By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Caribou City Manager Steven Buck informed city councilors during a regular meeting on Monday evening that the search for a new fire chief was currently under way.
“We posted the position internally on Jan. 26, to full-time and paid call employees,” said Buck. “As a result we have received six applications from a very strong field of applicants. The interview panel, consisting of myself, Chief Gahagan and the three captains within the fire department will be conducted this week and should be completed sometime next week,” he added.
Buck also stated that in the case that none of the applicants are selected to fill this position, the search would be opened outside of the department.
Longtime Caribou Fire Chief Roy Woods resigned earlier this year, citing health reasons and stress. He had been on a paid leave of absence since just prior to the new year while an internal investigation was being conducted regarding alleged misconduct regarding another city employee.
In other business the panel authorized an agreement for services regarding police dispatching for the town of Limestone. Through this agreement the Caribou Police Department will provide regular and continual dispatch coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, dispatching all police, fire and ambulance calls for the town of Limestone and the Loring Fire Department. The city will receive $1,500 a year for providing this service; this amount determined on the basis of $3 per capita for the town of Limestone and the LDA if requested, using the latest available 2010 census data for a 12 month period.
