SKOWHEGAN – Selectmen applauded the town’s public works crew, hired a new chief of police and awarded a bid for the Skowhegan Community Center during their business meeting Tuesday night.

Michael Emmons of Gardiner, who has been police chief in Wiscasset for the past seven years, told the board that he was excited and eager to begin work.

“Thank you for your confidence,” Emmons told the board. Town Manager Philip Tarr said Emmons was the unanimous choice of the search committee and the Board of Selectmen. Seven candidates applied for the position that opened last April when former chief Butch Asselin retired and took a job as Houlton’s police chief.

Emmons is also a technical sergeant in the Maine Air National Guard and a football coach in his hometown. Emmons said he will be relocating to Skowhegan soon.

At the start of the meeting, members of the shiretown’s Public Works Department stood before selectmen and were praised for their restoration work on the Singing Bridge over the Kennebec River.

The bridge, built in 1933 and then washed away and replaced several times over, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The department was recently granted first place in its size division by the American Public Works Association for it efforts in rehabilitating the bridge.

Public Works Director Gregory Dore said a $150,000 grant was provided by the state through the Safe Routes to School Project and yet the town workers were able to bring it in at $82,000, nearly half of what was budgeted, and did it in only 10 weeks.

Dore said the crew did a fantastic job. “We now know who knows how to swim and who doesn’t,” he said.

Selectmen also chose Aroostook Roofing and Sheetmetal Inc. of Caribou to replace the community center roof at a cost of $52,480. Because the bid came in under the $75,000 set aside for the project, officials will be able to get some necessary chimney repairs completed.

The board also changed a budget workshop scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, to a regular meeting. This will allow the board to formally vote on Tarr’s recommendations. During June town meetings, voters slashed the town’s proposed budget. Tarr has been reviewing all accounts to bring the expenses in line with taxes.

The board also set 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 23, for the town manager’s evaluation. They will be assisted by the Maine Municipal Association and the meeting will be held in executive session.