Documents › Board Of Trustees, 2026-03-11

resolution 17 pages

Also attached to this agenda item: Court Proposal Memo Croton-on-Hudson Court Operations - Option A Croton-on-Hudson Court Operations - Option B Operational Needs memo Resolution 57-2026 CGR Court Review

PROPOSAL Croton-on-Hudson Court Operations & Efficiency Review Revised - Version 4 - 3/10/26 ABOUT CGR CGR (Center for Governmental Research) is a nonprofit consulting organization that has been creating positive change in communities for over 100 years. We specialize in analytic and strategic services to the public and philanthropic sectors, helping organizations figure out complex issues and develop solutions. How We Work Change is never easy. CGR informs the process of change with insightful in­ formation and draws on our experience to increase the likelihood of success. We start with an accurate examination of both quantitative and qualitative data, consultation with all relevant stakeholders, examination of options and viewpoints, and processes to resolve conflicts and prioritize solutions. We help clients think through each step of the change process, equipped with the best information available. Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion At CGR, we know that multiple perspectives make our work better. That’s one reason we value diversity from all backgrounds and seek to create an inclusive working environment with equitable policies and outcomes. We strive to create a welcoming workplace that attracts and retains a wide variety of talented people with different perspectives and new ideas. We value diversity among all dimensions of the human experience, including race, color, religion, gender identity and expression, national origin, differing abili­ ties, veterans, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation. CGR also infuses a DEI lens in our research approaches and collaboration with stakeholders, including clients and community. Our Mission CGR drives positive community change through the highest quality research, analysis, data insights and collaboration. Our Values Collaboration Equity Inclusion Independence Integrity Respect Our Vision Trusted for our rigorous analysis and actionable insights, we can transform any community to be more equitable, strong and thriving. Local Government • Public Safety • Nonprofits & Communities •Philanthropy • Collective Impact /Collaboratives • Education Qualifications and Experience CGR delivers results to the municipal, education, nonprofit and business-civic sectors through objective analysis, mission-critical data and strategic counsel. CGR has extensive experience delivering technical assistance to local governments and community engagement practices. Our team of consultants has a keen understanding of public safety, government operations, strategic planning, financial projections, and meeting community expectations. Few organizations have delivered more technical assistance on key issues to local governments than CGR. Our work in the past 10 years alone includes dozens of municipal service, budgetary and planning restructuring engagements, and service delivery redesign efforts in areas such as fire protection, emergency medical services, code enforcement and city administration. Our website, cgr.org, provides an overview of our recent portfolio of projects. We are proudly headquartered in Rochester NY and have especially deep knowledge of municipal government in our home state. We have also worked with communities on issues facing local government in Arkansans, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin. Key Capabilities Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative data analysis is at the heart of a wide range of CGR projects, including community indicators and needs assessments. Our data analysts are deeply experienced in working with a variety of datasets, from small to large, and using numerous tools to process, analyze and visualize data. We also know how to use data to tell a compelling story that can drive action. Qualitative Analysis: We understand that hard numbers only go so far in deeply understanding complex issues. Gathering perspectives from diverse audiences is also a critical piece of our approach. Our experience ranges from engaging community leaders in discussions of how to prioritize and address key issues, to collecting perspectives of program participants for evaluation studies, to gathering residents’ input into plans for reshaping government. We are adept at facilitating focus groups and public forms with diverse constituents to understand community and cultural perspectives, interviewing a diverse array of key stakeholders to gather a representative sample of information, and effectively delivering well-crafted and accessible surveys. Actionable Deliverables: CGR understands that the work we do isn’t just about gathering and analyzing data, but rather about generating an accessible, actionable and comprehensive deliverable with content that is useful to create change and that identifies priorities and provides an action plan to improve the quality of life of our client’s communities. Equity: CGR is committed to