The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Consolidation Of County Social Services And Probation Offices Approved

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submitted by Rich Crist, Majority Legislative Liaison
Following extensive negotiations that produced cost savings, the Rensselaer County Legislature approved a relocation and consolidation of the County Social Services and Probation offices during a special legislative meeting Monday night, July 22.
The relocation and consolidation will see the Social Services and Probation offices moved from two locations in downtown Troy to Flanigan Square. Flanigan Square was recently used as State offices. The Social Services offices will be moved from the Raddock Building on Sixth Avenue and the Probation offices moved from the corner of Fifth and Broadway and Fulton and Fourth streets.
Chairman Martin Reid praised the work of legislators, including Vice Chairman Stan Brownell, Vice Chairman for Finance Phil Danaher and Legislator Kelly Hoffman, in helping negotiate the lease and bringing about additional savings and efficiencies. Brownell, Danaher and Hoffman each have professional experience with leases and relocation of offices.
The relocation was initially proposed in May. Legislators worked on a bipartisan and cooperative basis to improve the lease and the relocation. Reid credited the cooperative approach with generating positive results for taxpayers.
“There was a lot of hard work by legislators, and collaboration between legislators, department heads and other County officials to strengthen and improve this lease from the County’s point of view,” said Reid.
The lease was approved by a 16-0 margin with one abstention.
The lease approved on Monday evening includes three months free rent, and administrative fees for the agreement were removed. The lease gives the County more flexibility; potential future rate increases were reduced and tied to the state tax cap.
The consolidation of the services also improves efficiency for County government. Consolidations like the one approved Monday are recommended by the State.
“This is a major move for County government, and one that we hope will serve the interests of the people of the County and our employees for years to come,” said Brownell.