Douglas Board of Selectmen Approves Police Body Camera MOU Ahead of July 1 Launch

DOUGLAS -- June 2, 2026, Douglas Board of Selectmen unanimously approves police body camera MOU, effective July 1. The board ratified a memorandum of understanding with the Police Union adding $1,250 per officer to cover the change in working conditions associated with body-worn cameras, funded through a $42,000 federal 911 dispatcher grant awarded after the fiscal year 2027 budget was finalized. The 19 Axon cameras, purchased in May for $20,350 from asset forfeiture funds, join six Flock license plate reader cameras also bought without drawing on the general town budget. Annual camera platform and storage costs of approximately $34,000 are absorbed into the existing budget line that previously covered Taser contracts with the same vendor, Axon. The board also authorized a letter permitting an oversized convoy, likely a bridge section bound for Auburn, to travel South Street and Webster Street on the evening of Saturday, July 11, between 6 and 8:30 p.m., escorted by eight state troopers. Town Administrator Matthew Menarik separately confirmed award of a $550,000 bond anticipation note to Bank Hometown at 3.25 percent to cover Depot Street Project water costs, to be rolled into a full bond issue this fall alongside $625,000 in wastewater facility repairs.