MACHIAS — Machias has scheduled a special town meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18, to address cost overruns in several department budgets, including police, fire and possibly the airport.
The Fire Department is projected to exceed its budget by about $19,200 after a change in how volunteer firefighters are compensated, unexpected equipment maintenance and unpaid bills carried over from fiscal year 2025.
The Police Department is expected to run about $32,000 more than its $775,000 budget after a cruiser purchased in July 2025 was never entered into the town’s accounting system. Finance staff members recently discovered the omission, which left the chief without accurate spending data.
“The chief had just not had accurate data to make choices around his part-time and his overtime decisions,” Town Manager Sarah Craighead Dedmon said.
The Machias Select Board plans to use $5,000 from contingency funds to help cover the overage.
The airport budget may also need reconciliation, with Federal Aviation Administration grant accounting still pending.
Voters at the June 23 annual town meeting will consider a warrant article that would allow the Select Board to transfer up to 10 percent of unexpended balances between accounts, a practice recommended by the Maine Municipal Association.
Last Wednesday, the Select Board heard both sides of an ambulance service employee dispute. Personnel matters are typically handled in executive session for confidentiality, but the employee, Amanda Taylor, specifically requested a public discussion, according to Board Chair Jake Patryn.
Taylor was placed on inactive status Feb. 16 after missing a deadline for mandatory N95 respirator fit testing, a safety requirement that ensures the mask seals properly, and was separated from the service May 29.
Machias Ambulance Service Chief Ryan Maker told the board the separation was nondisciplinary and said Taylor completed her medical clearance and fit test but never scheduled the required return‑to‑duty administrative review.
Taylor disputed that account, saying that after contacting Machias Ambulance Service Assistant Chief Stephen Simmons to arrange her N95 fit test, Taylor reached Simmons the day after receiving her inactive-status notice, and he administered the fit test that same evening.
“I was up to date on all my requirements,” Taylor said.
The Select Board voted to postpone the matter to a later meeting.
“It’s a complicated issue. I need time to digest this,” Patryn said. “There won’t be any behind‑closed‑doors discussions.”
In other matters, the board discussed a 50‑cent price increase for transfer station trash bags after data showed bags averaging 14 to 15 pounds, costing the town money on volume.
Select Board Vice Chair Ben Edwards suggested holding a special town meeting to ask voters about the increase.
The board also accepted a $40,000 offer for the town‑owned property at 48 Fremont St. from a skilled carpenter who submitted a personal note pledging to restore the home.
Machias’ annual town meeting to approve the fiscal 2027 budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 23.
Correction: This story was updated June 18 to correct the time of the June 18 meeting (to 6 p.m.), correct the year of purchase for the police cruiser and correct when voters will vote on a warrant article that would allow the Select Board to transfer up to 10 percent of unexpended balances between accounts. This story was also updated June 22 because an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Amanda Taylor did not receive a timely response after contacting Machias Ambulance Service Assistant Chief Stephen Simmons to arrange her N95 fit test. Taylor reached Simmons the day after receiving her inactive-status notice and he administered the fit test that same evening. Her account of unanswered messages referred to later emails she sent to Ambulance Chief Ryan Maker and Town Manager Sarah Craighead Dedmon.
