Sandwich Town Warrant includes new police station

SANDWICH — The Town Warrant includes a large bond for construction of a new police station, among other items upon which residents will vote.

Town Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11. On Tuesday, March 10, townspeople will gather for the town election of officers, and consider two articles on zoning amendments. On March 11, articles 3 through 43 will be discussed. 

The election on March 10 will be held at Sandwich Town Hall at 8 Maple St., Center Sandwich, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On March 11, Town Meeting will be held at the Sandwich Central School, 28 Squam Lake Road, at 6 p.m. If rescheduled, the date would be 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 14.

Article 3, to be considered March 11, is about the construction of a new police department, to be partly financed through bonded debt. The article asks residents to raise $1.175 million, and authorize issuing $475,000 in bonds, plus authorize spending $700,000 from the town’s Police Building Capital Reserve Fund. The town’s selectboard recommended the article, and it requires a two-thirds majority ballot vote. 

Sandwich employs two full-time police officers and some part-timers, and coordinates with county and state officers, too.

The existing police building is 22 by 32 feet, built in 1950. The proposed replacement will stand in its footprint at 46 by 32 feet, including a garage and sally port. The project budget of $1.175 million includes demolition, asbestos abatement, septic installation and complete replacement with a modular building. Interest rates on the proposed bond, not to exceed $475,000, are anticipated to be around 3%, with the first payment coming due in 2027.

The timing is good, Town Administrator Courtney Delaney said Tuesday afternoon, because another bond for the Town Hall will be paid around the same time — 2027 — offsetting impacts to the town’s cashflow. If all goes to plan, construction of the building would be ongoing by summer of 2026, and police would be ready to move in by the fall.

The town formed a committee about 10 years ago to study the question of building a new police facility. Since 2022, the Police Building Advisory Committee met to discuss the challenge. Committee members include selectboard member Joanne Haight, Police Chief Karl Koch, and residents Anne Glavin, Van Adriance and Bob Buderi. 

Delaney said residents who are curious about the proposal, who would like to ask questions or who would like to tour the police facility, should contact Koch to schedule time to do so. The Sandwich Police Department can be reached by calling 603-284-7777. 

Total town expenditures in 2025 were $2.7 million, and the total revenues estimated between recommended and petitioned articles total $2.4 million for 2026.

In other business, voters will consider whether to prohibit Keno in their town on Article 4. Keno is a lottery game. House Bill 737, passed in 2025, automatically permits Keno unless a community votes to prohibit it. Municipalities have until June 1, 2027, to vote to opt out of Keno. If a municipality does not prohibit it by that date, Keno will be permitted by right. This item will be considered by ballot vote.