A former local administrator will help keep Machias’ municipal functions operating while officials come to grips with this week’s unexpected death of the town manager.
Bill Kitchen, 65, who served as Machias’ town manager for the past three years, died unexpectedly on Monday, shocking local officials and residents who credited him with tirelessly promoting the community and moving the town forward after tensions between town officials had created turmoil at the town office a few years ago.
Christine Therrien, who preceded Kitchen in the town manager role, will return on an interim basis while the town figures out how to find a new town manager, according to Selectman Ben Edwards. Therrien now works as finance director for Waterville, but the city has agreed to let her assist Machias while retaining her job there, Edwards said.
Tensions between Therrien and the members of the board at the time led to her resigning from the position in May 2021. Since then, there has been complete turnover among the town’s select board.
A memorial service for Kitchen has been scheduled for noon, Saturday, Sept. 14 at the gymnasium at Machias Memorial High School, according to town officials.
Edwards said it has been a “god awful” week since Kitchen died without warning. He said he did not know how long it might take to find a new town manager to fill the job on a long-term basis.
“It will take as long as it needs to take,” Edwards said. “Bill is irreplaceable. It is intimidating to think about, to be frank.”
Kitchen, who had an eclectic career, moved to Maine in the early 2000s before getting involved in municipal government. Prior to becoming town manager in 2021, Kitchen served on the Machias Select Board from June 2017 through September 2020. He also worked as a reporter and photographer for the weekly Machias Valley News Observer from 2014 through 2019, according to his bio on LinkedIn.
Edwards said he was close to Kitchen and ran for the select board last year at Kitchen’s encouragement. Edwards grew up in Machias but moved away and eventually got a finance job in London before Kitchen convinced him to move back. Now, Edwards is the managing partner of Schoppee Farm on East Kennebec Road.
“He made me see what I thought were limitations as strengths,” Edwards said, referring to the familiar refrain of having to leave small towns to find success.
“The Watch” 2015 National geographic appearance
As Machias’ town manager, Kitchen had a similar effect on the community as a whole, Edwards said. Kitchen created a local summer concert series to help strengthen the town’s sense of community, and helped draw investment to town by aggressively recruiting business growth.
He also worked hard to secure federal funding for much-needed improvements at the town-owned Machias Valley Airport, Edwards said.
“He had a way with words,” the selectman said. “He worked and advocated for our community across the state. He had a real magic with getting things done that seemed impossible.”
