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Dobbs Ferry board authorizes application for $125,000 law-enforcement technology grant; trustees ask for future board oversight of major purchases
Summary
The board authorized staff to apply for a DCJS Law Enforcement Technology Grant (eligible amount ~$125,000, reimbursement basis). Trustees questioned whether high-cost items such as drones and additional license-plate readers would return to the board for approval, and staff said major purchases would follow procurement rules and be brought back for board input.
The Dobbs Ferry Board of Trustees on July 14 authorized staff to apply for a Law Enforcement Technology Grant administered by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Staff said the village had previously been awarded roughly $100,000 and that this year the eligible amount for the village would be about $125,000; the grant is reimbursement-based and need not be matched.
Officials said eligible purchases include body cameras, street-level cameras, evidence-management hardware and software, officer safety equipment, license-plate readers and drones. The police chief (referred to in the discussion) has shown interest in a drone for the agency; staff estimated that a drone could cost about $50,000–$75,000 and that fixed license-plate readers and other equipment could also be included within the $125,000 cap.
Trustees pressed for clarity about how the grant application could name projects now but allow for needs that change before purchase. One trustee said the board should have input before committing to major purchases; staff and the board’s counsel (as referenced) said procurement rules apply and that expensive items would be brought back for board review before acquisition. "Those are more expensive items where they would be brought back to the board," staff said.
The board voted to authorize the grant application; the resolution approves applying for the DCJS grant but does not commit the village to specific purchases. Any funded purchase would be subject to the village’s procurement policy and to future board review as required by cost thresholds.
