HOULTON, Maine — A local businessman was appointed Monday night to fill the final vacant seat on the seven-member Houlton Town Council.
Fred Grant, president of Northern Maine Media Inc., owner of Market Pizza in Houlton and the historic 1919 Temple Theater on Market Square, will serve on the Town Council until the next election in 2026. He was appointed to Alexis Brown’s seat, left vacant after she declined to accept a win in the recent Nov. 6 election.
The Town Council had called for letters of interest earlier in the month, receiving seven, according to Assistant Town Manager Khylee Wampler.
During a special council meeting on Monday, several of the candidates, including Grant, Carl Lord Jr., Carl Young and Paul Mills, told the council why they would like to serve and what they would bring to town governance.
Grant’s appointment comes at a time of turmoil and uncertainty for this town of 6,000, with the town manager currently on administrative leave following his Sept. 26 arrest and incarceration as well as the resignations of five town councilors.
Two councilors, Brown and Jon McLaughlin, resigned when the council kept Town Manager Cameron Clark on the job after his arrest.
On Oct. 10, Council Chairwoman Jane Torres resigned after the council voted to place Clark on administrative leave, followed immediately by Councilors Jim Peters and Erin Matthews.
The three departures left the town without a governing body with only two remaining councilors and no quorum.
In an October emergency meeting, the remaining councilors, Ed Lake and Eileen McLaughlin, appointed three to council seats: Jeffrey Maguire, Jantzen Craine and John “J.J.” Schools. That gave the governing body a quorum to conduct the town’s business.
McLaughlin termed out in November, leaving three seats open.
Houlton voters chose former councilors Torres and Brown to fill two open three-year terms. Torres accepted the seat, despite resigning on Oct. 10. Brown notified Houlton Town Clerk Khylee Wampler that she was declining the position.
Because Brown did not accept the seat, the council appointed Grant to fill it for one year.
On Nov. 6, Brown was the favored candidate with 698 votes. Torres, former Town Council chairperson, was awarded a seat with 460 votes. Former Town Councilor Sue Tortello picked up a third uncontested seat on the council with a one-year term, receiving 1,035 votes.
Grant, who is a Houlton resident, has been known for business innovation, drawing national attention to the Temple Theater’s events.
Before his appointment, he told the council that he has invested in the community through service, including serving on the RSU 29 school board and as chair of that board.
“It’s my hope as the town looks forward to some very difficult issues that are coming that I would like to have the opportunity to help through that process,” Grant said.
Clark remains on leave until his legal issues are resolved. His arraignment is slated for February.
