Monday night the Utica Common Council approved the acceptance of federal Community Housing Revitalization Plan funding to add officers to the city Police department. The previous city council had voted thumbs down on the grant in November and when it was brought up again in December. Critics caution that the city's finances could be negatively affected in the long run. Under the terms of the grant, the federal government will pay for the officers for three years at a cost of roughly $700,000 and then the city would have to pay for those officers in the fourth year at a cost of roughly $235,000. City Comptroller Michael Cerminaro says the 4 additional officers will be joined by 3 other public safety positions being filled under other grants available to the city. He's carefully watching the "dollars in the details" - noting there are other ancillary things like police cars, uniforms, ammunintion and other equipment not covered by the grant. New recruits are expected to enter the police academy in February for nine months of training before being assigned to specific neighborhoods.