continually building internal capacity around equity and using that to inform all aspects of our research process, including assumptions held about communities where we conduct studies and our methodological approaches to research. Recent CGR Clients include • Allegany County (NY) • Auburn and Lewiston, City (ME) • Avon, Town (CT) • Broome County (NY) • Chautauqua County (NY • Cheektowaga, Town (NY) • DuBois, City (PA) • Empire State Development Corporation (NY) • Essex County (NY) • Greenburgh, Town (NY) • Herkimer County (NY) • Hinesburg, Town (VT) • Kingston, City (NY) • Kiryas Joel, Village (NY) • Lancaster, Village (NY) • Massena, Town/Village (NY) • Meadville, City (PA) • Mellenville, Town (NY) • Monroe County (NY) • Mount Vernon, City(NY) • New York City (NY) • New York State • New Rochelle, City (NY) • Newton (MA) • Ocean County (NJ) • Ontario County (NY) • Orange County (NY) • Oswego County (NY) • Princeton (NJ) • Queensbury, Town (NY) • Racine, City (WI) • Raritan, Town (NJ) • Ridgefield Park (NJ) • Rochester, City (NY) • Rockland County (NY) • Rosendale, Town (NY) • Rye, Town (NY) • Syracuse, City (NY) • Templeton, Town (MA) • Ticonderoga, Town (NY) • Tompkins County (NY) • Wildwood, City (NJ) • Yonkers, City (NY) CONTACT INFORMATION Center for Governmental Research (CGR) 1 South Washington Street, Suite 400 Rochester, New York 14614 www.cgr.org Main number: 585-325-6360 Proposal Contact Information Paul A Bishop, M.P.A., Principal Center for Governmental Research (CGR) 1 South Washington Street, Suite 400 Rochester, New York 14614 (585) 327- 7068 (direct line) email: pbishop@cgr.org Local Government • Public Safety • Nonprofi ts & Communities •Philanthropy • Collective Impact /Collaboratives • Education i www.cgr.org Table of Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Project Understanding ............................................................................................................. 1 Project Approach ............................................................................................................................. 1 Proposed Scope of Services .................................................................................................... 2 Project Initiation .................................................................................................................... 2 Phase 1: Quantitative & Fiscal Analysis .............................................................................. 2 Village & Court interviews............................................................................................... 2 Court data ........................................................................................................................ 2 Timeline ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Fee Proposal .................................................................................................................................... 3 Qualifications & Experience ........................................................................................................... 4 Reference Projects .................................................................................................................. 4 Village of Port Chester Court Dissolution ............................................................................ 4 Village of Port Jefferson Operations and Staffing Analysis ................................................ 5 Mount Vernon, NY, Operational Analysis ............................................................................. 5 Village of Southampton DPW Organizational Assessment ................................................ 6 Local Government Clients since 2015 ................................................................................... 7 Key Personnel Resumes ......................................................................................................... 8 Paul Bishop ........................................................................................................................... 9 Kieran Bezila ....................................................................................................................... 10 Alina Santiago ..................................................................................................................... 11 Deon Willis ........................................................................................................................... 