After an executive session to open its meeting Thursday, Sept. 6, the Bremen Board of Selectmen named Amanda Meader as the town’s new attorney.
Meader is a co-founder and partner at the Augusta firm Ellis & Meader Attorneys at Law LLC.
The selectmen’s action follows the Maine Supreme Judicial Court’s decision to suspend the town’s previous attorney, Jonathan Hull, from practicing law in Maine.
The supreme court cited misconduct posing “an imminent threat to clients, the public, and to the administration of justice” in its Aug. 23 order of immediate interim suspension.
Hull faces criminal charges in connection with his time as treasurer of the nonprofit Cheseborough Program, which facilitates student exchanges between Bath and the city of Tsugaru, Japan.
He allegedly took thousands of dollars from the nonprofit, which he later repaid, according to an affidavit by the investigating officer. He was arrested Aug. 8.
The Bremen selectmen first discussed his arrest during an emergency meeting Aug. 13. At the time, they expressed general support for Hull and agreed to monitor his case.
Firehouse bay door
Bremen Fire Chief Don Leeman attended the meeting to discuss the expansion of a bay door at the firehouse. The bay houses the fire department’s brush truck.
According to Leeman, the door is 10 feet wide and the fire department wants to expand it to 12 feet to ensure easier and safer access, after a courtesy inspection by the Maine Department of Labor.
According to Selectman Hank Nevins, the Department of Labor wants 28 inches of clearance on either side of the vehicle.
Nevins said the department’s new brush truck is a little bigger than the previous model.
Leeman said a quote for the work came in at $10,356.
Nevins proposed splitting the cost between the town and the department, using $5,000 from the town’s capital improvements fund with the remainder to come from money the department raises through donations and fundraisers.
According to Nevins, the town has $25,000 in the fund and can afford the project.
Leeman agreed with the proposal, saying the department has spent money on fixing wiring, but will have some left over.
The selectmen voted unanimously to move forward with the cost-sharing arrangement.
