CPD set to launch pilot body cam program

By Mike Berger

Canton Police Chief Helena Rafferty told Select Board members at a recent capital budget meeting that the CPD plans to outfit five of its officers with body cameras as part of a pilot program that is due to launch early this year.

Rafferty said after the meeting that she would release more details when the pilot program is completed.

In her capital budget submission for the coming fiscal year, Rafferty requested funds to purchase 50 body cameras and audio-video recording equipment at a cost of roughly $353,000 via debt service and audio-video equipment for the police station costing a little more than $39,000 through a cash capital appropriation.

Other CPD requests include $140,000 in debt capital for an exterior security fence for the police station; $25,872 (supplemented by possible grant funding) for 14 bullet-resistant vests and carriers; $60,000 to fund training for a records management system; $100,000 for renovations to the CPD control room and kitchen; $44,900 for an ice cream truck for community relations use in the spring and summer; and $229,000 for scheduled vehicle replacements.

Fire Chief Wendell Robery also outlined his capital requests and they include two fire engine replacements at a cost of $2.18 million, with $1 million coming out of a surplus in the Memorial Hall renovation budget. Another financing option that’s being considered is to use cash reserves to cover $1.14 million of the cost with $40,000 allocated through debt capital.

Robery has also requested a $1.61 million reserve fund transfer to replace a radio communications stem that would benefit both the Fire and Police departments, and $532,000 for an ambulance replacement with the funds coming out of ambulance receipts.

Other Fire Department capital requests include $16,000 for washer and dryer replacements at both CFD stations and $7,500 for a three-to-five-year operational study of space management issues.

For Canton Parks & Recreation, Director Tyler Radicioni is requesting $82,000 to improve the drainage at Gibson Field, home of the CHS baseball team, and $25,000 for a 40-by-60-foot tent to handle additional space needs for the summer camp program.

Overall, the Select Board received requests totaling a little over $7 million from municipal department heads and will need to trim approximately $452,500 in order to meet the projected FY25 capital budget of $6.6 million. The total requested debt capital is in line with the budget allotment of $1.45 million.

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