Select Board moves ordinance change on police appointments toward special town meeting

The Skowhegan Select Board discussed proposed language to change the town police ordinance from annual appointment to appointment at date of hire and agreed to bring the item to a special town meeting in early November.

Under the current ordinance, chapter 27, section 1, the chief of police, deputy chief and officers are “appointed annually by the select board.” Police Chief Bucknam said the annual swearing‑in requirement is an undue burden on staff and the town clerk, who must coordinate multiple oath administrations across shifts, sometimes resulting in overtime. He told the board he believes Skowhegan is unusual in requiring annual re‑appointment and that most towns swear officers in once at hire and leave that status in place until separation.

The chief proposed amending the ordinance to allow officers to be sworn in at hire date rather than annually. Town Clerk Gail explained a related procedural point: if appointments are required to be made by the Select Board, hiring a new officer immediately after a board meeting could require the town to wait until the next meeting for formal appointment and swearing‑in; she suggested the board instead consider delegating authority to the town manager to streamline the process. Board members discussed that option and indicated they would prepare language to give the town manager authority to swear in or to authorize swearing in between meetings.

The board decided to include the ordinance revision and other ordinance updates on a special town meeting warrant to allow voter action. No formal vote to change the ordinance was taken at the meeting; the item will appear at the special town meeting so residents can vote on the amendment.