Woodstock board authorizes pursuit of $32,000 Stanton Foundation K‑9 grant and special account

The Woodstock Select Board voted to back a $32,000 Stanton Foundation grant to establish the town’s first dual‑purpose police canine program and authorized town administrators to sign grant agreements and set up a dedicated account to administer the funds.

Presenter (speaker 6) told the board the Stanton Foundation grant would cover acquisition of a K‑9, the 14‑week academy for the handler and dog, specialized certifications, canine equipment, vehicle outfitting, kennel accommodations, and several years of initial veterinary care and food. The presenter said the program also includes reimbursements — about $1,100 per week available to backfill shifts while a handler is in training and a separate $4,500 reimbursement to offset program costs — and that Tractor Supply in Littleton has pledged to supply food for the dog without charge.

Lieutenant Hodgkin of the Hillsborough Police Department, introduced as a training partner, described operational uses in small communities — tracking missing or dementia‑affected residents, helping de‑escalate building entries and assisting drug detection — and said a suitable dog is available to enter a nearby class on short notice. "This would be a golden opportunity to take advantage of it while it's here," the presenter said, and Hodgkin described recent cases where a trained canine helped locate vulnerable people and avoid force.

During questions the board clarified fiscal logistics. The vendor and presenter said the grant can be administered quickly but that the town must establish a separate account for exclusive use by the K‑9 program and provide letters of support from the chief and the town administrator. Selectboard members asked whether the town would front expenses or be reimbursed; the presenter said arrangements can vary but that past projects have been processed rapidly.

Chair (speaker 3) moved that the town administrator (Judy) prepare a letter of support, that the fire chief provide a matching letter, that the chief and town administrator be authorized to sign and execute the grant agreement when it becomes available, and that the town administrator establish a separate checking account to receive and administer Stanton Foundation funds. The motion was seconded and carried; board members said they will sign the paperwork in the town office when the documents are ready.

Next steps: the presenter will submit the application with the requested letters of support and the town will establish the dedicated account and complete signatures in the office when the grant agreement arrives.