IRVINGTON—While an increased presence of law enforcement appears to be appreciated by residents of Irvington, several members of the town council have expressed concerns regarding the management and funds being allotted for overtime deputies to patrol the town.
During a September 14 council meeting, Mayor Julie Harris broached council on reassessing how many hours deputies should patrol the town. Harris initially proposed a monthly schedule of 20 hours per deputy, with four deputies in the rotation, totaling eighty hours per month. According to Harris, that schedule would cost the town $3,200 a month for an annual total of $38,400.
Harris said over the course of the last three months with officer presence in town, the amount of speeding has drastically decreased.
Town clerk Laurel Taylor noted 21 summonses were written in August.
Council member Phil Robinson said he was stunned by the suggestion. “Our intent was not to turn this into a police town,” he said.
Robinson referenced a memorandum of understanding between the town and the county sheriff’s department for an agreement of about four hours of patrolling per week.
He said a management plan needed to be in place prior….
