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Canterbury police: no applicants; chief proposes living-step pay schedule to improve hiring
Summary
Police chief told the select board the department has received no applicants for current openings and proposed implementing a step-based living pay scale and expanding one part-time position to 36 hours to aid recruitment and retention.
Canterbury’s police chief reported the department has received no applicants for current vacancies and laid out a multi-year pay-step proposal aimed at improving recruitment and retention, the select board heard.
The chief told the board he has discussed a living pay scale that automatically increases with cost of living to prevent the town’s pay from falling behind neighboring agencies. The proposal would create steps that move an officer from entry level through higher steps over a period of years; the chief said he planned to stretch the steps to 15 years so that increases accrue gradually.
Why it matters: The chief said neighboring agencies use similar step systems and that Canterbury has lost candidates to higher-paying nearby departments. The lack of applicants leaves the department at least one officer short, he said.
Budget and hours: The chief said next year’s budget request will not increase most lines except those outside department control; he added an overall pay-line increase of roughly 6.35 percent is expected for mandatory items. The chief also asked the select board to consider moving an existing part-time administrative position to 36 hours per week so that position becomes full time with benefits.
Next steps: The board asked for more detail ahead of budget season; the chief said he will provide step schedules and cost estimates for board review. The matter will be discussed again during budget deliberations.
