Legislator Jamie Gustafson, R-Lakewood, served as the chairperson of the recent Chautauqua County Legislature meeting. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon

Chautauqua County is renewing its agreements with various schools to provide officers from the Sheriff’s Office.

During the county legislature meeting, lawmakers approved agreements for a school resource officer to be stationed full time at Brocton Central School, Frewsburg Central School, Pine Valley Central School, Silver Creek Central School, Forestville Central School and Panama Central School. Each school will pay the county $117,899 for a full-time SRO.

BOCES will get two deputies at a cost of $235,799. One deputy is assigned at the Academy at Maple Avenue in Cassadaga and the other deputy splits his time between LoGuidice in Fredonia and Hewes Educational Center in Ashville.

In a different resolution, the legislature approved a Special Patrol Officer for Clymer Central School at a cost of $34 an hour.

The officer is not full time. The school has budgeted the position for 2,080 hours, which would be a little more than $70,000 for the year.

County lawmakers were told in committee that the special patrol officer functions similarly to a SRO, however special patrol officers are retired deputies. They were also informed that Clymer prefers this model, since it’s less expensive than a full-time SRO.

While there are many school districts in the county that do not have SROs through the county, some have officers from their local police department and other schools have a staff member serving as a public safety officer.

In other business:

– The county agreed to settle the claim of the Estate of Gregory Gallaway for $132,500. A Dunkirk native, Gallaway died at the Chautauqua County Jail in 2019. Half of the $132,500 is being paid by the county and half is being paid by the county’s insurance. In addition, the city of Dunkirk is paying $37,500. No details have been shared as to the cause of death.

– Janis Bowman of Ashville was appointed to the Parks Commission.

– Vince Horrigan of Bemus Point was reappointed to the Chautauqua County Off Track Betting Committee.

– Legislators Pierre Chagnon, R-Ellery, and Lisa Vanstrom, R-West Ellicott, were reappointed to the Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors.

– Chautauqua County renewed its lease with the town of Chautauqua for the Department of Mental Hygiene’s office space at 2 Academy St., Mayville.