Cortland County committees approve $1.15M public safety software contract, $160K mental health grant
Cortland County's Finance and Administration Committee approved a seven-year, $1,152,000 contract with Motorola Solutions for public safety software, the largest single item decided in the past two weeks. The committee also backed a $160,648 state grant to create a children's mental health coordinator position. Both items now go to the full Legislature, which meets Aug. 27.
Finance and Administration Committee (Aug. 18)
The committee approved all 13 resolutions on its agenda, including:
- **Motorola Flex public safety software contract** – $1,152,000 over seven years (5-0).
- **Children's Single Point of Access (C-SPOA) Coordinator** – accepted $160,648 in state aid from the Office of Mental Health and created the position (5-0).
- **Water damage repairs** – $100,000 budget amendment (5-0).
- **DMV Voice AI pilot** – $4,300 contract with Carahsoft Technology Corp. for Sept. 1–Dec. 31, 2026 (4-1).
- **Youth Bureau funds** – $128,089 from the state Office of Children and Family Services (5-0).
- **Homeland Security grant** – $32,149 for emergency response and communications (5-0).
- **Capital Improvement Program policy** – approved (5-0).
Health and Human Services Committee (Aug. 13)
The committee approved all ten agenda items, including:
- **Mental health coordinator** – accepted $160,648 in state aid and created the C-SPOA Coordinator position (5-1).
- **Uncollectible accounts** – wrote off $74,279.35 in Mental Health accounts (5-1).
- **JUUL settlement funds** – $7,900 to Family and Children's Counseling Services and $42,500 to Rural Health Institute of NY (5-1).
- **SAMHSA grant amendment** – increased funding for CACTC/RHI to $797,184 (5-1).
- **Staff Development Coordinator** – abolished two positions and created a 40-hour coordinator role (6-0).
- **Youth Board By-Laws** – approved (5-1).
- **LIFEPlan CCO NY collaboration agreement** – approved (5-1).
Agriculture, Economic Development, Planning & Environment (Aug. 13)
The committee approved Local Law H of 2026 (6-0), which allows 12- and 13-year-old licensed hunters to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow under adult supervision through 2028. The law will be subject to a public hearing at the Aug. 27 Legislature meeting. The committee also approved its June 11 minutes and received monthly reports from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Department of Planning & Economic Development. No action was taken on a Planning Board appointment.
Public Works Committee (Aug. 11)
The committee approved:
- **Courthouse HVAC study** – Letter of Intent with Trane U.S. Inc. for a comprehensive evaluation, up to $79,960. The county's net cost is estimated at $15,000 after a 50% NYSERDA cost share (4-0, Legislator Waldbauer recused).
- **FirstLight internet contract** – new three-year agreement at $2,100 per month (5-0).
- **Training use of 83 Pendleton Street** – authorized Aug. 15–Sept. 15, 2026 (5-0).
- Approved June 9, 2026 minutes.
Agenda-only meetings (no decisions yet)
The Government Operations Committee (Aug. 11) and Judiciary & Public Safety Committee (Aug. 13) met but have not published minutes. Their agendas include a proposed increase in the county clerk's mortgage tax expense to $126,709.68, a $4,300 DMV Voice AI contract, a five-year fire extinguisher inspection contract, a $32,149 homeland security grant, a $99,152 hazard mitigation plan bid, and a $1,152,000 Motorola software contract.
Coming up
The full Legislature meets Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. Public hearings will be held on Local Law 6 (youth deer hunting) and Community Development Block Grant applications. The board will vote on the Trane HVAC study, the FirstLight internet contract, the hazard mitigation plan bid, and the homeland security grant. All are expected to be routine approvals.
Residents can attend in person or watch online; the agenda is posted on the county website.