MADAWASKA, Maine — Madawaska is holding a special election to fill the seat of select board member Michael Williams, who resigned earlier this month.
Select Board Chair Jason Boucher read a brief resignation letter from Williams during a meeting last week.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am unable to give this board a 100 percent [effort], which it deserves,” Boucher read from Williams’ letter. “So due to that, I, Michael J. Williams, am resigning my position as town selectman.”
Boucher said the letter was given to town officials on Oct. 11. Williams’ resignation happened toward the end of a turbulent year in town government that saw Town Manager Gary Picard and select board member Christopher Braley both resign in February. Braley’s seat was filled in the June election in which Williams was elected.
The election will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the Madawaska Knights of Columbus Hall on 172 Fox St. The person elected will fill the remainder of Williams’ term, which would have ended in June 2027.
Nomination papers will be available on Wednesday, and need to be signed and returned to the town clerk by noon on Nov. 6.
Boucher recommended to the board that the town hold a special election, which will cost between $1,000 and $2,000.
Boucher said that while the town could legally operate with just four select board members, if one called out sick, it would narrow the board down to just three.
“That doesn’t give a full representation of all the taxpayers,” he said. “I think with a board of five people, we have five different opinions. Sometimes they’re the same. Sometimes they’re different. But it gives the taxpayers much better representation.”
