Sheriff requests Townshend consider joining Windham County regional policing pilot

Select Board members heard correspondence from Sheriff Mark Anderson about a Windham County pilot program under Act 104 that would establish a regional law enforcement governance council. The sheriff has asked towns to vote by July 15 on whether to join and to appoint a representative to participate in an organizing council; joining would not immediately commit towns to contracts or budgets, the summary said.

Board members raised concerns about estimated costs and how contracts would be negotiated; one member said prior talks with the sheriff had shown rates that were “pretty high” and asked for updated cost projections. The board agreed to invite Sheriff Anderson to the next meeting to answer questions and to have the item on the July agenda so members could decide before the sheriff’s requested deadline.

No formal action was taken June 23; the board left the matter in correspondence and scheduled the next step as a staff invitation for a sheriff briefing.