By Patricia Breakey
Delhi News Bureau
DELHI _ A Delhi village trustee has proposed expanding police coverage in Delhi to encompass the entire town.
Jim Robbins developed a proposal for the town of Delhi to take over police protection from the village by developing a security force responsible for townwide police coverage.
“My proposal benefits everyone in Delhi,” Robbins said Thursday. “It would extend police coverage to the town of Delhi, while reducing the cost of the police department to village residents by 50 percent.
“It is my hope that both the town and village boards give careful consideration to this proposal,” Robbins continued. “In difficult economic times, the status quo does not serve the people of Delhi well. It is time for bold action.”
Delhi Mayor Rich Maxey said he has seen the proposal and added that Robbins wants to talk about it at Tuesday’s board meeting.
Robbins’ plan includes the following steps:
Dissolve the village police force.
Pay an annual fee of $182,000 to the town for police protection.
Turn over all police-related equipment to the town.
Robbins said the village is spending about $1,000 per day for police protection. He said his proposal would cut the cost in half.
Robbins said he introduced and voted for a resolution prohibiting Delhi village police responses to emergency police calls outside of the village.
Maxey said the resolution prohibiting the police from leaving the village came about after Maxey approached the Delhi Town Board and requested they pay a fee of $100 for each call the village police respond to outside the village limits, with a maximum yearly fee of $2,500.
Maxey said that in the past, the town paid a fee for police response, but the town board would not agree to pay because of tight budget constraints.
“I think Mr. Robbins’ proposal is a moot point if the town is not interested,” Maxey said.
Maxey said the Delhi Town Board is finalizing its 2010 budget today and will be holding a scheduled meeting.
Delhi Town Supervisor Peter Bracci did not respond to messages left on his cell phone and at his office Friday night.
