Greene County legislators voted to establish a capital project to implement NextGen 9‑1‑1 upgrades and approved a separate technical‑rescue grant during the meeting, while emergency‑services staff described planned system and equipment changes to improve dispatch and field interoperability.

“We’ll also be adding video to 911, so we’ll be able to send a link directly to your cell phone, allow us to come into your camera, and be able to feed that video directly into the 911 center and then directly out to the field units,” an emergency‑services official said while outlining the NextGen rollout. Staff said the planned upgrades include two‑way text improvements, a recorder and server upgrades to handle additional channels, an integration called ASAP to PSAP for direct alarm‑company input, and a conversion of the server‑room suppression system from water to gas.

The record shows the legislature established Capital Project No. 171 for the NextGen 9‑1‑1 grant program and later carried a separate motion creating Capital Project No. 172 for a technical rescue and urban search‑and‑rescue grant. Staff also reported the technical rescue team received a $12,974 grant to offset replacement of ropes and other lifecycle equipment.

Emergency‑services staff provided context for current call volumes and limitations: October totals included 592 EMS calls, 207 fire calls and 1,751 police calls for a combined total of 3,186 incidents; staff said the county logged multiple text‑to‑911 interactions but currently only accepts inbound texts initiated by the public. Officials said the NextGen upgrades—planned to roll out over several years under a grant—will enable outbound text initiation, video links to callers, and improved CAD and phone‑system capacity.

Staff also described operational changes in dispatch coverage: 9‑1‑1 equipment was removed from the Catskill state‑police site and staged to add a sixth terminal in the county center; Catskill Police Department was designated as the county’s backup with Columbia County discussed as a potential tertiary answering point. Separately, staff described countylevel EMS mutual‑aid and a movement plan that allows dispatchers to shift units to cover vacated areas to reduce response times; they cautioned that some agencies have expressed concerns about standby locations and signature lists are being updated.

Officials said the upgrades and grants are intended to improve dispatch workflow and field response over the coming five years; the legislature recorded the capital projects as carried.