Putnam protective services committee tables $25,000 continuity-of-operations contract pending proposal details

The Putnam County Legislatureprotective services committee on May 13 voted to table a $25,000 request to hire Meridian Strategic Services to develop a countywide continuity-of-operations plan.

Commissioner of Emergency Services Robert Lipton told the committee the firm had assisted with FEMA reimbursements and "did a fantastic job," and said the proposed contract would deliver a county plan and individual plans for county departments: "it's a plan for operation on how that happens, both the entire county level and each individual department." A committee member asked whether towns and villages would be included; Lipton said the plan was for county departments only.

A legislator questioned whether the county needed to spend $25,000 to document succession and operational responsibilities in the event top officials are unavailable. Lipton said the proposal includes department-level continuity planning rather than simply listing successors. Because the committee had not received the vendor proposal or quote in advance, a motion to table prevailed so staff can provide the full proposal at the next meeting.

No formal action on hiring Meridian was taken; members asked staff to return with the written quote and scope of work before voting.