Downeast: Gray threatens to sue if termination is not rescinded

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In Machias this week, voters approved a six-month moratorium on applications for cannabis businesses to give town officials time to amend the cannabis ordinance.

There are five licensed medical or adult use cannabis shops in town, the maximum allowed under the ordinance, but when one of the license holders died in June the town found the ordinance doesn’t provide good direction on how to handle new licenses when one of the five allowed is vacant due to death.

State regulations address this situation, but the local ordinance does not, so now town officials will consider what is needed to amend the ordinance. At Wednesday’s hearing, a few people suggested five licenses may be too many for Machias, so that’s something officials will also consider.

I was in Machias this week to cover the Washington County Commission meeting, joining an audience of dozens of people in a courtroom of the county building, most who were there after last week’s firing of County Manager Renée Gray.

The commission talked about a lot of things, including setting dates to elect members of the Washington County Budget Advisory Committee to get started on the 2027 budget, while the audience patiently waited for an opportunity to address commissioners. Few did, but those who did had plenty to say as Gray listened from the front of the room.

The commission split on its decision to fire Gray and now Gray has threatened to file suit against the county and two of its commissioners if her termination is not rescinded. I’ve detailed all of that in a story this week, and will continue covering the conflict as it unfolds.

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Washington County Manager Renée Gray threatens to sue county if her termination is not rescinded. Commissioners bar her from working following a fiery meeting where her lawyer alleged whistleblower retaliation and financial cover-ups. Read this story by Judith Meyer

Jonesport considers zoning changes to extend Kingfish project deadline: Proposed amendments would give the $100 million aquaculture facility 30 months to start construction and redefine what counts as a “substantial start.” Read this story by Jessica Brockington

Machias passes cannabis moratorium to review 2024 ordinance: The six-month pause follows the unexpected death of a local shop owner, spotlighting a regulatory gap in the current rules. Read this story by Evan W. Houk

Calais City Council orders 5 percent spending cut to fight deficit: To avoid a massive tax hike, department heads must reduce costs to offset a $544,000 county bill and rising public safety wages. Read this story by Melissa S. Razdrih

Machias Select Board approves using Town Office as warming and cooling center in extreme weather: A local nonprofit will staff the daytime facility to save town resources; the board also moved forward with roof repairs for the Public Works building. Read this story by Evan W. Houk

Machias Select Board upholds ambulance worker’s removal: Vice Chair Ben Edwards chaired the meeting, noting that the board’s deliberation focused on one question: whether the separation properly applied the terms of Taylor’s employment and personnel policy. Read this story by Evan W. Houk

Graham Platner says he’s out. What comes next?: While Maine law is crystal clear about the timing of replacing a nominee, it leaves the nuts and bolts of the selection process up to political parties. Read this story by Matt Junker

Who’s in the mix to replace Graham Platner. And who isn’t: A host of candidates have come forward to say they would like to be the next Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, a choice that must be made by July 27. Read this story

Meet 16 obscure Maine Democrats shaping the replacement of Graham Platner: A retired art teacher, a candidate’s husband and a finance executive will be among those playing an influential role in the process. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Maine Monitor and Bangor Daily News

Religious schools that get public funds must follow Maine’s antidiscrimination laws, court rules: A federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s ruling that private religious schools receiving public funds cannot discriminate based on gender identity, sexual orientation or religion. But it said a provision about religious expression should be revisited. Read this story by Sean Scott

Alewives returned late to smaller Maine rivers this year: More alewives appeared in larger rivers, though conservationists said climate change could threaten the iconic fish’s habitat long term. Read this story by Delger Erdenesanaa

How pollsters are changing their approach to Maine: Polling firms are tweaking their designs, finding new ways to reach people and reassessing who they predict will turn out to vote in an attempt to avoid repeating mistakes made in 2020. Read this story by Kate Kaufman

The Maine Monitor wins 5 awards from the National Newspaper Association Foundation: Daniel O’Connor, Evan W. Houk and Judith Meyer received recognition for their extensive coverage of the Washington County budget crisis. Read this story

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The following stories are from other newsrooms. While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind a paywall, some newsrooms we link to below may. Paywalled stories are followed by a ($). We encourage you to consider supporting local Maine newsrooms.

A new poll shows a tight fight for Platner replacements | NOTUS

Concerns about Campobello bridge safety surface at meeting | Quoddy Tides

Eastport council revisits food truck ordinance after City Hall miscommunication | WABI

State health officials say tick numbers are up this summer despite a slow start | Maine Public

State says hundreds of immigrants could lose full MaineCare coverage under new federal restrictions | Maine Public

Tiny plastic pellets ‘a slow motion oil spill’ in New England waterways | Public News Service

Statewide tour to showcase Maine's rare, original copy of Declaration of Independence; will be in Washington County in late August | Maine Public

Maine is exploring a path that could bring back Atlantic salmon fishing | Bangor Daily News ($)

The New England Forestry Foundation is paying landowners to defer cutting old growth forests | Maine Public

A former Child Protective Services caseworker is suing the Department of Health Human Services, claiming he was retaliated against after refusing to falsify his findings | WGME

Who will replace Graham Platner on the Maine ballot? At least 8 Democrats have officially announced run | WABI

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The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support.

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