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Town of Comfort seeks county match for shared‑services study under state LGME grant
Summary
Town officials asked the county to cover a 50% match on up to $50,000 in New York State LGME grants to study shared services and possible consolidation across public works, highway, courts, building inspections, code enforcement and dog control; the committee carried the request.
Lauren Sharp, senior planner with the county Department of Planning and Development, and Dan Pacus, supervisor for the Town of Comfort, asked the Administrative Services Committee to fund the county share of a Local Government Management Efficiency (LGME) grant application to study possible shared services and municipal consolidation.
“We're applying for two grants totaling $50,000 from New York State through their local government management efficiency grant funding process,” Sharp said, and the grants require a 50% local match. Sharp said the town is asking the county’s Government Reduction Initiative (GRI) fund to cover the match so the small municipalities would not shoulder the full cost.
The presenters said the study would review shared‑service or consolidation options across public works and highway departments, courts, the building‑inspector/code‑enforcement function and dog control officers. Towns that have asked to participate include Sheridan and possibly Arkrite; the village of Fredonia was mentioned as a potential partner for court consolidation but presenters warned that merging courts from outside a town may require special legislation at the state level.
A committee member asked about timing and whether New York State’s LGME awards and a consulting procurement could affect the schedule; Sharp said the timeline will depend on when the state makes awards and how quickly a consultant can be engaged. Pacus described the town taking the lead on several preliminary studies and requested the county match to allow a more in‑depth review.
The committee carried the resolution to provide GRI funds to cover the required match if the LGME awards are made. The resolution does not obligate the county beyond the grant‑match authorization and staff said they would return with final terms if the state awards the grant.
The committee’s action advances local planning for shared services but leaves timing and scope contingent on the state grant award and any need for special state legislation for certain consolidation options.
