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Select Board approves plan to lease new police cruiser amid debate over fleet size
Summary
The Kensington Select Board advanced a plan to lease a new police cruiser and heard detailed discussion from the chief about using a revolving fund and special‑detail revenue to cover fleet costs. Board members pressed for clearer net revenue figures and reporting.
The Kensington Select Board moved forward with leasing a new police cruiser after an extended discussion about fleet size, maintenance costs and how special‑detail revenue is used.
Harriet, who introduced the meeting’s advisory‑committee discussion, later participated in the budget conversation about police resources. Police Chief (identified in the meeting) told the board the department normally operates with six vehicles to provide coverage for training, court appearances and details, and said the fleet is supported in part by a revolving fund and special‑detail income. “They are paying for themselves,” the chief said, describing how fees for details and other revenues offset costs.
Board members questioned whether six vehicles were necessary and asked for clearer accounting. One member said the town needs a specific net‑revenue number from special details before endorsing further purchases; the chief agreed to provide more detailed figures at a later meeting. The board heard summary figures in the meeting record that the department generated about $470,000 in revenue and paid out about $455,000 in detail expenses in the prior year, but members noted that the net figures and accounting lines were not yet fully clear.
On a formal motion, the board considered leasing a cruiser with roughly $11,000 already paid toward a prior obligation and a plan to apply additional payments to shorten the lease term. The motion to proceed with the cruiser lease was made, seconded and discussed; the transcript records members signaling support. The chief explained the leasing and replacement cadence and said replacement cycles and vehicle assignment practices help extend vehicle life and reduce unexpected costs.
What’s next: The board requested a clearer accounting of the special‑detail revolving fund and its net contributions to operations before finalizing longer‑term fleet procurement plans. The leasing motion moved forward on the record; staff will prepare follow‑up financial detail for a future meeting.
(Reporting note: direct quotations and attributions come from remarks on the record at the Select Board meeting. Financial figures cited were read aloud by meeting speakers and not independently audited in this item.)
