Council moves four‑year Fairfield County police contract to full council after staff outlines added detective and vehicle purchases

Finance Director Amanda Jackson presented a draft agreement Nov. 3 that would authorize the mayor to enter into a four‑year police protection contract with the Fairfield County Sheriff.

"It is a 4 year contract, which is the longest term that the sheriff's office is able to provide us per the county prosecutor's office," Jackson said, adding the draft includes a second detective position beginning in 2026 at the sheriff's request and a preliminary staffing plan from Sgt. Strachan. Jackson also told council the contract language asks the sheriff's office to provide certain community response services at no additional cost at least four times per year.

Jackson said the cost shown for 2026 in the contract attachment came in at about $1,939,000, "which is about a 7 and a half percent increase over the previous contract," and that the contract remains in draft subject to legal and county prosecutor review. She said vehicle purchases (two per year) were requested by the sheriff's office because increased staffing is putting more wear on cars, and that vehicle purchases are budgeted separately for 2026.

Council members asked operational questions about how detective staffing would be evaluated and whether the Sheriff had been contacted directly; Jackson said Chief Collins may attend a future meeting to respond to additional operational questions.

The chair made a motion to move Ordinance 25‑027 to full council (mover: Mister Moore; second: Mister Shea) and the motion passed on roll call during the work session.