Spencer board approves budget amendment to buy additional police vehicle

At a special meeting, the Spencer board voted unanimously to approve budget ordinance 24‑10.009 and authorized the town manager to negotiate and execute a purchase agreement to acquire an additional police vehicle through the state purchasing contract 20210002.

Town Manager (Speaker 2) told the board staff had identified contingency savings and other line‑item savings that would fund a budget amendment to cover the purchase. "Our staff has put together this information as you described to do a budget amendment, and authorize the manager to execute the purchase agreement for an additional vehicle for our police department," the manager said.

Police Chief Bau described a string of maintenance problems that left several vehicles unreliable. "I have 2 Crown Vicks that are broke down. They are a 2006 and 2011," he said, adding the department has had to return older spares to full‑time service and is "hot seating" officers, a practice that increases wear and mileage on cars. Chief Bau said the department is fully staffed and needs a vehicle for an officer starting Feb. 17.

Chief Bau and board members discussed options and procurement timing. The chief said a vehicle procured on a state contract this year is expected to be "around 47 and a half" thousand dollars, and that recent purchases saved roughly $10,000–$11,000 on the vehicle price plus $4,000–$5,000 on upfit costs compared with prior purchases. He also said the department plans to transfer roughly 75% of equipment from an older Durango to reduce future upfit costs.

During discussion the chief described recurring electronic and fuel‑related issues with certain Durango models and said other agencies had reported similar problems; he said warranty responses from Stellantis had been unhelpful. The board discussed possible alternatives such as Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs and Ram pickups and planned a trip to a Raleigh dealer to inspect Tahoes before broader fleet decisions for future budget years.

Under the approved motion, moved by Miss Moody and seconded by another board member, the town manager is authorized to negotiate and execute a purchase agreement with Deacon Jones Auto Group using state purchasing contract 20210002. The transcript records the motion and a unanimous voice vote approving the ordinance and authorization; individual recorded yes/no votes were not provided.

Chief Bau said the department expects some maintenance shortages for the remainder of the fiscal year (the maintenance fund balance mentioned during discussion was about $7,000) and plans to postpone major repairs to the problematic 2011 Durango if the new truck is acquired, with the intent to surplus that vehicle in the coming budget cycle.

The meeting ended with staff and board members thanking each other for finding budget savings to make the purchase possible. The manager will proceed to negotiate and execute the purchase agreement under the board’s authorization.