LEYDEN — The Bernardston Police Department will provide policing services to Leyden for up to 25 years in the new long-term agreement that goes into effect on July 1.

Under the long-term agreement, which further solidifies the interim agreement that began in July 2022, Bernardston police will respond to calls for 18 hours a day, support other emergency services such as the Leyden Fire Department and EMS, and patrol Leyden at least once a day. A mobile mental health clinician will address crisis calls, addiction services and other mental health-related events.

According to a summary of the agreement that was distributed by the Public Safety Advisory Committee last week, “Leyden shall afford to Bernardston police officers the same legal enforcement authority, powers and rights in Leyden as would be afforded to like officers serving in similar capacities in Leyden.” The Bernardston department has four full-time officers and four-part time officers.

The inter-municipal agreement establishes a new Police Services Advisory Committee to review Bernardston Police Department activities and address financial compensation. The committee includes members from both towns, three from Bernardston and four from Leyden. Public Safety Advisory Committee Chair Elizabeth Kidder said any complaints or concerns about police activity should be relayed to this new committee.

The contract will automatically renew every three years unless an objection is brought forth from either Leyden of Bernardston, or unless another town would like to join the agreement. If the contract is terminated, Leyden must pay for 45 days of services as a transition period. The agreement must be reviewed again after 25 years.

Leyden’s Selectboard and Police Services Advisory Committee will advise Bernardston about police budgeting, but Bernardston ultimately decides the police budget for both towns. Kidder stated this is due to the size of the towns; Leyden only accounts for about a quarter of the total population the Bernardston Police Department serves.

Leyden is leasing its substation at the Town Offices to the Bernardston department and paid for a new police cruiser, which Leyden must replace in six years as determined by Chief James Palmeri. Leyden must also hold $10,000 in a police stabilization account to pay for cruiser replacement. The Bernardston Police Department is responsible for the upkeep and insurance of the cruiser as long as the contract is valid. The cruiser will be returned to Leyden if the contract ends.

The initial expenses of the cruiser, renovations to the Leyden substation and other equipment necessary to support the Bernardston Police Department were paid through a state Efficiency and Regionalization Grant in the amount of $187,000.

According to Kidder, Leyden paid Bernardston $85,644 for the interim shared-policing agreement that began in July 2022. In the new fiscal year, this number will increase by 12% to 15% due to new police reforms and training.

“The only other option for the town is to not have a police department and to rely on State Police,” Kidder said.

During an information session outlining the agreement, Board of Health Chair Beth Kuzdeba expressed her enthusiasm with the agreement, calling it a model of town coordination where all parties win. Kuzdeba said she’s met everyone who serves on the Bernardston Police Department and has found them all to be very personable.

“It’s nice to feel, first of all, if you put in a call you will get a response,” Kuzdeba said, “and the person on the line truly wants to help.”

]]>