by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Machias voters will not be asked to weigh in on two proposed budget items for the Machias Police Department, following a series of tense discussions between members of the Machias selectboard and budget committee.

The Machias Board of Selectmen last week voted 3 to 1 against asking voters to consider funding for a school resource officer and part-time police department administrator. The budget committee voted 2-1 in favor of putting the items to a town vote.