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Board debate over police staffing, 20-hour restriction and training costs moves to executive session
Summary
Trustees and police representatives debated hiring three prospective officers, county authorization to exceed a 20-hour restriction, and estimated academy costs. Trustees moved related personnel and fiscal items into executive session for further review.
Trustees and police representatives at the Feb. 12 Village of Wappingers Falls meeting debated whether to authorize additional officers and whether to lift a restriction on part-time hours, with the discussion resulting in the board moving multiple personnel and fiscal items to executive session for further review.
Representatives of the Police Benevolent Association urged trustees to hire three prospective officers who had indicated willingness to work in the village. A PBA representative said Dutchess County had approved agencies to exceed a 20-hour-per-week part-time limit up to 1,040 hours (annualized) and that the village had officers willing to work. The PBA representative said the mayor previously issued a directive restricting the commissioner's ability to exceed the 20-hour limit.
Board members and police leaders discussed training and payroll costs. A PBA speaker said it would be "about $92,000 to send both of them to school" (referring to two officers) while another speaker later referenced a figure of about $46,000. Trustees and residents requested a clearer accounting of payroll lines, overtime spending and what funds remained in the police payroll budget through the budget year ending May 31.
Police Commissioner Fisher and other department leaders reported increased activity and arrests after staff were reinstated and noted the department planned to install stationary camera systems (Flock) and in-car license-plate-reader (LPR) equipment in the coming weeks.
Trustees did not resolve the staffing questions in open session. Several trustees and residents asked for a treasurer's report showing payroll lines and overtime spending. The board voted to take personnel and budget-related police matters into executive session for legal and personnel advice.
Ending: The board moved the hiring decisions and certain budget items to executive session for further review; trustees asked the treasurer to supply a detailed payroll and overtime accounting before final votes are taken in public session.
