The Wiscasset Police Department can keep a used police cruiser. The 2008 Ford Crown Victoria won’t be turned over to the Wiscasset Municipal Airport as selectmen had planned.

On Tuesday night, the board voted 3-2, reversing its earlier decision. David Cherry, Judy Flanagan and Chairman Judy Colby voter in favor; Ben Rines Jr. and Jefferson Slack were opposed.

The decision came in response to a memo from Chief Jeffrey Lange.

Selectmen purchased the cruiser for $1,000 on Lange’s recommendation from the town of Paris. The vehicle was needed after one of the department’s two cruisers was totaled in an accident in April. Five weeks later the department’s other cruiser, an SUV, was taken off the road due to an accident. The SUV has since been repaired.

At their June 20 meeting, selectmen decided 4-1, Colby dissenting, to let the airport have the Crown Victoria after the new cruiser arrives. Voters approved taking $30,000 from Capital Reserve for the purchase of the new cruiser to replace the one that was totaled.

The police chief wanted to keep the Crown Victoria for the department. After learning of selectmen’s plans, he sent a lengthy memo to the board on June 23.

“I was informed of your decision to transfer this vehicle from my department to the airport without my knowledge and without having a discussion about this first,” stated Lange.

The cruiser, Lange continued, was still very much needed for patrols, special details and to provide transportation to the Maine State Police Academy in Vassalboro for officer training. Officer Nadean Crossley will be participating in 18 weeks of training there in August. Reimbursing her for mileage would cost $680 if she were to use her own vehicle, Lange stated.

Lange, of Wiscasset, said whenever possible he’d prefer to drive the Crown Victoria back and forth to work so he could respond directly to the scene of an emergency.

“I will not respond to calls of service in my personal vehicle. This is a liability issue for the town and for me,” he continues in the memo.

Lange stated the department hadn’t budgeted for decommissioning the cruiser, estimated by him at $120, or paying mileage reimbursement for officer training. He added the vehicle wasn’t intended for hauling lawn mowers or other materials as the airport planned to use it.

Selectmen wanted to give the airport the vehicle to avoid buying a pickup truck. Previously, Rines and Slack said they didn’t think the police department needed three vehicles.

Also Tuesday, selectmen postponed bid openings on the new cruiser, an overhead door at the transfer station and an information sign for the town office.

Colby explained that the bidding process wasn’t followed. Bids were emailed to department heads instead of being mailed and kept sealed until being opened by selectmen as stated in the town policy.

Chief Lange said delaying the cruiser bid opening could cost the town more money if the dealership submitting the lowest bid sold its inventory of cruisers.

Colby responded the current policy requires bids to be sealed, not emailed, although the board agreed the policy was in need of review and possible revision.

Bids for the cruiser and the other items will be taken up July 26.