RESOLUTION NO. 513
ALBANY COUNTY TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COUNTY’S SHERIFF DEPARTMENT FOR OVERTIME AND OTHER RELATED COSTS DUE TO THE INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY PATROLS AND DISPATCHING REQUIRED IN THE CITY THAT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND ITS STANDARD PATROL
Date: 12/6/21
Introduced by: Mr. Mauriello, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Burgdorf, Mr. Drake, Ms. Lockart, Mr. Perlee, Mr. Tunny, Ms. Whalen
WHEREAS, the Albany County Sheriff, responding to the surge in violent crime in the City of Albany and providing assistance to the City of Albany Police Department which has been short-handed, has shifted Sheriff’s patrols to the City of Albany, and
WHEREAS, the Sheriff’s patrols working with City Officers have been successful in removing illegal weapons from the streets, cracking down on dangerous and illegal operation of motor vehicles, and arresting violators, thereby improving overall public safety, and
WHEREAS, some Sheriff’s Deputies patrolling the City of Albany are being pulled from their normal duties, and are being required to work regular and overtime shifts at the expense of all Albany County taxpayers, and
WHEREAS, the Sheriff recently spoke at the Albany County Legislature’s Budget Hearing Session (#5), and indicated the deployment is straining his overtime budget in the current Fiscal Year, and that he will be requesting an increase for 2022, and
WHEREAS, the Sheriff also asked for funding for two or three additional dispatchers because of the overflow 911 calls from the City of Albany (270 overflow calls in a single weekend), as the city regularly rolls E-911 calls to the county due, it appears, to a lack of dispatchers in the City system, and
WHEREAS, the Sheriff also said that attempts to get reimbursement from the City of Albany for this extraordinary service during the pandemic have not been acted on by the city, and
WHEREAS, public safety is of paramount importance to the Albany County Legislature and it has, to date, authorized agreements with other municipalities to enhance police, dispatching, and ambulance services in those jurisdictions, and
WHEREAS, equity and fairness require the City of Albany reimburse the County for its extraordinary public safety expenses while the city rebuilds its police force and dispatching units, and
WHEREAS, the City of Albany has been granted $80 million for pandemic-related expenses from the federal government, and
WHEREAS, the amount owed by the city for the Sheriff’s increased activity has already passed $1.1 million for 2020 and 2021.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The Albany County Legislature hereby empowers and gives its full support to the Sheriff, with the priority assistance of the County Attorney and in consultation with the County Executive and Comptroller, to undertake immediate negotiations to be reimbursed for the extra services outlined above, be it further
RESOLVED, the Albany County Legislature desires a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Sheriff’s public safety efforts in the city be provided for authorization by the Legislature. The agreement shall require fair payment to Albany County in recognition that this is an extraordinary service that is taking away from other parts of Albany County, many of whom do not have full-time police forces, and be it
RESOLVED, this resolution shall take effect immediately on passage. Certified copies of this resolution shall be sent by the Clerk to the appropriate County and City officials.