Hubbardston Select Board backs reserve-fund request to fund police academy seat, allows second officer posting

The Hubbardston Select Board voted Monday to back a reserve‑fund request that the police chief will present to Finance Committee to cover academy fees, equipment and partial salary to send a prospective hire through the police academy.

Chief Ryan Kutcher told the board the department is “about three guys short,” with one recruit currently in the academy, and said the town needs funding so a conditional hire can start training this summer. “It’s about 13,700 and change is what I would need on top of what I have now in my budget,” Kutcher said, describing academy fees, equipment and pro‑rated salary through the fiscal year.

The board discussed overtime costs and coverage gaps. Members noted that paying overtime for senior officers was expensive and unsustainable compared with staffing full‑time positions. Board members agreed the chief should take a reserve‑fund request to Finance Committee; a motion to support that submission was made, seconded and carried by voice vote.

In the same discussion the board approved a separate motion that allows the chief to post a second police officer position to see if any academy‑trained applicants apply. That posting aims to identify candidates who would not require academy funding and could reduce short‑term costs.

The chief said even with the reserve request, hiring an academy trainee would not immediately solve all coverage issues; the new recruit would need academy completion and an eight‑to‑ten‑week field training period. The board directed staff to work with Finance Committee on a reserve transfer if needed and to file the necessary forms.

The board did not record a roll‑call vote with member names in the transcript; the motions carried by voice vote.