North Branford Town Council Cracks Down on Town Car Use

Any town worker driving an official town car uses a key whenever filling up at the gas station so that the town can monitor mileage and gasoline usage. Upon review of the latest report, the council has decided to establish a new vehicle policy for all town employees driving North Branford-owned vehicles. 

The new policy will replace the current one, which has not been updated in the last thirteen years, and will accompany the new magenetic strips that will replace the key method of tracking town vehicles. Each magnetic strip will cost $250 per vehicle and will be utilized as a more reliable and accurate means of tracking vehicle usage. 

The issue was introduced when the police officers requested new police vehicles at . The request was denied and the council suggested updating the current policy in order to avoid any unnecessary expenditures.

Councilman Al Rose stated that he'd heard of North Branford police cars being seen in "every corner of Connecticut and that this may not be in the best interest of the town with a gallon of gas costing $4."

The council will discuss whether or not employees should be permitted to use town cars that they bring home for recreational use.

"I'm worried about a liability issue, especially if they're transporting their families around in these cars," Councilwoman Rose Angeloni remarked. 

Concerns arose when a single vehicle was listed as having driven 10,000 more miles than the rest of the town-owned vehicles. The council said it will determine who they are legally obligated to provide a vehicle. 

"I want to be perfectly clear. I'm picking on a car, I'm not picking on a lieutenant," said Rose of his insisting that the vehicle policy be upgraded. Rose also noted that the report shows a six-week period of a vehicle showing no data for gasoline usage, which could be attributed to a lost key. 

The police chief and deputy police chief were provided with vehicles to use for work and to bring home; however, Rose noted that there is also a vehicle being taken home by a lieutenant, the same vehicle showing unusually high mileage.  

"How did the lieutenant get a car? I'm guessing we have to ask the Police Commission how they did that," said Rose. "Isn't the lieutenant a union employee? He's the only union employee bringing a car home? Why is he bringing a car home?"

Councilman Joseph Faughnan suggested that the revised policy be distributed to all town employees using town-owned vehicles. 

"Just because the policy has been in effect the last 13 years, doesn't mean everybody know about it," said Faughnan. 

Town Attorney John Gesmond suggested the council clarify the roles and responsibilities of different police entities to see who requires a vehicle.