers to identify unknown substances without the need for subjective field tests.
Funding for the equipment will be drawn from the opioid settlement funds received by the county. The legislature authorized the Treasurer to set up new revenue lines in both the Sheriff’s and Probation budgets to accommodate the $257 allocation from the settlement, ensuring the purchase complies with state guidelines for the use of settlement funds.
District Attorney Staffing Changes
The legislature voted to expand the hours for two First Assistant District Attorneys. The resolution, effective immediately July 31, increases the work week from 35 to 40 hours.
Consequently, the salaries for these positions were adjusted to $95,503 and $87,859 respectively. Legislator Draper, who moved the resolution, noted that the increase reflects the additional workload. The body also authorized the filling of a vacant part-time Assistant District Attorney position at Grade 5 of the Management Salary Schedule.
Grant Funding and Emergency Management
Financial management was a key theme of the afternoon. Treasurer Kimberly DeFrank reported that the county’s monthly cash flow remains stable. The legislature acted to formalize several revenue streams, including the acceptance of a $536,900 Law Enforcement Technology grant for the Sheriff’s Office.
Additionally, the Probation Department was authorized to accept a $70,577 grant from the NYS Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives. This funding, valid from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, will offset costs associated with the department’s Certified Pretrial Services. Orleans County Probation has been certified by the Office of Court Administration as the designated pretrial agency for the county.
Infrastructure and Safety
On the infrastructure front, the legislature approved a $9,200 expenditure to install security cameras and software on six county Land Mobile Radio (LMR) communication towers. This project utilizes funds from the State Interoperable Communications Grant (SICG).
Progress on the new Emergency Management Office facility was also addressed. Legislators authorized a payment of $55,402.36 to LaBella Associates for design services related to the capital construction project.
Community Support
The meeting opened with several recognitions. Legislator Miller presented proclamations declaring August as Child Support Awareness Month and celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Job Corps. Representatives from Job Corps, including Operations Director John Thomas, were on hand to accept the honor.
The legislature also approved a request from the Department of Social Services to hang a banner promoting Child Support Awareness Month from August 1-14.
In other business, the county accepted a $500 donation from a community member to assist the Sheriff’s Office, approved a $1,000 lifetime membership for Project Lifesaver—a program designed to help locate individuals who tend to wander—and gave the green light for the annual 9/11 Memorial Service at Courthouse Square.
The meeting concluded with Vice Chairman Eick noting the completion of renovations to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office, commending the Buildings and Grounds department for their work.
Share
Coverage of the Orleans County Legislature meeting on 2024-07-30,
Village of Albion, NY.
View original document ↗
This article was drafted by AI (claude-sonnet-4-20250514) from the official meeting transcript and reviewed by a human editor.
Quotes link to source video timestamps for verification.
Read our editorial policy.
Community Discussion
0 comments
Be the first to comment on this story.
🔍Ask Albion
Have a question about this story? Search across meeting transcripts, village history, and municipal code.
Related Orleans County Legislature Meetings
Orleans County Legislators Accept Surplus Ambulance, Oppose Federal Fire Regulations
●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).
●Authorized $55,650 in combined STOP DWI grants for increased patrols and youth education (7-0 vote).
●Accepted $2,475 in community donations for the Sheriff’s Office, specifically designated for animal control and the K-9 unit (7-0 vote).
●Approved a $10,726 contract with Patriot Towers for annual inspections of county communication towers (7-0 vote).
●Authorized the Probation Department to add 10 cell phones to the FirstNet account while rescinding old cell phone reimbursement policies (7-0 vote).
●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).
●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).
●Issued proclamations recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Orleans County Legislators Accept EMS Grants, Address Staffing Shortages in Sheriff’s Department
●Authorized the purchase of a Sheriff’s Office mobile app and website for $31,780 to modernize public communication.
●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.
●Accepted a five-year agreement extension with the University of Rochester for emergency training through 2027.
●Applied for the Emergency Medical Services Support Grant to enhance countywide EMS sustainability.
●Authorized the sale of four outdated .45 caliber handguns to the Medina Police Department for $1,240.
●Approved $50,000 in spending for new radios and accessories for the Department of Public Works and Probation.
●Approved applications for the 2024 Statewide Interoperable Communications Formula Based Grant (SICG FY24).
●Recognized retirements of Dr. Clark Godshall (BOCES), Lt. Lawrence Manning, and Deputy Bill Larkin.
Orleans County Legislators Face $5.4M Budget Gap While Approving Sheriff’s Security Deals
●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.
●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.
●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.
●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.
●Surveillance Technology: Authorized the purchase of Flock Safety Falcon cameras for $47,450, with a recurring annual fee of $39,000 for four years.
●Jail Equipment: Approved $12,607.30 for the purchase of 10 ballistic armor carriers for corrections officers.
●Shop with a Cop: Accepted a $5,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to fund the Sheriff’s Office holiday outreach program.
●SWAT Gear: Approved the purchase of breaching tools for the SWAT team in the amount of $8,390.
Community Discussion
0 commentsBe the first to comment on this story.