Select Board clarifies reappointment policy, directs recruitment for ethics committee and approves part‑time police custodian

The Milford Select Board on March 23 approved three governance and personnel actions: a targeted amendment to the town’s reappointment policy, a direction to recruit additional ethics committee members, and a personnel/budget action to replace contracted police custodial services with a part‑time employee.

On policy reappointments, Selectman Chris Labonte proposed clarifying language for the Administration of Commissions, Committees and Special Boards (policy no. 2013001 section 3.c.3) by changing a period to a comma and adding "unless a board member requests" that a reappointment appear for a face‑to‑face interview. Labonte said the change would give the board the option to request interviews when members have questions about a candidate’s views. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

On the ethics committee, citizen member Dave Alcap gave background on the committee’s origin and said it has been rarely active. The board voted to ask the town administrator to advertise and recruit enough residents to restore the committee to five voting members and two alternates, and asked staff to clarify membership rules (for example whether members may serve on other town committees) before advertising.

The board also approved a motion to transition custodial work for the police building from a contracted service (about $29,000 per year) to a part‑time in‑house custodian and to transfer $14,352 from the general government contractual building line to the Public Works admin wages line to fund the position. Facilities director Leo Deshard said the change would cut costs by roughly half while maintaining the same level of service at the department building.

All three motions passed by voice vote; the board directed staff to return with any necessary updated policy language and to begin recruitment and procurement steps.