[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6224990,"mediaKeyId","3541475-36d62606262a76be248387936f5d7002","parentId",3541475,"title","Assigned counsel and DA say Tompkins can absorb state discovery changes; an advisory appointment is approved","audioSeconds",5739,"startMs",5996000,"endMs",257000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3541475-36d62606262a76be248387936f5d7002&start=5996&end=257","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3541475-36d62606262a76be248387936f5d7002/thumbnail_5996000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6224990/Tompkins-County/New-York/Assigned-counsel-and-DA-say-Tompkins-can-absorb-state-discovery-changes-an-advisory-appointment-is-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224990-dfc9523f35bc6b046c5ec0a60d489ec0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451287&Signature=l3EU91LLqReInLnGoF~H0iaxaGb1qYbhBiooL2MjR~klHur2fhv1DLXE36kFbf79Yg06MK17LGqenQbuQ-6ylqipiw1be4HiDBI9FXJFcIjNTkd8tCBOb1FacliSb0maePlb4G7AJ3bgQXIHwKeJkr8k9z7euO2fZqDh9Fc-Eu9NqmmiwUQqDj~40bmGV4duZVUR~AvsZMieAztt2sZp5qPuUIOQaFr-IUGLwlakWRRtv1~o8lIysbB~XGqcVH5K8B90yO1ilnwjsky9EXCDmwyWksCLsslqEFpzaM7KMj9JsVRMUojKL8OQ1Eg7~UZp4wJOvhFjjGpMN8UTIHUTUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tompkins County, NY","date","2025-05-28T00:00:00Z","article","Assigned counsel and the district attorney addressed the committee May 27 about possible budget impacts from recent changes to New York State discovery requirements included in the state budget.

Assigned counsel presented a worst‑case budget scenario showing increased attorney time could add tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs depending on the hours per case. Using the committee presentation’s examples, an additional 2.5 hours per 100 cases would amount to roughly $39,500; 10 extra hours per 100 cases would approach $158,000; and 10 hours across 200 cases could approach $316,000, the assigned counsel said. He noted the office handles roughly 300 felony cases a year, where discovery demands are typically highest.

The district attorney told the committee his office intends to continue providing discovery promptly despite statutory changes, and that approach should limit budgetary impact for Tompkins County. \"They're not changing. They're just gonna keep doing what we think is right,\" the district attorney said when asked whether discovery practices would change.

Appointment to the advisory board on indigent representation

The committee also considered and approved an appointment to the county Advisory Board on Indigent Representation. The committee moved and seconded a motion to appoint Jerome Myersack; the motion passed unanimously.

What this means

Assigned counsel told the committee the county could have seen a substantial increase in indigent defense costs under some interpretations of the law, but the DA’s stated commitment to continue timely discovery reduces the short‑term fiscal risk. Committee members asked for continued monitoring and said they would request more specific budget estimates if discovery workload shifts materially.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tompkins County Public Safety Committee - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Assigned counsel warned May 27 that changes to New York State discovery requirements could have raised indigent‑defense costs substantially, but said the county can likely avoid a large budget hit because the district attorney’s office intends to continue timely discovery.","taxTitle","Tompkins County, New York","taxId",52737,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6225000,"Tompkins officials consider expanding Rapid Medical Response as ambulance staffing falls short",2149,1087000,3236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3541475-36d62606262a76be248387936f5d7002&start=1087&end=3236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3541475-36d62606262a76be248387936f5d7002/thumbnail_1087000.jpg","/articles/6225000/Tompkins-County/New-York/Tompkins-officials-consider-expanding-Rapid-Medical-Response-as-ambulance-staffing-falls-short","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225000-4ea779935147abdd865e5d08a47a0dde/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451287&Signature=QLqZX6wcLHu9KOmo30wDI1ZF0NRZKGruu5sugMOlfu15zEqzU2RPiNa3vLTYOBgbCOvogeSaZfCioqoBha1PjlwDPqVEsi4ZBem7CtaDCsFJgmHwS14S1PiojUpYi72iX5Wp6Gbx-RwMEo8dRwjKYMFCx58HgTnFHfwUL0K~YRwn6gjRkgc42f3j8gKgRz83iBDyGsz1yqgIXqI079-s3TOT-OkGZpXDztttlP7Fqalq~IQ4qqqcZE9kVap9gyU1CvSojU7GiXd45klRbw0IYL4z31RBqwyLjkmFw4-HjsDHVS6-hKI6ahPUImvNZHZblZYVM3QUZkrOnymc2kyOZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tompkins County legislators and emergency-response leaders on May 27 discussed a proposal to expand the county’s Rapid Medical Response (RMR) program and add transport ambulances and paramedic coverage to address persistent ambulance shortages and long rural response times.

