MACHIAS, Maine — The district attorney for Washington and Hancock counties has chosen not to pursue criminal charges against the former director of the Washington County Emergency Medical Services Authority, according to a statement released this week by the authority.
At issue is $7,500 paid in 2005 and 2006 to George “Bud” Finch, Eastport’s town manager, in his role as director of the authority. According to official reports released by the District Attorney’s Office this week, Finch has maintained that the board voted in executive session to pay him a stipend. He told authorities he since has repaid the amount to the authority.
The Maine State Police and the District Attorney’s Office have been investigating the situation for several months.
The authority’s press release on the DA’s decision states: “In 2006, the WCEMSA treasurer Linda S. Pagels-Wentworth reported a financial irregularity to the authority’s financial auditor. A review of the recent years’ expenses revealed that $7,500 had been paid to Mr. Finch as a board director over a period of eighteen months. The bylaws do not allow for Board of Director members to be paid salaries.”
The medical services authority voted at a meeting in October 2008 to accept restitution from Finch to settle the matter, pending the decision of the district attorney.
In a 14-page opinion dated Aug. 6, District Attorney Michael E. Povich wrote, “Since I am not convinced that a criminal prosecution would result in a conviction, I am exercising my prosecutorial discretion in not instituting criminal proceedings.”
Povich is on vacation this week and unavailable to discuss the decision.
Finch also declined to comment.