ALFRED — A conversation between county officials and the Hollis Select Board about contract deputies is set to continue, but the York County Board of Commissioners has concerns about the sheriff’s office taking on a what some are calling a ‘new’ community.

Commissioners have historically advocated for the contract deputy program, whereby municipalities pick up the costs associated with hiring one or more deputies for 40 hours of dedicated coverage per week — typically costing around $100,000 annually for one deputy’s salary, benefits and a vehicle. The dedicated coverage is over and above the sheriff’s rural patrol.

But Hollis, while once patrolled by sheriff’s deputies, has been one of five communities patrolled by Maine State Police since 2013, when the two entities modified a call-sharing agreement that originated in 2005. The revision assigned agencies to specific towns, rather than the zone system under which responsibilities changed month-to-month.

The modified agreement calls for troopers to have primary responsibility for five of York County’s 14 rural communities that don’t have their own municipal police departments. The five communities are Alfred, Dayton, Hollis, Lebanon and Lyman. The sheriff’s office has primary responsibility for Acton, Arundel, Cornish, Limerick, Limington, Newfield, Parsonsfield, Shapleigh and Waterboro.

Zinser on Wednesday told commissioners he was concerned about manpower, and whether the county would be getting into a volatile situation because Hollis Town Meeting voters have previously declined to support a sheriff’s office contract.

If Hollis Select Board members agree to a contract proposal, it would pay the tab with the proceeds from a Tax Increment Financing account, over which the Town Meeting granted authority to the select board in February.

“It would just take a vote of the town to change authority over the TIF agreement,” Zinser said. 

Commissioner Richard Clark, a former Wells selectmen, noted that in his community, the Town Meeting voters are the legislative body.

“I’m concerned about manpower and concerned that if Maine State Police withdraw and the Town Meeting doesn’t want to fund (the program), what is our obligation,” said Clark.

“If we were to take over Hollis and something goes wrong, we’re stuck with them,” said Commissioner Michael Cote.

The County Patrol Association, which represents patrol deputies, expressed concern in a letter to commissioners.

“Every deputy in police services desires our agency to grow, but not at the expense of officer safety, safety to the towns we already serve, or jeopardizing the strong community relationships we’ve already forged,” the County Patrol Association wrote. “It is, for this reason we do not support adding towns to our patrols at this time.”

“It is our belief that taking on more territory, with our limited resources, will only hinder our ability to provide the high standard of service each deputy has strived for. In addition, it will decrease overall safety for our communities and our members,” the CPA wrote.

York County Sheriff William King on Monday said there is one vacancy in rural patrol.

“Their objection was premature,” he said of both the patrol association and county commissioners.  He said the CPA did not express their concerns to him.

King said when the sheriff’s office last patrolled Hollis, the community had 4,200 annual calls for service — and he told county commissioners Wednesday that he believes two or three contract deputies would be in order. He said fewer would compromise officer safety.

“I won’t put officers at risk,” King said.

Cote suggested Zinser talk with Maine State Police Lt. Bill Ross about the matter.

At the meeting, King said that was his responsibility as chief law enforcement officer in the county.

“Not with contracts,” said Commission Chairman Sallie Chandler. Commissioner Richard Dutremble concurred.

Zinser said Hollis selectmen are looking for 24/7 coverage and agreed that more than one deputy would be required.

County and Hollis officials were to meet with Hollis selectmen on Monday.

Hollis Select Board Chairman Roger Hicks said the board is doing its research for a law enforcement contract and had also approached Maine State Police for a proposal, but they declined because they prefer the current call-sharing agreement.

Hicks said the TIF agreement that was forged in 1999 and modified in February earmarks money for law enforcement.

Hicks said the Hollis Select Board was not informed that the issue was on the county commission agenda.

The sheriff on Monday said he favors contracts because it reduces the impact on the general budget and protects taxpayers of the 15 communities who have police departments. 

“If there were no contracts, our service would be reduced by nine deputies,” he said.

King said if a community wants services, he believes it is his constitutional duty as sheriff to provide them.

“I’m complimented Hollis is interested on our style of policing,” King said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.