Machias Select Board

The Machias Select Board is made up of five members serving alternating terms of three years each.

The Select Board are responsible for the development of ordinances, policies, and procedures to ensure the safe and responsible operation of local government.  In addition, the board works with the town manager in the development of economic opportunities to provide job growth.  Another primary focus is developing a cost effective budget for the necessary town operations while maintaining a stable tax rate for our citizens.  Residents are encouraged to contact their select-people with any suggestions or concerns they may have.

All registered voters are encouraged to cast their vote at the election and to attend the annual town meeting held each year in June.

The Select Board meets monthly on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday.

Chairperson – Jacob “Jake” Patryn

Term expires 2025
Email: jpatryn@machiasme.org

 

Vice Chairperson – Benjamin Edwards

Term expires 2026

Michael Hinerman II

Term expires 2026

Carole Porcher

Term expires 2027
cporcher@machiasme.org

Sandra Sinford

ssinford@machiasme.org
Term expires 2027

 

Temporary Recording Secretary -Sarah Craighead-Dedman

 

Agendas and Meeting Minutes

Annual Report 2023-24

The past year has been another busy one for the select board and the town of Machias.  More businesses and apartments have opened around town, with more under construction as we write.  In January, the area of town near the dike flooded during an astronomical high tide which occurred in the midst of a Nor’easter.  Unfortunately, the town office had several inches of water inside, 30 inches outside around it, and despite bringing in water vacs and fans later the same day, salt water wicked up the walls, causing extensive damage. Work will begin in the near future to restore it to its original state, but the threat of future flooding remains.  Plans to build a flood wall along the river are in progress, but engineering and funding this project will not be rapid.  Insurance reimbursement cannot be utilized to make improvements to prevent future flood damage, so the future of the building remains in question.  Meanwhile, the town office was moved to the Tele-Business Center on Stackpole where it will remain for the foreseeable future.  Some minor reconfiguration of this building has been done to accommodate daily town office operations, with more to come.

In May, after months of public input, research, and discussion, the new Adult Use and Medical Cannabis ordinance was finalized and passed by town voters. The townspeople overwhelmingly favored a limit on the number of storefronts in town, so a limit has been included in the ordinance.  The fee schedule has also been revised to be more in line with the majority of other Maine towns.

The board has continued our support of the police and ambulance departments to maintain optimal staffing levels and equipment. We have realized that a volunteer ambulance service is no longer sustainable for a variety of reasons, so steps are being taken to convert the service to a professional model with full-time EMTs and paramedics who receive the same benefits of other town employees. The Machias Ambulance Service has become what we believe to be the best ambulance service in Washington County thanks to the dedication and hard work of its managers and crew.  The service has completed its 10 year plan and is well on its way to accomplishing its goals.

A unanimous decision was made to move the town meeting this year from June to September so that the board and budget committee could have the latest financial audit data to make more informed decisions about the budget for the upcoming year.  Every department head was encouraged to present a forward thinking strategy when formulating their departmental budgets.  These departmental strategic plans will be utilized to write the town’s comprehensive plan which will be a major focus of the board’s work in the upcoming year. The work previously started on a comprehensive plan was sidelined by the pandemic several years ago, so we will move forward using the work previously done.  Much of the funding that is available to towns for improvements requires a comprehensive plan, so it is imperative that we finish the work that was begun.

The board would like to thank our fellow citizens who volunteered to serve on the planning board, appeals board, and the budget committee this past year, and would like to encourage others to also step up and take part in town governmental processes.  We would also like to encourage Machias residents to attend public hearings and town meetings.  We rely on input from townspeople when making decisions on issues that affect us all.  We would also like to express our gratitude to Bill Kitchen our town manager, town office employees, department heads, and department employees for providing us information and feedback, and for providing us the information we need to make good decisions for the town.

Finally, we would like to express our sadness at losing two longtime community members who recently died.  Leslie Haynes and Edward Pellon served the community for many years in various capacities, and their absence will be sorely felt. Thank you to Leslie and Edward’s families for sharing them with the town of Machias for so many years.

Respectfully submitted,

Machias Select Board

Jacob Patryn, Chairman

Carole Porcher, Vice Chairman

Sandra Sinford

Benjamin Edwards

Michael Hinerman II

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