Article 5 Becoming An Issue?

On Saturday, February 26 a new hot topic arose. Article 5 in the towns warning asks voters if they would like to "prohibit the constable from exercising any law enforcement." When the board was asked why this is an issue, selectman Jim Gochie stated that it would save the town $2,500. Each year the town of Concord has to pay excessive insurance premiums to cover the liability for a gun-carrying town official. One of the options the town is considering is to contract with the sheriffs department for services. By taking away these privileges, the Constable would only be allowed to serving papers and assisting the town's health officer, but not issuing tickets. Concord Constable, Kenneth Copp was at the meeting and defended his job stating that his "powers" rival that of the Vermont State of Police Troopers. He also said that by working with outside officials, the response time would be much longer, when he tends to respond to a scene in less than five minutes. Copp is facing three other candidates in this years race.