Nov. 3--Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour supports a ballot question up for statewide vote today that would permit inmates to work for nonprofit agencies.

"These agencies need all the help they can get," Voutour said. "It saves millions in taxpayers' money for the inmates not to be incarcerated."

State prison and county jail inmates already work on municipal jobs; they had also done volunteer work until several years ago, when the state Commission of Corrections issued an advisory opinion against it. The fear was that the practice might be a violation of the state constitution, which has a provision against contracting or selling inmate labor.

The proposed constitutional amendment would allow the state Legislature to pass bills to let state and local inmates work for nonprofit groups operated for religious, charitable or educational purposes.

Voutour said those working would be nonviolent offenders, never be inmates such as rapists or robbers working for the agencies.

The sheriff said it's important for the community to get useful work from inmates, and that conditions are monitored to assure safety. "There is constant surveillance on the inmates," Voutour said. "And they are all nonviolent offenders."

Voutour said the proposed amendment, one of two before voters statewide on Election Day, is supported by all New York State sheriffs.

Voters across New York will also be asked to pull the lever on a land swap for a power line in the northwestern corner of the Adirondacks.

In return for transferring six acres of state Forest Preserve to National Grid, which already is using the property for a new 46-kilovolt power line along a Colton road, New York will get 43 acres of the utility's land, also in St. Lawrence County. It's a deal that municipal officials, environmentalists and businesses have supported.

But Richard Kessell, chief executive of the New York Power Authority, said the concern is that voters won't have a clue and might reject it.

"People downstate have no idea what it is," he said.

The 23-mile power line, intended to improve electric service reliability to Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, began operating May 1, National Grid spokeswoman Courtney Quatrino said.

David Gibson, executive director of Protect the Adirondacks, noted that the swap would be a net gain of land for the forest preserve.

Legislature downsizing on ballot

Voters will be asked to consider a proposition that calls for the county Legislature to be trimmed from its current roster of 19 to 15 members.

If approved, the measure would save the county the cost of four legislative salaries. This year, lawmakers earned $15,075 apiece. Party leaders earn an extra $500 each. As chairman, William Ross, C-Wheatfield, gets an additional $3,000.

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