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Ossipee selectmen discuss but defer decision on body‑worn cameras and Axon contract
Summary
The police chief proposed a five‑year Axon contract for body‑worn cameras, tasers, storage and training; selectmen discussed non‑appropriation/escape clauses, recurring cloud‑storage costs and the possibility of advancing a warrant article but directed staff to return with contract language and legal review.
The Ossipee police chief presented a proposal for an Axon‑based, five‑year technology package that would include body‑worn cameras, new tasers, training and cloud storage. The board discussed whether to send a warrant article to town meeting or to fund the system through the operating budget.
Officials raised legal and fiscal questions about a multi‑year subscription model. Selectmen asked whether a warrant article can contain an escape/non‑appropriation clause, noting that warrant articles that lack such a clause permanently bind the town while a failed operating‑budget appropriation can be cut the following year. Several members expressed concern about the ongoing cloud storage costs and the high recurring subscription fees that accompany body‑worn camera systems.
Board members did not vote to move the purchase forward at the meeting. They instead asked the chief and town staff to: (1) obtain the Axon contract documents in full, (2) request a legal opinion on whether a warrant article can include an escape clause for an ongoing subscription, and (3) return with a recommended procurement path and proposed warrant language if the department still prefers going to voters.
Selectmen emphasized the technology’s potential to protect officers and clarify contested incidents, but also highlighted budget tradeoffs and the need for clear contract escape provisions before obligating the town to multi‑year payments.
