Ulster County News

FROM: ULSTER COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

DATE: August 9, 2002  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                      AUGUST 9, 2002

At the August 8, 2002 session of the Ulster County Legislature, legislators authorized bonding for the new Ulster County Law Enforcement Center. Legislator Fawn Tantillo, who is the Chairman of the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center Oversight Committee, was commended for all her dedication and hard work put forth on this project. "Those of you voting in favor of this project tonight are clearly the ones who see hope and promise in the future of Ulster County," stated Legislator Tantillo. Legislator John Naccarato, Chairman of the Public Safety Committee was also praised for his years of dedication and determination to see this project come to fruition. "This project has been a long time coming and this is the right thing to do for Ulster County", stated Legislator Naccarato.

Louis Russo, President of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Employees Association and the Correction Officers’ Union, asked for the Legislature’s support for the new jail to provide a safer work environment for corrections officers.

Legislator Frank Dart, who is also employed by the City of Kingston Fire Department, is well aware of the importance of safety in a working environment. "My concern and familiarity with safety issues in the workplace is one of the main reasons I am supporting the building of the Ulster Count Law Enforcement Center," stated Legislator Dart.

All legislators that voted in favor of the jail project were all in complete agreement that this new Ulster County Law Enforcement Center is the most responsible thing the legislature could do for the citizens of Ulster County.

Key points that were instrumental in the decision to build the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center were as follows:

• The County pays over 90.000 per year for the office space currently occupied by the Sheriff and office staff. This office would be moved into the new facility.
• Sheriff Bockelmann stated that all variances would be taken away if the new jail was not built at a cost of $3.6 millions per year.
• At the end of four years the new facility will have a positive cash flow.
• The facility will minimize the boarding out of inmates.
• Even if the number of inmates are increased the manpower will stay the same due to the construction layout of the facility.

Before the final vote was cast, Chairman Todd expressed his thanks to all the legislators for their hard work and help over the years. "I will express the opinions and words of many others tonight, these are not my words," stated Chairman Todd as he briefly quoted from letters and reports from the State and Federal Government and from various engineers who have reviewed this project.

‘The consensus from all these individuals is that a new jail is a necessity for Ulster County, not only for the safety of our employees, but for the citizens of Ulster County," concluded Chairman Todd.