Sangerville town clerk appointed interim town manager

SANGERVILLE — With Sangerville Town Manager Brian Mullis on medical leave, Town Clerk Michelle Nichols will serve as interim town manager until Mullis is able to return.

Nichols, who was worked for the town since September 2023 and had been in Guilford for 30 years prior, was appointed as interim town manager during a Jan. 21 select board meeting at the fire station.

Select Chair Jeff Peters told attendees that for those who did not know, Mullis — who has been Sangerville’s town manager since September 2024 — is on medical leave as he is in the hospital and is expected to be for a while.

After consulting with legal counsel in a 60-minute executive session and having another half hour executive session for the personnel matter, Peter announced an interim town manager needed to be appointed until it can be determined when Mullis can return.

A motion to appoint Nichols as interim town manager was passed and a certificate of appointment was signed.

Fire Chief Matt Blockler is spearheading a benefit spaghetti dinner for Mullis and his family, Nichols said.

The meal will be served from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21 in the Grace Bible Church Community Room at 40 Douty Hill Road. Admission is by donation and more information is available on the Sangerville Fire Department Facebook page. 

Those unable to attend who would like to send a card or donation can do so at Town Office PO Box 188, Sangerville, Maine 04479. Blocker will make sure the family receives everything that comes in.

In other business, the select board offered $44,610 to town hall roof contractor Roof Systems of Maine to satisfy the scope of work completed to date. Representatives from the company were present to meet with town officials and answer questions and they accepted payment that evening.

Sangerville leaders had some concerns over the scope of work. They were waiting to make payment until everything was clarified as the actual contract was between Roof Systems of Maine and Skowhegan-based engineer Wentworth Partnerships & Associates of Skowhegan.

The $44,610 is for roof work, including two of three dormers, carried out last spring. The untouched dormer is believed to be in the best shape of the three heading in and does not leak.

“At this point I feel like they’ve completed a scope of work and we owe them money and I feel like we need to get to that point tonight,” Peters said.

“Thanks for understanding the people’s situation,” Peters said about costs going over estimates. “It was unfortunate there was a little miscommunication.”

Foundation and site work on the property are scheduled for later in the year. Plans are to repair the town hall and get the municipal offices back there by 2027.

Wentworth Partnerships & Associates President and Senior Project Engineer Steve Govoni said he wanted to make a comment after the conclusion of the town hall roof discussions. 

“On behalf of Wentworth  Partnerships, we are wishing Brian and Liz a speedy recovery and the best,” he said, about the town manager and his wife.

The select board signed the paperwork for its $222,135 share of the 2026 Piscataquis County budget. This amount is up by about $11,000, Nichols said.

This year’s county budget totals just over $7.1 million. This figure is up by nearly $325,000 (4.78%) from 2025’s $6,794,951.

After applying $933,601 in county revenues, a net amount of $6,186,333 needs to be raised proportionally through taxes across the 18 county towns and plantations.

Piscataquis Area Community Center Executive Director Manda Stewart met with the select board, as she is reaching out to towns in the region for funding contributions for the facility on Park Street in Dover-Foxcroft. 

Based on its population, a $4,000 request is being made to Sangerville.

The center opened to the public last February after having been the home of the Piscataquis Regional YMCA for more than three and a half decades. Stewart was serving as the PRYMCA branch manager when the facility was abruptly closed in the fall of 2024.

A large endeavor for the center was getting the pool repaired. 

“It is full of water and Friday of last week we had our first AquaBlast class,” Stewart said. For the moment she is the only lifeguard, but several candidates are in the midst of training.

Open swim will be offered soon, Stewart said. The center is serving as a satellite branch of the Bangor Region YMCA Barracudas Swim Team, now the only affiliation with the YMCA.

“I think an important thing for everyone to understand is we are not the YCMA, we are for the community and I am unbelievably passionate about it,” Stewart said. The center is not just a place for sports and athletes, but seniors and families with free events planned for various ages.

“I don’t ever want the money to be a barrier,” she said about the critical importance of donors. Contributions can be restricted, a difference from when the building was the PRYMCA.

The select board will review the request and it will be part of the budget process, potentially being a warrant time for the annual town meeting in late March.