Selectmen accept up to $11,000 highway safety grant to fund specialized patrols

At the June 4 meeting the Board of Selectmen held a public hearing and voted to accept unanticipated funds from the New Hampshire Department of Safety Highway Safety grant program, not to exceed $11,000.

Police Chief Chris Warren explained the grant supports specialized enforcement patrols — such as "Click It or Ticket," DWI patrols and pedestrian-safety patrols — and reimburses the town for overtime and officer hours dedicated to those activities. Chief Warren cautioned staffing shortages have made scheduling difficult in recent months but said the department expects to use the funding for targeted patrols next summer.

Why it matters: The grant offsets local payroll costs tied to specialized enforcement and can increase officer presence on pedestrian-traffic issues the board had discussed elsewhere in the meeting.

Action: The board approved a motion to accept the funds (RSA 31:95-b was cited as the authority for acceptance of unanticipated funds). No further conditions were placed on the grant acceptance; chief noted reporting requirements to the state include documenting hours worked, stops made, arrests and outcomes for each patrol.

Ending: The chief said the department will coordinate with selectmen on patrol focus areas (pedestrian safety, DWI and bike-patrols) and will report results per the grant’s reporting requirements.