Ulster OKs $3.26M for justice center site

Renovations planned at Probation Building in Midtown Kingston

Ulster County lawmakers have approved spending $3.26 million to renovate the county Probation Department building at 733 Broadway to house a restorative justice program designed to keep 16- and 17-year-olds out of the adult criminal justice system.

At special county Legislature meeting Thursday, legislators expressed consternation that the price tag was slightly more than double initial estimates provided by the County Executive’s Office late last year.

“I think the problem could have been avoided if you’d brought the presentation to us after you had the bids,” said Legislator Richard Gerentine, R-Marlborough. “You had the bids in April. We did not know of this until the day of a Ways and Means (Committee) meeting that this actually happened. In the future, please let the legislative body be part of your decision-making of how you’re doing things, not at the last moment prior to that.”

Deputy County Executive Robert Sudlow last week said the previously estimate of $1.6 million had been included in the capital projects budget as a “placeholder” based on internal cost estimates and the best information the county had at the time. He said the scope of the project changed in part as a result of community forums.

However, Minority Leader Hector Rodriguez, D-New Paltz, on Thursday agreed with Republican leaders that planning for the capital project was poorly communicated.

“There were failures in process both from when this Legislature gets informed about how capital programs are progressing, but, in addition, we heard from folks ... in Kingston there were failures in process even in terms of being able to get community input,” he said.

In a series of written responses to questions previously submitted from lawmakers, County Executive Michael Hein’s office said the scope of the project changed after evaluating “best practice” models provided by a consultant.

“Instead of simply creating cubicle space as originally outlined in the 2016 capital improvement plan, the project involves the creation

of two separate breakaway rooms divided by removal walls,” Hein’s office said. “These rooms can be used individually for smaller groups or can be used as a large open room for larger group workshops. This allows youth to work together in smaller groups or together for larger group conversations.”

Renovations of the building will create the Ulster County Restorative Justice and Community Empowerment Center as a related program of the county Probation Department. The center is in response to the state’s “Raise the Age” legislation, which requires that, beginning Oct. 1, all 16-year-olds charged with a crime must have their cases handled in Family Court rather than in criminal court. Beginning on Oct. 1, 2019, the age of criminal responsibility will rise to 18, meaning that most 17-year-olds charged with a crime also will have their cases adjudicated in Family Court.

Deputy County Executive Kenneth Crannell said the project is supposed to be eligible for 100 percent aid from the state, but also questioned how easy it will be for the county to be reimbursed.

“There’s this talk about 100 percent reimbursement for all these expenses,” he said. “It’s in the statute, it’s talked about, but the reality is, if you look at what’s appropriated in the state budget, it’s not nearly enough to cover everyone’s cost around the state.”

Hein, in a press release issued after the funding approval, said the center would be “life altering” for teenagers who go through the program.

“Providing a second chance is what America is all about and this center is intended to give kids who may have made a mistake a unique opportunity to make amends and to get on the right path,” he said. “I am deeply dedicated to disrupting the school-toprison pipeline and working to reduce racial and ethnic disparities within the juvenile justice system, which are major factors in generational poverty and economic inequality.”

“Providing a second chance is what America is all about and this center is intended to give kids who may have made a mistake a unique opportunity to make amends and to get on the right path.”