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Committee approves $1.6M NextGen 911 grant and related tower/ESInet agreements
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Summary
Ulster County’s committee approved a roughly $1.6 million NextGen 911 grant application, an ESInet readiness MOU, capital amendments for NG911, and two Verizon contracts to extend county tower coverage; county officials said Verizon will fund construction on certain tower extensions and lease payments will begin at construction start.
The Ulster County Law Enforcement/Public Safety Committee voted on a package of public safety infrastructure measures, approving a NextGen 911 grant application worth about $1.6 million, participation in New York State’s ESInet readiness program, capital‑project amendments for NG911, and two contracts with Cellco Partnership (DBA Verizon Wireless) for county tower sites.
Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services told the committee the NextGen 911 grant—administered by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services—will provide approximately $1,600,000 to begin the build‑out of NextGen 911 capabilities in the county. "This is a $1,600,000, approximately just over that, right, allocation of grant funding to the department to start the build out of NextGen 9‑1‑1," the commissioner said.
The committee also approved Resolution No. 111, a memorandum of understanding to allow the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to connect to Ulster County’s computer‑aided dispatch/public safety system, which the commissioner said would increase interoperability among law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies that already largely participate in the county system.
On contracts, the county approved Resolution Nos. 116 and 117 authorizing agreements with Cellco Partnership (DBA Verizon Wireless). The commissioner explained the Kingston (Golden Hill) tower extension will be constructed by Verizon at its cost and the county’s lease fees will commence when construction begins; a separate Rosendale site lease was described as having a higher fee because the county is not funding that extension. "Verizon will be the ones building the extension on our current tower site," the commissioner said.
Committee members moved and approved each resolution by voice vote; several legislators spoke in favor of the upgrades and one longtime volunteer praised the expected life‑saving benefits of improved radio interoperability.
Votes at a glance (committee transcript): • Resolution 104 — Amend 2026 operating budget (District Attorney) — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 105 — Amend salary schedule / personnel — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 107 — $52,560 contract for District Attorney communications — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 109 — Amendment to upstate family defense agreement (OPD) — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 110 — Appointments to Ulster County Fire Advisory Board — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 111 — MOU with NYC DEP for CAD access — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 112 — MOU with SUNY Cobleskill for paramedic program — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 113 — NextGen 911 grant application (~$1.6M) — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 114 — Participation in ESInet readiness program — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 115 — Amend capital project #757 (NG911) — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 116 — Contract with Cellco Partnership (Kingston/Golden Hill) — approved by voice vote. • Resolution 117 — Contract with Cellco Partnership (Rosendale) — approved by voice vote.
The committee chair closed the meeting after noting the law enforcement center tour has been rescheduled for April 7 and reminding members that annual reports are posted to OneDrive.
