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Town council accepts $420,000 in donations from Elam Park Baptist Home for police and fire programs
Summary
The council unanimously accepted two donations from Elam Park Baptist Home totaling $420,000 — $210,000 to police (of which $135,000 is for department gift account) and $210,000 to fire (same split) — and heard how the money will fund equipment, training and community programs.
The Town of Cheshire Town Council on June 10 accepted two donations from Elam Park Baptist Home Inc. totaling $420,000 and appropriated the funds to police and fire department gift accounts and the town’s general fund as described in the fiscal-year budget.
Each gift was presented as $210,000; the town will record $135,000 to the department gift account and $75,000 as revenue to the general fund for each department. Chief Dreyf (police) and Chief Kasner (fire) described planned uses.
Police Chief Dreyf said the police department will continue a multiyear program to replace in‑patrol mobile computers and modems — this year with a request to upgrade modems to 5G at a cost the chief said would total about $40,000 — and will use funds for cruiser equipment, training cartridges for Tasers, traffic-safety supplies, community programming (RAD, Citizens Academy, Police Explorers) and uniform/personal equipment including individual first‑aid kits.
Fire Chief Kasner outlined uses including replacement of an SUV from the reserve fleet, contractual services, uniforms, training, automotive equipment and property maintenance; he noted flooring replacement and asbestos abatement planned at fire headquarters. Chief Kasner said staff used prior Elam Park donations for ongoing equipment and training needs.
Councilors thanked Elam Park and said the donations reduce pressure on the operating budget by funding recurring equipment and program costs. Both donations were approved unanimously.
