The box, which prompted a three-hour shut down and shelter-in-place order for a nearby school, was ultimately determined to be empty by the Maine State Police bomb squad.

Previous budget seasons have seen rising contention between the groups of elected officials when it comes to approving the annual school budget.

Volunteers, including inmates and police, help shovel the walkways of elderly or disabled residents, who can also get a sand bucket delivered by the city.

Officers were allowed to do things like grow beards, let down long hair or wear different colored T-shirts under their uniforms during November.