The Select Board received an update from the police chief (introduced at the meeting by the board) about community outreach, crisis response and personnel tools.

The chief said the department completed a toy drive and prioritized town families, then discussed a memorandum of understanding with an adjacent police department and the Center for Human Development (CHD) to provide a co-response clinician. "This coresponse person is someone who is going to be available to respond for people in scribe mental health crisis," the chief said, adding that the position is funded through a recurring grant and that CHD will employ the clinician. He described the clinician's role as responding alongside officers, providing on-scene assistance when available, and handling follow-up work to connect people with longer-term services.

Board members asked how the clinician would be funded and what costs the town would bear. The chief said the arrangement is CHD-funded and that billing would be handled through CHD, limiting the town's financial exposure. After discussion, a board member moved to conditionally approve the clinician arrangement pending administrative review by staff (Brian); the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

On recruitment, the chief proposed contracting with a vendor called Police App to centralize online candidate applications. He described a zero-cost model for the town that still could involve a small per-app fee in rare cases, and said the contract is for three years. "It's a much more modern way, a more streamlined way to do this," the chief said, and the board moved to authorize the contract and voted to approve it.

Members discussed the upcoming dispatch-renewal and the potential for significant cost changes depending on regional participation and state support. The chief and board noted the phased cost-sharing history with the state and agreed the town needs to evaluate renewal options and fiscal impacts for the upcoming budget year.

Finally, the chief and board addressed AED coverage and maintenance across town zones; the sergeant who handles medical training will inspect devices and confirm pads and readiness. The board also discussed generator placement and emergency-management planning tied to upcoming storms and equipment schedules.