The proposal, developed by the county Department of Emergency Response after a Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCOG) EMS subcommittee request, would add a 24/7 paramedic-level unit, a fourth county vehicle staffed during peak hours, and a three-ambulance transport fleet to back up local agencies. County staff described several staffing models and cost estimates and asked the committee to direct further study and community coordination, including work with the Center for Governmental Research (CGR).

County emergency staff said current gaps leave parts of the county effectively underserved. The presentation cited data showing RMR—operational since April 2, 2024—averages about 95 calls per month (weekday daytime), and that the county had 114 incidents in which a rescue was not available and 34 occasions in 2025 when crews waited more than 10 minutes on scene for a transport ambulance. Presenters said roughly half of RMR calls require paramedic-level care.

Tompkins County proposals and numbers

Joe (Department of Emergency Response presenter) described three staffing models. Model 1 would rely more on part-time staffing to allow existing EMTs/paramedics to keep primary jobs while taking county shifts; Model 2 increases full‑time hires; Model 3 reduces payroll by using non‑certified drivers paired with certified EMTs and paramedics. County staff presented ballpark payroll and startup estimates: a roughly $2,000,000 annual payroll projection in two of the staffing approaches, a startup estimate (excluding existing RMR) of about $2,500,000, and a projected local share around $2,300,000 after a low-end Medicaid reimbursement estimate. County staff also described Medicaid reimbursement assumptions used in modelling ($250 per BLS call; $296 per ALS call; plus about $3.02 per transport mile) and noted private insurer rates would be higher.

County staff stressed recruitment and training as part of any plan—working with TC3, Upstate and local colleges and hosting an EMS academy and continuing education days locally to build a pipeline of EMTs and paramedics.

Local providers caution about unintended consequences

Representatives of Bangs Ambulance and other local providers told the committee the RMR program has delivered some benefits but warned that a county-staffed transport service risks drawing scarce providers away from volunteer and private agencies and could reduce volunteer turnout. Tim Bangs of Bangs Ambulance said when RMR started he raised a concern that the program could “rob Peter to pay Paul,” by drawing staff from agencies that already serve the county. Brian August, a paramedic with long service in the area, said he’d seen a trial of driver-only crews fail: “I can’t do everything with just a driver assisting me. It’s just not gonna happen.”

Bangs and others urged stronger support for local first‑response and volunteer units—rebuilding rescue squads and improving incentives for town-level agencies—so that local units can stabilize while county options are explored.

Stakeholders and next steps

TCOG representatives urged urgency: “doing nothing is not an option,” said a TCOG speaker, adding that New York State is not providing an emergency funding program and local solutions will be necessary. Paul Bishop of the Center for Governmental Research (CGR) outlined how CGR would analyze the system, emphasizing use of 9‑1‑1 and dispatch data to map where ambulances go, how often crews leave the county for mutual aid, and how quickly high‑priority calls are reached. Bishop recommended focusing on a 90th‑percentile response metric for the most serious calls rather than averages.

