CANTON – St. Lawrence County legislators tabled a resolution Monday that would raise salaries of the county’s seven assistant district attorneys by a total of $48,000. St. Lawrence County …
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CANTON – St. Lawrence County legislators tabled a resolution Monday that would raise salaries of the county’s seven assistant district attorneys by a total of $48,000.
St. Lawrence County Legislator Frederick S. Morrill said the proposal originated from District Attorney Mary Rain, but added that he supported it and put forward a resolution at Monday’s meeting.
Morrill said Rain believed the county’s ADA’s were under paid compared to others throughout the state, which results in a high turnover and less experienced new hires.
Morrill said St. Lawrence County’s public defenders are paid more than its ADA’s, which is unique throughout the state, based on his research.
Morrill said more experience would likely result in speedier trials and improve the county’s criminal justice system, which has been under scrutiny from the public and even some law enforcement agencies.
Morrill said Democrats attending the meeting supported the resolution but Republican legislators argued that the raise was not in the budget and unfair to other county employees and departments who have been cutting costs.
Morrill said Republicans also feared the proposal would result in more requests for higher pay from other departments.
The county is currently negotiating with the recently unionized public defenders following a dispute over compensation time.
Morrill said the situation grew heated and lawmakers tabled the measure.
The board is expected to revisit the issue at the next St. Lawrence County Legislature meeting.
St. Lawrence County Legislators Sam Burns D- Ogdensburg and Gregg Paquin D-Massena were absent.