12 www.cgr.org Introduction The Center for Governmental Research (CGR) is pleased to respond to the Village of Croton- on-Hudson’s request for a proposal to study the operations and efficiency of the Village Justice Court. The assistance sought by the Village requires a consultant team with a keen understanding of government reorganization, municipal shared services, justice court responsibilities and operations, and community expectations. CGR has delivered more technical assistance to regional and local governments on the issues of government operational efficiency than any organization in the Northeast, with extensive experience in New York. Our work in the past ten years alone includes dozens of municipal service, budgetary and restructuring engagements, as well as service delivery redesign efforts. Justice courts have been an integral part of many of our government efficiency projects. We have analyzed the operations of Village and Town courts as part of county-wide shared service projects, as well as in our analyses of village dissolutions and municipal consolidations. Project Understanding In the wake of rising costs and revenue limitations following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village Manager has previously explored whether court proceedings could be more efficiently conducted at the Town level, which could potentially result in cost-savings for Village residents. In light of a diversity of opinions in the Village on this issue, the Village Manager has requested that CGR perform a detailed, impartial analysis of the current operations and efficiency of the court to provide an objective baseline on present conditions. Project Approach Our proposed work plan is provided below. Based on continuing discussion, CGR has revised this scope to focus on a first phase that will examine quantitative and fiscal metrics of current court operations, in order to evaluate what the budgetary and tax impacts of a hypothetical consolidation/merger into the Town’s court would be. All work will be conducted remotely, including online interviews. This review will include evaluation of: • The current administrative structure of the Village Court; • The Court’s budgetary needs; • The volume, nature and distribution of fines and fees generated through the Court. Based on the Board’s evaluation of the findings of this primary report, if so desired, a possible follow-up secondary phase could explore the likely implications and impacts of a variety of options in greater depth, including examining the pros and cons of consolidation in detail, including accounting for non-monetary factors and gathering public input on options. www.cgr.org Proposed Scope of Services Project Initiation CGR’s project team will meet with the Village as soon as possible following receipt of an executed contract. At this kickoff meeting, CGR will: • Review the goals and objectives of the study; • Review the project scope and key deliverables; • Clarify oversight of the project, and agree on a protocol for conveying information and regular progress reports to the Village or a project steering committee throughout the project; • Review data and information resources required by CGR’s project team in the immediate term; • Review the overall project timetable. Subsequent to this meeting, CGR will develop and submit a final summary project work plan and timetable / flowchart to the Village. Phase 1: Quantitative & Fiscal Analysis CGR will focus the primary phase on compiling baseline quantitative and fiscal information about the court to develop a factual picture of the court’s current costs, revenue, and volume of operations. Village & Court interviews CGR will conduct focused interviews with key village staff to understand the work of the Justice Court and its role in the community. • Village Justice • Village Prosecutor • Village Court Clerk • Mayor • Village Manager • Village Police Chief Up to two other interviews may be conducted, as the Village and CGR deem necessary. Court data Additionally, CGR will attempt to collect the following, relying on Village and Court personnel for assistance in making available: www.cgr.org • All available data on caseloads going back at least three years; • Summary data on the number of cases processed during each court session; • Description of typical offenses and violations handled by the court; • Detailed budgets and actuals for the court for the past three years; • A breakdown of fine revenue by source for the past three years; • A summary of the court’s administrative structure; • Records on staffing levels / head counts for the past three years; and • Job descriptions for staff and further details on each position’s responsibilities. The current scope and methodology are predicated on the assumption that the project team will have full access to financial and governance information and operational records for the Village court. We further anticipate the court will assist in identifying relevant records and critical staff to be interviewed. As shown in our timeline, we will make our best effort over the estimated 8-week timeline to collect information and conduct interviews, but if data and human sources are not readily available during that timeframe, we will have to complete our analysis using the data and information available. All relevant information will be analyzed to forecast the fiscal, budgetary and tax impacts of a potential court consolidation. The final report will summarize all relevant findings in a concise format, including information on estimated costs and potential savings, and how both Village and Town tax rates are likely to be affected. The project team will provide a written report of its baseline review to the Village and will participate in an online meeting (Zoom or similar) to present project results. Timeline CGR can being working immediately upon receipt of