Douglas Board of Selectmen Fills Assessors Vacancy, Votes Against Regional Dispatch Bid

DOUGLAS -- January 20, 2026, Douglas Board of Selectmen fills assessors vacancy, rejects regional dispatch push, and approves new fire contract tier. The board voted 5-0 Tuesday to appoint Arthur Griffin, a previously certified former member, to fill a vacancy on the Board of Assessors that had forced the cancellation of December business for lack of quorum; Griffin can vote immediately, with the seat running to the May election. The board also ratified a revised firefighter collective bargaining agreement adding an EMT advanced pay tier at approximately 8 percent above the EMT basic rate, covering a recently hired firefighter expected to pass the EMT advanced exam. On regional dispatch, both the police chief and fire chief urged the board to hold off on joining an Auburn-based cooperative now comprising 11 towns, with the police chief warning "once you give it away, you're not going to get it back," and Board of Selectmen member Matt adding that he found neither the staffing model nor the governance structure acceptable. Town Administrator Matt reported the snow-and-ice account was roughly $40,000 in deficit as of January 20, with up to $150,000 in deficit spending authorized, and that demolition of the so-called little brown house will require competitive bidding after the received quote of approximately $60,000 to $61,000 exceeded the TRD-01 statewide contract threshold.