PARIS — Calling the current equipment a “poor product,” Police Chief Michael Dailey will replace the Tasers used by his officers, following unanimous approval by the Select Board at Monday’s meeting.
The board approved the purchase of eight Tasers from Axon, the sole source provider of Tasers in the country and the sole distributor of the weapon in Maine. The total cost for the weapon is approximately $33,000, which will be paid for in five yearly installments following a 5% down payment.
Dailey called the Tasers the department purchased five years ago are no longer supported by the company, meaning parts are unavailable and that exact type of weapon cannot be replaced.
The company has upgraded the technology in the new models and are serviceable, Dailey said.
When asked by Selectmen Scott McElravy how often the Tasers are used, Dailey said it is not a matter of often the weapon is fired, which is in the single digits this year.
“My thought is that it is on our vest which the public can see, which is an automatic deterrent, so as far as I’m concerned, it is used every day,” Dailey said.
While the current models are black, the new Tasers are yellow and more visible.
The board agreed to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay the down payment. While the remainder of the funding will be included in the budget over the next five years, grant money will likely be available to cover much of the balance.
In other business, Daniel Gilpatric, an instructor in forestry and heavy equipment operations at Oxford Hills Technical School, spoke to the board, offering his services and those of his students to perform small projects to benefit the town. Those projects would also give his students real-world experience. Gilpatric said the students are already performing tasks to benefit the town of Oxford. Selectmen enthusiastically endorsed the offer and Town Manager Dawn Noyes envisioned projects the students could do.
The board tabled a request from Responsible Pet Care to renew its contract fir $7,500 per year to supports its operations and take in any stray dogs. The town has to pay extra for stray cats, Noyes said. Selectmen want to see an audit from the facility and asked to have legal review the contract before moving forward.
The Oct. 9 meeting, which falls on a holiday, was moved to Oct. 10.
The Town Office will be closed Sept. 11 for state-mandated training, Noyes said.
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