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Hinsdale board reviews draft agreement to share Peru police chief temporarily
Summary
At a Jan. 14 meeting the Hinsdale Select Board reviewed a draft inter-municipal agreement to have Peru Police Chief Bruce W. Cullett serve Hinsdale on a temporary basis while Hinsdale Chief Shawn Boyne is on administrative leave; Hinsdale would pay Peru $6,667 per month and share cruiser costs.
The Hinsdale Select Board reviewed a draft inter-municipal agreement on Jan. 14 to have Peru Police Chief Bruce W. Cullett serve as Hinsdale’s police chief on a temporary basis, the board said.
Chair Margaret Gregory told the board she planned to move into an executive session to discuss the matter and other personnel negotiations, saying that “discussing these matters in an open session would have a detrimental effect on the public body’s negotiating position.” The board voted unanimously to enter executive session under MGL c.30A, §21(a)(2) at 5:32 PM.
According to the draft agreement reviewed by the board, the arrangement would take effect Jan. 8, 2026, and continue through July 8, 2026, or until Hinsdale Chief Shawn Boyne returns from administrative leave. The draft, prepared under Massachusetts General Law c.40, §4A, states that Peru’s Police Chief Bruce W. Cullett will serve both towns and “split his time between them as he deems appropriate.”
The agreement as described to the board calls for Hinsdale to pay Peru $6,667 per month for Chief Cullett’s services. Hinsdale would also cover 50% of maintenance and repair costs for the police cruiser used by Chief Cullett and share fuel costs equally with Peru. Weekly reports would be submitted to both towns’ administrators and monthly meetings would review the services, the document states.
On liability and employment status, the draft specifies that Chief Cullett would remain an employee of Peru for benefits, payroll and insurance purposes. Each town would maintain liability insurance for police personnel and the agreement requires Hinsdale to indemnify and defend Peru for claims arising from duties performed in Hinsdale. The draft also notes both towns retain the right to supervise, discipline or dismiss the police chief and that the agreement may be amended only in writing; disputes would be handled under Massachusetts law in Berkshire County courts.
Board members also discussed short-term police coverage while Chief Boyne is on administrative leave. The board was told two officers are covering the first and second shifts, Mass. State Police are covering overnight shifts, and a part-time officer may return in the coming weeks. Officer David Tarjick is serving as a temporary sergeant during daytime hours; the board agreed he should receive the sergeant pay rate and be compensated for five hours of extra overtime for the additional responsibilities he has taken on.
The board noted operational steps related to Chief Boyne’s leave: his cruiser must be returned to the station and his access to departmental email and phone services should be disabled while he remains on administrative leave.
The executive session was adjourned at 6:10 PM by unanimous roll-call vote. The board resumed open session at 6:30 PM.
Next steps noted in the draft agreement include a June 1, 2026 deadline for renewal decisions and a 30-day written notice requirement for termination; otherwise the agreement would expire July 8, 2026 unless extended by mutual consent.
