IGR Committee
Members Present: Chair: Jim Maisano; Legislators: George Latimer
Others Present: Official Guests: Commissioner Rocco Pozzi and Bob Chase, Westchester County Department of Probation; Carol Feldman, City School District of New Rochelle; Gregory Varian, President, New Rochelle Bar Association; Lianne Archer, Westchester Community Network, New Rochelle; Assemblywoman Amy Paulin; Additional Guests: See attachement; Administration: None; County Departments: None; Staff: David Simpson
I. MINUTES:
Without objection, the minutes of the October 4, 2004 meeting of the Committee on Intergovernmental Relations were approved.
II. DISCUSSION AND ACTION:
Discussion on Proposed Closing of the New Rochelle Family Court
Commissioner Rocco Pozzi and Bob Chase, Westchester County Department of Probation, were present to testify to some details of the New York State Office of Court Administration’s planned closing of the New Rochelle branch office of the Westchester Family Court. Judge Cooney highlighted the following main points:
Probation is required by state law to be on sight at each family court facility, as they are a “gatekeeper” of sorts for the family courts
Decision to move the court was made by the Office of Court Administration without input or consultation from the Probation Department.
As a department, Probation has no specific preference on facilities, it will adapt wherever the facilities are placed
The Probation Department at the White Plains branch would have to stay open until possibly 6 or 7 p.m. because of truancy cases from the school districts of New Rochelle and Mount Vernon that would have to come up to White Plains after school lets out
Youth Court would continue in New Rochelle and would be unaffected by the move, however the Linkages program would be moved to White Plains.
A rough case breakdown in New Rochelle is as follows: 2,737 adult petitions taken in; 230 appearances after arrest; 341 Pins; approximately 100 older PINS (17 and 18 year-olds)
To probation’s knowledge, the times when a judge is not present at the New Rochelle branch are quite infrequent.
Mr. Greg Varian was present from the New Rochelle Bar Association. He testified that the bar association was concerned with the current situation, as it is not only a representative body of attorneys in New Rochelle, but also of the greater community in need of legal representation in the New Rochelle as well. Mr. Varian also testified that no attorneys have ever signaled to him personally or at meetings of the bar association that they would rather practice in White Plains than in New Rochelle.
The committee noted that there were several discrepancies between the testimony heard at the October 4, 2004 meeting and the present testimony. Mr. Maisano requested that Probation send more specific numbers to the committee as soon as possible regarding case loads at the different branches. The committee agreed that action would likely follow in the coming weeks, possibly in the form of a letter or a resolution. The discussion ended without action.
III. RECEIVE AND FILE:
None.
IV. ADJOURN:
On the motion of Mr. Wishnie, seconded by Mr. Maisano and without objection, the committee adjourned.
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