Committee members directed staff to refine scope and indicated support for engaging CGR to produce a comprehensive costing and options analysis, while asking the county to look for ways to avoid harming existing local providers or shifting revenue away from towns that already fund ambulance service.

The committee did not take a formal vote on adopting the county’s staffing plan at the meeting; members asked staff to return with a refined scope and suggested bringing a county resolution to the legislature to authorize a study and possible procurement steps.

Community perspectives and trade‑offs

Speakers agreed on the shared goal—getting life‑saving care to residents quickly—but disagreed about the most effective path. Small rural communities and existing private and volunteer providers expressed worry about losing staff and revenue, while municipal representatives and the TCOG EMS subcommittee emphasized county coordination to reduce inequities in access. The discussion also flagged long lead times and equipment shortages: a county official said ordering a new ambulance today could take two to two‑and‑a‑half years to arrive.

What to watch next

Committee members indicated they will seek a formal study by CGR to quantify options and costs and that budget season will factor heavily in decisions. County staff said the next round of work will focus on refined cost estimates, workforce development steps (training and academies), and precise dispatch and mutual‑aid flows so that any policy changes can be designed to minimize harm to existing providers.","Tompkins County legislators and emergency‑response leaders on May 27 discussed a proposal to expand the county’s Rapid Medical Response program and add ambulances and paramedic coverage to address persistent ambulance shortages and long rural response times.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224985,"Resident urges Tompkins County action after elderly residents hit by scams",208,76000,284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3541475-36d62606262a76be248387936f5d7002&start=76&end=284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3541475-36d62606262a76be248387936f5d7002/thumbnail_76000.jpg","/articles/6224985/Tompkins-County/New-York/Resident-urges-Tompkins-County-action-after-elderly-residents-hit-by-scams","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224985-ec735627caab5b88b3c92f3a1a3bdd09/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451287&Signature=DXAEVhnecxN~gFLOCu-VTrHM21e3cKYvSBY8T~iwDyU5AxrTn3Mtn4F0PEZaQyyCJynRP0K-xJLUtTWonE5XotfqKIYKJmyentKkKiuv1o99SSUBPEDlY66wZwd32SopRllCFYYhle80j47olEe41bg52BHY5NJLtvIFsqc7x8idUsaQ-HzQuvW6CjLW4I7k5Q6qFq8cNnZZ921PyBmERhJNw30Gf5YKm61efHOCK4ufYbqb26PuRydJ53NK0Kr3999sJgTEiGbPsOWPQhIVxsKtQRfxdF8EW0-yZaP87eqVxlM2YXlHRoHG3QP9DSnTxK3QsFrYVWfv~rX2mUGUaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An Ithaca resident told the Tompkins County Public Safety Committee on May 27 that several older residents have recently lost bank funds to text‑message and online scams, and he urged the county to expand public education and investigative coordination.

Zach Wynne said two elderly people he knows had credit cards and bank accounts drained after scams; he also described incidents in which older adults withdrew large sums of cash to buy gift cards and store clerks intervened and called police. Wynne said there are recurring reports of people going door to door claiming to represent NYSEG or a solar provider.

Wynne said conversations with the sheriff indicate there are no open investigations but that the pattern has persisted for years. He also told the committee that “last year, a Cornell student was arrested for engaging in a scam targeting an elderly person for about a hundred thousand dollars.” Wynne asked whether the county could do more to educate the public about common scam tactics and how to intervene, and whether additional law‑enforcement resources could be dedicated to investigating and coordinating with state or federal partners when scams originate outside the county.

