Police Expansion Denied

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Created on Wednesday, 14 September 2016 21:15

Written by Daniel Fenton

ST. JOHNSBURY - Tax payers and residents of St. Johnsbury voted against a police expansion proposal that has been around since 2011. The voting took place during a special select board meeting last Monday.

 A St. Johnsbury man expressed his opinion during the meeting which many others happened to agree with, "I know my self, I don't know how many other people here, if anybody wants to pay more taxes they should raise their hand right now." 

The expansion plan would come at a price of about four-hundred thousand dollars, which would be an increase in taxes none the less. However, some residents felt as though they were being pressured to vote for something they don't even need in the first place.

"When are we going to stop trying to put it on our shoulders that we don't want it."
The concern for police expansion comes from the Vermont State police, who will no longer be willing to serve the day to day calls outside the special services area. Howeer, residents still were not buying it.
"Lieutenant Amadon of the state police last week he said there are no plans for changes."
Overall the feeling was the town did not want the plan to go forward and the select board ultimately put the plan to rest. A select board member concluded, "I think we've asked the people an awful lot of this and I'm not in favor of doing anything in the fall."
Both the St. Johnsbury police chief and town manager are not in favor of having less coverage in the special services area.