By Paul Sylvain

Town officials in Machiasport are poised to assume management and grounds maintenance of six cemeteries currently overseen by separate cemetery associations.

But as the selectboard made clear at its Feb. 24 meeting, the town is not taking over the cemeteries’ care because of mismanagement or financial issues. In fact, the cemeteries are financially sound, the board said. According to town officials, the reason is simple: The people overseeing the associations are getting older and no one is willing to step in to take their place.