The Damariscotta Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 Aug. 29 to advertise a charter amendment that would allow the board to eliminate the Damariscotta Police Dept.
The amendment would authorize the selectmen to contract for police department services. The board is considering a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office proposal, made at the town’s request, to provide police department services in the town.
The action represents the board’s first formal step toward placing the amendment before voters for a November referendum.
The selectmen also scheduled public hearings on the charter amendment for Sept. 19 and 26, both in the Great Salt Bay Community School gym at 6:30 p.m.
The Twin Villages Downtown Alliance will host a public “informational session” on the matter at the Skidompha Library Wed., Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
A handful of police department supporters attended the meeting, but the selectmen asked them to wait for the public hearings to voice opinions about the matter.
Chairman David Atwater did, however, allow a brief question and answer period.
Former Damariscotta Selectman Calvin Dodge warned the board.
“I’m very proud of our police department here in Damariscotta,” Dodge said.
Dodge spoke of Damariscotta as the economic hub of Lincoln County. “We deserve a good police department,” he said.
“We must be very careful and weigh this situation because this is an important matter and I don’t want to see anything happen to Damariscotta that we would regret in the future,” Dodge said.
Damariscotta Police Chief Chad Andrews, administrative assistant Jodi Prior and full- and part-time officers Richard Alexander, Daniel Barbour, Michael Elwell, Tyson Fait, Jacob Grinnell, John Mitkus and Devin Polizzotti were present.
The meeting also attracted widespread media interest, with a daily newspaper and two television stations on hand.