SKOWHEGAN — The Select Board approved a five‑year contract Tuesday for new Tasers and a 10‑year lease for the town‑owned building at 16 Island Ave., backing upgraded police equipment and a plan to revive a municipal property despite concerns about taxpayer costs.
The board voted unanimously to spend up to $13,648 in the first year of the Axon Taser contract, using money from a $35,000 capital reserve account designated for Tasers.
Police Chief David Bucknam said Axon no longer supports the department’s existing Tasers. The department continued using the older devices to save money, he said, but the new models offer capabilities the outdated units lack.
“The Taser we used to carry has been extinct,” Bucknam said.
Bucknam said the contract includes officer training.
The board’s decision to approve the lease for the town‑owned building at 16 Island Ave. prompted more discussion. Board members said the building needs roof, window and door repairs and costs the town about $40,000 a year to heat.
Under the agreement, Main Street Skowhegan would lease the building and raise money for repairs and maintenance.
Select Board members said the arrangement could help the town avoid some of the costs of maintaining the property while giving Main Street Skowhegan a chance to revitalize it.
“What they are looking to do is revitalize that building,” Select Board Chair Kevin Nelson said. “To make it into something special.”
Nelson said the project could turn the building into “way more than a fire station ever thought of being.”
Some residents questioned why the town should spend money on a building that would be operated by another organization.
One resident said the town should have no financial responsibility for the property, while another argued the town has other spending priorities.
Select Board member Matt DuBois defended the investment, saying Main Street Skowhegan’s work has benefited the community and added value to the town.
“The investment that this nonprofit has been part of, bringing revitalization and supporting the municipal efforts of this community, is well worth the investment,” DuBois said.
The proposal also prompted discussion about how the building could be used.
Kristina Cannon, CEO of Main Street Skowhegan, said the organization wants to expand access to outdoor recreation and increase pedestrian activity downtown. She said about 21 people could potentially work in the building.
“We should be creating more vibrant pedestrian activity downtown,” Cannon said.
Select Board member Ethan Liberty raised concerns about bicycle access and safety around the building.
Amber Lambke, co-founder and CEO of Maine Grains Inc. in Skowhegan, said increased pedestrian use could ultimately make the sidewalks safer.
Supporters also said the building could serve as a space for community programming, including outdoor recreation for families.
The board approved the lease 4-1, with Liberty opposed.
The board also unanimously approved hiring Aaron Miller as Skowhegan’s town manager, contingent on a final background check.
Miller, who studied communications and journalism and previously worked as a reporter for the Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel, said he was excited to begin working with the town.
“I am humbled and honored by your support,” Miller said. “I know there is a lot of work to be done, and I am super happy to be here.”
Miller previously worked as the town clerk in Whitefield and Livermore, and most recently served as town manager in Vassalboro. He is scheduled to begin in September.
The Select Board also approved several infrastructure expenditures, including up to $1 million for road resurfacing, $204,000 for the town’s 2026-27 rock salt purchase and $22,644 to replace a collapsed sewer pipe on Millburn Street.
The board approved another $60,054 for materials for summer paving projects and $9,000 for repairs to the Highway Department building.
Beyond the town’s immediate infrastructure needs, the board also discussed the long‑term cost of waste disposal and recycling.
Town officials reviewed Maine’s extended producer responsibility program — a statewide system that requires companies to help pay for the recycling and disposal of the packaging they create — and potential ways for Skowhegan to reduce waste and recover money through recycling.
“Getting rid of our waste is extremely expensive,” Nelson said. “We need to come up with ways to get rid of this stuff that puts money back in our pocket.”
A representative of the extended producer responsibility program is expected to explain the initiative to town officials during the Select Board meeting scheduled for Oct. 13.
