North East secures Millerton police services

NORTH EAST — A pin has been put in the police controversy for the moment, as the town of North East has contracted with the village for police services. It signed a one-year contract on Thursday, July 14, for the Millerton Police Department (MPD) to continue protecting North East residents. The decision followed a year of much public debate whether the MPD should exist at all. 

The Village Board has not yet signed the contract, but plans to do so at its meeting on Monday, July 25, according to Village Clerk and Treasurer Kelly Kilmer. 

Kilmer said she and Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek “will get the authority from the board through a motion to sign the contract Monday night.”

Changes, and objections

Najdek began instituting procedural changes within the MPD during the winter of 2021. 

The MPD objected, saying the daytime shifts, added to assist local businesses, drivers dealing with heavy traffic and parking, Harlem Valley Rail Trail users and others vising the village would leave the village and town vulnerable during night time hours — when call volume was highest. 

Najdek said if the changes weren’t successful, the department could revert to its former practices.

In December of 2021, MPD Officer-in-Charge Veeder called the move a bad decision, saying he was concerned for “public safety”  and complaining there were “no discussions” prior to the changes.

Public hears options

Fast forward to 2022, and the village is now on its second version of a local law to possibly abolish the MPD. If it does, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) would be hired to protect Millerton. Acting Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati attended a special workshop in March to discuss how it would serve the village if hired to replace the MPD.

The Village Board has been struggling with that decision for the past year, which is why on July 5 the Village Board “sent out a Request for Proposals [RFP] for an independent third party assessment of police services needs,” said Najdek. “What we have, what we should have, what the benefits are, what the negatives are, what the pros and cons of both are.”

The board wants to assess “other municipalities in our area and other services in our area and how that relates to us,” she explained.

The RFP deadline is Friday, July 29, at 4 p.m.

Two local laws have already been presented to abolish the MPD. The first, Local Law A, went through an entire review process, including a public hearing, in which public comments were solicited and reviewed. The issue became so contentious, though, that the mayor and her trustees opted to take more time to deliberate. 

After Local Law A was proposed on April 4, the very similar Local Law B is now on the table. The board hasn’t passed a resolution for it yet nor held a public hearing.

“We thought, maybe it would have been better to do the independent study going into it, not understanding how contentious a topic this is,” said Najdek. ”The board really thought it was the best move forward with this independent third-party assessment. 

“Comments have been made that this is personal, whatever,” added the mayor. “This is the way to now see how a professional consultant who comes in says what is best to do, somebody who has done this before for other municipalities. There is a reason there are so few villages with their own police departments.”

Town has a stake

This isn’t just a village issue, although the village pays for 80% of the police force’s budget. Kilmer explained previously that for the village budgeted $119,059 for the MPD for 2022-23.

The town of North East will pay for 20% of that cost, which comes to $27,000, up $500, which is consistent with the annual contract terms. 

One of the complaints that arose during the discussions about police services was that the town’s 20% contribution is unbalanced. Some said since the MPD patrols both municipalities, and the village only accounts for .6 square miles while the town accounts for 43.72 square miles, the payments are unfair. The village is where the business district is concentrated, though, along with most of the activity in the community, noted Veeder. 

Shorter contract

This year instead of signing a two-year contract, as has been done every other year, the Town Board signed a one-year contract, in light of the uncertainty of the MPD’s future. The contract includes a 90-day clause that allows the town to be released from the contract with advance notice, said Najdek, which she said is standard fare.

The village may also opt out, she said, but added, “All of the board members agreed this was the right next step for us, and approved it… It takes the tension out of everything. That’s kind of the hope. It takes the tension out a little bit and lets everybody get back to doing their job.”

Not unanimous

North East town Supervisor Chris Kennan said he was glad the contract was signed, despite its controversy.

“We had a great deal of input from residents both for and against our renewing a contract,” he said.

The Town Board vote to renew was not unanimous; Councilman Ralph Fedele voted against contracting with the MPD for another year.

“I understand that this has become a polarizing political issue,” Fedele said. “Extending our support for the Millerton police does not give taxpayers value for the expense. It’s a part-time service and exposes the village to costly liability… The Millerton police is a redundant service, already covered by the New York State Police and the county sheriff’s and is already paid for in our tax bills.”

MPD comments

Veeder attends most Town Board meetings, including last week’s. He said he appreciates the board’s decision and was not expecting anything other than a one-year contract in light of the controversy swirling around the issue.

“I assumed that’s what it was going to be,” he said. “It’s comforting knowing we have a contract with the town and it’s going to continue to offer police services. That’s a good thing, a step in the right direction.”

Knowing the town did not have the contract in hand at its June board meeting, Veeder said he was relieved in July.

“I wouldn’t say I was nervous,” he said. “I was just hoping for the best and that they would do what’s best for the citizens that elected them, and I’m glad they did.”

Kennan agreed, and made sure all ducks were in a row. 

“We also discussed whether the absence of a contract would mean that our Town Court would not have any security,” he said, adding it “assured the court” it would provide security “regardless of what the village decides to do.”

Najdek said one new component of the contract is that polices services provided by the MPD for court and for patrols were “split into two pieces”; previously they were dealt with as one piece.

Kennan noted the town budgeted the $27,000 for the police contract as far back as last November, showing its intent to renew the contract.

The new contract is retroactive to May 31, when the former contract expired.

Kennan acknowledged he “wonders about the value of a stand-alone part-time police force for a village of 900 residents,” but stressed he believes it’s “important to continue with a contract” to give Najdek and her board time to decide how to best proceed.

No guarantees

Veeder noted just because the contract is settled for now, the MPD’s future is not guaranteed.

“The Village Board hasn’t made a decision yet; it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re staying around 100%. It’s whatever the board determines is necessary,” he said. “As of right now it’s business as usual… we’re taking it one day at a time.”

Kennan added the Town Board did away with its four-member Joint Police Committee with the village, formed after former Governor Andrew Cuomo mandated all communities with their own police departments review their policies and procedures.

“The committee really didn’t turn out to be [an] effective structure,” he said, adding “committees are not designed to administer things” and require a person with a singular voice or else things tend to get rather “cumbersome.”

Nothing new

Veeder said not much has changed. “We still patrol the town and village… it’s no different in terms of town versus village… we want to be visible in the village and talk to business owners. A lot of time when we’re there, businesses are not open; only a select few businesses are open at night.”

He thanked those offering positive feedback.

“We appreciate the support; I was happy the board made the right decision doing what’s best for residents of the town.”