BROOKLIN, Maine — All three members of this small town’s Board of Selectmen stood up at the start of Saturday’s annual town meeting and resigned.
Gerald Gray, Lorna Grant and Richard Freethy gave internal strife as the reason for their leaving, according to meeting moderator and former Selectman George Eaton.
“They said there were some internal problems between the select board and other elected officials,” Eaton said Sunday.
“It had progressed, apparently, beyond the point of repair. It was a shock to the entire town,” he said. “No one was aware of problems to this severity.”
Eaton said Grant had submitted her resignation before the town meeting, citing problems with other officials, but had agreed to stay on until a replacement was elected.
On Saturday, all three resignations were effective immediately.
Eaton said that after some discussion, the townspeople agreed to continue with the town meeting and directed Town Clerk Jeannine Hardy to contact the Maine Secretary of State’s Office for advice.
“I’m sure some other town, somewhere, has been in this situation, and we need some advice as to how to proceed,” Eaton said.
The other elected officers in the town office aside from the selectmen include Town Clerk Hardy, Treasurer Tammy Andrews and Tax Collector Sharon Freethy.
“We are a small town of about 800,” Eaton said. “We have a small administration, and they need to work closely in the town office.”