To many residents of Waldoboro, John Blamey is much more than a selectman.
He’s undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness and town officials are not sure exactly when he will be able to get back to business. The Board of Selectmen approved his request for leave on July 14.
Business as usual for Blamey encompasses activities that have taken a number of people to cover in his absence.
He heads up the Economic Development Committee, is president of the Medomak Valley Community Foundation, and volunteers his efforts toward VFW affairs. He was recently nominated to chair the Board of Assessors and Overseers of the Poor. According to Town manager William Post, the recreation complex project under way would not have been possible without Blamey’s fundraising efforts.
Outside of his selectman efforts, he also initiated the Waldoboro Paint the Town event, which supports local non-profit groups such as the Waldoboro Lions Club, the Medomak Valley Land Trust, the Medomak Valley Community Foundation and the Waldoboro Public Library.
“John has done an excellent job,” Board of Selectmen chair Clinton Collamore said. “We get along real well and share a lot of the same visions.”
Collamore said Blamey’s community service activities have been an attribute to the board. He said Blamey has quickly stepped up to the challenges that face a selectman, a job Collamore said usually takes two terms to get adjusted to.
“We just hope for the best,” Collamore said.
Post said he could not speak on the issue of Blamey’s health, nor could he say when the selectman will be able to return to the affairs in his town. Blamey has two more years in his term as selectman.
There are five members of the board and they are down to four in Blamey’s absence. There could be a tie vote on any given issue, which Post said would not pass if that were to happen. Post added, however, there could be a tie vote even with a full board.
“It’s a non-issue as far as I’m concerned at this point,” Post said, adding that Blamey’s absence has not adversely affected town business.
The selectman’s family was not available for comment as of press time.
Post added, however, “I wish him well for a speedy recovery.”
