La Plata council approves FARO scanner and hazard plan update, fails Wood Valley professional-services resolution

The La Plata Town Council on Feb. 5 voted to purchase a FARO Focus laser scanner for the police department and unanimously adopted the Charles County 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan update, but moved to reject a proposed professional‑services agreement with Wood Valley Community Strategies amid conflict‑of‑interest concerns.

The FARO purchase: Captain Payne, speaking for the La Plata Police Department, said the portable 3‑D laser scanner would significantly shorten scene‑processing time at outdoor collisions and crime scenes and produce more accurate diagrams for prosecutors and civil cases. "The FARO technology will reduce the time officers will close roadways like Crane Highway, Charles Street, and Hawthorne Road," Captain Payne said, adding that current scene work relies on tape measures and "a tuna fish can full of lead" to hold markers. He said a typical large crash scene that once took hours to measure can be scanned in roughly 33–40 minutes and that the output can be uploaded into CrashZone software for automated analysis.

Police presented a funding plan to cover most of the $80,000 purchase by repurposing $70,000 of ARPA funds previously set aside for license‑plate‑reader equipment; the department said annual software/maintenance costs would be about $33,190. Council members asked about training and interdepartmental use; the chief and Captain Payne said the vendor's training covers up to five users and the department would make the tool available to other town departments on request. The council gave consensus to move the purchase to legislation and then adopted resolution 25‑03 to authorize the purchase.

Hazard mitigation: Town staff recommended adopting Charles County's 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan update to preserve eligibility for federal and state mitigation grants in future disasters. Ms. Minor, who serves on the county committee that prepared the update, said the county adopted the plan in December 2024 and the town's timely adoption is part of grant eligibility. The council moved the resolution forward and later adopted resolution 25‑04.

Wood Valley professional services: Staff asked the council to retain Jamie Kendrick of Wood Valley Community Strategies at a cost of $31,800 to finish the La Plata Bikeway and Safe Streets for All initiative while the town issues an RFP for long‑term transportation engineering. Staff said approximately 65% of the cost would be billed to grants and the town's exposure would be about $11,000.

Several council members expressed concern about potential conflicts of interest because Kendrick previously worked for Mead & Hunt and served prior clients; one member said the conflict‑disclosure sentence in the proposed contract "is not sufficient" without additional assurances. The resolution (25‑02) was moved for adoption but the roll call vote in the transcript shows one affirmative vocalized "Aye" followed by recorded opposition; council later did not adopt that resolution.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 25‑03 (FARO Focus laser scanner): adopted. Authorization to purchase FARO Focus scanner for the La Plata Police Department and to allocate funding (majority of cost from reallocated ARPA funds). (See provenance for debate excerpts.) - Resolution 25‑04 (Charles County Hazard Mitigation Plan update): adopted. Town adoption of the county's 2024 hazard mitigation plan update to maintain grant eligibility. - Resolution 25‑02 (Professional service agreement with Wood Valley Community Strategies): motion to adopt failed (transcript records opposition during roll call). Council discussion centered on conflict‑of‑interest questions and whether any noncompete or client‑poaching concerns exist; staff responded that the contract includes a conflict disclosure.

Process and next steps: Staff said an RFP for transportation engineering remains necessary; the temporary engagement proposed with Jamie Kendrick was presented as a bridge to maintain momentum on the bikeway and Safe Streets projects while the town completes procurement. On the FARO purchase, the police department plans to finalize training slots and implement a policy for shared use with public works and planning, subject to further council discussion about training and cost‑sharing.

Ending: Council approved the FARO purchase and the county hazard plan update and directed staff to return with contract clarifications and procurement steps for transportation engineering work in coming meetings.