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Skowhegan names deputy fire chief and approves police cruiser spending
Summary
The Selectboard welcomed Deputy Fire Chief Anthony Barton, effective February, and authorized $59,195 from the Police Capital Reserve to cover a 2025 interceptor payment and equipment; chiefs also reported joint exercises and urged motorists to follow work-zone controls.
The Skowhegan Selectboard on Jan. 13 approved a new deputy fire chief hire and authorized capital spending for the police department.
Town Manager Nicholas Nadeau announced that Anthony Barton will join the Fire Department as deputy chief effective February 2026; the board and department leaders welcomed Barton’s experience.
Police Chief Bucknam asked for and received authorization to spend up to $59,195 from the Police Capital Reserve Account to cover the first payment for a 2025 Police Interceptor, outfitting safety and equipment for the 2025 vehicle, and to complete remaining equipment payments for the 2024 Interceptor. The motion passed 4-0.
Chief Bucknam also briefed the board on a Jan. 21 joint critical-incident exercise with the National Guard and the Fire Department and additional tactical training with the Winslow Police Department at North Elementary, describing the sessions as efforts to improve inter-agency coordination and staffing support. He reported a logging-truck rollover on North Avenue with no injuries and urged motorists to slow down and obey work-zone traffic control following a recent fatal DOT work-zone incident in Waterville.
Fire Chief Johnston addressed public feedback about a recent property-conservation response, clarifying that the department’s primary mission is life safety, property conservation, and incident stabilization and that crews mitigate hazards such as water leaks but do not provide cleanup services.
The board recorded unanimous votes for the hiring announcement and the cruiser expenditure authorization. No disciplinary or contract award actions were taken at the meeting.
