Temporary workers extended to finish courtroom renovations

By DENISE A. RAYMO
Staff Writer

April 08, 2008 04:00 am

— MALONE -- Four temporary workers, hired to complete reconstruction in the Franklin County Courthouse, had their jobs extended to the end of the year.
Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Robert Dupra made the request of the Public Works and Services Committee, and the full legislature approved it.
Dupra said funds to pay for the extensions have been promised by the State Office of Court Administration for the work being done for the Unified Court System.
Three new courtrooms are being built, office and waiting-room space is being reconfigured and renovated, and the security system has been beefed up and expanded.
Dupra said one courtroom is done, one is 90-percent finished, and the third is about halfway done.
In November 2006, two laborers were hired for a year to work on court-related jobs.
But Dupra came back to the committee in April 2007 and asked that two more temporary people be added for a year to help with the workload.
Then, in October, Dupra received permission to extend the original two positions for six more months to finish the work.
However, last week, the superintendent said all four have to be extended to the end of the year in order to get everything finished.
The county will be reimbursed for the cost of the laborers.
In other action, the Franklin County Legislature:
Appointed Craig J. Collette to a three-year term on the County Traffic Safety Board, to expire April 2, 2011.
Appointed Louise Lanthier, Mark Patrick Tatro and Mark Moeller to three-year terms on the County Youth Advisory Board, to expire April 2, 2011.
Contracted with attorney Matthew McArdle to act as supervising attorney for the Assigned Counsel Program at a cost of $8,000 to be paid quarterly upon receipt of a completed voucher.
Authorized payment of $6,600 to former St. Lawrence County District Attorney Richard Manning for his services as special prosecutor in the case involving former Bangor dentist Barry Hastings.
draymo@pressrepublican.com