Council weighs 2% pay bump for officers amid retention concerns and vehicle needs

Staff presented a police-budget section that applies a 2% across-the-board raise and lists specific line items such as a training officer stipend of $1,200 and an hourly rate of $20 for part-time positions. The presenter told the council, "we bid a 2% increase for all of the officers," and noted the town's health insurance renewal adds roughly 10% to benefit costs.

Council members pressed on retention: one member said officers are applying elsewhere and asked what the town could do to keep them. Discussion covered comparing wages with nearby Milford and the role of benefits and pension structures in retention. Members also debated replacing aging vehicles; staff recommended budgeting a police car from the cigarette-tax savings fund and noted that larger purchases like dump trucks lack a dedicated replacement fund and should be deferred until the town has clearer cash flow after construction projects.