Brentwood OKs highway safety grant participation; overtime reimbursement to be tracked to overtime fund

The Brentwood Select Board voted to pursue highway safety enforcement grants from the New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety that allow Brentwood officers to perform targeted overtime patrols on state and local roads, with a maximum grant cap discussed at $8,200.

Police Chief Justin Cody told the board the grants provide overtime funding for targeted enforcement — for example, speed or DUI enforcement during holiday weekends — and emphasized that the town should record reimbursed grant funds back into the police department’s overtime account rather than the general fund.

"So the town pays first, obviously, the overtime rate, and then the state kicks back the money to the town. So it's kind of a a wash, if you will," Justin Cody said, describing how the reimbursement process works in practice.

Board members asked whether there would be pressure to use the grant or if staffing shortages might prevent use; the board was told the Office of Highway Safety does not penalize municipalities for unused grant hours. The board passed a motion confirming that overtime reimbursements would be recorded to the police department’s overtime budget and that staff should proceed with the grant paperwork and signature.

Action and vote - Motion: Reimburse police overtime from grant funds to the department’s overtime account and authorize staff to sign grant paperwork (mover: not specified; second: Andy). Roll-call vote: Andy — aye; Paul — aye; John — aye; Betty — aye; Letty — aye. Outcome: approved.

Grant details and administrationThe board noted the grant is capped (the paperwork on the table referenced $8,200 as the maximum total reimbursement across the department) and covers targeted enforcement blocks such as speed or DUI patrols. Chief Cody said the grants represent overtime opportunities for officers, typically in three- or four-hour blocks, and that departments use them when staffing allows.

ContextThe board temporarily paused the grant during the department’s leadership transition; Chief Cody — recently promoted during this meeting — said staff had notified the state of the transition and would resume paperwork now that leadership is in place.

EndingThe board approved pursuing the Office of Highway Safety grant with the requirement that reimbursements be credited to the police overtime account and authorized staff to complete the necessary paperwork.