Paris Select Board appoints Ripley to MSAD 17 board

Dec. 20—PARIS — The Select Board has named Troy Ripley to fill the vacancy on the Maine School Administrative District 17 board of directors.

Ripley replaces Julia Lester, who resigned this month rather than face a recall election, scheduled for January.

A former director for MSAD 17, Ripley lost a reelection bid to Lester in June 2021.

Lester and Sarah Otterson were facing a recall election after nearly 700 Paris residents signed a petition seeking their removal for their support of a student gender identity policy being considered by the school board. The controversial issue has divided parents in the eight-town district.

Ripley will serve until the next election in June, when voters will select someone to fill the remaining year of the three-year term.

Select Board Chairman Christopher Summers and Selectmen Michael Bailey, Scott McElravy and Carlton Sprague supported Ripley's appointment. Selectman Peter Kilgore was absent.

In other business last week, selectmen unanimously approved spending $45,000 for a Dodge Charger for the new K-9 officer. At a previous meeting, Police Chief Michael Dailey said the Charger purchased from Bessey Motors will be outfitted with the police package. Town officials received a second quote for a pickup truck from Goodwin Chevrolet for $56,000, but that vehicle did not come with the police package.

Town Manager Dawn Noyes reported that the town had been awarded a Community Resilience Partnership Community Action Grant for $40,000 to place solar panels on the roof of the police station and to do a feasibility study for installing heat pumps in the Fire Station.

The board gave its approval to close the Town Office at noon Friday, Dec. 23.

A liquor license renewal was approved for The Square Restaurant at 24 Market Square.