WILTON – Selectmen voted Tuesday to recommend allocating $50,000 from the town’s reserve budget for a contingency fund to use in emergencies only. The suggestion, raised by resident Dennis Landry, will be added to the annual town meeting warrant barring any legal issues.
Selectmen, along with the town manager, will determine what constitutes an emergency, but situations might include a dam’s letting go, bridge or major road destruction, major fires or flooding – events that would need to be handled expediently. If approved by voters, the article would enable town officials to spend up to $50,000 in an emergency without having to hold a special town meeting, which may delay needed repairs or cleanup.
“My feeling is, it would never be used,” said Selectman Russell Black who backed the proposal. “It gives us more flexibility to manage our finances,” he added, but said the final decision would be made by voters at town meeting each year.
Selectmen voted unanimously, with one absent, to support the measure pending any legal issues left for Town Manager Peter Nielsen to research. Selectman Jeffrey Rowe was not in attendance.
Police Chief Wayne Gallant presented a quarterly report to selectmen. Improvements on the public safety building have continued since he last reported to them, he said. Summarizing accomplishments over the last four weeks, Gallant reported that:
• Homeland Security funds to purchase new radios and computers have been received.
• Plans for an end-of-school-year, multi-agency safety program at both Wilton schools are under way.
• A packet for domestic violence victims, with information about victims’ rights, available support services and law enforcement responsibilities, is being compiled.
• Identification cards have been issued to all officers.
• All three cruisers have been repainted to uniformly and prominently display the words “Wilton Police Department.”
• The chief’s office has been repainted and the investigation room has been cleaned out and is awaiting a fresh coat of paint.
• The chief met with representatives of Wal-Mart, who are researching grant opportunities to purchase recording equipment for the interview room.
• An outside emergency phone was moved to the front of the building in a more visible location using volunteer labor.
Gallant reported that the department responded to nearly 300 calls since March 22, including 10 arrests, two assault investigations involving victims under the age of 6, and two sexual assault investigations.
Selectmen also approved hiring Tracey Higley as a part-time reserve officer for the department at the request of the chief. Higley, a full-time officer and supervisor with the Rumford police, is a graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and trained in federal law enforcement.
“More than anything, I want to make sure your new chief succeeds,” he said to the board, who approved his appointment unanimously.
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