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Council reviews DOJ grant to fund part-time accreditation coordinator; council reappoints pension trustees
Summary
The council considered a DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services grant to fund a part-time accreditation coordinator (grant amount cited as $111,120; motion made), and separately reappointed Chuck Smithers to the Police Pension Board and ratified Tracy Connell as a joint fire pension trustee with recorded 5-0 votes on the appointments.
The police chief reported that the department secured a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to fund a part-time accreditation coordinator position (approximately 20 hours per week) for two years to pursue and restore department accreditation. The chief said accreditation can improve policy compliance, reduce liability, and make the department eligible for additional grants. Meeting comments indicated a proposed pay rate of about $44 per hour and an overall grant amount cited in the motion as $111,120. Council members asked whether the part-time hire would carry benefits and whether the town would need to repay funds if accreditation were not achieved; the chief said the position was intended to be part time with no benefits and that he would verify any repayment conditions.
On appointments, council voted to reappoint Chuck Smithers to the Police Pension Board for a term beginning Jan. 1, 2026; the roll-call vote recorded Ayes from all five councilmembers. Council also ratified the firefighters'pension board'recommended reappointment of Tracy Connell as the joint trustee for the fire pension (term 01/01/2026 to 01/01/2028) with an affirmative vote.
