February 12, 2008 - (Eagle
Times) -
"Chief,
sheriff present budgets to village trustees" - (Return
to News)
Chief, sheriff present budgets to
village trustees
No decision made
on police services
Elizabeth Martin
Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
BELLOWS FALLS - Bellows Falls
Police Chief Ron Lake stood up, raised his hand and swore to keep his
overtime in check and his budget on track Tuesday night.
"Yes, sir, I swear," he said.
Bellows Falls trustee chairman Clark Barber chuckled, but said he didn't
have to swear on his proposed 2009 budget. Lake and Windham County
Sheriff Keith Clark presented their budget options to the board and
approximately 40 residents. The village is considering contracting its
police services with the sheriff's department.
The agenda said the budgets were going to be discussed, but Barber said
it was more of a "sales job."
"They've both come out with facts, very good facts, both sides," he
said. "I guess it's going to have to go a little bit further."
Lake's projected fiscal 2009 year budget is $899,074, down from this
year's budget that was nearing $1 million. Lake proposed cutting one
full-time officer and one full-time dispatcher for the budget.
Clark said he can provide the same 24 hours, seven days a week services
for $650,000 a year for a two-year deal, beginning fiscal 2009. In the
third year, Clark said a negotiated price increase could be set. He
suggested 4 percent.
If Clark is not re-elected sheriff when his four-year term ends in two
years, a three-year contract would still be enforced if that language is
written in, he said Tuesday.
The sheriff's department covers 10 towns. Of those, Bellows Falls would
be the largest.
Clark said he would assign two full-time officers to the area to patrol.
He would maintain the foot-patrol that Lake has encouraged. The proposed
BF police budget has seven full-time officers and three part-time, with
Lake planning to hire three more part-time officers. They also provide
round-the- clock coverage, but have only one officer on duty in the
early morning. The sheriff could guarantee two officers.
Lake said the village has an advantage over the sheriff, because the
officers and dispatcher don't just have experience, but they have
experience in the area.
"My officers can communicate with the public. They know the public," he
said. "They know the background of the families."
Clark has previously said and again stated Tuesday night he could take
on 75 percent of the current police department staff.
Bellows Falls officer Christopher Brooks read a prepared statement on
behalf of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 686.
"All members of the Union want to stay as the Bellows Falls Police
Department; and if we are eliminated, we will be forced to search for
new jobs and abandon those who have abandoned us," he said.
Brooks also asked for notice to prepare for a job search if and when the
decision is made to contract with the sheriff's department.
Barber said the department would know by the beginning of May and the
change would take place July 1.
The trustees have the authority to make the decision on policing, but
Barber said he would feel more comfortable with public input. Either
way, the public will be able to voice their opinion by voting down the
budget and amending it at town meeting.
Many attendees spoke in favor of keeping the service, while some said
the decision needed to be made based on finances not personal feelings.
The total village budget for this year is projected to up more than
$38,647 making it $1,645,278. Only $5,951 of that overexpenditure is due
to the police payroll, municipal manager Jim Mullen said.
"The overtime problem was solved when Jim Cronin took over as interim
chief, but the word hasn't been put out that it was solved long ago," he
said.
Mullen also handed out a state listing of towns and their tax ranking.
Bellows Falls ranks second in the municipal tax rate under Athens, which
is undergoing a three-year highway project. Its ranking will drop after
project completion. In municipal and educational taxes, Bellows Falls is
the highest in the state of 57 rankings. Saxtons River is 10 and
Rockingham is 18.
Elizabeth Martin can be reached at (800) 545-0347 Ext. 103 or at emartin@eagletimes.com.
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