Morris Sheriff agrees to supervisory role at jail; freeholders will hold purse strings

CHANGING HATS: Morris Sheriff Ed Rochford will wear a top hat as Grand Marshal of the 2013 Morris County St. Patrick's Parade.
CHANGING HATS: Morris Sheriff Ed Rochford will wear a top hat as Grand Marshal of the 2013 Morris County St. Patrick's Parade.
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By Kevin Coughlin

Morris County Sheriff Ed Rochford will hold a “key supervisory role” at the Morris County Jail — supervising the warden on daily operations there — when the county freeholders take fiscal control of the lockup on Sept. 1, 2015, the freeholders announced on Thursday.

A memorandum of understanding was reached Wednesday after a meeting between the freeholders and the sheriff, who until now have shared management and employer responsibilities at the facility in Morris Township.

CHANGING HATS: Morris Sheriff Ed Rochford will wear a top hat as Grand Marshal of the 2013 Morris County St. Patrick's Parade.
Morris Sheriff Ed Rochford has agreed to a diminished role at the Morris County Jail.

Following through on their vote last month, the freeholders will assume sole control of “finance, labor negotiations and personnel matters,” according to a statement from the freeholders.

All personnel requisitions, hires and promotions will require freeholder approval, and all contracts with unions representing jail staff will be negotiated by the county.

Additionally, all social media and press statements related to the jail must be approved by the county and by an “Undersheriff of Community Affairs.”  And the Sheriff’s civilian staff cannot interact with the jail and its staff without an okay from county Administrator John Bonanni.

The Sheriff will recommend the appointment of a warden, and work with the warden to establish performance goals and objectives.  They will meet monthly with Bonnani to report on their process.

Rochford also will recommend ways to retain newly hired corrections officers.  He has defended recent labor contracts as necessary to counter high staff turnover; the freeholders have challenged these contracts.

“We are pleased that Sheriff Rochford has agreed to work with the freeholders and will continue to be involved in running the jail, which has long had a positive record of accomplishment and professionalism,’’ said freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo.  “We look forward to a long and cooperative working relationship with the sheriff.”

“While the Freeholders and I have had differences on this matter, and I still have reservations about the agreement I will work collaboratively with the Freeholders not only for the benefit of the dedicated correction officers and staff, but also for the benefit of the residents of Morris County,” Rochford said in a statement.

A formal contract will be signed next week, according to the freeholders.  If the Sheriff backs out at any time, the jail warden will report directly to the county, the agreement states.

The freeholders have questioned labor costs at the jail, but not its daily operations — which have scored high marks from review agencies.

Below is the full statement, with links to the agreement.

MORE ABOUT THE DISPUTE

From the Morris County Freeholders:

MORRIS COUNTY FREEHOLDERS AND SHERIFF REACH AGREEMENT

ON COUNTY JAIL ISSUE

The Morris County Freeholders have reached an agreement with Morris County Sheriff Edward V. Rochford that would allow him to have a key supervisory role in management of the county jail after the county administration assumes control of the county corrections facility on Sept. 1.

Under terms of the discussions, the sheriff and freeholders would work together on a smooth transition of jail oversight to the freeholders.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the sheriff and freeholders was formally approved unanimously by the freeholders last night after a meeting with Sheriff Edward Rochford and some of his top staff. To view the Memorandum, visit: https://morriscountynj.gov/pdfs/150722res-final.pdf

The Memorandum of Understanding will guide the two parties until a formal contract is signed next week.

The freeholders on Wednesday night also agreed to Sheriff Richford’s request to consider potential measures that could be employed to help retain newly hired corrections officers, to help reduce staff turnover that he says makes it difficult to efficiently operate the jail.

Under terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, the sheriff will supervise and guide the warden, advising him on policy, procedure and personnel matters in the day-to-day operations at the county jail. The freeholders will control finance, labor negotiations and personnel matters.

The freeholder board announced the agreement at their meeting on Wednesday night in Netcong, where they met with Sheriff Rochford. A statement read by Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo and Freeholder Doug Cabana, can be viewed at https://morriscountynj.gov/pdfs/FreeholdersAnnounceAgreement–7-23-15.pdf

We are pleased that Sheriff Rochford has agreed to work with the freeholders and will continue to be involved in running the jail, which has long had a positive record of accomplishment and professionalism,’’ said DeFillippo.

It’s in the best interest of county residents that we have been able to work out an agreement with Sheriff Rochford and to have a smooth management transition at the jail,’’ said Freeholder Cabana


“While the Freeholders and I have had differences on this matter, and I still have reservations about the agreement I will work collaboratively with the Freeholders not only for the benefit of the dedicated correction officers and staff, but also for the benefit of the residents of Morris County,” said Sheriff Rochford. 

The freeholders voted on June 24 to take control of the jail – Freeholder John Cesaro abstained, suggesting a need for more review on the issue.

To view the freeholder’s June 24th resolution, please visit: https://morriscountynj.gov/pdfs/resolution%20jail%20takeover.pdf

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