Newberry approves extension of law-enforcement agreement, welcomes Sheriff Chad Scott

The City Commission of Newberry on Jan. 13 authorized the mayor to execute an amended agreement to continue law-enforcement services with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office and directed staff to begin negotiating a multi-year extension.

City Manager Mike explained the existing contract provides 30 days' notice for extension and said the amended agreement reflecting Sheriff Chad Scott as signatory was received the morning of the meeting. Sheriff Chad Scott introduced himself to the commission, said he grew up in Newberry and pledged to work closely with the city.

After discussion the commission moved, on a motion from Commissioner Clark and second from Commissioner Maison, to approve the amended agreement and to authorize staff to begin negotiating a longer-term contract (the commission discussed four-year continuation). Commissioners raised traffic-control priorities such as school-zone traffic management and asked staff to engage the sheriff about targeted services.

The motion passed by voice vote with all commissioners saying "aye." The commission did not adopt a written resolution at the meeting; staff clarified the agreement itself was on the backup and the authorization to execute it was the formal action taken.

Sheriff Scott said the agreement's substantive terms were unchanged except for the signature block; the commission welcomed his pledge to continue community-oriented policing in Newberry.