Brentwood approves application for highway-safety grant to buy radar trailer and speed displays

Brentwood Police Chief Chad Birch told the Select Board Feb. 24 that speeding complaints are frequent across town and that the department has applied for a New Hampshire Office of Highway Safety grant to purchase a radar trailer and two portable digital speed displays.

Chief Birch said the combined purchase price discussed in the meeting was $14,874 and that the Office of Highway Safety would cover about 75% of the total; the department recited a remaining town share of $3,718.50. Birch asked that the town designate Brentwood's police impact fees to cover the town share where possible; the board moved and approved that the town absorb as much of the cost as allowed from impact fees and use the revolving fund for any remainder.

Board members and the chief discussed security and practical concerns — including securing trailers, battery life, and whether the existing older trailer captured data. Birch said the proposed units include data-tracking capabilities (vehicle counts, speed by hour) that the older unit did not capture. The data, he said, would allow the department to target enforcement at times and locations with elevated speeds.

The board voted to approve the purchase plan and to sign whatever forms were needed to pursue the grant; staff were asked to confirm whether the purchase qualified as a 'new' use of impact fees under town criteria and to return with the final funding allocation.

The grant authorization will allow the police department to move forward with the vendor procurement and subsequent installation of units if the grant is awarded.