Skeptiscism apparent in Barnstead as proposal to contract police work to sheriff's department is discussed

BARNSTEAD — About 50 people packed into the Town Hall Wednesday night for the first of two public hearings about the possibility of subcontracting town police services to the Belknap County Sheriff's Office.

Selectmen's Chair Bob LaRoche opened the hearing, that was conducted by Town Moderator Bill Goss, by explaining what they had done so far and now was the time for selectmen to hear from the citizenry.

"It's up to you. Do you want us to accept or reject the proposal?" LaRoche said.

The idea of subcontracting Barnstead policing duties has been discussed since last year, when former Selectman Jim Barnard, who is also the former Barnstead Police Chief, spoke to Sheriff Craig Wiggin about whether or not a subcontract was even possible.

Though Barnard was not re-elected to office, the current Selectboard felt the subject needed further investigation and created a special Barnstead Police Committee to work with Wiggin to determine if it was possible and, if so, to present a proposal to the residents.

Wiggin, after working for about seven months with Police Chief Ken Borgia and the police committee, presented the county's proposal for the first time Wednesday.

As was to be expected, people at the public hearing had a lot of questions and concerns, the most prominent of which was what would happen to the existing employees and who can legally make the decision — selectmen or Town Meeting.

Former Fire Chief George Krause wanted to know who determined the projected operating budget for Barnstead's Police for 2012 when, to his knowledge the budget committee and selectmen haven't begun the budget process.

County Administrator Debra Shackett told him the county finance director added five percent to the 2011 appropriation, came up with $622,911, and the number was provided to give everyone to provide the same basic starting point.

Wiggin has said he could provide four full-time deputies with take-home cruisers for $447,782 in 2012 and five full-time deputies with take-home cruisers for $496,566.

Former Police Officer Frank Grow said people needed to know that two part-time police officers were also losing their jobs, as well as the part-time administrator and that he wasn't convinced the town was going to save as much as the $140,000 predicted.

"Has anyone looked into running (our own) department with four full-time police officers?" Grow asked, saying again that he was not convinced the projected savings were going to be there.

Right now, Chief Ken Borgia said the department is staffed with three full-time officers and three part-time employees — two officers and a secretary.

He said the budget is for six full-time officers but he has been unable to get fully staffed for a variety of reasons, one of which is low pay in small towns and the other is that it takes about six to eight months to get a new officer certified and trained only to often see him or her leave for a better paying job in a bigger community with more opportunities.

Others, including Barnard, challenged LaRoche's statements that the selectmen are empowered to make the decision.

"I just want to make sure this comes to Town Meeting," Barnard said.

"We have the authority to vote on this," said Laroche citing N.H. state law RSA 53:A that delegates to selectmen the responsibility of providing police services to its residents.

"How many here would like to see it go to Town Meeting?" Barnard asked.

About two-thirds of the people in the room raised their hands.

Gordon Preston is the chair of the Barnstead Police Committee and he replied that while he believes absolutely in the power of Town Meeting, the problem faced is that ideally the budget should be decided before Jan. 1 2012 and Town Meeting isn't until March.

"We're trying to get it matched up," Preston said.

Others at the meeting said they were concerned that the sheriff's department had different standards or "more whistles and bells" than Barnstead and feared Barnstead voters would have to comply with what the sheriff determines is appropriate — especially when it comes to equipment and communications.

"We can renegotiate the contract," said Wiggin who emphasized all night that the contract with Barnstead would be driven by what the residents of Barnstead want and how much money they are willing to spend.

"It's your money," he said, noting the town will vote amount of the contract as part of its budget process.

He also reminded everyone in the room that, as an elected sheriff, he worked for them. "You people are all my bosses."

It was Selectman Kathy Grillo who tamed the tension by saying that "nothing has been decided."

"We're trying to help the town lower its tax burden and we don't want to do anything to get the town upset," she said.

"We're trusting that the committee and the county are trying to help," she continued.

"Believe me, if the county was looking to make money it sure wouldn't come to Barnstead because we don't have any," Grillo said eliciting laughter.

"We want to do everything in the open so everyone is comfortable, but there are things not settled yet," she said.

The second public hearing is Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.