County treasurers submit resignations

Washington County government's provisional treasurer and deputy treasurer both submitted their resignations on September 28, effective on October 9, in part because of the work environment at the county offices.

Provisional Treasurer Grace Falzarano of Columbia Falls states in her resignation letter, "The specific project I was brought in to complete for the county is now finalized. In light of current hostile working conditions, I feel it is the right time to step down." She is also resigning from all county committees that she serves on.

Sondra Small of Jonesport resigned as deputy treasurer so that she would not be automatically appointed to assume the treasurer's duties, as required under Maine law. She will continue as the county's finance manager. She notes in her letter that her resignation "will allow me to narrow my daily focus down to fewer overall responsibilities and dedicate my attention to the many other daily tasks on my plate."

As for the working conditions in county government offices, at a special meeting on September 2 the county commissioners had hired Bangor attorney Jonathan Pottle to help with reorganizing county government and manage mounting internal tensions. Those tensions came to a head on July 2, when two of the county commissioners voted to fire County Manager Renee Gray. Gray then sued the county and two of its commissioners, David Burns and Billy Howard, alleging numerous violations, including firing her illegally and subjecting her to sexually discriminatory and derogatory language. A settlement among the parties, adding legal protections to her contract, was then reached, which was signed on September 10 by Gray and the commissioners. The settlement also included payment of $2,500 to Gray, along with her attorney fees of $7,000.

When the lawsuit was filed, Falzarano says she was told, indirectly, that the county's attorneys directed all staff not to speak to anyone outside of the county government offices.

Falzarano was appointed as the provisional treasurer by the commissioners in September 2025, following the resignation of Jill Holmes after the county's severe budget crisis was discovered. Holmes had served as treasurer for 25 years. Falzarano was named provisional treasurer to compile the financial information needed for the county audits for 2022 and 2023, with the 2023 audit completed this past August.

Other members of the county's finance department include the finance director, Jenny Windsor, who began work on June 1 after being hired as the county's first finance director. Machias Savings Bank had required the appointment of a finance director as a condition for approving a tax-anticipation note for the county. The department also includes a payroll clerk, Megan Huffman.

The county commissioners were expected to consider the resignations following an executive session during their October 8 meeting.

Ballot question on treasurer

The county's fiscal crisis and the debate over how it was caused have led some to advocate for having the county commissioners appoint the county treasurer to ensure that the position is held by a professional. State law says an appointed treasurer must be qualified in the matters of business administration and finance.

County voters will weigh in on the issue during the November 3 election, when they will be asked it they want to abolish the elected treasurer position and replace it with a treasurer appointed by the commissioners.