Police Chief Robert Szala asked to add three new positions to his command staff at a Select Board meeting on October 17. He said the move would save the town more than $40,000.

Szala seeks to add one captain and two permanent lieutenant positions to the police department to not only create a sustainable command structure, but to increase accountability within the department, he said.

"Accountability... it's there in the police department, but I'm going to bring it to the next level. This plan does that," said Szala.

The Select Board gave their blessing in a 4-1 vote. Select Board member John Haran said he rejected this proposal and would reject all future appointments until a missing gun was accounted for.

The police-issued gun was stolen from a locker under the former chief's administration, said Haran. Haran demanded answers for how the gun went missing in the first place.

Select Board member Shawn McDonald said that happenings under Chief Timothy Lee's command should not affect Szala's efforts to improve the department. Szala said the gun is still under investigation and refused to give details in a public meeting.

Szala expressed his outrage over Haran's comments after leaving the meeting, implying that police service should stop if Haran doesn't understand its importance.

Szala explained that restructuring would save $43,981.14 yearly. He would achieve that by filling the current captain position, and working him/her five days each week (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.).

Alongside the unfilled position, the current structure has three lieutenants that work Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Szala would increase the lieutenant positions to four total, but shorten their work week to four days on, two days off. The lieutenants would be responsible for patrol duties as well. Alternating shifts would allow for a manager on at all times, and would increase accountability because only one person would be in charge during a shift instead of three persons dividing responsibilities, said Szala.

When residents call or come to the headquarters, they'll be speaking with a lieutenant, not a sergeant, and you're saving 17 days pay per year on each lieutenant, explained Szala.

Additionally, the reorganization strengthens the management training and allows Szala to promote from within, he said.

"I can tell you, I am short term," said the chief, who began as acting chief in March 2015, and took on the role permanently in July 2016. He said he had proposed the three-phase approach to replacing the command staff when he first took up the position.

Szala also proposed filling two vacant, funded officer positions and a dispatcher position, which the Select Board approved.