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Board authorizes police staffing agreement, debates funding for cruiser leases and bunker gear
Summary
The board approved a police staffing agreement to allow 12-hour shifts amid recent resignations and discussed one-time funding options — including using sale proceeds for bunker gear and adding a police administrative fee revolving fund — to address equipment and operating needs.
Select Board members moved to approve a police staffing agreement from Chief Sartell that would permit 12-hour shifts for officers after several recent resignations. During the meeting Valerie Gooditch moved "to approve the police as presented and authorize signature stamps out of session," which the board advanced.
The board also discussed several police-related finance items. TA outlined a late-add article to create a police detail administrative fee revolving fund to capture administrative fees tied to police details (software, payroll) and to seed that fund with about $10,000. The TA said the chief expected to balance the fund over time.
Separately, the board debated a proposal to use proceeds from town property sales to cover one-time capital needs, specifically replacing worn bunker gear for the fire department and potentially covering a single year of cruiser lease payments. Board members cautioned that sale proceeds are a one-time source and should not be used for recurring operating costs. "Sale-of-properties money could be used for capital expenditures," one member said, urging clarity about allowable uses.
The board did not finalize a long-term funding strategy for cruisers or bunker gear but directed the administrator to work with capital-planning and to present specific language/amounts for the warrant and follow-up at the April 21 meeting.
