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Board authorizes sale of older cruiser and orders bids for a replacement amid staffing questions
Summary
Select Board agreed to list a 2016 Ford cruiser for auction and authorized solicitation of bids for a fourth cruiser to prepare for potential staffing increases; board members debated funding sources and whether salary savings should buy vehicles or be kept in capital funds.
The Brandon Select Board voted to place a 2016 Ford police cruiser on the Municipid auction and authorized the town manager to solicit bids for a possible replacement.
Town Manager Seth Hopkins said the replacement cruiser is being upfitted and, because the 2016 vehicle is no longer required, the town should sell it and direct proceeds to the capital fund. "If we sell that then the money goes into the capital fund that we can use to purchase another cruiser or capital that we deem that we need," he said.
Hopkins also requested permission to solicit competitive bids for a fourth cruiser so the town would be prepared if recruitment brings staffing back up; soliciting bids does not obligate the town to buy. Board members discussed four potential funding approaches: use of unspent police wages, capital fund balance (about $70,000), local option tax (about $400,000 available), or general fund balance. One member cautioned that salary-line savings were intended for staffing and preferred capital funds be used for vehicles to maintain transparency.
Public commenters asked practical questions about how many cruisers a town can operate at one time and whether buying more vehicles while staffing is still thin is justifiable. Hopkins said the intent is to prepare for a possible restored roster and noted the town would sell the 2016 cruiser and that new hires could arrive in the coming months.
The board approved both listing the 2016 cruiser for auction and authorizing the town manager to obtain bids for a replacement; final purchase would be considered later after bid review.
