By Layla Burke Hastings
[email protected]
BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. — The future of the Bellows Falls Village Police Department is uncertain according to discussions at the village trustees meeting on Tuesday, March 10.
As Bellows Falls trustees are preparing to shape the town budget, discussions about the possibility of reducing the department staff from eight full-time positions plus a police chief have occurred in recent days. One suggestion is to reduce the police department down to six full-time positions plus a police chief, whereas another suggests eliminating it altogether and relying on dispatch from the Windham County Sheriff’s Department, according to Village Trustees President Deborah Wright.
“Our staff recommendation is that we keep the department at eight full-time officers and retain a police chief,” said Finance Director Shannon Burbela, which Town Manager Wendy Harrison confirmed in an interview with the Eagle Times.
One of the trustees — who preferred to remain anonymous — had been investigating Northfield, which had a force of six officers plus a police chief and a budget of $900,000 for a population of 5,200.
Bellows Falls population has a population of 3,200. According to Wright, the $1.2 million department budget divides into $100,000 per tenth of a mile.
At the meeting, Trustee James McAuliffe recommended a smaller department with fewer cruisers but declined further comment to the Eagle Times on Friday.
Wright said she was in favor of a smaller police department with six officers and retaining a police chief.
Burbela said the budget of $1.2 million allows for nine officers plus retaining a police chief. The department currently has six officers and an interim police chief.
She also said the department remains under budget at two-thirds into the budget and that projections indicate it will continue under budget despite overtime duty. The budget including the fire department totals $1.4 million.
Fire Chief Shaun McGinnis stepped up as acting police chief last November but stepped down on Feb. 8. Officer David Bemis is currently acting chief, though he has yet to put in his résumé for the position.
“We have put out ads and people are applying,” Harrison said, “He hasn’t applied as of now but he is doing a great job.”
She also said they have put an advertisement out for the dispatcher who resigned earlier this week.
Officer Josh Paulette is currently on paid administrative leave.
Burbela said coverage continues to be the same 24-hour service to the village.
Ultimately, the decision will be up to the voters this June when the budget will be presented at the village meeting.
The next village trustees meeting is on Saturday, March 14, at 9 a.m.
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