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Wolfeboro voters approve body cameras and raises but reject cruisers; town enters default budget again
Summary
Town voting reported to the Wolfeboro Police Commission showed approval of a union contract and body-worn cameras, voter support for multi-year raises, rejection of cruiser funding and a second consecutive default budget, according to selectmen and commission discussion.
Wolfeboro voters approved a union contract and a body-worn camera purchase but rejected funding for new police cruisers, and the town is operating under a default budget for the second straight year, commission members heard.
Selectman Paul O'Brien summarized the election returns to the Wolfeboro Police Commission, saying 1,666 residents roughly voted and that "66 percent of the people who cast their vote voted for" Kevin J. Duffy in the police commission race. O'Brien said voters approved several measures affecting public safety and municipal operations, while declining the cruiser purchase and placing the town into a default budget.
Why it matters: the outcomes will affect police equipment and staffing decisions and constrain departmental spending for the coming year as town officials determine what a default budget means for services.
O'Brien gave results and voter percentages as context for the commission. He reported that Article 19, the union contract, passed; Article 20, the cruisers, did not pass; and Article 21, body-worn cameras, did pass. O'Brien also said 65% of voters supported a proposed 5% per-year police pay increase over three years and that 61% supported a similar package for AFSCME-represented employees. He told the commission that 55% of voters indicated they did not support cruisers this year and that the town is now in a default budget for the second year in a row.
The commission also heard figures O'Brien said show broad voter support for infrastructure and public-safety spending in other items: he said 78% backed fixing pressure relief valves on Main Street and 67% supported finishing the public safety building. O'Brien said a petition to abolish the police commission received 729 votes in favor and 854 opposed — a roughly 54/46 split.
The report to the commission was framed as commentary and analysis rather than a formal motion. Commission members did not take additional formal votes on the election returns during the meeting; they discussed operational implications for cruisers, cameras and department staffing in follow-up remarks.
Commissioners and staff said they will review how the default budget affects planned purchases and operations and will report back at future meetings with implementation details and any recommended adjustments.
