Gadsden Council approves resolution to apply for 50/50 federal bulletproof-vest grant

The City Council on Nov. 25 unanimously adopted a police-department-backed resolution to apply for the Bureau of Justice Assistance Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP), a 50/50 grant program covering part of the cost of body armor.

A police representative told the council the resolution would fund the purchase of 16 replacement vests and seven new-hire vests. The city’s portion was stated as $11,419.50; the program requires a 50 percent local match. To expedite the purchase, the council suspended the rules to consider the resolution as new business and then voted to adopt it.

Councilman Wilson moved to adopt the resolution; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The clerk called for voices in favor and the motion "carried to adopt" according to the record. No roll-call tally by name is in the transcript; the meeting’s earlier roll call showed one council member absent for the session.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the application process for the BVP grant and arrange the purchase if the grant is awarded and matching funds are available.