Willimantic residents elect John Tatko new selectman

WILLIMANTIC – Some residents who have been arguing for accountability by the Board of Selectmen elected one of their own to the panel during a special town meeting Wednesday.

John Tatko, one of a group of residents repeatedly pressing county and state help to sort out alleged problems with assessing and town finances, was elected to succeed Jeff Morin, who resigned.

A recent audit revealed that about $42,000 in town funds was missing, and the Maine State Police have launched an investigation. No charges have been filed, and Guilford town officials are serving temporarily in those positions.

Tatko was opposed in the election by Burt Packard, whose candidacy was challenged by some residents, according to Selectman Susan Bennett.

Packard, who lives in Abbot but owns property and votes in Willimantic, was advised that he could not hold the position because of state law, she said Thursday. Packard refused to withdraw his name and he received 21 votes to Tatko’s 41 votes.

Residents overwhelmingly voted to accept a recall ordinance that will take effect immediately. By Maine statute, unless a town has a recall ordinance in place, no elected town official can be recalled by voters. The ordinance provides a method to oust a town official.

Bennett said she has learned that the town must have a fireproof vault in which to store the town’s records. For now, the town is covered since all of the financial records dating to August 1995 are now in the hands of the state police. When the records are returned, Bennett said, the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department has offered to store the records in the department’s vault until the town can make other arrangements.