WILTON – Chief Dennis Brown was given the go-ahead Tuesday to apply for a federal grant to pay for a lieutenant’s position that had been frozen.

The department is eligible for a $33,209 Justice Assistance Grant. During a public hearing Tuesday, Brown asked the Board of Selectmen to unfreeze the position so that he could apply to use $21,000 of the grant on the lieutenant/detective slot.

The board recommended cutting the vacant position earlier this month in an attempt to reduce the department’s budget for the coming fiscal year.

With a vote of 3-2, the board authorized Brown to submit the grant with the plan he presented.

His plan includes using a portion for the position and a portion for a technology upgrade that would allow officers to obtain background information such as bail conditions or license checks from the state’s system in their cruisers. The information is now gained through the county dispatch. The upgraded technology would not cost the town anything for at least two years, he said.

Any remaining funds from the grant would be applied to cuts in the department’s training and equipment budget.

While $21,000 will not fund the entire cost of the lieutenant position, the remaining amount would be taken from the department’s overtime and emergency coverage budget. The position offers approximately $40,000 in salary and an additional $10,000 in benefits.

The proposed Police Department budget of $373,000 would not be affected by reinstating the position through the grant, Brown said.

“Citizens would not pay one cent more if we allocate the (grant) money,” he said.

The town is eligible for the funds based on the town’s crime statistics and Brown believes the extra position is needed more than the equipment being purchased by other recipients of the JAG grant. It would help the department and provide better service for the citizens, he said.

Residents want lower taxes or at least for them to stay the same, said Selectman Terry Brann as he questioned what would happen next year if they didn’t want to fund the position.

Applicants will be informed of the possibility that the position may only be for this year, Brown said.

Without overtime figures available, Selectman Russell Black questioned how much overtime would be needed to offset the position and how much would be saved.

A couple of residents attending the meeting endorsed the chief and department with one telling the board that it hired him to do a job and he’s doing it well.

Another didn’t understand why the position wasn’t included in the regular budget.

The board also approved applying for a federal COPS grant that provides funds for three years with the town agreeing to pay the fourth year. Brown will begin the application process and provide more information for the next board meeting.