JAY — Residents can weigh in on potential police collaboration between Jay and Wilton at a May 11 public hearing, ahead of a nonbinding referendum June 9 intended to guide future decisions by both towns.

The May 11 public hearing will follow a special town meeting at 6 p.m. at the Jay Municipal Building where voters will first consider a $16,500 transfer from the undesignated fund balance for curbside collection.

The evening will also include a public hearing on proposed sewer rates for 2026-27, with the Select Board expected to set those rates immediately afterward.

The policing question comes as both communities explore whether changes could affect costs, staffing and how services are delivered, though Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said more detailed analysis is still needed before any final decisions are made.

For residents, the outcome could shape not only how police services are delivered, but whether future changes prioritize operational structure and staffing over immediate cost savings.

The advisory question asks residents which of four approaches the Select Board should explore: maintaining the current structure of the Jay Police Department, contracting with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, entering into a service contract between the two towns, or creating a jointly governed quasi-municipal police entity.

LaFreniere said the intent of the vote is to gauge public sentiment before any detailed proposals are developed.

“Both Jay and Wilton are asking the voters the same questions to gather information on how the residents feel about the four options and what options they might be most interested in pursuing,” she said.

While all four options are being presented equally to voters, LaFreniere said the board has already discussed certain possibilities more than others.

“The Jay Board previously expressed interest in exploring the option of Jay providing police services to Wilton through a contract, while taking the time to further explore the option of a quasi-municipal corporation.”

Still, the Jay Board of Selectmen opted to include all four options to remain consistent with Wilton’s approach as both communities evaluate potential collaboration.

The June 9 vote will not bind either town to a specific course of action. Instead, it is intended to guide what options the boards may explore further.

“This vote is just to give guidance on what the residents would like the boards to explore further,” she said.

LaFreniere said additional work would be required before any formal decision could be made, including more detailed financial and operational analysis.

Preliminary cost comparisons have been conducted, she said, but she emphasized they are based on current budgets and would need significant refinement if any option moves forward. A budget analysis presented by the town of Jay shows each town spends about $1 million annually on policing, with proposed shared-service models between Jay and Wilton, projected at roughly $2.24 million to $2.25 million combined, indicating little to no immediate cost savings under a regional approach.

Following the referendum, the select board is expected to use the results to help determine which options warrant deeper analysis, though no formal process has been outlined.

Wilton residents are expected to consider the same question June 9, allowing both towns to directly compare voter sentiment as they decide whether to pursue a shared approach to policing.

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