Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oxford County weighs staffing after Bethel stops funding enhanced patrol
Summary
After Bethel voted to end funding for an enhanced patrol contract, Oxford County commissioners scheduled a special meeting to assess staffing and budget impacts. Sheriff Chris Wainwright urged a legal review and warned against immediate layoffs while the county awaits town actions.
Oxford County commissioners on June 16 said they will hold a special meeting after the Town of Bethel—s upcoming special meeting to decide whether to reduce Sheriff—s Office staffing after Bethel voted to stop funding the town—s enhanced patrol contract.
Sheriff Chris Wainwright told the board that the county still considers itself under contract with the town and urged commissioners to "hold off on making any decisions for a few weeks" and to have the county attorney review termination language. Wainwright also explained that a recent campus incident was likely a taser deployment that dispatch misinterpreted as a firearm due to the popping sound.
Commissioner Lisa M. Keim said losing the Bethel contract funding could force layoffs and warned that without cuts "there should be layoffs or else there will be a deficit in the budget which wouldn't be fair to the other towns." Commissioner Timothy G. Turner said he does not want to lay anyone off until all options are exhausted and supported having legal counsel examine the contract terms.
Treasurer Beth Calhoun and Finance Director Lindsay Kay were asked to model the financial impact; the board set a special meeting for early next week to review those numbers. The meeting record shows the board discussed exploring alternatives before taking personnel action.
