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Resident urges police body cameras; board outlines petition route and costs
Summary
A resident asked the board to pursue police body cameras. Officials said the equipment and implementation would cost roughly a quarter-million dollars and explained petition-warrant article steps residents can use to put the issue before voters.
A Milford resident asked the Select Board Monday to pursue body-worn cameras for the police department. The board described the likely costs and explained how residents could place the item on a future warrant article.
Joshua Beard, 93 West Street, told the board he had learned Milford police officers do not wear body cameras and said implementing cameras “would be very beneficial to everyone across the board.” Beard asked whether he could collect signatures to persuade the board to act.
Board discussion and guidance
Board members said the town has considered body cameras for years but has not implemented a program because of the substantial costs. One board member said the system would cost roughly $200,000–$250,000 (the board described the figure as “about a quarter of a million dollars”) and noted recurring operating expenses for equipment, storage and maintenance.
Officials suggested two paths: the board could place a regular warrant article on a future town meeting, or residents could file a petition warrant article. The board outlined the petition-warrant process: petitioners must write the warrant article, collect signatures of at least 25 registered voters, and file the petition in the January/December window ahead of the annual vote; petitioners should gather additional signatures to allow for verification by the town clerk. If petitioners seek to bond the cost, a two-thirds vote would be required; if it is an appropriation from general funds, a simple majority would suffice.
The board encouraged prospective petitioners to work with the police chief on precise wording and to prepare an information campaign; they also noted state grant funding has been available at times in the past but cannot be relied upon.
Ending: Resident Joshua Beard said he would explore the petition option and return with more detail; the chief and town staff encouraged coordination on costs, language and potential grant opportunities.
