SUNDERLAND — After months of searching, and one candidate who turned down the position, the town is still looking for a new police chief.
Scott Bergeron, a member of the Selectboard who is leading negotiations, said Monday that the town is continuing to negotiate with former and long-time Barre Police Chief Erik Demetropoulos for the postition. After an initial meeting, Bergeron said he’ll meet with Demetropoulos again on Friday.
Thomas Fydenkevez, chairman of the Selectboard, said Demetropoulos is a good fit for the town’s needs.
Following the retirement of former police chief Jeffrey Gilbert earlier this year, the town offered the position to current Shutesbury police chief Thomas Harding. The Shutesbury chief turned down the position because he and the town couldn’t agree on logistics.
According to a video of Barre’s Selectboard meeting March 28, a consultant recommended the town not renew Demetropoulos’ chief contract because, in a large part, he was too nice to take control of the department. Barre’s Selectboard unanimously voted not to renew the contract.