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Selectboard debates sheriff-contract hours and a possible new traffic-enforcement line item
Summary
Members discussed options for the sheriff contract (hourly rates and covered hours), including reducing contracted hours to hold overall cost steady vs adding a separate line item (about 20 additional hours/month) for targeted traffic enforcement; neighboring counties' rates ($60-$80/hour) were cited as context.
Selectboard members debated how to handle policing costs in next years budget, focusing on whether to keep the sheriffs contract at the same dollar amount and accept fewer hours, or to add a separate line item for additional traffic enforcement. One member summarized options that would keep the towns overall cost similar by reducing regular hours to 18/month, while adding a new optional line item (roughly $20,000 forecasted) to pay for additional traffic patrol hours for speed enforcement.
Participants cited comparable hourly rates in neighboring counties (examples given in the meeting included $60-$80 per hour depending on county and mileage policies) and questioned whether the sheriffs department could provide the extra hours. The board asked staff to check availability and cost, and discussed presenting the traffic line item to voters as an optional addition if residents want increased enforcement.
