Members of the public in Auburn will be able to voice their opinions on two specific topics today at city hall.

During a meeting of the Auburn City Council, there are public hearings scheduled on the Auburn Police Department's proposal to purchase electric tasers and the city's application for a Restore New York grant.

The APD has been awarded $38,278 from a justice assistance grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office received approximately $12,000 through the same program and the two departments are looking to jointly apply to use those funds to purchase tasers for patrol officers.

Local law enforcement officials have said the equipment, which uses an electronic charge to incapacitate suspects, is a non-lethal weapon that has been shown to reduce officer injuries. However, some local residents have already raised concerns over the tasers, which they say can be lethal.

The city's planning department has chosen to apply to the Restore NY program with a proposal to tear down the former Kalet building on State Street and build a 300-seat theater. In the application, the city will likely request $2.4 million for the project.

The theater would eventually be owned and operated by the organization running the annual musical theater festival proposed to be held in and around Auburn.

Both public hearings will take place at the beginning of today's meeting. No vote is scheduled for either issue.

If you go

What: Auburn City Council

When: 6 p.m. today

Where: Memorial City Hall, 24 South St., Auburn