WINDHAM — Windham is picking up the tab for security costs incurred during President Barack Obama's recent visit to Windham High School.

Selectmen decided to waive billing the campaign $5,409 for contracted services by a 3-2 vote Monday evening. Bruce Breton, the board chairman, and Phil LoChiatto voted against the motion.

The evening began with a heated discussion about whether a policy to bill exists. Selectmen Kathleen DiFruscia and Ross McLeod said they were unaware of the policy and first heard of the intention to charge the campaign through Breton's comment that the town would bill in response to a letter from Americans for Prosperity. The letter was sent to town officials demanding that taxpayer resources not be used for costs incurred by the visit.

DiFruscia said as the first-in-nation state, the town should be welcoming to all candidates.

“I think that it's an honor and that's what the headline should have been, not a unilateral decision by one member of the board,” DiFruscia said.

The town has the ability to bill for contracted services and the board has the ability to waive the policy, Breton said.

Police Capt. Gerald Lewis said the Secret Service provided security for the President during his Aug. 18 visit and the police force handled site security, crowd control and traffic, with assistance from Salem, Derry, Pelham, Hudson, state police and the county sheriff. Similar events have been added to the overtime budget line in the past, Lewis said.

Most people seemed to agree that a presidential visit is an honor, but some questioned whether the town should pay overtime for a campaign event.

“The real issue for this board to decide is whether it's a campaign or an official visit,” LoChiatto said.

Resident Margaret Case said she was embarrassed by the publicity surrounding the issue and resented automated calls from Americans for Prosperity urging residents to call the town administrator. She asked selectmen to think about what puts Windham on the map and what makes the town special.

“I think it's an honor for a sitting President to choose our town and high school,” Case said.

Rep. Walter Kolodziej said he has great respect for the office of the President but could not support absorbing the cost of a campaign visit while the town has other pressing needs.

“It was purely a campaign event,” Kolodziej said.

Former selectman Betty Dunn, a Republican, said the town received some benefit from the visit through publicity and increased traffic to restaurants and local businesses. Since no contract existed between the Obama campaign and the town, it may be appropriate to request, but not demand, reimbursement, Dunn said.

“People are trying to make this a partisan event. It is not. It's an issue of whether we're following standard procedure,” Dunn said.

Corey Lewandowski, state director of Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire, argued that the Obama campaign has raised enough money to cover all costs associated with the visit.

“The visit by Barack Obama, by all accounts, was historic and exciting for our town, no doubt about it,” Lewandowski said. “It was also purely political.”

Using Durham as an example, Lewandowski said it's only fair that the taxpayers recoup some of the cost. Durham has billed for events requiring extra security, including a presidential visit.

Selectman Roger Hohenberger said it was a tremendous honor to host Obama but quoted the President that the wealthy must pay their share. He made a motion to send a letter to the Obama campaign outlining the costs incurred and making it known that any reimbursement would be appreciated.

“That letter will speak volumes to the mettle of the man and the mettle of his campaign,” Hohenberger said.

The motion died when the second was withdrawn.

DiFruscia then made a motion to waive the overtime costs for fire and police details. The motion failed, 2-2, with Hohenberger abstaining because he did not support absorbing the costs without contacting the campaign for some reimbursement.

A final motion to bill made by LoChiatto failed, 3-2, with LoChiatto and Breton voting in favor.

jhanson@newstote.com