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Police will study outsourcing crossing guards; board asks for vendor comparisons
Summary
The board asked the police department to investigate contracting options for crossing-guard coverage — including full outsourcing and a temp‑agency model — and requested proposals showing costs, insurance implications, and whether a vendor would reimburse police overtime when contractor coverage fails.
The Dobbs Ferry board agreed to ask the police department to return with proposals comparing options to staff school-crossing posts currently filled by officers or village-employed crossing guards.
Chair introduced the item and asked Travis from the police department to explain. Travis said the department has struggled to recruit and that, during a recent shortfall, officers were held over on overtime to fill shifts. He said one vendor the department contacted currently provides crossing-guard service for Mamaroneck and bills per crossing per hour; according to Travis, that vendor also agreed to reimburse the village for the cost of a police officer when a contractual hole forces the village to use an officer for a shift.
Board members asked whether other villages use such vendors and whether proposals should include both full outsourcing (vendor assumes hiring, training and insurance) and a temp‑agency model (vendor supplies fill‑in personnel while the village retains overall program control). Members emphasized the need for an apples‑to‑apples cost comparison — including insurance premiums and any added administrative burden — and asked staff to explore whether the school district would contribute to crossings added for school schedules.
A board member noted a legal/administrative point raised in discussion: crossing guards historically are funded through the police department budget because they have authority to stop traffic on public rights-of-way; the transcript records that a board member said this placement is mandated by law and discussed budget implications for outsourcing.
The board asked the police department to return with proposals that compare per‑crossing pricing, staffing models (full outsource vs temp‑agency), insurance levels, reimbursement terms for officer overtime, and whether schools could share costs for additional crossings. No contract decision was made that night.
Next step: police will prepare vendor comparisons and a cost/benefit analysis for the board to review.