a signed contract, and we propose an approximately 8-week timeline from project kickoff to completion. This timeline may be delayed if information on court operations is not available in a timely manner Phase Weeks 1-4 Weeks 5-8 Project Initiation Completed Phase 1 work Underway Completed Fee Proposal CGR proposes to accomplish the above proposal for an all-inclusive fee of $19,750. This fee is based on an estimated 108 professional staff hours and all included expenses. In the event that the Village wishes to pursue a Phase 2 as described above that identifies and explores potential options for change in greater detail, CGR can accomplish this under a new scope for an additional fee, based on the Board’s specifications. www.cgr.org Qualifications & Experience Founded by George Eastman in 1915, CGR is a nonprofit, independent research and consulting firm providing research, analysis, management guidance and implementation support to governments, nonprofits and foundations across the U.S., with a special emphasis in our home state of New York. CGR has a deeper portfolio of work on municipal operational improvement and efficiency than nearly any other organization. CGR’s work in the past decade alone includes dozens of municipal service budgetary and restructuring engagements; operations, staffing and structure assessments; service delivery redesign efforts; shared-service studies; and reorganization projects. We are an industry leader in providing strategic analytical support for independent, objective and actionable evaluations of efficiency and effectiveness, including internal reviews of individual governments and shared service efforts spanning multiple entities. This portfolio of work has ranged from service-specific assessments of individual functions in small rural communities with operations totaling less than $1 million, to large multi-county metropolitan regions with hundreds of governmental entities and over $15 billion in operations. Those projects have covered the broad range of services and issues affecting local governments today, including governance structures, service delivery frameworks, fiscal impact, administrative functions, public safety, and public works. CGR’s portfolio of work demonstrates a deep understanding of government budgets, administrative capacity, and service delivery issues. We have keen understanding of New York State municipal operations and regulations, civic service law and collective bargaining. Reference Projects Village of Port Chester Court Dissolution In 2020, the Village of Port Chester, NY, engaged CGR to study the impacts of dissolution of its village court. CGR’s study examined jurisdiction, staffing, revenues and expenses, and court facilities, and concluded that all essential functions would be absorbed by the Town of Rye, and that dissolution would produce a net savings for the Village and its residents. Subsequent to a successful dissolution, Port Chester’s Village Manager reported approximately $1 million in annual savings was realized.as a result of staffing reductions. Reference: Stuart Rabin, Village Manager of Port Chester, SRabin@PortChesterNY.gov, 914.939.2200 www.cgr.org Village of Port Jefferson Operations and Staffing Analysis In 2025, the Village of Port Jefferson, NY, engaged CGR to conduct an operational review its Department of Building and Planning, Office of Village Clerk, Treasury Department, and Village Center and Recreation Department. The objective of this study was to evaluate administrative operations, staffing levels, core functions, and roles to provide actionable recommendations for improving overall departmental performance and operational effectiveness. CGR’s analysis involved interviews with department heads and key staff, administration and analysis of an employee satisfaction survey, and workplace observation. CGR analyzed findings and recommended areas for improvement in each department individually, as well as for cross-cutting themes across departments. Additionally, model organizational charts were provided for the departments with recommendations for how to restructure to maximize efficiency and departmental effectiveness. The Village is actively considering appropriate implementation strategies. Reference: Lauren Sheprow, Mayor of Port Jefferson, mayorsheprow@portjeffny.gov, 631-473- Mount Vernon, NY, Operational Analysis The City of Mount Vernon, NY hired CGR in 2024 to conduct a review of its Buildings and Law Departments to improve operations and budget planning. The study included interviews and benchmarking with similar communities and identified staffing and operational needs. The Buildings Department, facing backlogs and rapid staff turnover, required at least three new positions: a clerk, plan examiner, and building safety inspector. Recommendations also included competitive pay, continued use of external inspectors, expanded office space, enhanced training, and full integration of its new software program. The Law Department, also experiencing staff changes, needed to fill an attorney position and shift FOIL requests to the City Clerk's office. Operational improvements included: • Developing a rubric for