Police chief outlines part‑time clerk hire, $5,000 personal pay request and overtime projections in budget review

Police Chief Daniel told attendees at a budget meeting that he has proposed adding a part‑time clerk to his office and has included a personal pay increase in his budget submission.

"I added a $5,000 increase for the next fiscal year," Daniel said, and described planning to reassign an existing clerk to work in his office two days a week (eight hours per day), with a planned start in late September or early October. He said the clerk arrangement was budgeted at 35 weeks and that a replacement computer would be required for the position.

Daniel also reviewed meeting‑stipend and public‑hearing fees: minute‑takers receive $30 per meeting and public‑hearing publishing costs are covered in part by a $50 fee charged to applicants. He noted the planning and zoning workload has been higher than usual, with seven zoning meetings last year.

On wages and overtime, Daniel described his approach as conservative while negotiations with labor counsel continue. He said last year he did not receive a pay increase and that he projected overtime expense at roughly the same trend the department has seen this year (his projection equated to a mid‑range five‑figure overtime estimate based on current monthly trends). He said he left certain longevity and contract‑driven pay elements unchanged because contract talks remain unresolved and he would update figures if a settlement produced a set number.

Board members asked clarifying questions about start dates, the accounting line where carryover funds appear and whether some phone and equipment costs would change if staffing decisions shifted. Daniel said the second phone and related monthly charges (~$25/month) were included in his figures contingent on the clerk reassignment.

The meeting closed with a request that Daniel and staff circulate the detailed salary and carryover spreadsheets used to prepare the budget so members can review assumptions before the next session.