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Germantown committee approves four squad cars; residents question $15,000 hiring consultant
Summary
The Germantown Police & Fire Committee approved the budgeted purchase of four squad cars and heard public concern about a proposed $15,000 expense to assist with a police hiring process. The committee also noted a recently named interim captain and discussed department reports.
The Germantown Police & Fire Committee approved the purchase of four police squad cars on a voice vote and heard public criticism over a proposed $15,000 contract to assist the department’s hiring process.
Members voted to move forward with the squad purchase after Police Captain Martin told the committee he received two bids and recommended Ewalds Ford as the lower-priced vendor. The vehicles were budgeted in this year’s capital account, and Martin said final vehicle setups will come back to the committee for separate approval.
The purchase matter followed public comments about the department’s leadership changes. An unnamed resident criticized the committee’s proposal to spend $15,000 to assist with hiring, saying, “This is my money. It’s the village’s money, the taxpayers’ money,” and urged the board to appoint an internal candidate selected by Chief Snow. Melanie Smythe, a resident who gave her address at the meeting, said she was disappointed that trustees and the village president did not attend an apparent 2 p.m. retirement event for Chief Snow and offered thanks to the chief in public comment. Scott Heffley, another resident, said the department has “excellent” people and praised both the outgoing chief and the newly named interim captain.
Captain Martin told the committee the four squads were budgeted and that the purchase price was slightly lower than earlier estimates — roughly $5,000 less per vehicle than earlier projections — though the quoted package does not include the in-vehicle setup, which will be addressed after the vehicles arrive. The committee approved moving the purchase to the full Village Board.
Committee business earlier in the meeting included approval of the committee minutes with a correction requested by a trustee clarifying that a request for accident reports was for a specific location (Mequon and Pilgrim Road). The minutes motion passed on a voice vote. The committee also received routine police and fire monthly reports; the fire report was not in the packet because Chief Delaine said he had been on vacation and would provide it at the next meeting. During discussion of the police report, staff confirmed that officers may accumulate compensatory time and opt for payout twice yearly, typically in July and December.
The committee set its next meeting for Monday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. in the same room.
