COUDERSPORT — The Potter County Criminal Justice Advisory Board members recently approved their 2019 strategic plan, as was announced by county commissioners during a regular meeting held Thursday in Coudersport.

At Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting, Paul Heimel stated that the CJAB members unanimously approved the plan, with members committing to work together to improve outcomes through a number of initiatives and efforts.

Overall goals for 2019 include partnering with the National Stepping Up Initiative to ensure more effective handling of criminal offenders with mental health issues; continuing with efforts to implement a Pre-Trial Diversion Program within the county and develop a more comprehensive re-entry process for inmates released from the Potter County Jail; implementation of the National Data-Driven Justice Initiative to measure effectiveness and outcomes of criminal justice strategies, better inform decision-makers and improve information sharing; continue to collaborate on early education programs that identify and address the rise in juvenile antisocial behavior, mental health issues and criminal activity; and create transitional/halfway housing for offenders along with an increased focus on skills-training and employment needs, according to a released document outlining the plan.

Members were also updated on federal and state grants being pursued to support criminal justice reform measures, to assist with county-provided services related to criminal justice, and to cover training costs.

One grant-funded initiative expected to move forward this year is Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) training. SIM is used to identify weaknesses, gaps and strengths in the county’s current processes and provide guidance to create a more effective system for dealing with officers who have mental illness or addiction.

CJAB officers for the coming year are Judge Stephen Minor, chairman; Heimel, vice chairman; and Colleen Wilbur, administrator with Potter County Human Services.

Planning department director Will Hunt and Amy Kessler of North Central presented information on the Tri-County Comprehensive Plan being developed by Potter, Cameron and McKean counties.

Kessler has been working with panels including members from all three counties to secure funding to offset the cost for each county. Typically, comprehensive plans cost upward of $30,000. By completing the plan cooperatively, each county saves significant funding, paying approximately $11,000 for the plan when developed in this manner.

Hunt announced that the Comprehensive Plan Survey, which was open to all residents in the three counties, garnered tremendous interest and support. When the survey closed, 2,322 individuals had participated. Kessler stated that a previous survey that was open to residents statewide brought in only about 600 responses from the six-county region. In addition to posting the survey opportunity on county webpages and online social media sites, organizers reached out to social groups, local agencies, businesses and organizations, and local high schools in an effort to gather input from future community members, as well.

“I’m just astounded by the response,” said Hunt. “For a survey of this type, we had a very good turnout.”

Commissioners approved a Community Development Block Grant Budget revision certification to reallocate funding that was not used as part of the Genesee project to the Roulette project, a necessary move to ensure entitlement funding does not revert back to the state and can be utilized on future projects to benefit residents of Potter County. The money was allocated as part of the 2015 award, and an extension request was also submitted to the state Department of A service agreement was approved retroactively with Northern Tier Children’s Home Residential Services, Inc. for residential treatment space for the Potter County Women’s Recovery Center at a cost of $70 per day, unchanged from the previous year.

The next meeting of the Potter County Commissioners will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 31 at the Gunzburger Building in Coudersport.