Multi-Town Meeting on Regional Police Department Proposal – March 5, 2026

On March 5, 2026, representatives from Weathersfield, Reading, and Cavendish gathered for an exploratory meeting to discuss the proposed Montis County Regional Police Department. The meeting was informational only, with no votes taken. The presentation covered staffing, cost allocation, governance, and a transition timeline, followed by public questions and comments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Melissa Coleman (Weathersfield resident) questioned the tight timeline for hiring a police chief, noting that the background check and notice period may be insufficient. She also expressed concern about response times from Vermont State Police if coverage lapses during transition.
• Sophia Lashley Taylor (Weathersfield resident) raised concerns about mutual aid availability given the limited staffing of two full-time and two part-time officers, and asked about nighttime coverage for drug activity. She noted that the proposal increases Weathersfield’s hours from 100 to 118 per week at a lower hourly rate.
• Jessica (Weathersfield resident) questioned the lack of a budget line for re-lettering police cruisers, the adequacy of dispatch services, and the reality of 24/7 coverage. She stated that Vermont State Police often decline to respond to calls in the area.
• A resident with 30 years of law enforcement experience emphasized the importance of community policing and selecting the right chief and officers to maintain the high level of service recently provided by the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department.
• A resident living near Elm Street thanked the board for addressing concerns about drug houses and expressed support for the 150-hour coverage proposal, noting that previous coverage gaps were exploited by criminals.
• Tim Sargent requested historical call data from the sheriff’s department to compare actual coverage hours with the proposed 150 hours, and asked for a budget scenario that would match the prior level of service.

Discussion Items

• Presentation by Brandon (Town Manager, Weathersfield): He outlined the rationale for a regional model, citing shared challenges in staffing, cost, and sustainability. The proposed staffing includes one full-time chief, two full-time officers, and two part-time officers providing 150 hours of weekly coverage. Two cost allocation methods were presented: (1) based on a three-year average of call volume, and (2) based on patrol hours chosen by each town. He recommended the hour-based method for the first year. The FY27 budget was shown as $401,000 for Weathersfield, $40,000 for Reading, and $67,221 for Cavendish, with no change in allocation from current contracts. The budget includes competitive pay ($31.76/hour average for officers, $100,000 for chief), with a $16,000 contingency. A transition timeline was provided targeting June 1, 2026, start date, with a police chief hired by early May.
• Trevor Wimple (Law Enforcement Consultant, VLCT) noted that forming a regional department typically takes 18 months, but re-establishing the Weathersfield Police Department and contracting with other towns could be faster. He supported the lead town administrative model.
• Rick Chambers (Cavendish Town Manager) expressed personal interest in the proposal and stated that the Cavendish Select Board will discuss it at their first March meeting.
• Bob Allen (Reading Select Board Chair) said Reading has not yet formally discussed the proposal but is open to continuing conversations. He noted Reading’s contract with the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department runs through June 30, 2026, and he does not see canceling it early.
• Josh (Fire Department representative) noted that the fire department has seen a decrease in police availability since the sheriff’s arrest and stressed the need for stability. He suggested that the 18-month build-out plan is realistic and that the current budget is a starting point.
• Deputy from Windsor County Sheriff’s Department clarified that the county budget does not fund general patrol and that the sheriff’s department must operate as a business. He offered to discuss additional contracted hours if needed.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or decisions were made. The meeting was purely exploratory.
• Each town’s select board will discuss the proposal in upcoming public meetings. Cavendish will address it on March 9, 2026.
• The town manager of Weathersfield will continue to gather data, including historical call volumes and coverage hours, to share with the towns.
• The timeline for advertising a police chief position (March 10, 2026) is contingent on the towns’ interest; if no agreement is reached, the position will be advertised as the Weathersfield Police Chief with a regional focus.
• The proposed transitional approach would allow for a 30-day contingency if the hiring timeline slips, and neighboring towns (e.g., Springfield) and Vermont State Police have been contacted for backup coverage during the transition.