Notes in a Nutshell: Police Commission

On Feb. 14, the Police Traffic Authority discussed the following:

• Regarding the UI's traffic light application for Marsh Hill Road, the application as sent and received, but the state needs more information from the developer in terms of pedestrian traffic in that area.

• Conservation Commissioner Sharon Ewen requested a large mirror to be placed near the driveway of the Raebrook Tract to improve visibility and safety for drivers. At the time, the mounds of snow made it difficult to assess what the visibility was actually like and the committee agreed to wait until warmer weather arrives and to give the state time to cut back any overgrown brush that could be blocking the sight line.

• Police Chief Gagne read a letter requesting that the town change the classification level of the traffic light at the intersection of Old Tavern Road and Orange Center Road, which would change the reaction time. Update: as of March 1, the light is classified as Level 1.

The Police Commission meeting on the same day, contained the following information:

• The budget balances for specific items were dwindling.

73% of the computer maintenance budget was used

The environmental system (HVAC) budget was almost used up

The department was in pretty good shape with police overtime with 69% of that budget remaining.

While 88% of the dispatcher's overtime budget had been used.

• Chief Gagne expressed the need for more patrol cars (after this meeting, a cruiser was totaled in a rear-end crash on Derby Avenue). Many of the cars have more than 100,000 miles on them and 90,000 miles is the average life expectation for a patrol car. At the time of the meeting, the department needed five new patrol cars, now that number is six.

• The commission accepted "with regrets" the resignation of  Officer Joe Funaro, who is now attending the FBI academy.

• Chief Gagne read several letters from residents recognizing and thanking certain officers for exemplary work.