Select Board approves purchase of 12 rifles for police; sale of old rifles and donated ammunition offset cost

The New Boston Select Board authorized the police department to purchase 12 new rifles and associated attachments after town staff described an offsetting revenue plan.

Staff said the department offered older rifles for sale to officers at $250 each, generating $2,100 in proceeds. In addition, donated surplus ammunition was sold for $11,060; the quote for the new rifles and attachments totaled $13,250 plus $80 shipping. Taking the ammunition proceeds and rifle-sale revenue into account, staff reported the net cost to the department would be $170.60, to be covered by the police uniform and equipment line.

A board member moved to authorize the purchase and the transfer of the $2,100 sale proceeds from the town general fund back to the police department uniform and equipment line. The motion passed on a voice vote. The chair noted the department still has roughly three to four years' supply of ammunition on hand.

Board members discussed procurement steps and asked staff to confirm vendor quotes and accounting entries; the authorization includes use of the sales and donated-ammunition proceeds to minimize taxpayer impact.