outside counsel • Streamlining contract processes • Using standardized templates • Implementing case management software • Building in-house expertise in building codes and land use. Improved communication with the Buildings and Police Departments regarding ordinance violations is also crucial. The City Council was able to make several changes related to staffing levels and shifting responsibilities ahead of the next fiscal year. Reference: Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Mayor of Mount Vernon, cityhelp@mountvernonny.gov, 914-665-2300 www.cgr.org Village of Southampton DPW Organizational Assessment The Village of Southampton engaged CGR, in partnership with Sourced Municipal Solutions, to conduct concurrent assessments of the Village Department of Public Works and Justice Court. Both assessments focused on operations, staffing and organizational structure, as well as opportunities to improve effectiveness and efficiency. The CGR team made two visits to Southampton to conduct interviews and observe operations of the DPW and Court; conducted further interviews by phone and videoconference; surveyed DPW staff; analyzed data on department operations; researched issues such as certification and training for key DPW roles; and provided staffing and spending benchmarks for similar villages. DPW recommendations included: • Adopting a unified management structure for the DPW • Establishing a department-level strategic plan and mission • Pursuing accreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA) • Adopting an evidence-based pavement management system • Adopting a flatter title structure for DPW staff • Improving direction to the DPW from upper management of the Village. The Village is considering a new management structure for the DPW and is adopting a pavement management system and exploring APWA accreditation. Reference: Charlene Kagel-Betts, former Village Administrator, cgkcpa@gmail.com www.cgr.org Local Government Clients since 2015 Alabama, Town (NY) Lancaster, Village (NY) Raritan Township (NJ) Allegany County (NY) Lebanon, Town (NY) Ridgefield Park, Village of (NJ) Auburn, City (ME) Leicester, Town and Village (NY) Rochester, City (NY) Avon, Town (CT) Lewiston, City (ME) Rockland County (NY) Barnard Fire District (NY) Livingston County (NY) Rye, Town (NY) Brighton Ambulance (NY) Loch Arbour, Village (NJ) Sands Point, Village of (NY) Bronxville, Village (NY) Marbletown, Town (NY) Sandy, City (PA) Byron, Town (NY) Massena, Village (NY) Scarsdale, Village of (NY) Cayuga County (NY) Meadville, City (PA) Schodack, Town (NY) Cazenovia, Town and Village (NY) Medina, Village (NY) Schuyler County (NY) Chautauqua County (NY) Mellenville and Claverack Fire Districts (NY) Seneca County (NY) Cheektowaga, Town (NY) Monroe County Seneca Falls, Town (NY) Chemung County (NY) New Haven Housing Authority (CT) Sherman, Town & Village (NY) Cherry Creek, Village (NY) New Rochelle, City (NY) Sinclairville, Village (NY) Claverack, Town (NY) Newton, Town (MA) South Nyack, Village (NY) Cobleskill, Village and Town (NY) Niagara County (NY) Southampton, Village (NY) Corry, City (PA) Niagara Falls, City (NY) Southeast Connecticut COG Cortland, City (NY) Northeast Joint Fire District (NY) Spring Valley, Village (NY) Dryden, Village (NY) Oneida County (NY) St. Paul Fire District (NY) Dubois, Township (PA) Onondaga County (NY) Syracuse, City (NY) Dutchess County (NY) Ontario County (NY) Templeton, Town (MA) East Goshen, Town (PA) Ontario, Town (NY) The Wildwoods of New Jersey Essex County (NY) Orange County (NY) Ticonderoga, Town (NY) Fairview Fire District (NY) Orangetown, Town (NY) Tioga County (NY) Forestville, Village (NY) Orleans County (NY) Tompkins County (NY) Grand Island, Town (NY) Oswego County (NY) Tyre, Town (NY) Greater Racine Area (WI) Otsego County (NY) Van Etten, Town and Village (NY) Greenburgh, Town (NY) Palm Tree, Town (NY) Victor, Town (NY) Greene County (NY) Penfield Fire District (NY) Warren County (NY) Hamilton, Town (NY) Penfield, Town (NY) Watkins Glen, Village (NY) Herkimer County (NY) Phillipston, Town (MA) West Goshen, Town (PA) Hinesburg, Town(VT) Port Chester, Village (NY) Westfield, Town (NY) Irondequoit, Town (NY) Princeton (NJ) Yates County (NY) Johnson, Town & Village (VT) Prospect, Village (NY) Yonkers, City (NY) Kingston, City (NY) Queensbury, Town (NY) www.cgr.org Key Personnel Resumes Our team will be led by Paul Bishop, Principal of CGR’s local government and local government practice. He has led numerous studies regarding the operations of local governments including focused evaluations of public works, law enforcement, fire service and emergency medical services. He is familiar with the unique nature of local government in Westchester as a native of the county and leader of several projects for communities in the area. Kieran Bezila will be serving as the Project Manager for this engagement. He has been involved in numerous projects focusing on the provision of services at the local government and was involved in the study that led to the dissolution of justice court in the Village of Port Chester. The project team will include several of the staff whose biographies