At their meeting earlier this month the Board of Selectmen considered a number of important topics, from a 40B housing proposal, to the police department’s cruiser fleet, to finding a new fire chief. They also spent more time than you might imagine talking about a washer and dryer.
At issue was whether to use PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) money donated by Harvard University and earmarked for public safety to purchase a washer and dryer for the police station. State law requires that the special nonflammable blankets provided to prisoners in the town’s holding cells be washed after use. Without a washer/dryer in the police station, Police Chief Jane Moran said she has been taking the blankets home and washing them herself.
“I can’t keep that up,” she told selectmen.
Moran asked to spend $1,200 of the Harvard money to purchase a washer and dryer for the station, but selectmen balked at the idea calling the purchase a “convenience item.”
Selectman John Rooney said that since PILOT money is so hard to come by, the donation from Harvard should be reserved for purchases that would have more of an impact on public safety.
Selectmen pointed out that there is a washer and dryer at the Fire Station that the police could use. Based on the number of annual arrests the department makes, Rooney calculated it would have to wash about five blankets each week.
“I have to assume the Fire Department could accommodate that,” he said. “With a little extra effort by your officers, we could avoid spending this money.”
But Moran said her officers are already overloaded and are not able to take on the responsibility.
“I can understand your skepticism … But we are stretched to the limit,” Moran said. “It’s not in their job description to wash blankets. It’s not in my job description, yet I’m taking them home to do it. It’s a small amount of money.”
Moran called spending the money on a washer/dryer “the cost of doing business. It’s like providing toilet paper.”
The board disagreed, voting 2-1 to deny the request. Rooney and Selectman Bill Boland voted against the purchase, while Selectman Dan Kolenda supported it.
Selectmen did agree to spend about $11K of the Harvard-donated cash to construct an armory in the basement of the police station. The armory will provide a central and secure location for the department to store weapons and ammunition, as well as a place for officers to clean their guns.
If it’s not in their job description to wash blankets, who would be using the new washer and dryer at the station? There could be an argument in favor of the washer and dryer, but that’s not it. (I happen to think, on reading this, that using the washer and dryer at the fire station is the right solution.)
I certainly agree that the Police Chief should not be doing the laundry. That is hardly an effective use of her valuable time. But, for that matter neither should police officers. I would much prefer that they spend the time they are doing laundry in their police cruisers (idling or not). I think all in all this is a case of false economy.
Why not hire a laundry service. I am certain that on a full cost basis that would be the most cost effective.
I agree that the Chief should not be taking the laundry home. (nor the other officers) But with a washer/dryer right at the Fire Station, it seems easier to wash them there. Hiring a laundry service to me seems unnecessary. As Deb Moore pointed out, if there were a washer/dryer at the station, someone would be doing laundry, so why not just run a few blankets next door?
I don’t think that the law states that when arrested the police department shall supply a clean blanket. Why not rent them out. If you want a blanket you pay $2 or what ever? Then use that money for a laundry service or washer adn dryer.
I think it is important to remember that a person taken into police custody has not been formally charged with a crime and most certainly has not been convicted and as such is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
To take a person, presumably against their will, and lock them up and then make them pay for the privileged is the sort of thing that is done in a police state. Making someone taken into custody pay for services is the worst kind of extortion.
Love it Just saying. Make the criminal pay or work it off.
Not to be confused with “Just saying” b/t/w :-) Although I do agree with what he/she said! Other thoughts are:
Are we given to believe that our town police arrest 260 people a year who stay overnight in our jail!??!? I’m sorry, the police logs do not show that at all, so where did the figure of, on average, 5 a week? I also would like to say that Moran says she can’t keep up washing the blankets herself…how many of us out there do more than what our job description says? Longer hours without pay or compensatory time? Things that are not in our job description? I am sorry if she feels taken advantage of or that this is a huge sacrifice for her to wash a few blankets, but perhaps she could look at it as community service…or just something that needs to be done. Or everyone in the department could take turns taking them home? However, I still like the suggestion of Just saying! :-) Makes sense to me…
I don’t think the Chief should have this responsibility (taking home blankets + washing them herself – at home) – I also don’t think she should be asking the town to spend $1200 when there are plenty of alternatives.
1) Use the washer/dryer at the fire station. If there is not an officer to do this – make it part of the “Explorer” program – I have to believe some young kid would love to do this – especially if he/she thinks he’s kind of a cop.
2) Have you heard about Craig’s List “Free Stuff”?? I just went and checked – there’s probably 5 of them on there right now. The town could get one for free this way.
3) How about just asking if someone in town would be willing to donate a washer/dryer to the town – I am willing to bet someone has an older unit they would like to upgrade and would be willing to give to the town.
There,… just saved the town $1,200 bucks!
Very interesting thread here. If I understand this correctly, we’re OK with paying an officer at time and a half to change the oil in the police cars, yet we’re not OK with asking someone to walk 50 yards to the fire station and use the TOWN’s washer and dryer that are located in the the fire station. How is one role in his job description and the other not?
All of this silliness has started me thinking that we taxpayers don’t ask enough questions at town meeting when we vote to “accept a sum of money…” from Harvard, St Mark’s, Fay, etc. We should start asking how that money will be spent. Perhaps we should have voted to reduce the Police budget by the amount they just spent in an “amory.” Maybe a budget should be cut until it has a meaningful impact on the inefficiencies in a department’s operation,
Can you imagine the response the Chief would have received at town meeting if she had asked for a washer and dryer? That would have been great theater!
