Saugus Police Department’s bid for new cruisers put on hold

SAUGUS – While the Finance Committee touted public safety concerns as one reason for not funding the teachers contract, it also failed to support the Police Department’s bid for new cruisers Wednesday.In the disruption that followed a vote to refer funding the teachers contract to an unspecified future special Town Meeting, the committee also quietly voted to do the same for funding a new cruiser.The cruiser was to be funded through a surplus in the rubbish disposal account.Police Chief James MacKay had raised his hand to speak on the issue, but that was lost in the flare up over the teachers contract.Finance Committee chairman Robert Palleschi let MacKay speak despite the fact the committee had already taken a vote.MacKay said his top priority was obtaining a new Chevy Tahoe as a Patrol Supervisor cruiser because the current one has over 105,000 miles on it.MacKay said he understood that $47,000 is an expensive proposition, but it is also his most important vehicle. The supervisor’s car is typically outfitted to be the rolling command post for any incident or accident. Because it is an SUV, it also allows the patrol supervisor to get anywhere in any weather.MacKay said they tried to downsize to a smaller vehicle when they were looking at the Tahoe, but it couldn’t hold the needed equipment.MacKay also argued that he needed to have a yearly plan to replace cruisers as well as a yearly automotive maintenance plan.”You cut my auto maintenance budget by $6,500,” he said. “I reported in September the deteriorating state of my cruisers. It’s a safety issue for my officers. These vehicles are tired and overworked and they need to be replaced.”MacKay said he would be happy to replace a few at a time over a stretch of time, but the committee said essentially, not now.Town Meeting member Janet Leuci asked about the possibility of bonding for the vehicle, but Finance Committee member Lou Rossi said the truck’s life expectancy was too short to meet the requirements for bonding.”I hope we can get this after the first of the year,” Rossi said. “I know everyone wants to put this into play and I’m sorry we’re not able to do that at this point.”The committee referred the article to the next special Town Meeting, pending the town’s six-month review of its financial situation.MacKay left the meeting simply shaking his head.