Gun Issues Dominate Legislative Agendas

The Rockland County Legislature continues the focus on gun issues on Tuesday with several committees considering related resolutions. Other topics to be addressed by the committee include funding for public transportation, amending the capital budget for repairs at Rockland Community College and an expansion of the countywide watershed study.

The Public Safety Committee meets at 5 p.m. and will vote to start a Rockland County Firearms Cable Lock Program that will distribute up to four free locks to county households. The Sheriff’s Department would administer the program and those seeking the free locks would be required to show proof of residency.  The locks are designed to block the chamber so live ammunition cannot be loaded.   The Sheriff’s Department has a supply of locks available.

Committee members will consider a bipartisan resolution that follows up Friday’s press conference denouncing The Journal News for publication of an interactive website that provides access to names and addresses of residents licensed to have guns in Rockland and Westchester counties. The resolution demands the map be removed. 

Additionally, a resolution will be introduced asking state legislators to pass bills amending the penal law to restrict the confidential information in a pistol license application to prosecutors and police conducting active investigations. Legislators will discuss also issues surrounding the sale of guns.

Use of federal forfeiture funds for the Piermont Police Department and Sheriff’s REACT (Rescue, Entry and Counter Terrorism) Unit will be voted on.  Sheriff Louis Falco requested $25,000 in forfeiture funds be allocated to the purchase of a new Police Athletic League van for the Piermont Police Department.  District Attorney Thomas Zugibe asked for $20,000 to acquire equipment for REACT, which is composed of specially trained police officers from law enforcement agencies in Rockland. 

A resolution before the Multi Services Committee seeks a change in the number of Youth Bureau Board members.  The Youth Bureau’s executive director submitted a request to have the number of board members reduced from 24 to 18 because of “the inability to attract and retain qualified members who are willing and able to actively serve.” The application would require two or three board members under the age of 21 and the rest older. The Multi Services meeting begins at 6 p.m.

The next committee scheduled is Planning & Public Works.  The members will vote on accepting a Federal Transit Administration Grant of $4,997,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation.  It will go toward purchase of 10 replacement TRIPS vehicles, five replacement TRIPS buses, construction and replacement of bus shelters, maintenance costs and other items.  Additional funds will come from the New York State Department of Transportation and MTA Special Allocation Funds. 

Additionally, the committee will vote on allocating $12,783 more to a countywide watershed study being conducted by Stantec Consulting Services of Rochelle Park, NJ. The expansion of the study is based on new information acquired after Hurricane Irene hit Rockland in 2011.  The three-month study from December 31, 2012 through March 31, 2013 will cost a total of $213,083.

Two amendments to the capital budget for Rockland County College are being proposed.  Both are in the amount of $700,000. One is for utility plant upgrades and improvements and the other for electrical upgrades and improvements.

The Budget & Finance Committee, which must vote on many of the resolutions brought before the other committees before they can be presented to the full legislature, meets at 7:15 p.m.