OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office has renewed its lease for the Reentry Hub, used by recently released inmates to obtain services.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office has renewed its lease for the Reentry Hub, used by recently released inmates to obtain services.
[/caption]MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County and village officials are both satisfied enough with the new jail reentry hub program to officially renew its lease.

During the county legislature meeting, lawmakers approved a lease agreement with the village of Mayville to continue to rent 525 square feet of office space at 1 S. Erie St. from the village for one year at a cost of $450. The space will continue to be used to provide re-entry services.

A little over a year ago, Sheriff Jim Quattrone said he was looking to create a re-entry hub in the downtown community where newly released inmates could go to get services.

Village businesses had complained that many times released inmates would wander throughout the village, stopping in requesting to use a phone, cash a check or ask for money.

At the same time, the business owners didn’t want to have one of the empty storefronts to become the spot where newly released inmates would go to get services.

As a compromise, the village proposed the county lease its former Mayville code office, which hasn’t been used since the village began partnering with the town of Chautauqua to provide those services.

During a legislature committee meeting, Quattrone noted the re-entry hub has been a success and other Sheriffs may be creating similar programs. “I do believe it’s been very effective. … I’ve also been able to share it on a national level,” he said.

After the legislature approved the contract, Mayville officials expressed their gratitude at their own board meeting. “I think it’s wonderful that this (village) board has agreed to allow them to do that,” Mayor Rick Syper said.

Since the re-entry opened in April until January, 152 individuals had visited it. Syper said some homeless individuals have also stopped in the re-entry hub and the employees there were able to provide some assistance.

Trustee Dan Roush said he used to regularly see what appeared to be released inmates wandering throughout the village. “It’s fantastic. I just don’t see them anymore,” he said.

A couple of business owners at the village board meeting echoed the elected officials’ comments, saying they no longer have released inmates stopping in looking for assistance.

The newly approved lease will run through March 1, 2025.