By Gail Geraghty

Staff Writer

Bridgton’s new Police Chief should be named within days, now that the search has been narrowed to two finalists, Town Manager Bob Peabody said on June 9.

The Police Chief Search Committee interviewed five candidates on June 5, wrapping up their role in helping to find a replacement for Police Chief Kevin Schofield, who left to become Windham Police Chief.

Peabody said the committee did a “stellar” job in winnowing down the list of applicants, “and I hope to make an announcement soon.”

In other matters, selectmen agreed to hold a public hearing next Tuesday, June 23, on a plan to dredge the lagoon on Long Lake that is part of the Salmon Point Campground. The lagoon has not been dredged for many years, and Code Enforcement Officer Robbie Baker has been working with the Department of Environmental Protection to secure permission to have the dredging work done. The lagoon is becoming shallow enough that some larger boats cannot navigate across it.

Planning Director Anne Krieg reported that Doten’s Construction Company of Freeport is expected to begin work on renovations to the Town Hall within the week. Now that voters have rejected the citizens’ petition to hold off on repairs until all costs are known, she said she will be talking to Doten about “putting back some of the elements” of the original contract beyond the $170,000 already approved.