Schenectady County Legislature approves homeland-security grants, audit contract and range of administrative resolutions

The Schenectady County Legislature on Jan. 6 approved a package of resolutions that included acceptance of a $172,000 grant from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services for a domestic terrorism prevention program, budget amendments moving state homeland-security and emergency-management funds for equipment and cybersecurity, and a three-year independent audit contract with UHY LLP.

Rory Fullman, identified in the meeting as the county manager, told legislators the $172,000 award supports the county’s Threat Assessment Management Team and would help expand monthly meetings and pay for part-time coordination staff. "I'm here for the sheriff's department to ask for authorization to accept the $172,000 as well as authorization to sign a multi year agreement with state homeland security," Fullman said.

The legislature also approved a separate set of budget changes tied to state homeland-security programs and the federal Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG). Mark Levelette explained that the county received an award letter in November and needs amendments because the funds were not included in the current year’s budget. Levelette said the county plans to move $92,000 from the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) into 2025 to acquire an all-terrain Argo vehicle and trailer and to allocate about $30,000 for IT work related to cybersecurity and election security. He said the county also plans to move $60,642 into EMPG for salary and equipment maintenance. "We are looking to acquire an all terrain ... Argo vehicle," Levelette said, describing the purchase as a response capacity need following a recent brush fire.

Julie McDonald, introduced at the meeting as the county auditor, presented the recommendation to renew independent audit services with UHY LLP after a competitive request for proposals. McDonald said the county received six proposals and that UHY’s experience auditing the county nursing home, plus local office presence and work on GASB standards, made the firm the recommendation. "This year, we did go out for an RFP. We received 6 proposals ... our recommendation is to continue with our current auditors, UHYLP," McDonald said. The legislature approved a three-year contract with two one-year renewal options and separate agreements for the Glendale Home and the county general-purpose audit.

Keith Brown, the county director of public health, told the body the legislature should accept a $41,100 subgrant from the National AHEAD/Wick Association (as read at the meeting) to fund translation of frequently used public-health materials into the most commonly spoken languages among program participants. "So we're gonna take this money and translate all of our materials into ... the most commonly spoken languages by our participants," Brown said.

Other agenda items adopted with minimal discussion included appointments to boards and commissions, a resolution to acquire real property from 151 Erie Boulevard LLC, an agreement for emergency dispatch and mapping services, adoption of the county Fire Mutual Aid Plan, a resolution to create and eliminate certain county positions, an onboarding and training software agreement (read in the record as Governmentjobs.comincdbaneogov), multiple budget amendments (including for the county attorney), confirmation of a director of Consumer Affairs and Weights and Measures, capital amendments for the city aquatic center, tax-roll corrections, and routine tax-processing resolutions. Roll-call votes on each recorded generally showed unanimous approval among the 13 legislators present with two members excused.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 1-25, confirming appointments to boards, councils and commissions — approved (13 ayes, 0 nays, 2 excused). - Resolution 2-25, accept monies from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services for the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Program ($172,000) — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 3-25, acceptance of monies for State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) amendments and program moves — approved (13–0; 2 excused). Key shifts: $92,000 moved from SHSP into 2025 for an Argo vehicle, trailer and related needs; $60,642 to EMPG for salary and maintenance; approximately $30,000 for IT/cybersecurity work cited for election security. - Resolution 4-25, authorize agreement with UHY LLP for independent auditing services (three-year contract with two one-year renewal options; separate Glendale Home contract) — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 5-25, acceptance of a subgrant for AHEAD 2.0 translation of materials ($41,100 reported at the meeting) — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 6-25, purchase of real property from 151 Erie Boulevard, LLC — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 7-25, agreement for emergency dispatch and mapping services with “I am responding” (as read in the record) — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 8-25, adopt the Schenectady County Fire Mutual Aid Plan — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 9-25, create and eliminate certain positions in county offices, agencies or departments — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 10-25, agreement with Governmentjobs.comincdbaneogov for onboarding and training software services — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 11-25, budget amendments for the office of the Schenectady County Attorney — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 12-25, confirm appointment of Director of Consumer Affairs and Weights and Measures — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 13-25, capital budget amendments regarding the aquatic center in the city of Schenectady — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 14-25, correct clerical errors on the municipal tax roll of Duanesburg — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 15-25, authorize chargeback of uncollectible taxes to certain school districts — approved (13–0; 2 excused). - Resolution 16-25, process real property tax corrections and refunds for the 2025 calendar year — approved (13–0; 2 excused).

Context and next steps

Legislators heard staff explanations and then adopted the measures by roll call. Several items (the homeland-security grants, the SHSP/EMPG moves and the audit contract) included brief staff presentations explaining uses, procurement history or why the RFP process was followed; those actions now authorize the county to sign grant agreements, execute contracts and make the budget adjustments described on the record. Where funds were shifted, staff said the changes were needed because award letters arrived after the adopted budget and to address operational needs (all-terrain response vehicle, cybersecurity/election security work, and staffing/equipment maintenance). The county will proceed with procurement and contract finalization under the authorizations voted tonight.

No items were tabled or rejected at the meeting. Several public commenters spoke earlier in the session on library changes and other community matters; those public comments were not part of formal votes reported at the meeting.

Ending

The legislature completed its roll-call votes and adjourned following the completed agenda. Where staff noted further steps (for example, vendor contracting or equipment procurement), those next steps were described on the record but remain subject to the usual procurement and contracting processes.