Fall Town Meeting virtual voters gave the green light on Oct. 19 to a contract for police body cameras, Dias Landing upgrades and pay hikes for town lifeguards 

Of the 11 articles on the warrant, only one failed. Voters rejected a citizen’s petition requesting the town transfer $100,000 from certified free cash to be used as the town’s matching portion for grants.

Approving the body cameras allows a contract to be issued between the Dartmouth Police Department and a vendor. 

The police department tested cameras in a trial run in July. Two officers wore the cameras and offered positive feedback, Sgt. Joe Rapoza, who oversaw the trial, has said. Dartmouth was among the first departments in the region to test out body cameras.

No dollar amount for a contract has been announced.

Voters also supported two articles related to Dias Landing. They okayed the transfer of $35,940 from Community Preservation Act funds to bolster the seawall and $10,000 from the Waterways Commission to fund a study to explore dockage improvements. 

The Department of Parks and Recreation received voter approval to negotiate lease terms for soccer fields in town. Voters approved an amendment allowing leases to be set for up to 30 years.

Lifeguards and beach supervisors received a pay hike from voters. Lifeguards will now earn $18 an hour, up from the current $15.50. Beach supervisors received a bump in pay from $17.50 to $20 per hour.

The increases were requested to make the pay more competitive with other communities. The state currently pays $17 an hour for lifeguards, while Dartmouth’s rate is $15.50 per hour.

Town Meeting members approved a $1,101,273 capital spending plan from surplus revenue, enterprise funds and stabilization accounts. 

The plan includes $315,000 for a sewage grinder for the DPW, a multi-use digital mobile radio system for $69,772, a pickup truck replacement for the Department of Public Works at a cost of $35,001, and $400,000 for road repair and maintenance and $150,000 from surplus revenue to replace furniture in various classrooms.

While voters approved all other articles, they turned down a citizen’s petition request from Select Board member John Haran to transfer $100,000 from certified free cash to be used as the town’s match for potential grants.

Supporters of the article argued that, with multiple grant opportunities available from state and federal sources, having the money immediately available will allow the town to bypass a Town Meeting vote or a line item transfer from the FInance Committee, which can take time.

Opponents argued that the town has not lost grants to timing issues and questioned the sensibility of going around Town Meeting.

“As long as it’s around, we should keep it as it is,’’ Select Board Vice Chair David Tatelbaum said of Town Meeting.