Paris board votes to delay police merger

PARIS — The proposed merger between Norway and Paris police departments has been put on hold following a unanimous vote by Paris selectmen to remove the issue from the town meeting warrant.

Monday's vote came after selectmen expressed their concern over the contents of the draft agreement to share police services.

Board members were alarmed that the agreement appeared to outline a plan for shared services going beyond the initial trial period.

"I was very dissatisfied with what we were given because it talks about phase one and phase two and all kinds of things," said Selectman Ted Kurtz. "All we were talking about was a trial period for a year."

Board Chair Bob Kirchherr said he thought the agreement, as currently worded, might keep the town in the joint department beyond the first year.

Section five of the agreement states that "Prior to the expiration of Phase I on June 30, 2012, if one party gives the other six (6) months' notice that it desires to discontinue the joint provision of police services, termination will be automatic ..."

"The way I read this, if we don't make a descision by December 31, we're in it [shared services] for another 12 months ... that was not the direction I thought we were going in," said Kirchherr.

Selectwoman Jean Smart said that she wanted more feedback from the community before moving forward.

"I don't think that we are in a position to even really discuss this ... until we hear from our policemen and our citizens," she said.

During the meeting, a number of citizens expressed their disatisfaction with the merger proposal.

"The proposed merger seems most beneficial for Norway," said Jack Richardson. "For Paris, the benefits aren't clear at all."

Hartley "Skip" Mowatt, the current School Resource Officer (SRO) for the Paris Police Department also expressed his opposition.

"I just don't think that we're going to benefit from this merger; I don't see it at all,'' said Mowatt. "And that's from both as a tax payer and a police officer."

Mowatt said that he was speaking as as citizen of Paris, and declined to comment on the attitude of other Paris officers toward the merger.

Under the plan, Mowatt would be moved from his position as SRO and reassigned as a supervising officer in the new joint force.

Resident Calvin Woodworth said that Paris should not get involved with the Norway force.

"Paris has a history of a ... pretty darn good police force," said Woodworth. "Norway can't say the same."

The board agreed it wanted to slow down the pace of the merger and take time to gather input from citizens and fully consider the matter.

Board members suggested that the beginning of the trial period could be delayed, possibly until September.

Commenting on the board's decision, Paris Police Chief David Verrier said that it was the board's choice as leaders of the community, but he still thought sharing services would aid Paris.

Verrier and Norway Police Chief Rob Federico have repeatedly said that the plan would increase the level of services in Norway and Paris without increasing costs to the towns.

"Because of this descision I'll have to rethink on how to ... have my people in place to cover the town," Verrier said.

The board set a tentative date for a public hearing on the shared services proposal to be held June 4, at 7 p.m. at the Paris fire station.