The committee did not take action on the public comment during the meeting. Committee members later noted internal county resources: one legislator said the county IT department distributes weekly security tips and a “scam of the week” email, and another committee member noted the sheriff’s office will take reports and investigate identity‑theft complaints and can help victims with credit reporting steps.","During public comment at the May 27 Public Safety Committee meeting, Ithaca resident Zach Wynne described multiple local incidents of text‑message and door‑to‑door scams targeting older adults and asked the county to increase public education and law‑enforcement coordination.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224995,"Sheriff reports first successful license‑plate reader activation, warns of jail overcrowding; marine‑patrol grant accepted",345,691000,1036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3541475-36d62606262a76be248387936f5d7002&start=691&end=1036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3541475-36d62606262a76be248387936f5d7002/thumbnail_691000.jpg","/articles/6224995/Tompkins-County/New-York/Sheriff-reports-first-successful-licenseplate-reader-activation-warns-of-jail-overcrowding-marinepatrol-grant-accepted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224995-127ddc0a345b62fb2fae02f5fe38fd75/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451287&Signature=POiocqakfg9mXoxmJgfBuP-1xaXOTNDyvVIOFJeLTzVnNSzgV3Fi0~ANU9p9SE3MsVh5tMKFrUM3324VCQcVesPflvfR7L9XGEMETQekmA1QtIi5-r6Rlnqf20~kcDFCuUhXlwGZ3rHPxaGNqPLIUDKxW~K07QdVBNcTExASiPGLExrs7kyyB2QcwdA~XMw-mGWozD7i6hLV-76oqM6hMjlLIbQOp9hXusI2JmOuTQQ8dPespED6h6Dd1rWEyPD9u9t68bFiz~jxUy3OT20dKVFDty8qJ9uvxt3HFm9lsAmvg7ZG1IWEeORgCDlRVDW1geNNxvEX5qB6imugMMGJQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tompkins County Sheriff briefed the Public Safety Committee on May 27 about recent license‑plate reader deployments, jail population pressures and a standard annual marine‑patrol grant. The committee voted unanimously to accept a New York State Canal Corporation Marine Patrol Grant for fiscal year 2025–2026.

Sheriff’s update: license plate readers and jail pressures

The sheriff said 16 Flock license‑plate reader units were installed in recent weeks, with six more expected in early June, and described the first successful activation on May 20 in the Town of Lansing. \"We were able to use Flock to locate that vehicle, the registered owner, and check on her,\" the sheriff said, recounting an incident where a business owner’s security footage showed an occupant who appeared unconscious. The sheriff said the subject turned out to have a medical emergency.

The sheriff also outlined continuing jail pressures tied to state‑ready inmates. He reported 88 incarcerated individuals in the county jail, including 16 state‑ready inmates (with five expected to transfer on the 29th) and an additional 15 “board outs” at other facilities. The sheriff said the state is expected to reimburse counties for some board‑out costs but did not specify a formal payment schedule; he estimated a typical board‑out reimbursement figure of roughly $85 per day while offering to confirm the precise amounts.

Grant acceptance

The committee considered a resolution authorizing the county to accept the New York State Canal Corporation Marine Patrol Grant for 2025–2026 (ID 13322). Shawna moved the resolution; Veronica seconded. Committee members described the grant as routine. The motion passed unanimously.

What this means

The Flock deployments are now operating on county and town roads while the county continues separate negotiations for state‑highway installations, the sheriff said, and members asked for a preliminary report on how the devices are performing at the committee’s June meeting. The sheriff warned that jail overcrowding remains a significant challenge until state transfers increase, and he said the county continues to seek clarity about state reimbursement for board‑outs.","Tompkins County Sheriff reported deployment of new Flock license‑plate readers and first operational use May 20; the sheriff also described jail overcrowding tied to state 'ready' inmates. The committee unanimously approved acceptance of a New York State Marine Patrol grant.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assigned counsel and DA say Tompkins can absorb state discovery changes; an advisory appointment is approved

Tompkins officials consider expanding Rapid Medical Response as ambulance staffing falls short

Resident urges Tompkins County action after elderly residents hit by scams

Sheriff reports first successful license‑plate reader activation, warns of jail overcrowding; marine‑patrol grant accepted