Police Committee Minutes 12-19-2023
Police Committee Minutes 12-19-2023
RUTLAND TOWN SELECT BOARD COMMITTEE MEETING
POLICE COMMITTEE
TUESDAY DECEMBER 19th, 2023
The Police Committee of the Rutland Town Select Board met at 8:30 AM on Tuesday December 19th, 2023, at the Municipal Town Hall. Present was Select Board Chair Mary Ashcroft, Select Board Member Matt Getty, Town Police Chief Ed Dumas, Town Deputy Police Chief Ted Washburn, Town Clerk and Treasurer Kari Clark and Town Auditor Andrew Simonds.
Reviewed the funds received from the hotels participating in the voucher program and how these funds can be applied to offset costs. Discussed taking the documented hours spent on the South end of Town and dividing that by the total Police hours for the year to give a percentage of time allocated to that area. There were 1170 plaza patrol related hours as of June 30th, 2023. There were 11,752 total police hours for the year. This gives 9.95% of time spent. Taking into account the officers that spend a majority of their time there, the percentage increases to 13%. Another scenario accounts for the Town Constables included patrol hours.
Using the 13% figure, as of June 30th, 2023, there was $165,550. The committee agreed this was the correct number.
The new cruiser recently purchased was $57,000. Some additional equipment is still needed to complete it. The total is not expected to exceed $75,000.
As of December 12th, there is approximately $190,725 in the fund with most of the costs for the new vehicle included.
Discussed how to project expenses related to the anticipated funds to be received. The committee agreed there are sufficient funds available to pay for the cost of hiring an additional officer.
The anticipated overtime expense will be $70,000. The anticipated balance by the end of April 2024, which is a possible date when the voucher program would end, is $263,000. After anticipated expenses, there would be approximately $226,000 by the end of June of 2024.
Discussed how to report this so it can easily be communicated in the budget calculations.
Discussed the costs of bringing on a new officer. It would be approximately $40,000.
Reviewed the draft budget lines. Some adjustments were made.
Discussed the equipment line. It includes purchasing 2 permanent speed signs to be put up at the school. The cost is $6000 and is included in this current fiscal year’s budget. The committee will recommend to the Board approving the purchase.
The committee will update the full Board with the changes to the entire budget and discuss their recommendations.
The meeting adjourned at 10:02 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet