AGENDA #2c
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Law Enforcement Block Grant Public Hearing
DATE: September 13, 2004
The purpose of this public hearing is to provide an opportunity for citizens to comment on the expenditures proposed for the 2004 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant currently under consideration.
On July 24, 2004, the U. S. Department of Justice announced that the Chapel Hill Police Department is eligible to receive $13,068 in block grant funds. A local match of $1,452 is required from the Town. The matching amount can be provided through the Police Department operating budget.
Grant funds are distributed by the Department of Justice only after three prerequisites have been met. They are:
Ø An advisory board consisting of representatives from the local school system, the District Attorney’s office, the local court system and a community crime prevention group must review the grant application and make non-binding recommendations about the proposed uses of the grant funds.
Ø A public hearing must be held to provide citizens the opportunity to express their views on the proposed expenditures.
Ø The Town Council must authorize the acceptance of the grant.
DISCUSSION
This is the eighth consecutive year that the Department has been eligible for Block Grant funds. In previous years the Department has spent Block Grant funds on items such as increased training opportunities for employees, surveillance equipment for narcotics investigators, protective equipment for officers, desktop computers and software programs, and Mobile Communication Terminals (MCTs) for police patrol vehicles. Last year’s grant provided funding for recognition/response training and protective equipment to focus primarily on Domestic Preparedness, Anti-Terrorism and Homeland Security. This year’s funds would be used to purchase radar equipment to increase traffic enforcement in neighborhoods. We would also continue to use these funds to complement the Department’s training budget.
The advisory board that has reviewed the previous grant applications has reviewed this year’s application and unanimously supported the proposed expenditures. The advisory board members are: Community Watch member Delores Bailey, East Chapel Hill High School principal Dave Thaden, Assistant District Attorney James Woodall and Chief District Court Judge Joe Buckner.
Any comments received from citizens tonight will be considered in the implementation of our grant program.
RECOMMENDATION
That the comments offered by citizens regarding the proposed expenditures in the 2004 Law Enforcement Block Grant program be referred to the Manager for further review and consideration.