A request to lease six new police cruisers under a four-year agreement passed with the required two-thirds majority, but not before Chief Kevin Lennon raised alarms regarding the reliability of hybrid patrol vehicles. Article 12 replaces aging vehicles in the department's fleet.

Responding to resident inquiries about the use of environmentally friendly vehicles, Chief Lennon reported significant mechanical failures with current hybrid models. The issue that we are dealing with right now with some of our hybrid vehicles is that they just die, Lennon said, noting a 2023 cruiser with 60,000 miles is currently out of service. It just stops starting.

The department continues to purchase hybrids when available but is prioritizing operational reliability for emergency response. Because the article involved a multi-year finance agreement, a standing vote was required. The Moderator declared the two-thirds threshold met, and the article passed.

Motion: I move Article 12 as printed in the warrant.

Vote: Passed by 2/3 Majority