Police chief proposes mobile firing range

Police Chief Helena Rafferty is proposing in her FY26 capital plan that the town spend $393,000 for a mobile enclosed firing range, which would be located behind the station and provide year-round access to officers for training and certification. Rafferty said the town could also recoup some of the expense by renting the facility out to other police departments.

The request by CPD is one of several made by town departments as part of the FY26 debt capital budget, which has a target of $1.3 million. Requests for that portion of the budget total $2.52 million, leaving the Select Board to decide which projects to recommend for funding in the coming fiscal year.

Requests for “cash capital” items, which are typically less expensive purchases for equipment and routine maintenance, are under the available amount of $1.1 million and therefore can all be funded, pending approval by the Select Board, Finance Committee, and Annual Town Meeting voters.

Other capital requests reviewed during Tuesday’s Select Board meeting include a 20-passenger bus for the Department of Elder & Human Services to handle shopping and medical appointment transport ($170,000); renovations to Tilden Field ($22,000); nine ballistic shields and ports for the Police Department ($84,300); and blood warmers for the Fire Department’s blood transfusion program ($16,900).

The board also heard several equipment and vehicle requests from the DPW, Fire and Police departments.

The Select Board will meet with representatives from the library, MIS, Central Maintenance, and the Revere & Son Heritage Trust at its next meeting on December 17.

In other news from the December 3 meeting:

* The board announced that it will open the warrant for the 2025 Annual Town Meeting on Thursday, December 12, and will close the warrant on Friday, January 3, at noon.

* The board accepted grants of $15,400 for municipal cybersecurity and $5,100 for Emergency Management Performance.

* The Blue Hills Ski Area received approval to serve wine and malt beverages during 30 one-day events between December 27 and March 2, contingent upon approvals from the building commissioner and police and fire chiefs.

* The board held a moment of silence in memory of Terry Reddington, whose wife, Susan, has worked for the town and served on many town committees. Terry passed away on November 12.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Dec 6 2024. Filed under News, Police & Fire, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.