TREMONT — During a fast-paced 90-minute meeting with about 135 people in attendance, Tremont residents moved quickly through their Warrant 48 Tuesday, May 14, and voted 102-19 to award the neighboring city a police contract. from South-West Harbour. A day earlier, voters rejected the short-term rental ordinance.
During the comment portion of Article 17, which was the selection of a law enforcement agency to cover Tremont, most residents made it clear that they were not satisfied with the service previously provided by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.
One voter commented that the sheriff’s department has done a great job in the past, but the Southwest Harbor Police Department would be appropriate due to its proximity to Tremont for an additional $135,393.
Another attendee asked what the sheriff’s response time was. Moderator-elect Peter Madeira directed that question to Hancock County Sheriff Scott Kane, who was in attendance.
Kane responded that it can vary depending on where the deputies are at the time of the call and the time of day, but noted that they currently have a deputy who lives in Southwest Harbor. Kane explained that the deputy, who lives in Southwest Harbor, is not always working or on call.
Resident Kerry Hayes asked, “If we go to Southwest Harbor, are they going to hire more officers?
This time, Madeira directed the question to Southwest Harbor Police Chief John Hall, who was also in attendance.
Hall responded that they would not hire additional officers if the contract is awarded, but that they should be fully staffed by June. Hall also clarified that the contract was not for 24-hour coverage of Tremont, but for 24-hour availability to respond to law enforcement-related calls.
The Southwest Harbor Police Department’s full contingent of officers is a chief, one lieutenant and four patrol officers.
Prior to the vote, Madeira requested and received unanimous consent to conduct the vote by written ballot.
The agreement will give the city seven days a week police access for the next fiscal year with $336,393. This is an annual fee. Another proposal from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department was hourly coverage for 45 hours per week at $86 per hour, for a total of $201,000. The municipal budget, with this proposal, is approximately $3.59 million.
The school’s total budget of $4,804,301 is up about $400,000 from the previous year.
All 48 articles of the order were passed.
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