Chautauqua County Public Safety Committee approves EMS training, local police contracts and $1.5 million NG911 grant

Chautauqua County—s Public Safety Committee on Monday approved a series of budget adjustments, intermunicipal contracts and a state grant intended to bolster emergency response and police coverage across the county.

The committee voted to amend the county—s 2025 budget to fund expanded emergency medical technician and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training using surplus revenue from previously offered classes. Sam Zafuto, deputy director of finance, described the resolution as "budget neutral," saying the increase in appropriations will be offset by additional revenue created by the training program. Emergency services staff told the committee they held two EMT classes this year and exceeded projections for CPR participation.

The committee also authorized an agreement with the Fluvanna Fire District to house Fly Car M74 and a medic unit on a 24-hour basis. An emergency services official told the committee the district asked the county to pay electricity bills in lieu of rent because the previously unmanned station now runs air conditioning and heating; staff estimated the cost at "approximately $150 a month" but said a precise figure was not yet available. The committee approved the arrangement by voice vote.

Sheriff—s office representative Nate Beitomey summarized two law-enforcement items the committee approved: authorization of contracts to distribute New York State STOP-DWI funds to municipal police departments (funding is allocated based on DWI arrests and convictions, as administered through the state program), and two-year enhanced police protection contracts with the Town of Hanover and Village of Silver Creek beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The committee also approved a separate two-year enhanced protection agreement with the Town of Ripley capped at $70,000 total (about $35,000 a year), and several two-year town court security contracts set to begin in January 2026; Beitomey said the costs for those contracts were included in the 2026 budget.

The largest item approved was a New York State Office of Homeland Security Next Generation 9-1-1 grant the sheriff—s office plans to use to upgrade the county—s 911 phone system and related infrastructure. Beitomey told the committee the county had not budgeted for the grant in 2025 and that a budget amendment is needed to add $1,515,197 in New York State aid and matching contractual appropriations; he said the funds would be fully encumbered in 2025. Committee members asked whether the award had been formally received; county staff said their usual practice is to bring a resolution after notification of the award and that they would confirm receipt and follow up with IT staff on technical details.

Where votes were recorded in the meeting transcript, the committee approved the items by voice vote. Several agenda items required a budget amendment; committee members made and approved an amendment to reflect a larger sheriff—s office adjustment (from $63,000 to $126,000) before voting on the amended budget.

The committee had no public speakers during the privilege of the floor and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Votes at a glance: the transcript records voice votes carrying approval for: approval of prior meeting minutes; EMS training budget amendment; agreement to house Fly Car M74 with Fluvanna Fire District (county to pay electricity in lieu of rent); authorization of STOP-DWI contracts; authorization to accept NG911 grant and required budget amendment ($1,515,197); sheriff—s office budget amendment as amended; enhanced police protection agreements for Hanover, Silver Creek and Ripley (Ripley not-to-exceed $70,000); town court security contracts. Individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.