Community Corner

Finance Board OKs Funds For SRO - Until End Of School Year, That Is (With Poll)

The Board of Finance Approved $26K To Turn School Resource Officer Role Into Full-Time Position

At their recent meeting, the Board of Finance did unanimously approve the appropriation of $26,022 from the town's contingency account to fund additional hours for a school resource officer - but it sure didn't seem to be heading in that direction at the start of their meeting.

Police Chief Todd Lawrie, after , approached the Board of Finance and asked for $26,022 to pay for 24 additional hours for a school resource officer (SRO) at .

The additional 24 hours will make the position full-time until the end of the school year in 2012. At present, Clinton Police Officer Allyson Skeens works a total of 16 hours at the school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7am to 3pm.

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Although all Finance Board members present (Ona Nejdl, Stephen Lillquist, Dennis Donovan, Patricia Ames and Thomas Hollinger) noted their support of the SRO, through their discussions it appeared that they would not put forth a motion to fund the position full time, rather, they asked that the police department pay for it through their overtime account.

"Spend what you have," said Hollinger. "Spend your overtime and we'll make up for what you need at the end of the year."

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Next year's funding (for the 2012-2013 school year) for an SRO was discussed. Chief Lawrie said he would let the voters decide whether or not to fund the SRO full-time, part-time, or at all. In the past, funding for the position has been cut or eliminated due to failed budget referendums.

After much discussion, the board did make a motion to appropriate the money which was approved by the five members present. The appropriation now goes to a town meeting for the public to decide. 


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