DOBSON—Dobson will consider applying for a grant to create and preserve jobs for the police department as well as consider appointments for the tourism authority board and the ABC board Thursday at its town hall meeting at 6 p.m.

According to an agenda released earlier this week, commissioners will consider applying for a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Recovery Program grant for the police department.

It is a competitive grant program that provides funding directly to law enforcement agencies having primary law enforcement authority to create and preserve jobs. It also aims to increase their community policing capacity and crime-prevention efforts.

Up to $1 billion in grant funding will be available for the hiring and rehiring of additional career law enforcement officers nationwide.

According to the COPS Web site, grant funding will be based on current entry-level salary and benefits packages and therefore any additional costs for higher salaries or benefits for particular individuals hired will be the responsibility of the grantee agency.

The grants will provide 100 percent funding for approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly-hired, full-time sworn officer positions or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off on a future date, as a result of local budget cuts.

The Dobson Police Department has five full-time officers.

The board also will consider an appointment to the Dobson Tourism Authority Board since member Bob Comer’s term expired on March 1. It will consider an appointment to the ABC Board because member Todd Dockery’s term will expire April 1. Dockery said he is willing to serve another term if the board desires.

Also on the agenda, the board will consider a recreation fund request for the Dobson Little League Football and a contract from Certified Public Accountant Jack L. Wilson to audit town books for fiscal year 2008-09, with the total cost not to exceed $13,500.

The board will discuss updates on other various grant projects and ongoing town projects, then proceed with a closed session to discuss a land acquisition. The meeting will conclude following discussion about general town business.

The meetings are open to the public and held at the meeting room in Town Hall at 6 p.m.

Contact Erin C. Perkins at eperkins@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.