Council discusses using substance-abuse tax funds for police equipment amid vape-shop enforcement challenges

Staff asked the council to recognize an increase in state substance-abuse tax revenue of roughly $18,416 and to increase the police department's corresponding expenditure line so the department can acquire assets to support enforcement.

"We're also increasing PD substance abuse expenditure line item for, $18,416," the staff member said, explaining the department planned to acquire specific assets to support crime-fighting efforts. The chief later explained the department would use some of the funds to buy another patrol vehicle to offset vehicle needs rather than exclusively purchasing narcotics-specific equipment: "we're gonna take some of the money to buy another vehicle instead of doing stuff for a, for our narcotics division on the app to offset the patrol vehicles that we have."

Councilors and staff described enforcement limits at vape and tobacco shops. Speakers said many shops sell products packaged like candy and that warehouses supply vape retailers; one speaker said shops may purchase large quantities weekly. Staff also flagged legal constraints on entering retail sites without warrants and noted zoning limits: towns that enacted zoning after shops established operations found it difficult to regulate pre-existing businesses.

The discussion tied funding and enforcement: staff framed the dedicated state funds as restricted for law-enforcement purposes and proposed using the increase to bolster patrol capacity and other targeted assets. The transcript does not record a final vote on recognizing the revenue or on the specific purchases.