appear on the following pages. Our project teams are created once the specific needs of the engagement are identified and the timeline is created. About Paul Paul Bishop leads the local government and public safety practice at CGR. He is a public policy researcher with a passion for addressing community concerns and improving government operations. He directs projects involving a wide range of issues related to local government operations, public safety services, and community well-being. He ap- proaches each project with the understanding that each client and circumstance is unique. His experience in government operations spans all aspects of public safety, organizational efficiency, financial analysis and local govern- ment reorganization. He brings his experience of system coordination and thorough analysis to each CGR project on which he works. He also brings the experience of being a supervisor, educator and care provider to each aspect of analysis. His experience with government management issues is diverse, in- cluding evaluating service options, strategic planning and internal efficiencies for municipalities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin. He has worked with communities of several hundred to several hundred thousand to help address the diverse array of challenges they face. His engagements consistently result in actionable recommendations that improve client’s operations. Prior to joining CGR in 2012, Mr. Bishop managed EMS education at the Public Safety Training Center at Monroe Community College for 10 years. His work at the Rochester, New York college focused on all aspects of education for EMS including initial certification for emer- gency medical technicians and paramedics, and leadership. Earlier in his career, he served as paramedic, supervisor and operations manager for an urban EMS organization. He continues to work as a paramedic in his hometown. Paul Bishop, M.P.A. Principal and Project Director Areas of Expertise • Municipal operations and effi ciency • Shared services and restructuring • Police, Fire and EMS optimization • Community engagement • Identifying and solving problems • Budgetary and fi scal analysis • Strategic Planning Project Highlights • Allegany County (NY) EMS Strategic Plan • Avon (CT) Fire Department Strategic Plan • Operational Assessment of EMS in Cheektowaga • Consolidation Analysis for City of DuBois & Sandy Township (PA) • Cuylerville & Leicester (NY) Fire Department Consolidation • Essex County EMS Strategic Plan (NY) • Potential Impact of Village of Edgemont (NY) • Hinesburg (VT) Public Safety Strategic Plan • Future of Fire Service in Irondequoit (NY) • Cities of Lewiston and Auburn Consolidation Evaluation (ME) • Future of Fire and EMS Service in Marbletown (NY) • Monroe County/ City of Rochester Racial and Structural Equity Commission • City of Mount Vernon (NY) Building & Law Department Evaluation • Niagara County (NY) EMS: Strategic Plan • Ontario County (NY) Public Safety Plan • Greater Racine (WI) : Options for the Future • Raritan (NJ) Fire & Police Operational Assessment • City of Rochester Architecture & Engineering Department Effi ciency (NY) • Town of Rosendale (NY) Fire Department Analysis • Analysis of Rockland County (NY) Budget • Dissolution Analysis for South Nyack (NY) • Tompkins County/Ithaca Law Enforcement Evaluation & Criminal Justice Assessment (NY) • Warren County (NY) Comprehensive Plan for Government Operations • Options to Improve Fire & EMS Service in Wildwoods (NJ) Education M.P.A., SUNY at Brockport B.A., Political Science and Organizational Psychology, University of Rochester Paramedic, Western New York EMS Training Institute Kieran Bezila, Ph.D. Senior Associate About Kieran Kieran Bezila is a skilled researcher with experience in both quantitative and qualitative approaches, having previously taught classes and conducted individual and joint research work at the collegiate level for more than a decade. His research interests include government, politics and the social logic behind everyday decision-making. At CGR, he has worked in a wide variety of areas, including workforce development, criminal justice, economic assessment, effi ciency of local governments and emergency services agencies, public health, and the evaluation of nonprofi t organizations and educational programs. His individual projects have examined such diverse topics as the eff ectiveness of New York State’s DWI laws, the coordination of local workforce training programs, code enforcement systems, racial equity considerations around business development and MWBE programs, and charting the evolution of the social determinants of health as a public health concept. Prior to joining CGR, he was an Assistant Professor of Sociology and a Teaching Fellow at Beloit College in Wisconsin. Previously, he worked for the Center for Responsive Politics, managing and preparing federal campaign finance data for public view. His National Science Foundation- funded dissertation project enrolled 288 research subjects in a study of the logic underpinning altruistic behaviors such as tipping and gratuities. Dr. Bezila is profi cient in every phase