MEXICO — With the upcoming vote on police coverage, the Board of Selectmen were asked on May 26 their views on the local police department versus having coverage from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office.
Gary Wentzell asked the board, “Is it worth saving half a mil to go with Sheriff’s Office, to lose your local department?”
With all the discussion that’s taken place since Mexico and Rumford agreed to have the question placed before voters, he asked board members for their view on this issue.
Reggie Arsenault said, “Our local department is excellent. We don’t get 100 dedication from our Sheriff’s Department as our local police department is doing. Keep what we have.”
Andy Dupuis said he supports the sheriff. “I think it will save us more over time. The sheriff has spent his whole career in law enforcement. I don’t think he’d offer this if he did not think he could do the job.”
Byron Ouellette said, “We have the most amazing police department, thanks to our new chief. I don’t want to give that up. Maybe they’ll be a savings with Dixfield in the future.”
Albert Aniel said, “We have a great department, but financially, five years with the sheriff and we will not see an increase. Money wise, it makes sense. People wanted us to find a way to cut. We have no control on fixed costs and mandates.”
Richie Philbrick said, “I like to see us keep our local department and keep programs like our Explorers.”
Voters will go to the polls from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday in the Calvin Lyons Meeting Room, downstairs in the town hall.
In other business, selectmen awarded the demo for a mobile home to Todd Wardwell, the lowest of four bidders at $1,360.
The bid specs call for the removal and cleanup of debris around the tax-acquired trailer in the Young’s Trailer Park, which burned last
November. The board then voted to write off the $1,443.77 in taxes that were owed on the property.
Police Chief Roy Hodsdon informed the board that they have already passed 1,000 complaints, which is close to two months ahead of the number of complaints in 2014.
“Everything is just picking up,” he said, which includes the number of assaults, domestic assaults, OUIs and burglaries.
Hodsdon said there has also been another rash of thefts from vehicles and advised that people keep their vehicles locked overnight.
He said his department also recently received an ATV grant and they have begun patrolling ATV trails.
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