Police chief asks council to fund full-time behavioral health liaison after Sweetser liaison leaves

Police Chief Reuben asked the South Berwick Town Council during a budget workshop to add a full-time behavioral health liaison to the police budget after the town—s current liaison accepted a state position and the regional provider, Sweetser, cannot immediately fill the vacancy.

Reuben said the liaison performs co-response with law enforcement, crisis intervention, case follow-up, referrals and community outreach, and that the town—s experience with the position reduced repeat mental-health calls for service. He presented an estimated total annual cost (salary plus benefits) of $120,616 and said operating expenses such as training and a vehicle would be covered in the police budget.

Councilors pressed on operational details and limits. Several asked whether the liaison would be a clinician or a conduit to services; Reuben said the liaison is not a therapist but a specialist who connects people to treatment and can lead a state "yellow flag" process to remove weapons temporarily for individuals posing a danger. Councilor Costello raised questions about hiring fairness and whether the town would post the job publicly; the town manager said the position likely would be posted but allowed that a qualified former town employee could be hired legitimately without violating hiring rules.

Reuben outlined how the liaison would work with local agencies and the school district (SAU 35). He said the liaison currently has a direct phone line available to the public and can both respond in the field and provide follow-up support when not on calls. Several councilors and attendees described personal examples where the liaison sped access to counseling that otherwise would have taken weeks.

The chief described limits on regional placement of Sweetser liaisons: Wells Police Department has been on a waiting list for more than six months and Sweetser has not been able to fill that town—s vacant slot, which Reuben said increases the urgency of creating a local, town-employed position. Reuben also said the town has a meeting scheduled with the school superintendent to discuss how a liaison could support counselors at SAU 35; he said any cost-sharing with the schools is not yet determined.

Council discussion emphasized community benefit and workload limits. Several councilors voiced support for the liaison concept but asked that the role be framed as a community resource rather than a single named hire and urged a transparent hiring process. A councilor and the town manager also cautioned about overextending a single person with broad expectations for schools, seniors and townwide outreach.

No formal vote was recorded at the workshop; councilors indicated general support for the request and asked staff to provide additional details for the next budget meeting, including hiring procedure and any potential school partnership terms.