Hui-En Lin
After a lengthy and hotly contested debate, Town Meeting members voted last night to leave a century-old system for hiring police in Belmont.
In the first of three scheduled nights of Special Town Meeting at the Belmont High School auditorium, members approved two funding measures (see Warrant Articles 4 and 11 below) before spending the bulk of the evening debating Article 8 on whether the Belmont Police Department should leave the state’s Civil Service Division.
The police department joined Civil Service in 1915, which requires the town to hire officers from a list of people who passed the civil service exam, with a preference to Belmont residents. Applicants must also be 31 years old or younger.
Belmont Police Chief James MacIsaac said that by leaving Civil Service, he would be better able to fill the department’s four vacancies. He previously told The Belmont Voice that he would have access to a larger pool of candidates, including criminal justice students from nearby universities.
The Patrolmen’s Association was against the change, citing concerns over nepotism and unfair working conditions. Leaving Civil Service will not affect current union members, unless they are promoted.
Some Town Meeting members opposed the measure, saying they wanted more information on how the department would hire new officers without Civil Service. But town officials said they couldn’t share specific information due to collective bargaining issues.
Article 8: Police Civil Service
Majority vote required for passage.
• This was approved by a 160-101 vote with one abstention.
Article 4: Security Cameras
Majority vote required for passage.
To see if the town will spend $160,000 to update and add security cameras at the Wellington and Chenery schools.
• This was approved by a vote of 246-3 with one abstention.
Article 11: Opioid Settlement
Two-thirds vote required for passage.
To see if the town will release funds from the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund to start initial planning work. The funds will be used to supplement and strengthen resources for opioid prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.
• This was approved by a vote of 248-1.
Coming up in Thursday’s newsletter, The Belmont Voice will provide full coverage of the decision to leave Police Civil Service as well as results from Wednesday’s Special Town Meeting.
