Minutes 12/02/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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December 2, 2004 Martinsville City Council held a special called meeting Thursday, December 2 at 12:30 p.m. with Mayor Joseph R. Cobbe and City Manager Dan Collins presiding. In addition to the Mayor, members present included: Vice- Mayor Kimble Reynolds; James Clark; J. Ron Ferrill; and Terry Roop. City Attorney Eric Monday, Assistant City Manager Wade Bartlett, Sheriff Steve Draper and Capt. Laura Hopkins and other staff members were also present. Mr. Collins outlined parameters for study of a regional jail in cooperation with a proposal from Pittsylvania County. Mr. Bartlett reviewed the study outline prepared by Powell Consulting, and then reviewed his analysis of potential flaws in the study. Mr. Bartlett recommended that the city participate in the study to cover all variables for possible outcomes with regard to future jail population. Upon invitation from Mr. Collins, Sheriff Draper and Capt. Hopkins discussed details and issues related to maintaining the jail population, including: current adequacy of jail space due to decreasing local crime rates; age and maintenance of existing inmate housing, particularly at the Jail Annex on Clearview Drive; occasional overcrowding due to grand jury indictments; transportation of inmates for special cases, such as disciplinary and medical needs; electronic monitoring and home incarceration; housing of inmates from other localities, whether for reimbursement or in a swap; housing of female prisoners; and state assumption of responsibility for its prisoners. The Sheriff endorsed joining the jail study. He explained to council the state's process for rating jail facilities for number of prisoners. Mr. Reynolds asked Mr. Bartlett whether alternatives exist for expanding city jail facilities without joining a regional jail. Mr. Bartlett indicated that the city has the capacity and space to build a second facility identical to the present jail