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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The Maplesville Town Council discussed multiple items related to the police department at its Oct. 17 meeting.

A new salary schedule implementing a step pay plan for the department was approved.

Personnel items for the department were also discussed with approval given to post  a position for hiring a bailiff that would also handle some maintenance needs and be a reserve officer. Town Clerk Dawn Smitherman said the position would be full-time with benefits, and the salary would be minimum wage.

Police Chief Riley Barnett presented information about adding an investigator for the council to consider in the future.

Central Alabama Crime Stoppers also presented information to the town council. The

Maplesville Police Department has started working with this volunteer organization to get information out that could lead to finding someone who can lead to evidence or an arrest.

MPD will also be using an online subscription service that the council approved for $1,500 per year. A trial version of the service has already helped the department recover some stolen items.

An update was given on the license plate readers that the police department has ordered. The readers will be in later this month.

The council also approved:

• Increasing the number of possible reserve officer positions to 15.
• Updates to the police department’s polices to bring in line with requirements, have some policies that were already being followed actually written down and make other changes.
• Updating policy to prohibit anyone other than town employees (and those being arrested) from riding in police vehicles. Smitherman explained that sometimes the school principal may have ridden in a police vehicle for a sporting event or an officer may have used a police vehicle to pick up their students. She said the change was at the recommendation of the town’s insurance company.
• Giving employees gift cards, rather than having a Christmas Supper.
• The resignation of Debbie Ruddick-Blais, who delivered meals for the Senior Center. Next year, the council will be re-evaluating whether to continue having meals at the Senior Center or simply have all meals delivered.