of the research process, from conceptualization and design to data collection, management, and analysis and interpreting results. He has particular skills in research design, questionnaire and survey construction, interview techniques, conducting focus groups and statistical analysis. Areas of Expertise • Operational efficiency • Local government services • Organization of emergency services • Workforce development • Research design • Data collection • Survey and focus group work • Qualitative and quantitative analysis Project Highlights • Chautauqua County Code Enforcement Study (NY) • City of Ithaca Municipal Fee Study (NY) • City of Newton Needs Assessment (MA) • City of Rochester Workforce Gap Analysis (NY) • ESL Foundation Workforce Retention Grants Program Impact Analysis • Finger Lakes Clean Energy Workforce Study • Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Regional Talent Study • Ibero-American Development Corporation Healthy Parks Evaluation • Monroe Community College Federal Title III Grant External Evaluator • NW Arkansas Municipal Services Assessment • NYS DWI-DMV Exploratory Study • Ontario County Weighted Voting 2022 Update (NY) • ROC2025 Remote Worker Study • Rockland County Budget Review (NY) • St. John Fisher University Market Analysis • Town of Chili Fire Services Study • Town of Irondequoit EMS Study (NY) • Town & Village of Leicester Fire/EMS study (NY) • Town of Ontario Collective Bargaining Assessment (NY) • Village of Westfield Dept. of Public Works Organizational Assessment (NY) • Urban League of Rochester-Racial Equity and Justice Initiative Integration Education Ph.D. and M.A., Sociology, Northwestern University B.A., Sociology, Boston College About Alina Alina Santiago joined CGR in 2023 with experience working with non- profits and an interest in furthering social impact and responsibility. She supports projects across CGR’s capabilities, utilizing her qualitative and quantitative skills. These include interviewing, running focus groups, data collection, visualization, and geographic information systems (GIS). In May 2022, Ms. Santiago graduated with her Master of Public Adminis- tration from the Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University with a concentration in Social Policy. She also earned her B.A. in Government at Cornell University. At the Brooks school, she was the Communications Chair on the executive board of Women in Public Policy and a Teaching Assistant for the Environmental Justice and Policy class at Cornell. Ms. Santiago served as a graduate consultant on projects focused on diver- sity, equity and inclusion initiatives, non-profits, and affordable housing models. Before coming to CGR, she served as a Compliance Specialist for Tandym Group. She previously interned for Future Now, SOMOS Mayfair, and Leadership Rochester. Alina Santiago, M.P.A. Research Associate Areas of Expertise • Survey and focus group work • Data collection • Qualitative and quantitative analysis • Community engagement Project Highlights • Hinesburg VT Public Safety Strategic Plan • New Rochelle Civilian Review Board • Raritan Township Police & Fire Assessments (NJ) • Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Evaluation/Capacity Building • Ocean County Health Department Assessment (NJ) • Community Profile Indicators Projects: Mid-Hudson Valley (NY) State of Arkansas - Aspire Arkansas Westchester (NY) - Index Community Profile Worcester (MA) - Worcester County Insights Education M.P.A, Brooks School of Public Policy, B.A. in Government Cornell University About Deon Deon Willis is a researcher and data analyst with a passion for local government, public service, politics and how each shape our world. He has experience in varied methods of research at the collegiate level and professional level. His expertise includes data collection, analysis, visualization, GIS systems, and database design & management. Prior to joining the CGR team, Mr. Willis served as the administrative program and grants coordinator for the Center for Youth. Mr. Willis is dedicated to increasing equity in the City of Rochester and improving services to youth and families impacted by discrimination and trauma. Before working at the Center for Youth, Mr. Willis held positions as a career advisor at the University of Rochester’s Gwen M. Greene Center and a Congressional intern. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a focus in Public Policy from the University of Rochester. During his undergraduate study, Mr. Willis was selected as a 2020 Public Policy and International Affairs Program Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Deon Willis Research Associate Areas of Expertise • Survey and focus group work • Data collection and analysis • Qualitative and quantitative analysis • Database management and design Project Highlights • AmeriCorps Program Evaluation • Hope585 Community Foster Home Pilot Evaluation • Trillium Health Needs Assessment • Rochester Museum and Science Center Strategic Plan • Climate Solutions Accelerator Indicators • Chautauqua County Code Enforcement Study Education B.A., Political Science with a focus in Public Policy, University of Rochester