Penobscot County Commissioners Minutes from September 3, 2019
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Penobscot County Commissioners’ Minutes September 3, 2019 2253 9:00 AM Commissioners Andre Cushing & Laura Sanborn 61° Commissioner Peter Baldacci (Arrived 9:07)
Approval of Minutes -
Commissioner Cushing made a motion to approve August 20, 2019 meeting minutes. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 2-0.
NWDB Update –
Joanna Russell reported that the Northeastern Workforce Development Board will hold their second quarterly meeting Thursday, September 19th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Northern Maine Community College.
Joanna has interviewed and hired a new Program Assistant.
USDOL (US Department of Labor) came to Maine and conducted a site monitoring visit with Coastal Counties and the Northeastern Workforce Development Board. They brought a representative from Washington and two representatives from USDOL Region 1 in Boston. EMDC provided a lot of information about the activities that have occurred from PY17 and PY18. MDOL (Maine Department of Labor) talked about Wagner-Peyser funding. There was much discussion about the work that’s been done on developing our partnerships and collaboration within the five counties; we discussed the strategic planning that took place and the board development that has occurred. Joanna informed USDOL that the NWDB members have been a big part of our annual monitoring on program performance. Joanna feels they were very impressed with the fact that our board members have been very involved in the monitoring including interviewing participants. Joanna is waiting for a letter of the outcome of their visit.
Joanna reported that she continues to work on the cost sharing plan which is part of the One Stop Partners’ MOU. She reported that some of the information given previously has changed. It continues to be a challenge to keep partners involved and informed of the cost sharing plan. Joanna states there are 20 cost sharing partners; Indian tribes are not responsible to provide any cost sharing but they are in the partnership. However, Penobscot Indian Nation has been participating in the whole development process. It is important to provide information in order to reduce redundancy. Joanna has seen the regulations where the Community College as well as Adult Education only consider their administrative costs when calculating their share of the cost sharing plan. That changes the whole dynamic.
The NWDB will be hosting two workshops for job seekers; on October 16th from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Penobscot Job Corps in Bangor; November 6th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Place to be determined. These workshops will mirror the June 12th meetings with James Woodside, SBI Specialist from the Maine State Police; Amy Sneirson from Maine Human Rights Commission; and Local Recovery Centers will be available to present information on recovery resources. Joanna has been invited to participate in Maine’s first formal ten-year strategic economic development plan for the State of Maine. The initiative which will be led by the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) in partnership with other government agencies, business leaders and private organizations, will focus on strategies to enhance economic growth, particularly in rural Maine and address Maine’s workforce challenges. The next meeting will be held at UMaine Orono September 17th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Joanna reported on the Opioid Crisis National Emergency Grant. MDOL and the three local boards are working together to develop a plan to serve about 600 people statewide. Joanna believes the application will be submitted in the next couple days and is for about $6.1M. There is no match required on this Grant. Joanna explained that each local area creates and develops their own plan and budget where the State will be delivering services at statewide events to help educate the businesses, partners, etc. There are four entities that will bring in their budgets and program plans. The big focus is those that are incarcerated; however, in our local area we are not just servicing those incarcerated but going directly to the recovery programs. Joanna said letters of support have been received from Gordon Smith (Maine Director of Opioid Response) MCAA, MSA, DOC, statewide Recovery Centers and all of our partners that belong under WIOA. We are submitting a very strong proposal. This grant is not for treatment – this is for education, job training and placement. Support services are required to serve the people. We are able to help with medical costs such as dental work, infections from drug use etc.
Joanna states that the next NWDB Quarterly Meeting after September will be held December 12, 2019.
Finance Update –
Bill Collins provided the financial update for Judy Alexander. Amounts presented are prior to department heads coming before you to review their budget.
o Proposed budget for 2020 is $20,520,957 o Revenues are $3,175,412.50 o Net to be raised from taxes $16,895,544.50 (total increase of 4.769%) o LD1 Cap allows us to increase our budget 4.01%, this budget exceeds the LD1 Cap. o You will note that we have added a new department for Human Relations. Erika will present that in the coming weeks. o There is no jail budget attached but our Capped number. Judy will be meeting with the Sheriff in preparation of that budget. Bill provided 2019 tax collections. The County has received $2,466,294 thus far. Judy feels that our cash position is strong and is looking at paying up to $1M on the TAN to reduce our interest.
Bill has gone through the budget last week and will meet with the department heads before they present to you.
Administration Update –
Bill thanked his staff for their assistance while he was out.
20+ employees have signed up for the Fall Wellness Challenge.
The Deputy Registrar of Probate position closed Thursday. Erika and Renee are screening applicants and will conduct interviews later.
Erika and Renee will be holding interviews starting tomorrow for the clerical specialist position for Probate.
Bill stated that there are eleven county attendee’s signed up for the MCCA Conference at Point Lookout at the end of the month.
Erika and Captain Clukey are working on the PREA grant with hope it will completed to submit Friday.
Bill reports that WBRC and STV will be starting their bi-monthly meetings tomorrow and Thursday of this week.
A FOIA request was received in regards for the RFP on our medical provider contract. Captain Clukey will be providing that information to Bill.
Mr. Bruce Flaherty provided the names of the 2019 Spirit of America winners.
Payroll Change Notices signed for: Kyle Bjelf – Discharged; Suzy Worster – Resignation; Jordanna Sprague and Bradley Fitzgerald – Comp Time
Payroll Warrant to be approved for: $225,565.63 Accounts Payable Warrant to be approved for: $378,367.64 UT A/P Warrant to be approved for: $20,519.76 UT TIF Warrant to be approved for: NONE
Public Comment –
Larry Dansinger, citizen of Bangor, reported he hasn’t heard back on his August 26th inquiry requesting data information on inmates with bail/no bail. Larry requested a timeline from September 4th to September 15th to start this process.
Commissioner Baldacci said he will make an inquiry. Executive Session---Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:40 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matter. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Motion approve 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins, Erika Honey and Joanna Russell. Session ended at 10:05 a.m. NO votes taken.
Executive Session---Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to go into Executive Session at 10:06 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (D) Contract Matter. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Motion approve 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins, John Hiatt, Chris Lavoie and Josh Lilley. Session ended at 10:16 a.m. NO votes taken.
Executive Session---Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to go into Executive Session at 10:17 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (D) Contract Matter. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Motion approve 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins and John Hiatt. Session ended at 10:30 a.m. NO votes taken.
Meeting Adjourned-
Commissioner Cushing moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:37 a.m. with no further business on the agenda. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Moved to approve 3-0
Certified By: Administrator, William Collins Peter K. Baldacci, Chairman Laura J. Sanborn, Commissioner
Andre E. Cushing, III, Commissioner
