The Wilton Select Board approved the purchase of a new police cruiser for the Wilton Police Department on Monday.

Wilton Police Chief Eric Olesen said that the new cruiser is a Ford Interceptor SUV, which will be outfitted by and purchased from McGovern Municipal HQ, a company that provides specialized vehicles and equipment for New England municipalities.

The vehicle will be paid for using money from the Wilton Police Special Detail Fund, which town bookkeeper Eric Window said had about $60,000 in it, enough to cover the new cruiser. Town Administrator Nick Germain said that the town began saving for a new police vehicle back in 2021.

The town will receive the new cruiser by the end of 2024.

While the town hoped to get additional funds by trading in its decommissioned Chevrolet Caprice cruiser, Olesen said McGovern only offered $1,000 for it, a price he and Select Board member Kermit Williams agreed was too low and “ridiculous.”

“If you Google a Caprice Interceptor 2017, even if you say it’s in rough shape, it comes up at about seven or eight hundred dollars,” Williams said.

Olesen suggested that the town retain the vehicle and find an alternative use for it.

Select Board member Tom Schultz added that Lyndeborough received a much better price for its recently sold used cruiser.

“They got $6,850 on a bid for it; it was sold to the town assessor who will use it as an assessment vehicle in town,” he said. “It’s possible that our code enforcement or the town building inspector might want to consider having it as a vehicle to be used in town.”

“If you’re not using it as a cruiser, you’re just driving around as a code enforcement officer – you do regular maintenance, regular oil changes, and I think that car could last a while,” Olesen said.

Germain added that if the town were to keep the Caprice and use it for code enforcement or other official town activities, the Select Board would need to think about where it would be parked while not in use. It would also have to be budgeted for next year.

Schultz questions keeping sign

Schultz brought up a concern he had about the entrance to the Garwin Falls hiking trail on Isaac Frye Highway. Prior to 2021, the trailhead had room to park three to four cars. The number of cars parked on Isaac Frye Highway increased during COVID, which prompted the Select Board to close the trail with a barrier and “No Trespassing” signs to limit the number of cars parked on the road.

“After COVID, they were having a serious issue with trash and cars parked on Isaac Frye Highway,” Schultz said. “The town ultimately decided to post no parking all along Isaac Frye, which has been very effective.”

Schultz noted that, since the trail was closed, a new parking lot had been built on Isaac Frye Highway, which has alleviated the situation.

“So the question I have is specific to the entrance that is currently blocked on Isaac Frye. There was a sign put up that said ‘area closed until further notice, subject to arrest for trespassing.’” Schultz said. “I drive by this on a regular basis, I find it very unattractive, for two reasons. I think the barrier looks very industrial, and it’s in a rather nice area.”

He noted the trailhead’s proximity to the historic Vale End Cemetery, the town’s new reservoir, and the town center.

“I also have to question, what’s the timetable for ‘further notice’?” Schultz asked. “I personally would like to see the sign and barrier gone.”

Schultz added that he did not expect the board to come to a decision that night, and emphasized the importance of getting input from the residents on Isaac Frye Highway.

“I’d just like to at least revisit it – and perhaps put it in our old business for next meeting – to give anyone who’s interested in having an opinion [the opportunity to voice it],” he said.

Olesen said that the signs were originally put up due to the high volume of traffic in the area during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that this was no longer an issue. The concrete barrier was placed at the trailhead to prevent vehicles from driving down the trail.

Fire Chief Don Nourse said that the department has had ongoing issues with vehicles on trails, as well as illegal burning and dumping nearby, and cautioned against completely reopening the trail head.

Schultz encourages residents who live near the Garwin Falls trailhead to share their thoughts on reopening the trailhead for parking.