BETHEL — Barring any more petitions seeking a re-vote, it’s official: a majority of voters at Tuesday’s polls authorized selectmen to contract with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office for police coverage.

That means the town will soon disband its police department.

Voters were given two choices on the police department referendum. They could either vote Yes on Option 1, to upgrade the police department to provide 24/7 law enforcement coverage by Maine Criminal Justice Academy-trained officers at an annual cost of $453,794, and to raise and appropriate that for the first year; or Option 2, to ratify the Feb. 9 vote authorizing selectmen to contract with the county and the sheriff’s office for the same coverage at an agreed upon cost of $295,000 per year for the next three years, with the option to extend the contract another two years at a predetermined 2 percent annual increase.

Option 2 also sought to raise and appropriate the $295,000, and to raise and appropriate $8,000 for animal control, and to amend town law to read that there “may” instead of “shall” be a police department upon town meeting vote.

Deputy Clerk and Deputy Registrar of Voters Amy Hanscom said Option 1 received 403 Yes votes, while Option 2 received 526 votes, thereby making Option 2 the majority’s choice.

Tuesday’s vote reaffirmed the Feb. 9 special town meeting vote that authorized selectmen to contract with the county for law enforcement coverage by a 109-89 vote. However, a few weeks later, selectmen voting 3-2 nullified the vote, deciding instead to let regular town meeting voters ultimately decide the issue.

Additionally, resident Scott Harlow petitioned for a re-vote, claiming confusion during the Feb. 9 vote. Selectmen, however, didn’t act on the petition.

In other local elections, Board of Selectmen incumbents Stanley Howe and Donald Bennett were re-elected to three-year terms. Howe garnered 621 votes, Bennett got 667 votes, and opponent Darren Tripp received 318 votes.

Running unopposed and reelected for two three-year terms on the Board of Assessors, were Howe, with 678 votes, and David Luxton with 667 votes.

For SAD 44 School Board, incumbents Lynn Arizzi and Elaine Cross were re-elected. Arizzi received 446 votes, Cross got 671 votes and opponent Katherine Botica received 254 votes.

Town meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at the Crescent Park School gym.

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