Alna planning board member Laurie Hiestand has resigned as board secretary after getting emails she called disturbing. Responding to a question from Amaral in the board’s Tuesday, Feb. 9 Zoom meeting, Hiestand said her resignation was from the secretary role only. “I want to stay on the board. I received some emails that were really disturbing to me and I just don’t want to be in a position where I’m a target.”

Member Beth Whitney agreed to take the night’s notes and suggested member Peter Tischbein do them next time. He asked to sleep on it. Whitney said if she or Tischbein also get emails like those Hiestand described, “We will not be secretary either. We’re not going to take abuse just ’cause we’re secretary.”

“Nobody should be taking any abuse for the work they’re doing on the planning board,” Amaral said.

Wiscasset Newspaper is seeking the emails Hiestand referred to.

Amaral said he appreciated the tremendous amount of work Hiestand has had to do as secretary the past year, an extraordinarily busy one for her at work also. “My very, very heartfelt thanks go out to her for everything she’s done ...”

In public comment near the meeting’s close, resident Honor Sage also thanked Hiestand “from all the citizens around ... for all the secretarial work ...Glad you’re staying on the board, but I completely understand and I am so sorry that you have not had good emails coming, from whoever it was.”

Amaral is hoping March town meeting voters fund a scribe for the board.