Obama Visit Costs Westport $15,000 in Overtime

The Town of Westport spent almost $15,000 in overtime costs for police and fire during , Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff said in a news release today. He said the town will seek reimbursement from the Obama campaign.

 “While , incurring unbudgeted costs are not welcome,” Joseloff said in the news release. “Westport may be more affluent than some other towns, but we watch over our taxpayer dollars very carefully.”

Joseloff said Police Chief Dale Call informed him that Westport police incurred $12,460 in overtime costs for the visit. This does not include overtime costs incurred by departments assisting Westport, which included Wilton, Trumbull, Easton, Monroe, and Fairfield as well as the State Police.

Fire Chief Andrew Kingsbury reported $2,352 in overtime costs, Joseloff said. Westport fire units were on standby at SherwoodIsland State Park where the president landed and took off, and the department also provided tactical support for the visit.

Joseloff said he would seek reimbursement from the Obama campaign as well as the Democratic National Committee. He said he would send a copy of the request to Westport resident Harvey Weinstein, who hosted the president at his residence.

The First Selectman said Westport had made previous attempts to recover similar costs without success when President Clinton visited three times in 1998-99 for fundraising events.

“I’m not optimistic we will be successful, but I need to make the effort,” Joseloff said.