Barre Select Board authorizes K-9 fundraising drive, tables special town meeting date

BARRE -- October 1, 2018, Barre Select Board unanimously backs police K-9 program and tables special town meeting date. The board voted October 1 to authorize the police chief to pursue private fundraising for a canine unit projected to cost up to $66,700, with grants potentially reducing the town's net fundraising target to approximately $39,000. The chief cited an average mutual-aid K-9 response time of more than one hour and a surge in burglaries as the primary drivers. A representative identified as president of the Barre Savings Charitable Foundation said his group planned to take up the request at its next meeting, noting prior donations of $17,000 to an active shooter program at Quabbin Regional. The board also tabled a previously set December 4 special town meeting date after the town administrator warned that holding a vote within the calendar year could delay tax rate certification and force up to $12,000 in short-term borrowing costs, leaving unresolved solar and marijuana bylaws in limbo as the town's marijuana moratorium approaches expiration.