Edgecomb Selectman Dawn Murray read her resignation letter aloud Dec. 27 citing an ongoing harassment case and health concerns as reasons for leaving her post. She had hoped to finish her term which expires in May, but could not, and she decided she would officially resign effective Dec. 31. 

Since August, Murray has worked on Freedom of Access Act requests from resident Timothy Harrington. But the requests turned into a legal fight resulting in Murray telling fellow selectmen, town officials and residents in her resignation letter that she’d had enough. 

“I really don’t want to resign, but an order of protection from harassment has failed to protect me from Timothy Harrington’s finding new ways to send me hateful messages. He has made unsubstantiated, bold and  public allegations against me of collusion, subversion, deception, lying, evil and more,” she read.  

In November, Wiscasset District Court Judge John Martin granted Murray and resident Alan Whitman protection from harassment orders against Harrington for 364 days. On Nov. 8, municipal officials received notice Harrington filed a lawsuit in Wiscasset District Court to receive municipal records requested in August. During the Dec. 27 board meeting, Murray updated Selectmen Ted Hugger and Mike Smith about the lawsuit. 

She reported Harrington received all but one of the first page of each 2022 planning board applications. Harrington also requested all permits regarding his abutter Alan Whitman’s construction project. On Aug. 4, Whitman received a blasting permit from the planning board. “That’s all we have for Mr. Whitman’s project, and it was sent to him. The only document Whitman filed is for the blasting permit,” she said. “The only thing (Harrington) hasn’t received is the first page of his own building permit application which we will send to the court.”

Code Enforcement Officer George Chase confirmed Whitman had received only one permit. “All there is, is a hole in the ground from the blasting,” Chase said. “(Whitman) has submitted paperwork for septic and plumbing, but he won’t receive a building permit until he is ready to proceed.”

Murray did not attend the Dec. 20 trial conference. The court scheduled a Jan. 11 hearing date for the town to submit remaining requested FOAA documents. Murray told selectmen Harrington sent a message to her through the town attorney. Murray recounted the alleged threat from the attorney as “Tell Dawn Murray I know what she is doing. I know what she is up to. I know she is colluding, and being subversive and making sure she doesn’t get away with it.” 

Murray said she is concerned for her safety and the entire episode has her seeking medical treatment for pain and anxiety. Murray reported she informed Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department about the perceived threat. “How that isn’t an indirect threat I don’t know. I know in the state (Texas) I’m from it is,” she said. “I can’t take it anymore. I’m in pain and taking medication. Maybe if I resign, he will find somebody else to harass.” 

In an email to the Boothbay Register, Harrington reported during the Jan. 11 hearing he is also requesting to amend and terminate the two protection orders. “Jan. 11 is the court date. Have you heard about it? All parties returning to the Wiscasset court for questioning,” he wrote. “Motion to amend or terminate protection order. The truth is out, yet you are not reporting it. Three more upcoming lawsuits all with rock solid evidence. Did you hear that the subversion in Edgecomb was documented at the FOAA hearing? Are you interested in truth? Only truly arrogant and corrupt people could even imagine the ideas in Edgecomb,” he wrote. 

On Dec. 27, the newspaper requested an interview with Harrington, but he declined. Instead, he sent two email responses. The first read “Not answering any questions. I read the Lincoln County News report. I am amazed anyone thinks I target any person. I am very consistent. I target the unjust activity in the town of Edgecomb. Target the lies, arrogance and subversion of town ordinances. Don't believe me? Come to the many upcoming trials at the court house . . .,” he wrote. 

The second email was sent one hour and 41 minutes later. “The liberal mouthpiece strikes again! Did you forget? No application, no soil test, no septic plan, no building permit, no drainage plan. Yet a road and foundation are in place! Print that, some truth!” he wrote. 

Murray told selectmen she wanted to follow up on a couple of municipal items prior to resigning at the end of the week. Smith apologized on the board’s behalf for the circumstances leading to her resignation.   “We can’t apologize enough to you,” he said. “You stepped forward, you were the contact in all of this, and you were the one who took the beating in this. It is unfair and unjust.”   Selectmen did not think a special election would be called prior to the May town meeting to fill Murray’s unexpired term. Smith wants to confer with Town Clerk Claudia Coffin before officially deciding whether a special election is needed.