Yates sheriff gets 911 reaccreditation

YATES COUNTY—The Yates County Sheriff’s 911 Dispatch Center was presented with reaccreditation at the Monday, May 9, county legislature meeting.
Yates was given this accreditation for the first time five years ago. Peter Kehoe, New York State Sheriff’s Association executive director, explained this program has rigorous requirements for qualification and only 11 agencies in the state are accredited by 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
Sheriff Ron Spike said Yates County’s 911 dispatch was evaluated for organization, fiscal management. personnel practices, records and training. Chief Dispatcher Sandra Smith was also given a certificate for coordinating and supervising.
In other business: Legislators scheduled a public hearing on Local Law 1-11 entitled, “A Local Law creating the Department of Emergency Management in the County of Yates.” Following the meeting, County Administrator Sarah Purdy said the proposal is being made because the county is trying to get it out of State Civil Service competitive exams. An earlier request was denied. The change would allow a director to be hired. No Civil Service test is scheduled for the current position until 2012. The public hearing will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 in legislative chambers.
• Funding was appropriated for the Old East Lake Road Bridge. Federal Department of Transportation will fund the project in the amount $100,000 State Aid-Marchiselli will be $18,750.
• Amy Miller was appointed Commissioner of Social Services for a term from May 16 to May 15, 2016. The annual salary is $60,000. Miller was named to the S2AY Rural Health Network joint Health Services Advisory Board.
• The Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2012 to 2016 was approved. Dennis called the plan a work in progress.
• Legislators approved amendments to Yates County Planning Board by-laws. Legislator Tim Dennis commented the board had done extensive work on the revisions. Members of the board are volunteers.
Legislator Douglas Paddock said this is the middle of National Nurses Week. Emergency Medical Service Week is May 15 to 21. Paddock announced there will be an Open House to celebrate Finger Lakes Works Month on Thursday, May 26 from 1 until 3 p.m. at the Workforce Development office.
• Legislator Tim Dennis reported the audit went smoothly and was very clean. It will be out in a few weeks.
• Legislator Donna Alexander commended Senior Investigator Mike Christensen for 30 years service to Yates County. Alexander then thanked the various governmental groups who worked hard during the recent severe storms. Alexander said the county will be working with New York State and assessment teams will be here soon to study damage.
• During the public comment period of the meeting, resident Lynn Barry spoke to legislators about a bad medical experience she had in 2009. Barry said she was told that the matter is a civil not a criminal matter. Barry outlined contacts she had made to county agencies since 2009. Barry said she has filed a Notice of Claim against Yates County.
• Yates County Public Health Educator Kathy Swarthout presented legislators with a document that was signed by 1,000 people. It states the people who signed it want Yates County Public Health to remain as a public service. Several weeks ago the legislature voted to seek proposals for private operation of the agency. No decision has been made to sell the agency. Legislature Chairman Taylor Fitch said, “It has never been the stance of the legislature that the service of the agency is not exemplary.”
The next regular meeting of the Yates County Legislature will be at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 13 in legislative chambers at the Yates County office building on Liberty Street in Penn Yan.