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Albany County approves sheriff budget amendments, reopens PSAP grant, seeks hazmat funding and extends hazard-mitigation deadline
Summary
At a meeting, Albany County approved several sheriff's office budget amendments to accept federal and state grants, voted to reopen a 2023 PSAP grant for $66,868, authorized pursuit of a $16,000 hazmat training grant, and extended a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program deadline to March 31, 2026.
Albany County approved a package of budget amendments and grant actions affecting the sheriff’s office and emergency planning at a county meeting.
The board approved an amendment to the sheriff’s 2025 budget to accept an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) described as a 36-month grant backdated to Oct. 1, 2023. “It’s for 36 months starting backdated to October 1 of 2023,” and “This helps with personnel cost, pays our director and our deputy director,” the sheriff said, adding the grant requires a 50 percent local match and that funds are typically applied to salaries and fringe benefits.
The action also reopened a previously closed 2023 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) operations grant so the county can return $66,868 to the sheriff’s budget. “We’re looking at $66,868 back into our budget once it’s reopened with your permission,” the sheriff said.
Separately, the board authorized submission of a grant application and an agreement with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services for the 2024–25 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant program. The presenter said, “This is for $16,000. It does have a $4,000 match. And again, this goes in towards travel expenses, all the hazmat training.” The motion to authorize the HMEP application was moved by Gil and seconded by Bob; the board voted in favor.
The board also amended Resolution No. 542 (2022) for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to extend the grant termination date to March 31, 2026, saying the extension is needed to meet both FEMA and Homeland Security requirements and that it is a no-cost extension. Pat Curran, identified as an emergency management official, explained the extension and confirmed there is no additional cost to the county.
Earlier procedural business included approval of the prior meeting minutes and tabling of items 2 and 3 at the sponsor’s request. Motions for each grant and budget amendment were moved and seconded on the record and approved; the transcript records affirmative votes but does not include a roll-call tally in the meeting record provided.
The measures restore and secure funding for emergency management personnel and training, and extend federal/state grant timelines so the county can complete mitigation planning and related activities.
