The Damariscotta Police Dept. received overwhelming support from several contingents from the community at a Sept. 19 public hearing before the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen.
Damariscotta business owners, citizens and residents of nearby towns expressed confidence in the department and told stories about how Damariscotta officers have helped them in difficult situations.
The subject of the public hearing was an amendment to the town charter that would allow the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen to contract for law enforcement and public safety services and eliminate the Damariscotta Police Dept.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, at the request of Damariscotta Town Manager Matt Lutkus, has submitted a proposal to provide 24/7 law enforcement in Damariscotta.
A number of taxpayers at the public hearing said they would forego possible property tax savings in order to avoid losing the department.
Lutkus distributed a flier at the public hearing that estimates $80,000-$100,000 of annual savings if the town contracts with the county and eliminates the police department.
The flier also states the impact on taxpayers using a range of property values from $150,000-$400,000. The impact, according to the flier, ranges from $33.15-$113.60 per taxpayer, per year depending on the estimate of savings and the property value.
It’s not clear, however, whether taxpayers would see any of the money. This year, the property tax rate rose despite a decrease in the police department budget. Town officials said the town might decide to spend any savings on other things.
Damariscotta resident William McNiff, holding a copy of Lutkus’ flier, said the estimate of savings based on the approximate value of his home is $66.30-$85.20.
“I would like to see Damariscotta maintain its police force,” McNiff said. “I’d be willing to pay that in my taxes with a very clear conscience.”
Barnaby Porter talked about the “importance of the hometown police department and how it relates to the community,” relating a story about how Todd Brackett, while Damariscotta’s police chief, built sidewalk ramps with cold patch to help a disabled woman navigate downtown.
“I don’t know if this would happen under the proposed contract,” Porter said.
“It’s about more than just money,” Porter said. “It’s about jobs and careers – at least 10 families with a dozen or more children – that are at stake.
“It’s about having a hometown police department that is not only familiar with the community, but is part of it, with local knowledge, familiarity and understanding, the qualities that enable a police officer to artfully conduct himself and keep the peace. What value can you put on this?
“Does Damariscotta, this very special town, really want to sacrifice its police department to the bottom line?” Porter said. “I don’t think so.”
Damariscotta resident Cynthia Lear said she worked with 16 law enforcement agencies across the state during her professional career and knows “an excellent one from a not-excellent one.”
“Your police department is an excellent police department,” she said.
Lear noted the accessibility of the police department and the availability of police personnel at the station.
“That is a really important thing for this town,” Lear said. “To throw that away would be a real hardship.”
Lutkus, the town manager, has said if the town approves the changes, he plans to close the station, lease it out and house the contract deputies in a small room inside the town office that would not be open to the public.
Jane Gravel, a resident and business owner, asked what the town would do with the savings from eliminating the police department.
David Atwater, chairman of the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen, said the town might return the savings to the taxpayers or use it for other purposes, such as public restrooms or the purchase of a fire truck.
Vice Chairman Josh Pinkham said he would advocate a plan to return 75-80 percent of the savings to taxpayers and use the rest to pay down the town’s debt.
Gravel said after the initial, two-year term of a contract – the term town officials say they would negotiate – the sheriff’s office might raise its price and eliminate any savings.
Pinkham said he has reviewed similar contracts in other locations and some contain a 2 percent cap on increases.
“If we do get to that point, that may be something that we need to look at,” Pinkham said.
“I’ve had my issues with them, but I think they do a great job,” Gravel said of the police department. “They do it by the book and I think it’s really worth saving and we can save money somewhere else.”
Dennis Hoppe, a citizen and owner of Quick Turn Auto Repair and Towing Inc., said he would gladly pay the necessary taxes to maintain the police department and save the jobs of department personnel.
“Why are we looking to get rid of the police department?” Hoppe asked. “If we’re looking to save money, is this the best option, as a town, we have?”
Pinkham said “If we could find a place where we can save, we would first look at the duplication of services.”
The town and its citizens pay for service from three law enforcement agencies: the Damariscotta Police Dept., the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police, Pinkham said.
“We are listening to the taxpayer,” Pinkham said. “Just because people aren’t here tonight, we’re still hearing that, ‘we want tax relief,’ so we’re trying to give you tax relief but also keep your service.”
Pinkham said he has been listening to complaints about the police department budget his entire life and will be happy no matter how the referendum turns out.
“The main thing for me is, I don’t have to listen to the question anymore and we can move on, whatever direction we go,” Pinkham said.
Jodi Prior, the administrative assistant for the police department, talked about the people who come to the police station in various states of distress.
“The chief had to pick up a distraught woman off the ground in the parking lot one day,” Prior said. “I had to separate, just last week, two men that were fighting in the foyer.”
“What about the girls that come in crying and screaming?” Prior said. “Is the town office going to be able to deal with that?”
“I would say that would have to be something that’s negotiated in the contract,” Atwater said.
Dr. Joseph Griffin, a long-practicing dentist with an office downtown, talked about the police department’s rapid response to a security alarm at his office.
“Just yesterday, I had an intrusion at my office on Main Street,” Griffin said. He immediately went to the office upon receiving a call from his security company and found a Damariscotta officer already on scene.
“The intruder was me,” Griffin said, “because I fouled up the alarm when I left the office.”
Griffin said he is still grateful for the response. He said his office has been the target of arson and robberies by people looking for prescription drugs.
He said he also understands the legitimate fiscal issues involved. “I’m grateful for the police department and the sheriff’s department,” he said.
Newcastle resident Steve Gracie praised Prior, the administrative assistant, for the work she does behind the scenes.
“Jodi is an unspoken hero,” Gracie said. “The stuff that Jodi does in that office that nobody knows about, nobody talks about… Jodi is just as important to this police department as the chief and all the people that work there.”
Damariscotta Police Patrol Officer Richard Alexander talked about his experience as an Androscoggin County contract deputy patrolling the town of Poland.
He said he and other deputies would frequently leave Poland to respond to calls in the far reaches of the county, despite the agency’s assurances to the town.
Sheriff Brackett has repeatedly said the county would match the quality of patrol service the police department provides, although he has acknowledged the loss of the chief, the administrative assistant and the station as a negative for the community.
Wednesday, he talked about the “hometown feel” that might be absent if the county moves in.
“The big change would be that feel,” Brackett said. “There’d be a little distance there that you’re not accustomed to.”
Lincoln County Commissioner Sheridan Bond also spoke at the hearing.
“Lincoln County is a neutral party,” Bond, who represents Damariscotta on the Board of Commissioners, said. “If the people of Damariscotta want this, we will support it and carry it out.”
Only one citizen appeared to offer support for the decision to pursue the county proposal, although she did not say whether she would support the charter amendment.
“I think the Damariscotta Police Dept., does an excellent job,” Ruth Anne Bryant said. “But I think you all are very responsible to take the time to look into an alternative.”
“Some of us are getting older and taxes are important and there’s money that can go other places, so please look at this very carefully before we make a move.”
The Board of Selectmen closed the hearing shortly before 8 p.m.
A second public hearing about the charter amendment will take place Wed., Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Salt Bay Community School gym.
A public information meeting will follow Wed., Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the same location and a third formal public hearing Thurs., Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the Damariscotta town office.
