Police Chief Discusses Department's Future [VIDEO]

With the heading into a period of transition over the next few years, Chief John Moore presented several ideas to the Monday night, including a strategic improvement plan and a process to fill a Lieutenant's position that may open up in June 2012.

Moore's vision is a five-year improvement plan similar to the one employed by . The plan would start in 2012 with the interim devoted to gathering information from the public and members of the department.

Moore presented selectmen with a draft survey Monday night, saying he hopes to make the final copy available to the public next month. The chief said he wants to make the survey available on the town's website and at the Town Hall and police station.

The survey will offer residents a chance to weigh in on their satisfaction with the police department's performance, the importance of certain police services and how safe they feel in town.

Moore said he will also distribute an internal survey to his officers to solicit feedback on the department's future.

The last step in crafting the strategic plan, Moore said, will be to gather "community stakeholders" (police officials, selectmen, a judge, a district attorney and members of the press) to nail down the details of the plan.

Moore also presented a plan to fill the Lieutenant's position if it opens when Keith Edison's contract expires next June. Moore was uncertain whether the 32-year veteran of the force wanted to stay on.

The idea of eliminating the Lieutenant's position and hiring a fifth sergeant was kicked around during the recent search for the new chief, but Moore said he's "in favor" of keeping the post. Moore said that a fifth sergeant would end up spending as much as 80 percent of his or her time on patrol to cover for officers who are sick or on vacation.

The chief said he'd like to promote from within, saying the Lieutenant's position was a "stepping stone to the next chief." Candidates must have 12 years on the force, which would whittle the field to "seven or eight" officers, said Moore.

To find the next Lieutenant, Moore suggested establishing an assessment center composed of three ranking officers from nearby towns of similiar size.

Moore also said he wants to produce a community service brochure, similar to what the Milford and Millis police departments have done. Moore presented a copy of Milford's booklet, which includes public safety tips in addition to information about the department and town.

The brochure, Moore said, will be printed by the same company that did the Milford and Millis editions and will be paid for by advertising dollars with no cost to the town or department.

In other business:

• Cable Advisory Committee members Jenny McGee and Barry Sims came before the board to discuss the Comcast license renewal process. 's current license expires in 2013, but Sims and McGee wanted to start the process as soon as possible given the lengthy renewal procedure.
  
  Sims and McGee said they want to survey the community, giving residents a chance to suggest improvements to HCAT.
• Selectmen approved a three-year contract for Conservation Agent Charles Katuska.
• On Moore's  recommendation, the board raised the alcohol server's ID card fee from $5 to $10. The cards are good for three years.
• Mark Ahronian was appointed to a three-year term on the Council on Aging's Board of Directors. Meanwhile selectman Kevin Conley was placed on the Housing Trust and will be the liaison between the two boards.