The Common Council and Mayor voted last night during the Common Council meeting to amend the City of Cortland budget by $722,112 with appropriations to the City of Cortland Fire Department, Police Department, Public Works, and the Cortland Youth Bureau.
January earlier this year, the council voted to approve the acceptance of a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The grant awarded totaled $545,364 for the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for the city and the Willet and Marathon Fire Departments with a 10% match that is funded through the 2023 Fire Department budget allocations and payments from Willet and Marathon, both totaling $6,363.64 and $10,818.18.
Additionally, the fire department had firefighters trained at EMTs and are now eligible for a $1,500 bonus as part of the NYS Healthcare Worker Bonus Program. The state has provided $116,262 to the City of Cortland for the payment to be given to the firefighters.
The City of Cortland Police Department has recently received a check for $4,243.05 from their insurance provider to cover for a partial loss of a vehicle. The department had requested funds for vehicle equipment and repairs.
The department has recently been able to sell surplus materials that resulted in $1,060 for the department to be then used for firearms training.
Funding was given to the City of Cortland Public Works in the amount of $55,183 from D.A. Collins Construction Company for offsetting costs related to the Front Street resurfacing project that is slated to be completed this year.
Lastly, for the Cortland Youth Bureau, a truck the organization uses has now reached the end of its useful life and have requested the vehicle to be removed from service. The truck will now be considered surplus and the Youth Bureau looks to sell the vehicle with all proceeds going to the purchase of new equipment. The amount the surplus truck will bring in is undetermined.
