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Town of Milton residents vote down referendums

MILTON TOWNSHIP — The Milton Township referendums didn’t go the way Sue Gavigan wanted, but she hopes the process convinces the town board to take a hard look at its police department.

Town residents voted 58 percent to 42 percent against a referendum advising the town board to abolish its police department and 56 percent to 44 percent against abolishing the town court.

The referendums are advisory, and the town board is not obligated to take action based on the results.

Gavigan has advocated eliminating the police department and court since before she was elected to the town board in 2007, saying the police department was a duplication of services because the Rock County Sheriff’s Office already covers the township. She said the town could save money by not having the department.

Gavigan said she respected the outcome of the referendums.

“I wanted this to go to referendum for a long time, so now I know,” Gavigan said. “I know what the people want.”

Town Chairman Bryan Meyer is out of town and told The Janesville Gazette he would be unavailable for comment. Board members Marian Trescher, Mike Murphy and John Traynor could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Gavigan said she hopes the town board takes steps to make the police department more efficient, possibly by setting regular hours or establishing a safety committee to oversee the department.

A citizens committee released a report in July saying the town lacks job descriptions for the police chief and the officers.

Gavigan would like to see a description include hours the department must be on duty, such as high-traffic times and holidays, she said.

“If it would be for safety, then I think you would want to be out on times that would be … high-traffic,” she said.