In a 3-2 vote, Buxton Selectman Wednesday named Mike Grovo as the town’s new police chief, filling the vacancy left by Jody Thomas who resigned in July.

A veteran officer, Grovo joined Buxton police in June of 2006, according to Selectman Bob Libby.

“I couldn’t be more pleased,” Libby said about Grovo’s appointment.

The board voted on Grovo’s appointment after meeting in executive session for an hour with Bob Schwartz, executive director of Maine Chiefs of Police Association, who conducted a background investigation.

Selectmen Libby, Dan Collomy and Linda Pulsoni favored Grovo’s appointment while two selectmen, Cliff Emery and Jean Harmon, chairwoman of the board, opposed it.

From the public podium, Buxton resident Steve Anthony asked Emery and Harmon to explain their no votes.

“I’m not going to explain my no vote,” Harmon responded to Anthony’s question.

But Emery offered an explanation. “When we interviewed, I didn’t think he was the best candidate,” Emery said.

Pulsoni made the motion to add the appointment to the board’s agenda this week under executive orders by initiative. Pulsoni said the appointment would become effective immediately and Grovo’s salary would be $58,000.

The salary for Jody Thomas, who had been chief for 16 years, was $62,000.

Grovo did not attend the meeting. “He accepted it on the phone,” Pulsoni said after Wednesday’s meeting.

Cutline (Mike Grovo)

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