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Harbor Master and public safety present operating increases; deputy cites $5.04M public safety capital and $603K patrol boat
Summary
Deputy public safety staff reviewed expense increases tied to dispatch coverage, overtime and ammunition costs; deputy said a $5.04 million phase‑4 capital request and a $603,000 replacement patrol boat are on the horizon for town meeting and capital committee consideration.
A deputy for the public safety department briefed the Finance Committee on expense increases and capital items affecting police, the harbor master and the public safety facility. The deputy listed EIRs (expense increased reports) for dispatch shift coverage, overtime for the Harbor Master division and higher custodial supplies under a new cleaning contract. He also attributed part of the operating pressure to state‑mandated firearms qualifications following recent hires.
Regarding capital, the deputy said the next phase of public safety facility work will require approximately $5.04 million and will appear on town meeting warrants; he described the $5.04 million as a phase‑4 supplemental request on top of previously approved funding. On harbor equipment, the deputy said a $603,000 patrol boat replacement is planned to maintain the existing fleet ("it's just replacing an existing vessel").
Committee members asked whether the Harbor Master vessel would increase fleet size; the deputy said the boat is a like‑for‑like replacement. The deputy also said ammunition and training costs rose because of the recent addition of two police officers and related qualification requirements. The committee did not take a final vote during the presentation; these items will be included in the committee’s broader capital and operating recommendations.
