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Board discusses IT hire, EMS/police studies, ALPR safeguards and contingency sizing
Summary
Members weighed funding a full‑time IT position (split with schools), raising contingency to cover contract risk, expanding EMS/police studies, and placing license‑plate‑reader funding in contingency pending stronger privacy and operating agreements.
During the review of open budget items the Board of Finance discussed a series of specific proposals and placeholders:
- IT position: Board members discussed converting a jointly managed part‑time IT role to full time at an estimated total cost of about $34,000, with the town’s share roughly $17,000 if the Board of Education agrees to split costs. Several members favored funding the town’s portion now and seeking BOE commitment for the shared cost before assuming full town responsibility.
- EMS/police facility studies: The capital budget currently includes $20,000 for an EMS building study. Members debated increasing the line to $30,000–$40,000 to cover both an EMS study and analysis of rehabbing or reusing the existing police station if a new police station is built. The police ad hoc committee was asked to return firm rehab vs. new build cost estimates by June before any study money is spent.
- Automatic license plate readers (ALPR): The chief provided material on ALPR policies. Board members raised privacy and outside‑vendor concerns (data currently on third‑party servers) and proposed holding funding in contingency while police return with a mutual operating agreement, quarterly audit procedures, and tighter data‑sharing safeguards. Members noted pending state legislation (House Bill 5552 cited in discussion) and differing retention rules cited in policy drafts (30–90 days), so they favored contingency placement until legal and operational details are resolved.
- Contingency sizing: Staff noted the current contingency base is roughly $410,000–$450,000 (about 0.5% of operating) and one proposal was to raise contingency to $600,000 to cover contract and benefit negotiation risk. Members discussed ring‑fencing a portion (e.g., $150,000) for health‑insurance volatility or other designated risks and agreed to refine contingency levels after tomorrow’s BOE presentation.
Board members did not finalize permanent commitments on the IT hire or ALPR; they generally agreed to fund the town’s share of shared IT capacity if the BOE declines to commit, and to keep ALPR funds in contingency pending policy and vendor security assurances. The board will revisit specific dollar allocations at the next session.
