The police chief said there were 940 arrests in 2010, up from 740 in 2009.
Police Chief Robert P. FrydrykPALMER – Acting Town Manager Patricia A. Kennedy has returned a police officer position to the fiscal 2012 budget, a move that pleases Police Chief Robert P. Frydryk.
“I hope the funding remains. It’s important to at least maintain our current staffing. Our activity level is certainly not diminishing,” Frydryk said this week.
Kennedy initially was not going to fund a replacement for Officer James J. Lynch, who is retiring at the end of the month.
She added the position back in after updated local aid figures were released last week – Palmer stands to receive $1.6 million in unrestricted local aid and $10.5 million in Chapter 70 education aid; Palmer’s assessment for charter school tuition also dropped $30,000, freeing up money in the budget.
“That helped us out,” she said.
“I think it’s a good budget and if they (the Town Council) choose to put money somewhere else, that’s up to them,” Kennedy said.
Still in the budget are the new part-time positions of recreation director and economic development director, for $12,000 each, plus $2,000 each for expenses. Despite being a charter requirement, the town has never had a recreation director due to a lack of funding and other budget needs.
The economic development director position is one of the charter changes that passed at the November election.
As for the police, Frydryk said his department continues to be busy, with 940 arrests in 2010 compared to 740 in 2009. So far this year, there have been 260 arrests, he said. Out of the 940 arrests, he said 108 of them were for simple assault. Two rapes also were reported and there were 48 operating while under the influence arrests.
The Town Council’s budget discussions will continue at its May 4 meeting at the Town Building.