MACHIAS — The Select Board adopted a policy Wednesday, July 8, to allow the Machias Town Office to serve as a warming and cooling center during extreme weather.
Town Manager Sarah Craighead Dedmon said officials have discussed using the office at 17 Stackpole Drive, which connects to the Police Department, as a daytime community center since she began her role in early 2025.
“It’s been hard to come by warming facilities in Machias,” she said.
Craighead Dedmon noted that part of the motivation behind investing in a generator for the entire building was to eventually use the facility as a warming and cooling center.
“I think it’s just an advisable thing to have something enacted,” she said of the policy. “From my perspective, this is very basic and outlines some of the criteria we would consider when we decide to open.”
Staffing was the largest concern, but employees from Healthy Acadia’s Community Caring Collaborative, a community health nonprofit, will cover those roles.
“That would enable us not to drain any other town resources while we’re operating,” Craighead Dedmon said. “They would be able to host people in here. We’ve got space. We’ve got bathrooms. We’ve got water. We’ve got places to charge. We’ve got a giant TV we can put movies on.”
The initiative drew quick support from local leadership.
“I think it’s a great idea to have it in place in case we need it,” Select Board Vice Chair Ben Edwards said.
Select Board Chair Jake Patryn asked if the new use would alter the town’s liability.
Craighead Dedmon said she does not expect any changes because the Town Office is already a public building.
“I think a place where they know it’s OK, you can go there, you’re invited, is nice,” she said.
The board also approved posting a request for proposals for roof repair and replacement options at the Machias Public Works building.
The town manager said the roof leaks significantly when it rains. Initial quotes estimate a one-year repair at $5,000 and a full replacement at about $21,000.
Finance Director Nick McDonald said the town could use $14,000 left over from two loans on previous public works projects to fund the work.
“We’ve got to do something,” Craighead Dedmon said.
In other matters, the board approved a sewer abatement of about $895 for David Lambert of 22 North St. due to an overcharge. Town Clerk Sandra Clifton will calculate the exact amount.
Craighead Dedmon said Lambert was away for a week when a broken hot water radiator leaked an immense amount of water, inflating his sewer bill.
“We base sewer use on things that go into the sewer, not things that go into your house,” Craighead Dedmon said.
“We’ve seen that happen with broken toilets and stuff,” Patryn said.
The Select Board is scheduled to hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, at the Town Office to consider a new liquor license, with the regular board meeting following the hearing.
