Hancock residents indicated an interest to explore consolidating their police force regionally, which will place the question of studying the matter on the March warrant.

At Monday’s Select Board meeting, Board Chair Virginia Smith said that personnel realities in public safety are driving this issue.

“We’re stretched really thin, and having trouble getting new police,” said Smith, adding that this situation has led to relying on State Police in some cases. “Their response time can take two hours.”

The select boards of Greenfield and Hancock met earlier this month to discuss the regionalization of services. Board member Elisabeth Villaume noted as an example the arrangement between Greenville and Temple. According to Smith, Greenfield initiated the conversation with Hancock, citing the towns’ similar sizes and demographics. 

“This article would simply allow us to conduct a feasibility study on the matter,” said board member Jeff Brown. Asked how the study would be conducted, Smith said that it would probably fall to the Select Board. Greenfield Town Administrator Aaron Patt said earlier this month that if a warrant article leads to an advisory committee, it would involve volunteers and no expenses.

Resident Jim Callihan asked for a show of hands regarding interest in a feasibility study, and a majority of the approximately 60 people in attendance raised their hands. 

In another matter, the proposed 2025 operating budget for the town is approximately $3.2 million, an increase of $234,903. Town Administrator Jonathan Coyne said that the largest increase of $147,777 is in personnel administrative costs. 

“We have two more police and a DPW employee who weren’t with us last year, and health insurance costs are also up,” said Coyne. 

The board also presented the prospect of issuing a five-year bond for $615,000 to finance road repairs and maintenance. The work would focus on two roads – Middle and Cavender roads. Discussion led to a consensus that given the size of the bond, work should focus only Middle Road. This reduces the bond amount to $465,000, which will be a warrant article.