The Police Department was first up this year to present its capital requests for fiscal 2027 to the Capital Planning and Investment Committee. Police Chief James Babu explained his department’s need for the following items at its Oct. 16 meeting: three new drones, three additional radios, and new flooring for the lower portion of the Public Safety Building. His requests total $102,000.
Babu said the department’s existing drone is outdated, with poorer imaging capabilities, shorter flight times, and less reliable transmission stability than newer models. In addition, he said, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get batteries for the drone. He is requesting $42,000 for a state-of-the-art “unmanned aerial vehicle” system that will be shared by the police and fire departments to handle “search and rescue missions, fire scene assessments, hazardous material responses, disaster management, missing persons cases, and large-scale community events.”
The proposed drone package would include one large drone with thermal and zoom cameras, two smaller drones, and controllers, batteries, charging stations, and accessories for all three. It would also include drone setup and support, as well as training for police and fire operators.
The chief submitted the same request last year, but CPIC passed on it because he was waiting for the state to approve $35,000 in funding that would have paid for most of the cost of the drones. The state Legislature approved the funding, but it has yet to be released by Gov. Healey. Babu said, “given the current state budget climate,” it’s unlikely that the funds will be released. However, if they are, he said he would rescind the request.
Babu said the new drone would have a camera resolution of 640 x 512 pixels, the same resolution as the state police helicopter. He said it’s much quicker to deploy a drone than a helicopter and replacing the battery on the drone when needed is much faster than refueling a helicopter.
CPIC member SusanMary Redinger asked how much weight the drone could carry. Babu said it could carry an automatic external defibrillator, an emergency Narcan supply, or even a portable life raft that could be dropped into the pond. Member Abby Besse asked if the drone would be shared with other towns, and Babu answered that as a member town of the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Drone Team, Harvard would help any neighboring town that needed a drone.
Radios for new officers
The chief’s second request was for $33,000 to purchase three radios for the department’s two new officers and a third officer that he is in the process of hiring. The radios are costly, he said, but they operate on all major frequencies, allowing communication between all town departments as well as emergency personnel in other towns. He said the department’s nine existing radios, purchased in 2015, are at the end of their lifespan, so next year he will be requesting replacement of those radios with this same model. CPIC Chair Nate Finch asked if the town should just buy all 12 now in case prices increase. Finance Committee member Charles Oliver said that’s not a good idea, because CPIC’s funds will be more constrained than usual in fiscal 2027. At Special Town Meeting in September, the town voted to take $750,000 from the General Stabilization Fund for the land takings and easements necessary for the Ayer Road reconstruction project. Those funds will have to be replaced in fiscal 2027 from free cash, which is the main source of capital fund replenishment each year. The current balance of the fund is about $2 million.
Worn linoleum
The Public Safety Building was built in 2002, and sometime after that, the floors in the lower portion of the building were replaced with linoleum. Babu said those floors should be waxed consistently to keep them in good shape, and there is no money in the department’s budget to do it. The downstairs floors, where his office is located, are worn and “look terrible,” he said. Babu is requesting that the town spend $27,000 to replace the linoleum with vinyl plank flooring, which was installed in the training room three years ago, and has proven to be durable and low maintenance.
CPIC is scheduled to meet with the Facilities Department and the Park and Recreation Commission to hear their requests on Oct. 23. The Fire Department is scheduled for Oct. 30. The committee will vote on its recommendations for fiscal 2027 sometime in December.
