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Council approves dive-team grant purchases, cruiser upfit and starts process to revise police standing orders
Summary
The council accepted federal Byrne JAG funding to outfit the town dive team, authorized cruiser upfitting and approved advertising for changes to police standing orders (which the charter requires council to review); staff said several standing-order changes are driven by accreditation work.
Council members approved multiple public-safety items including a grant-funded purchase of dive-team equipment, a cruiser upfit and initiation of charter-driven review of police standing orders.
Chief (Speaker 11) explained the dive unit has grown to nine certified divers and the department received federal Byrne JAG grant funding in the amount of $13,840.66 with no local match. The town went out to bid and split equipment purchases between two vendors to obtain best pricing (wet suits, hoods, masks, fins, gloves and boots). The council approved the related resolutions and purchases.
The chief also requested an upfit from Strobes and More for a recently purchased cruiser, with a not-to-exceed cost of $15,000 for emergency lighting and lettering; council approved that contract.
On policy, staff told the council that several police standing orders (including baton policy and uniform details) must be revised to meet accreditation standards. Because the charter includes standing orders, any substantive change requires council oversight; staff recommended advertising a public hearing (advertised for Aug. 13) and noted that removing standing-order approvals from the charter would require a townwide referendum.
Councilmembers expressed support for equipping first responders and for updating policies to reflect accreditation and modern practices.
