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Trustees debate private security patrol; board schedules public review and committee analysis
Summary
After months of patrols that began in late January, trustees debated whether to continue a privately contracted security patrol. Trustees asked for two years of police reports and committee findings, discussed contract termination rules (30 days' written notice) and agreed to a public discussion on Oct. 7, with a possible later vote after the holiday season.
Trustees spent the bulk of the Sept. 9 meeting debating whether to continue a privately contracted security patrol that began in late January. Several trustees and a member of the public questioned the patrol’s effectiveness and called for data to evaluate the program. One trustee urged reliance on metrics rather than emotion: "I have faith in the Nassau County Police Department ... I don't feel that we should continue this based on emotion," said an unidentified trustee during remarks urging data collection and public input.
Board members agreed to marshal existing evidence rather than create new documents: they asked staff to compile roughly two years of police reports and operational logs so a trustee committee can assess whether the patrol has reduced crime or delivered value for the village budget. Staff noted that the contract includes a 30‑day written‑notice termination clause; board counsel/staff explained that the company might, but is not required to, accept an earlier termination under negotiated terms.
Trustees discussed timing. Several members said they were not comfortable voting to end the patrol before the holiday season, when thefts historically rise; others argued the board should schedule public input and a vote more promptly. The board agreed to place the topic on the Oct. 7 agenda as a public discussion (not necessarily a vote) and to ask the committee to gather neighborhood feedback and metrics ahead of the meeting. One trustee recommended letting the committee deliver a recommendation to the board, and the presiding official said the board would publicize the Oct. 7 discussion in the mayor’s newsletter.
Next steps: staff and the committee will compile police reports and patrol logs for review; the board will hold a public discussion on Oct. 7 and may consider a vote at a later meeting after additional evidence and public comment are gathered. The meeting concluded with a motion to go into executive session to discuss legal/contract details of a related vendor agreement.
