ENFIELD — The Selectboard unanimously approved an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Policy at its Monday meeting.
Now that the policy is in place, the town’s police department can use a $15,000 donation from the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation to purchase a drone.
The Selectboard made its decision after months of discussion during which residents raised concerns about how the drone would be used. Selectboard members, Town Manager Ed Morris and interim Enfield Police Chief Luke Frye, among others, worked together to draft the policy. During the Selectboard’s May 18 meeting, Frye spoke in support of the policy.
“We gave a hard look at what the public said to us, the concerns,” Kate Plumley Stewart said in a recording of the meeting before voting yes.
The policy states that the drone “shall not be used to conduct surveillance of individuals or private property without a judicial warrant,” according to a copy of the policy.
Officials will be able to use the drone for search and rescue operations, fire responses and investigations, looking at damage caused by natural disasters, infrastructure inspections and for training purposes.
“I’m satisfied at this point,” Selectboard member Erik Russell said at the meeting, referencing the way town officials worked together on the policy.
Before its vote at Monday night’s meeting, the Selectboard held a public hearing; no members of the public made comments or asked questions during the hearing.
