Corinth fails to restore sheriff’s patrols
Despite criticism, Board refuses to renew contract
CORINTH, N.Y. >> The Village Board, despite heated protests from nearly 125 people, failed Wednesday to renew a contract for dedicated sheriff ’s patrols within the village.
Trustees Melanie Denno and Tim Halliday voted to restore funding for the roughly $ 350,000- peryear service, which expires May 31, while Mayor Dennis Morreale and Trustee Maureen Kelly voted not to extend the contract.
Trustee Julius Enekes, who previously voted to discontinue sheriff’s patrols, was absent from the meeting at Corinth firehouse.
“The majority of people in this room want to keep the sheriff’s contract, but an equal number of people have contacted me, saying they support the budget we adopted,” Kelly said. “The village cannot afford this on its own any more. State troopers have stepped up and said they’ll increase patrols.”
State police have stations in Hadley, Wilton and Queensbury.
Morreale says Corinth can no longer afford the sheriff’s contract because of major infrastructure costs, including a proposed new sewage treatment plant, which are expected to cause a dramatic rise in taxes within three years.
The village has a $ 3.2 million budget.
But those in favor of extra police presence say the contract costs average homeowners about $74 per year, which they’re willing to pay to deter crime and ensure prompt response times to emergency situations.
“I plead with you tonight, to reconsider to vote to continue this contract,” resident Donna Briner said.
Patrols are especially needed in summer when the local population swells with tourists and seasonal camp owners, said resident Tim Murphy, adding that crime throughout the area is on the rise.
“There’s no reason to believe that is going to stay out of our boundaries,” he said.
Residents criticized the board for not doing more to notify the public about a decision that greatly impacts the community.
The village eliminated its police force 10 years ago. In its place, Corinth has contracted with Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office to provide a patrol car and deputies dedicated to the village.
But Morreale said such costs have increased and that deputies sometimes respond to calls outside the village, at village taxpayer expense.
The sheriff’s office will continue to maintain a substation at Corinth Town Hall, but deputies there respond to calls in neighboring towns as well, and may not be immediately available in the village.
Denno introduced a resolution, supported by Halliday, which called for a one-year extension to the sheriff’s contract. She proposed asking the town to share the cost of local sheriff’s patrols, a thorough re- view of local crime statistics, and monthly face-toface meetings with Sheriff Michael Zurlo to discuss the service the village gets.
But Kelly said town officials have indicated they won’t help pay for patrols dedicated to Corinth.
Right after the Village Board vote, resident Kelly Lescault told Morreale, “We would like you to resign immediately.”
“That ’ s not going to happen,” the mayor said.