Morris freeholders finalizing details of jail takeover

The Morris County freeholders plan to finalize at their Wednesday meeting last details of their Sept. 1 takeover of the 545-bed county jail from Sheriff Edward V. Rochford.

The freeholder board, which is holding its Wednesday meeting in Boonton Township, has two resolutions on its agenda that address the county administration's takeover of the jail, which goes into effect Tuesday.

One resolution calls for the adoption of an amendment to the county's administrative code to give the administration sole control, custody and rule-keeping authority over the correctional facility in Morris Township. For well over a century, the sheriff and county were co-employers of all staff at the jail but on June 24, a majority of the freeholders voted for the county to be sole employer.

The vote was the culmination of a year-long series of disputes between the freeholders and Rochford over his decisions to negotiate contracts with corrections officers and civilian staff at the jail without county input and his alleged unwillingness to clearly explain overtime pay incurred by jail officers and some civilian staff.

The resolution on the takeover states that Rochford, sheriff since 1993, will provide administrative assistance and guidance to jail Warden Christopher Klein.  A second jail-related resolution on Wednesday's agenda provides for Klein to continue in his capacity as warden.

Under the new arrangement, the county will be responsible for negotiating contracts with corrections employees and all new hires and promotions at the jail must be approved by the freeholders.

The takeover does not impact the Sheriff's Office Bureau of Law Enforcement, whose officers provide security at the Morris County courthouse and serve in specialized units such as K-9, criminal investigation section, warrants and bomb squad.

   Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.