NORWICH – One month after a proposal to make Chenango County’s public defender a full-time position was first brought to the table of the county’s Safety and Rules Committee, a different proposition was brought before committee members last week to staff the Public Defender’s Office with a total of five full-time positions, making it a completely full-time operation.
According to Chenango County Public Defender John Cameron, the move to a full-time division would save more money over not making any changes at all. In addition to Cameron’s current part-time position, the Public Defender’s Office presently maintains four part-time assistant public defenders, as well as five part-time secretaries and a full-time assigned counsel administrator.
But the latest proposition bought fourth by Cameron moves that the Public Defender’s Office eliminate two assistant public defenders and all five secretary positions. The change would allow creation of four full-time positions - Cameron as the public defender, two assistant defenders, and the clerk (who at the moment, is also part-time). The assigned counsel administrator position, currently the only full-time position, would remain as is.
When all is said and done, the office would have Cameron acting as a full-time public defender (at $90,000 per year), one full-time clerk (at $22,200 per year), the full-time assigned counsel administrator (at $40,000 per year) and two full-time assistant public defenders (at $60,000 and $70,000 per year).
“We determined that, in fact, this would work. And in many cases, it can cut down on some of the conflicts we face,” said Cameron, citing an increase in court activity in recent years that have caused conflictions in his duties to county court and city and town courts. “I believe that by having a full-time office, we will be ready to take on things we haven’t been able to before and we could do it promptly.”
Preliminary figures released by the Public Defender’s Office show that by making proposed changes, taxpayers will save $5,000 in contractual expenses, and another $20,000 in assigned council expenses.
The same changes would, however, lead to an $11,600 increase in fringe benefits paid by the county. Even so, according to the report, the Public Defender’s Office can expect savings of more than $5,300 per year in overall expenses should the proposed changes be adopted.
Moreover, the creation of a full-time public defender would make the division eligible for nearly $30,000 in additional state grants. Karri Beckwith, administrator for the Public Defender’s Office, explained that state aid for assigned council has dwindled in recent years. The office is slated to lose half its $59,436 in state aid in 2014, making opportunities to apply for grants increasingly important, she said.
Cameron’s latest proposition comes only weeks after he delivered the notion of a full-time public defender position for the first time. In June, he went before the county’s Personnel Committee with the initial proposal to make his a full-time position with a pay increase of $30,482 (from the current $59,518 as a part-time employee) while also keeping all four assistant public defenders and their respective secretaries on staff.
“The idea really struggled in Personnel,” said County Board Chairman Lawrence Wilcox. But changes included in the Cameron’s latest proposition show an expense decrease of nearly $19,000 from his original proposal, making the idea a little more palatable. “I think it would be a good consideration for the committee,” he added.
Said Cameron, “I know having a full-time Public Defender’s Office will be the best thing for the county. It will save money and it provides a great service.”
Cameron’s newest proposition is set to go before the Personnel Committee next Wednesday. Should the committee approve his proposal, it is likely to go before the County Board of Supervisors at its monthly meeting in August.