By JIM BUTLER

Boyce Police Chief Ronald Goudeau is forming an advisory committee to study the department budget in a search for ways to avoid layoffs.

Goudeau told the town council at its November meeting he needs $103,000 added to his budget or he’ll have to consider more layoffs.

Council member Mary Fisher was blunt, saying the town doesn’t have the money and telling the chief to do what he has to do.

Disagreement between those two is not news. It predates their current positions to when both were department officers and a trail of events since.

The chief is elected, as are the mayor and council. The council approves a budget; the chief manages within it.

He mentioned several unfunded expense areas which are contributing to his budget problems.

Goudeau mentioned creating the study panel and Mayor Kelvin McCoy said he saw no problem, providing the town attorney agreed.

A committee such as Goudeau mentioned is subject to some aspects of the state public meetings law, including posting notice of meetings and the agendas at a prominent public place and on websites if available.

The Boyce site has neither agendas or minutes posted, as is required, though there is an undated message to watch for them.