MEXICO – Taking advantage of Oxford County Commissioner David Duguay’s attendance at Wednesday night’s selectmen’s meeting, town officials sought his opinion about disbanding the Police Department.

Town Manager John Madigan broached the topic midway through the 90-minute meeting by reading Bethel Town Manager Scott Cole’s recent proposal to do away with eight town police departments in Oxford County and have the Sheriff’s Office take over.

“He’s been pushing this for several years, but it sounds to me that he just wants the county to take care of all our police departments and save the towns money,” Madigan said to Duguay and Selectmen Barbara Laramee, George Byam, Peter Merrill and Richie Philbrick. Selectman Arthur Bordeau was absent.

Turning to Duguay, Madigan said, “I don’t think Dave’s going to add 27 new deputies.”

Speaking of Cole’s proposal, Duguay said, “I think it has merit, but it needs legislation … You folks could dissolve your Police Department tomorrow. We hope you wouldn’t unless you give us some advance notice.”

At the Oxford County commissioners meeting Sept. 18, Cole argued that under the current system, the eight towns with departments pay about $1.2 million toward the Sheriff’s Office, make up 45 percent of the county’s value, and pay a proportionate amount for law-enforcement coverage by the Sheriff’s Office.

According to Cole, this lets the 28 towns, townships and plantations in the county that rely on the Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement receive police protection at a discounted rate.

Cole proposed a revised distribution that would have towns without police departments paying 90 percent of the Sheriff’s Office costs, while towns with local police would pay 10 percent.

Under the proposal, towns could choose to dissolve their local police departments in favor of coverage from the Sheriff’s Office. According to Cole, this would work toward a consolidated tax rate by decreasing the rate for towns with police departments and increasing it for those without.

“We’d save $294,000, but, of course, we would have no police department here. And the total local cost of $3,338,505 from all towns with police departments, that would have to shift to the county. The total cost to all towns is $4,613,000 plus our share of the county budget combined. So the county budget would have to increase by $4.6 million, provide officers and everybody would pay their share,” Madigan said.

Duguay said the county would also have to create substations in the Mexico-Rumford area.

“It has merit, but it’s really a wish list of his,” Duguay said of Cole.

Mexico Police Chief Jim Gallant did not attend the meeting.

After the discussion, Madigan thanked Duguay for the more visible presence of Oxford County sheriff’s deputy cruisers.

“Since Wayne (Gallant) has been sheriff, I see county sheriff cars all over up here more than I ever have, which is great,” Madigan said.

“He’s doing a good job,” Duguay said of Gallant.

In other business, selectmen authorized Madigan to draft a letter of support from the board toward Med-Care Ambulance Service’s proposed $2 million expansion project.

The board also OK’d taking $7,900 from the road reserve account to finish grading and paving 352 square yards of Middle Avenue.