WILTON — Townspeople raised the amount budgeted for the Police Department by $30,000 at Monday’s annual town meeting.

An article requesting $480,950 for the department was increased $30,000 by a vote of 60 to 24. The amount will be used to purchase a second new cruiser for the department this year.

The reason for the department’s $480,950 budget, up $38,400 from the amount adopted last year, included wage increases for officers who became certified after completing police academy training as well as the need to purchase a new cruiser this year, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said.

When asked about using the department’s SUV less, police Chief Heidi Wilcox said department vehicles needed to be police rated and this was the only one that is now.

A crash could be a liability to the town, she said. It’s better to spend a few thousand now on a police-rated vehicle than to spend thousands for liability in court.

The department has only one vehicle with fewer than 100,000 miles. The Charger that she drives has over 163,000 miles and she will not use it as a pursuit vehicle, she said.

When asked if two new vehicles would make the department better equipped, Wilcox responded, “I would sleep better. I overlooked the safety of my officers to meet the budget.”

“We have an excellent Police Department, a good Police Department at a really cheap rate,” Richard Lumb said.

The nearly 100 residents attending the meeting held at Academy Hill School enacted an ordinance called Town of Wilton Dog Control Ordinance with no discussion.

Voters voiced concerns when asked to authorize Selectmen to explore alternative options for handling the town’s household trash.

The Recycling Committee has gone as far as they can, Selectman Tom Saviello said.  

The state Legislature considered a bill intending to raise fees by $14 a ton for waste that went to a landfill, he said. Saviello, a state senator, said the bill did not pass but local communities still were encouraged to find better ways to recycle.

The town currently pays about $68 a ton to take items not recycled to the Norridgewock landfill.

“What’s the next step? I have no answer,” he said. 

Some residents focused on one option, paying a fee per bag as other towns do. Others questioned whether that plan was a saving or a punishment.

“The board wants to look at all options throughout the year,” Selectman Tiffany Maiuri said.

Viable options could become warrant articles next year, she said.

With a vote of 68 to 15, the motion passed to allow municipal officers to explore options.

Voters unanimously passed a budget of $260,520 for the transfer station and Recycling Department.

Townspeople amended an article that asked if they wanted municipal officers to charge a fee for bulky waste and demolition debris. Without an amount for the charge, they wanted the board to also explore costs and the need for a fee.

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