Budget request to help Westborough police maintain staff

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Budget request to help Westborough police maintain staff
The Westborough Police Department is located in the Forbes Building. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)

WESTBOROUGH – Like other police departments across the country, Westborough is having a tough time maintaining a full staff.

“We’re having trouble hiring,” said Police Chief Todd Minardi.

The chief went before the Advisory Finance Committee on Monday, Sept. 16, to request a transfer of $35,000 from the department’s salaries and wages to fund the training and outfitting of three new police officers.

The request is part of the warrant for the Fall Special Town Meeting on Monday, Oct. 21.

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Minardi told the committee that until recently the department was staffed with lateral transfers from other police departments.

Now, the department is sending new recruits to the academy – an expense of $3,200 per person. The department also pays for equipment (about $2,000 per person) and ammunition and firearms (about $1,000 per person), said Minardi.

“It’s an unanticipated expense,” he told the board, adding that recruitment and retaining staff “is definitely an issue.”

Town Meeting will convene at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

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