REALLY???!?!!? Do any of you sit and watch the washer while it is washing or the dryer while it is drying. How hard could it be once a week to walk over to the Fire station and throw the blankets in the wash and leave and then come back and throw them in the dryer and leave. I think we are talking about 10-15 minutes tops. Nobody needs to watch the blankets wash and dry. I am sure that Pudge and his staff aren’t going to steal the blankets. This is another example of Jane Moran wasting the taxpayer money. I think that Kolenda should be ashamed of himself for supporting that. I am sure that is not what the taxpayers expected when he was elected. I know I surely do more than my share of “extras” while I am at work. The admin asst to the Chief could do the same. Also, did anyone think of a senior volunteer or a Trottier 8th grader who has to put in community service? There are plenty of ways around this. Let’s get real and stop Jane’s ridiculous spending habits.
I was under the impression that this was a ‘friendly’ ‘neighborhood’ blog. I had no idea there were so many angry people out there.
I’m with you Bill. A few harsh comments here. I think it may be wise to invest in a cleaning service contractor. That way the prisoner blankets are cleaned and the officers are working at law enforcement.
Mr Kendall,
99% of the time I agree with your posts on this blog and I appreciate the insight you bring to bear on the issues. I also disagree with the tone of Curious’ post.
There seems to be a fairly common and frequent thread for many posts on this blog concerning Police Department issues. It seems the questions and concerns that are posted mostly relate to requests for additional resources for the Police Department, whether they be additional Sergeants, more cruisers, or even the washer/dryer issue. It seems that whenever we read the Police Department needs something, that that item is THE critical need for the Department.
Also, there seem to be occasional backlash posts against those who post comments questioning the need for these requirements. Some of the responses seem to go along the lines of “the Police are the only ones who know what they need so just write the check and get out of the way.” I think these types of responses are not very helpful to the Police’ cause.
In the past, there were posts questioning the Fire Department’s actions and expenses. I recall one post questioning the use of Fire Department personnel to investigate something on the reservoir ice. Both Mr. Kendall and Chief Mauro’s responses explained why the posts were incorrect, were informative and set the issue straight. These type of responses would be helpful for the Police Department to emulate. For whatever reason, it seems the Police Department doesn’t do a very effective job educating the residents of their needs.
Finally, regarding the posts which do not like the critical posts (and I personally disagree with the tone of a few), I want to post a quote from the Sept 2011 Reader’s Digest, p185:
“What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.”
Salman Rushdie
Thank you.
It occurs to me that we cut the custodial budget this year which resulted in lay-offs. Why not hire back a part time custodian and pay a sensible wage for this? I am sure there are other “custodial” tasks that higher-paid professionals are doing when they could be performing more specialized services to the town.
I think we cut off our nose to spite our face there.
Many of us in Southborough are still out of work. I wish I could afford some of the basics I need, let alone a new $1,200 washer and dryer. I’d even walk to the fire station to use theirs and that walk is a lot more than 50 yards!
I’d like to invite Mr. Kolenda to please explain why he voted for this? Maybe we do not have all the facts here. Mr. Rooney defends his position, and while I do not always agree with, I respect him for explaining his position.
While I agree that the Police Chief shouldn’t be doing the laundry, I don’t think 5 blankets a week warrants a new washer/dryer either. Perhaps it was on a wish list for the station for a while, and that is why Chief Moran suggested it?
BTW, who cleans the police station and the cells? Why can’t that be part of the duties, or as someone else suggested, a lower ranking officer. Hey, if they have to change the oil, why not throw a load of laundry in once in a while. But to be honest, I wouldn’t want my kid doing the blankets as a volunteer, as you never know what communicable diseases/body “secretions” would be on prisoner blankets… that’s best left for an adult to deal with, not a kid.
I also think there is a lot of misdirected anger here… hey folks, its a request, not a demand. The money is in the acct, but let’s use it for something more necessary.
If the blankets have to be washed how is it a conveniece item ? Should police officers be paid to do laundry ? seems short sighted.
Every time I read on this board that the tone is too negative or not respectful or the person must be angry, I wonder if we have grown soft. Here is one comment I found on “Insults.net”
“We did not conceive it possible that even Mr Lincoln would produce a paper so slipshod, so loose-joined, so puerile, not alone in literary construction, but in its ideas, its sentiments, its grasp. He has outdone himself. ”
Chicago Times (1863) on Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (19 November 1863)
I agree that if PILOT money is given with strings attached then that department’s budget should be reduced by the same amount. That request should have never been made particularly since the solution was sitting in the firehouse.
I am still wondering about that vote I cast last election.
Regarding police blankets:
How about using laundry service? There are companies that use laundry service for uniforms.
A couple of things…
Do we really pay a police officer 1.5x time to change oil? Shouldn’t that be outsourced to Valvoline or someone more reasonable?
I agree with using a service. There must be many, many of them who can easily accommodate police stations.
I also wonder about the math…how many blankets are we sullying per year, and if it’s 5/week, how come I don’t read about them in the paper?
Mr. Kolenda does owe an explanation of his thinking… and who knows, his argument may be persuasive…
I will volunteer to do the jail blankets for one $500 cruiser per year.
;-)