Less than two months after Milton's Police Ad Hoc Committee's controversial suggestion to consider disbanding the town's police force, Town Council members have voted to dissolve the committee.

During a Jan. 21 council meeting, members voted unanimously to dissolve the town's Police Ad Hoc Committee, primarily because the committee has no more active assignments. Councilwoman Esthelda Parker-Selby was absent.

In November, the police committee discussed and voted to recommend to Town Council that officials consider disbanding the police department. That recommendation never officially made it to council because the issue had not been properly noticed on the meeting agenda, voiding the vote.

In December, the committee recommended that the town maintain its policies regarding the police department's take-home vehicle policy and K-9 Unit, the last two topics assigned to the committee by council. Committee members also discussed the idea of disbanding the police force, which was met with criticism from local residents in attendance.

Council voted unanimously Dec. 22 to follow the committee's recommendations to uphold the police department's policies regarding take-home vehicles and the K-9 Unit. The committee did not pass any recommendation to council regarding the dissolution of the force.

“They have no assignments,” Mayor Marion Jones confirmed during the Jan. 21 meeting.

The committee also cancelled its January meeting, Jones said.

“I feel we need to abolish it until we need it again,” said Councilman Emory West, following a motion by Councilman Ed Kost to disband the group and thank them for their work.

“Thanking them is not just perfunctory,” said recently appointed Councilman Sam Garde. “They've withstood a lot of heat for some of the controversial topics they've brought up.”

Jones agreed that the committee had difficult decisions to make as members examined the police department's budget.

“I think what happened with this committee was regrettable,” she said, pointing to what she described as sensationalism surrounding the committee's suggestion to disband the police force.

Committee Chairwoman Lynn Ekelund could not be reached for comment.

Town Solicitor Seth Thompson said mayor and council can re-establish a police committee if they find the need.