ORONO — After interviewing three, town officials here are narrowing their search for the replacement to Bruce A. Locke.

Since Locke left his position Oct. 12 to take the helm in Bridgton, a search committee, aided by the Maine Municipal Association, has been looking to fill the empty position. Currently, town clerk Wanda Thomas is serving as acting town manager.

“We’re still going through the process,” said Town Council Chairman Francis J. Martin.

Town officials involved in the search have been extremely tight-lipped about the process, a goal established at the beginning of the quest, when officials said they wanted to involve as few people as possible to prevent information leaks. In fact, during the three recent executive-session meetings during which the council interviewed candidates, Martin himself served as clerk pro-tempore.

Martin said Sunday that there is a good chance the council will chose from among the three current candidates, who were picked during a nationwide search that netted some 30 applicants. Still, Martin refused to say whether the three Orono candidates were all from within the state, or even whether they were male or female.

Although the council will meet for an informational session Jan. 3, Martin said no final decision or announcement is expected then. But, he said, town officials hope to hire a manager soon after, so that the person can take over by early February.

Details of any arrangement will be worked out with the winning candidate, Martin said, although the new manager is likely to begin his duties with a salary in the $40,000-per-year range, about what Locke earned. Locke resigned his position Sept. 24 after six-year tenure, and spent his last day as Orono town manager Oct. 12.