Windham County Sheriff Keith Clark told the trustees last year that his department could take over law enforcement in the village for $650,000 a year, which would save the overtaxed residents of Bellows Falls about $300,000 annually.
Clark is the former chief of the Bellows Falls department and was elected Windham County Sheriff in November 2006.
He offered the village trustees a two-year contract.
Since Clark made the proposal, the trustees have been entertaining the idea without committing one way or the other.
Now, with the annual meeting and budget time for the village approaching, Municipal Manager Jim Mullen asked the board members how they wanted to handle the discussion and decision.
The board announced Tuesday that it would talk about the future of the Bellows Falls Police Department at the next meeting on Feb. 12.
But the trustees made it clear that they have the authority to make the decision to shut down the department, and the residents will likely not get the chance to vote directly on the proposal.
Village residents will vote on the budget at the annual meeting, and if the police department is not included in the proposed budget, that budget could be rejected.
Of the four trustees who were at Tuesday's meeting -- Roger Riccio was absent -- Clark Barber and Stefan Golec said they were leaning heavily toward hiring the sheriff's department to save the taxpayers money.
Gary DeRosia said that the discussion should take place during the budget process, while Dennis Ladd said he wanted to hear more from the community before he decided.
"If we can save money and cut costs then I feel like I have the responsibility to do it," Golec said during the discussion Tuesday. "Of the people I have been talking with, there is overwhelming support. This will save a lot of money and people want to save money."
"So far I am not upset with what I am hearing from the sheriff," Barber said. "I am leaning that way."
Mullen put the topic on Tuesday's agenda because he said he wanted to know if the board wanted to form a committee or if there was going to be a special question on the upcoming annual meeting warning.
The board set the Feb. 12 date to talk about police service, but they made it clear they were likely going to make the decision themselves.
"The board should make this decision. This is why we are elected," Golec said. "I am not going to be held hostage by a group that shows up with an agenda. It is time the board stepped up to the plate. We should do this as a board."
The trustees also plan to talk about shutting down the fire department and moving to an all-volunteer department.
That discussion is slated to take place at the following meeting on Feb. 26.
The residents of Bellows Falls pay some of the highest taxes in the state.
The police budget this year is approximately $1 million, and the fire department budget will likely be in the $400,000 range.
Negotiations with the police and fire unions are also approaching as the current contract is set to expire this year.
Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reformer.com or 802-254-2311 ext. 279