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Edwards, Hermon, Russell in vanguard of communities looking at courts consolidation; discussion of study Jan. 21 in Russell

Posted 1/15/14

By CRAIG FREILICH RUSSELL – A study of the feasibility of town justice court consolidation in Edwards, Hermon and Russell is up for public review in a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 in Russell …

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Edwards, Hermon, Russell in vanguard of communities looking at courts consolidation; discussion of study Jan. 21 in Russell

Posted

By CRAIG FREILICH

RUSSELL – A study of the feasibility of town justice court consolidation in Edwards, Hermon and Russell is up for public review in a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 in Russell Town Hall, 4 Pestle St.

Staff from the Laberge Group, which prepared the study for the towns, will provide an overview of the findings of the study and solicit public comment for the final draft.

Heidi Ames of the St. Lawrence County Planning Office says the report will show “baseline data, such as caseloads, buildings, and size options – how much space they would need – and a whole host of options they could consider. Some have cost savings, some have other efficiencies.”

While the details of the document are specific to those three towns, it is also designed to provide a framework for other communities interested in considering such options, and includes a countywide justice court profile and schedule.

“If other communities are interested, this could be a starting point, with a framework of basic data,” Ames said.

Funded by a Local Government Efficiency (LGE) Grant from the New York State Department of State, the study reviews the operations of the three town courts and identifies options for sharing services, including consolidation.

All county residents are welcome at the meeting. Stakeholders in local justice courts and persons residing in the Towns of Hermon, Edwards and Russell are particularly encouraged to attend.