The Town of Stratford plans to hire a civilian clerk to work in its RCMP office.

That means residents won't have to cross the Hillsborough Bridge anymore to do business with the RCMP .

The clerk will help with tasks such as criminal record checks.

A security upgrade is required for the office, but the town isn't sure exactly what that will cost. The town is budgeting best it can, Coun. Randy Cooper said.

"We've budgeted an amount to do that, which would really be a six or seven month time frame this year because already we're into February. And we're waiting to hear what the requirements would be from the RCMP and Public Works Canada," Cooper said.

The town is hoping to have the clerk working by the fall.