By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON –St. Lawrence County is calling for several changes in state law that could help the local government meet the many of the state’s unfunded mandates.

Nearly all of the requests focus on cost savings for the county. It calls for an increased share of DMV fees, increased funding for indigent defense and more funding for highway projects.

“St. Lawrence County is a $227 million dollar municipal corporation doing business within and for the State of New York,” the resolution says. The work of the county is directed by a combination of state and federal mandates and locally preferred service which its constituents expect to be delivered in an efficient and cost-effective manner.”

“The County intends to inform its elected Senate and Assembly representatives and other key legislators in the New York State Assembly and Senate of changes to the law, if enacted, would better allow the county to meet the mandates and the will of its constituents for effective and efficient delivery of services,” it says.

Changes called for by the county include:

• Assume the financial obligation for the provision of indigent defense services and related expenses;

• Retain the local differential in Department of Social Services safety net payments;

• Amend legislation to allow for video court appearances and arraignments for the accused in pending criminal matters, saving both time and effort by staff from a variety of County departments and minimizing movement in and out of correctional facilities;

• Establish a commitment to Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) funding to allow for better local capital planning and investments;

• Increase the local share of Department of Motor Vehicles revenues for county clerks to twenty-five percent of the established fee;

• Fund the demolition and restoration of the former J&L Steel site in Star Lake as a State project to eliminate a severe and long-term blighted site from the Adirondack Park.

The resolution also authorizes the Chairman John Burke to select of group of representatives from the County to travel to Albany and meet with appropriate elected officials to deliver the agenda.