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Franklin County accepts public‑safety and health grants; Probation reorganized to meet Raise‑the‑Age mandates
Summary
The Legislature authorized acceptance of several grants — a $174,770 PSAP operations grant, a $24,162 EMPG award, a $69,980 SHSP/SLETPP award, and Bulletproof Vest Partnership reimbursements — and approved a Probation reorganization to fill a Probation Officer position under Raise the Age funding.
Franklin County lawmakers authorized multiple grant acceptances and related appropriations during November sessions, directing funds into the 2019 tentative budget where specified and approving departmental reorganizations tied to state mandates.
The Emergency Preparedness Director/Fire Coordinator advised the Public Safety Committee that Franklin County was awarded $174,770 under the New York State 2018–19 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) Operations Grant Program; the Legislature authorized the Emergency Preparedness Director/Fire Coordinator to accept the PSAP award and included the funds in the 2019 tentative budget (Resolution No. 274). The county also accepted a 2018 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) from FEMA for $24,162 (Resolution No. 281) and a NYS Division of Homeland Security SHSP/SLETPP award of $69,980 with specific appropriation lines noted in the minutes (Resolution No. 282).
Public safety equipment grants were also recorded: the Probation Department and Sheriff’s Department were awarded Bulletproof Vest Partnership funds totaling $8,793 (Probation $3,465; Sheriff $5,328) for body armor reimbursements through Aug. 31, 2020; appropriations were authorized and any unspent funds were to roll into the 2019 budget (Resolution No. 293).
In personnel actions tied to juvenile justice policy, the Probation Director told the Public Safety Committee she is reorganizing the department to meet the state’s Raise the Age mandates and to contain detention costs. The Legislature authorized filling a Probation Officer position (Competitive Class, Grade 12, base salary $43,360) and abolishing a Probation Supervisor position upon filling the officer role; the minutes state the position will remain in effect as long as Raise the Age is in effect with reimbursement (Resolution No. 275).
Why it matters: These grants support emergency communications operations, homeland security preparedness, equipment for public safety personnel and probation capacity to comply with statewide juvenile justice changes. Several awards required budget appropriations or revisions recorded in the minutes and will affect departmental operations into 2019.
Next steps: Grant managers (listed in the minutes) were authorized to accept awards and implement appropriations; departments are to track expenditures and roll forward unspent grant funds into the 2019 budget where noted.
