Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to accept a grant in the amount of $124,069.29 from the Supreme Court of Ohio, to appropriate from the unappropriated balance of the general government grant fund to the Franklin County Municipal Court, the total amount of the grant, and authorizes the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to enter into contract with Business Information Systems, Inc. (BIS Digital) in the amount of $106,769.49 from the grant funds.
The Supreme Court of Ohio announced a special one-time funding opportunity focused on the purchase of equipment necessary to quickly facilitate remote access for local courts in direct response to the emergency need caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the Stay at Home order issued by the Governor of the State of Ohio and the State of Emergency issued by the City of Columbus Mayor, there is a need to limit the number of jailed defendants transported to the courthouse for arraignment limiting exposure to the novel Coronavirus for defendants, courthouse staff, and Franklin County Sheriff Office staff. This grant will fund the equipment and software required to implement video arraignments and remote hearings, improving the operational efficiency and safety of the arraignment process.
BIS Digital holds the current contract with the Franklin County Municipal Court for the installation and maintenance of Audio/Visual recording equipment in the courtrooms. BIS Digital will provide a video conferencing system in the arraignment courtroom as well as 4 mobile video conferencing units that can be used in multiple other courtrooms that will be compatible to the current audio/visual equipment. $106,769.49 of the grant funds will be used to contract with BIS Digital. The balance of the grant funds will be used to purchase video conferencing units for installation at each jail facility. These units ...
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