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Brandon approves six-month sheriff's contract for targeted traffic enforcement
Summary
The Brandon Select Board voted to hire the Rutland County Sheriff's Department for about 12 hours a week of traffic enforcement over six months at $80.50 an hour, a $25,116 contract the board said fits the police 'specials' budget; the sheriff's department will propose a biweekly schedule for approval by the town manager.
The Brandon Select Board on Monday approved a six-month contract with the Rutland County Sheriff's Department to provide targeted traffic enforcement in town.
Town Manager Seth Hopkins told the board the draft agreement would fund about 12 hours of deputy traffic enforcement per week for six months, at $80.50 per hour to cover the deputy, cruiser and court time. Hopkins said that schedule would total roughly 312 hours and $25,116 and that the expense could be covered from the police department's FY26 "specials" line, which shows $25,000 unspent.
"The concept is that this would allow some attention to be paid to traffic enforcement that our department has been detracted from paying attention to while they're working on very serious crimes," Hopkins said, summarizing the administration's view of the contract.
Board members asked whether the hours would be predictable or vary based on deputy availability. Hopkins said the sheriff's office would propose a biweekly schedule that the town manager would approve so the coverage times could be staggered rather than fixed.
Several board members and speakers noted ticket revenues could offset part of the cost depending on whether citations are municipal (town receives the revenue) or state offenses (state receives revenue). Hopkins said municipal ordinance violations reported by the sheriff's deputies would primarily benefit the town.
After public comment and additional discussion, the board moved and seconded approval of the contract and carried the motion by voice vote with no opposition recorded.
Board Chair (unnamed) closed the item by saying, in effect, that the arrangement is intended as a practical way to address neighborhood concerns about speeding while the town rebuilds its police staffing levels.
