BETHEL – Police Chief Darren M. Tripp and his officers get to stay put after 507 voters at Tuesday’s polls overwhelmingly chose the local force over county coverage.

Only 119 voters opted to disband the local department and hire Oxford County Sheriff’s deputies.

By a 320-304 tally, municipal referendum voters also gave Bethel’s volunteer fire department the opportunity to step into the 21st century, approving construction of a $1.3 million fire station.

However, an unusual 314-314 tie on Question 2, defeated a request to borrow $150,000 to expand the ambulance barn.

“And they say a vote doesn’t count,” said Town Clerk Christen Mason, who expected to receive a recount request Wednesday. “We’ve never done a recount at the municipal level.”

Of the three big referendum items, Question 3 drew the most controversy. It asked if the town would authorize selectmen to contract with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department for police coverage.

Additionally, Referendum Question 3 sought to raise and appropriate $283,574 to fund the two-year contract. A Yes vote would have disbanded the four-person Bethel Police Department and created a dedicated-to-Bethel, county-run police force consisting of five deputies.

By a 3-2 tally, selectmen had recommended a Yes vote.

The cost of maintaining a local police force is about $255,000 per year, but county coverage would have cost voters up to $283,000 per year.

The net cost of service to the town by the local department would be $245,606, whereas the estimated county contract would have ranged from $242,588 to $277,606.

Referendum Question 1 asked if the town would approve the design, construction and equipping of a 10,000-square-foot fire station to replace the existing 5,000-square-feet facilities. It also authorized selectmen to borrow up to $1.3 million for project costs.

Referendum Question 2 asked voters to approve the design, construction and equipping of an ambulance station to improve existing facilities by borrowing up to $150,000.

Selectmen, by a 3-1 vote, recommended Yes votes on both questions, while the Budget Committee deadlocked at 6-6 on the fire station referendum and, by a 5-7 tally, recommended a No vote on the ambulance barn renovations.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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