Joseph “Joe” Westrich is no longer Lincoln County's Director of Communications, according to a letter County Administrator Carrie Kipfer sent county fire chiefs July 19. Westrich had been communications director since January 2017 and had worked for the department 25 years, rising to supervisor in 2003, according to file reports.

Kipfer told the Wiscasset Newspaper in an email response, the county "respects the rights of its employees and does not release public statements about personnel matters. Because of this, I am unable to answer specific questions you may have about the reason(s) for the separation of employment."

Attempts to reach Westrich were not immediately successful.

In the letter to the chiefs, Kipfer states: "Joe has been a valuable member of our dispatch team and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors." She tells them, in the next few days the county would start the processes to appoint an interim director and hire a permanent one. "Until that announcement can be made, the supervisor on duty will assist you with any issues that they are able to, as they have in the past ... I know this change will be disruptive to our regular routine – thank you for your patience. I will be providing as much support to our team as possible as we transition to our next chapter."