Board: Sabattus Selectmen

Met: Tuesday night

Police shortage

Issue: Last year, the police department trimmed its budget to pay for five police officers instead of seven. Sabattus applied for federal stimulus funds to pay for the two lost jobs but didn’t get it. Now, already tight, one officer has been deployed to Afghanistan and another is retiring soon.

The scoop: Police Chief Thomas Fales asked selectmen if he could fill one position. If he couldn’t, Sabattus may see less police coverage at night.

Up next: The chief and town manager will talk soon and bring ideas to selectmen.

New manager search

Issue: The town has been without a permanent town manager since September. Interim Town Manager Jim Bennett designed a candidate brochure that went on the town Web site (www.sabattus.org) last week.

The scoop: The town has received nine applications. Deadline to apply is Dec. 17.

Old manager questions

Issue: Several weeks ago, members of the Concerned Citizens of Sabattus handed selectmen a petition asking a slate of questions having to do with former Town Manager Gregory Gill’s departure.

The scoop: On Tuesday, selectmen gave the group copies of lawyers’ bills from June through September.

Up next: Town Clerk Suzanne Adams said members indicated they were going to look over the material and decide what, if anything, to do next.

Dates to remember

Issue: To fit in the monthly second meeting — the one that would have taken place on Election Day — selectmen will meet at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday at the Town Office.

Issue: Newly elected selectmen Ronda Fournier and Michelle Ames appear set to take their new seats on Dec. 8.

Issue: The next annual town meeting has been proposed for May 22, 2010.

Staff writer Kathryn Skelton can be reached at 689-2844 or [email protected]