Penobscot County Commissioners Minutes from August 25, 2020
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Penobscot County Commissioners’ Meeting Minutes August 25, 2020 2298 9:00 AM Commissioners Peter Baldacci, Andre Cushing and Laura Sanborn 63°
Approval of Minutes –
Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to approve August 18, 2020 meeting minutes. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0.
Public Comment – None
UT Update –
• Director Shaw Weeks reported that Stacie Beyers (LUPC) has agreed to make a presentation to the Commissioner on Tuesday, September 8th.
• Shaw stated that he has tried to contact the people responsible for maintenance regarding the South Twin Boat Launch; however he has not been successful at this time. Brookfield Renewable Energy Group owns the site. There confusion of who is responsible for maintaining it.
• Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to award the County Road Gravel Project in Greenfield to Joe Reinzo for a total project price of $35,310. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0.
• Director Weeks has received a copy of the Matagamon Lake Association contract with Brown Development.
• There are a few TIF projects the UT Dept. is working on. Shaw has spoken with Representative Steve Stanley and Former US Representative Michael Michaud regarding a couple projects in Katahdin. One of projects that is exciting is a film being produced by Steve Lyman from New England Outdoors.
• Commissioner Baldacci said that he was contacted by NACo regarding the Appropriations Committee and Maine Congressional Delegations continued support for PILT funding. Penobscot County receives the largest amount of PILT funds in the State of Maine.
Administration Update -
• Administrator Collins reported that we contracted with Service Master for a special cleaning in the Probate Office last week. Staff are back and are in full operation.
• The Sheriff and Deputy Facilities Director are each on vacation this week.
• FOP negotiations will be held this week for Line and Supervisor units.
• IT has made the change to use ZOOM in place of Team Viewer.
• Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn received our letter certification of the Radio Bond Referendum vote. • The County was contacted yesterday by a group inquiring if we had any information or reports containing any contracts or donations with the Center for Tech and Civic Life or any other non-profit organization assisting with mail-in ballot voting. We shared how elections are conducted in Maine.
• Chris Bachman is the new Orrington Town Manager
• Amy D’Ambrogio of Barclay Damon is representing the Great Lakes Hydro America who are appealing a Tax Abatement denial to the Commissioners on an East Millinocket Property. The value is $23+ M.
• Payroll Change Notices signed for: Mark Fucile – Hired Full time; Patricia McLaughlin and Jon Carson – Resignations; Ryan Buck, George Dean. Michaleb Niles and Gabriel Woodrow – Payroll Changes
• Payroll Warrant to be approved for August 21, 2020: $ 255,222.29 • Accts Payable Warrant to be approved for August 25, 2020: $ 66,379.51 • UT Warrant to be approved for: NONE • UT TIF Warrant to be approved: NONE
Executive Session---Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:15 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matter. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Vote to approved passed 3-0. Present were: Commissioners, Administrator Collins, Director Honey and Register Susan Bulay. Session ended at 9:28 a.m. No votes taken.
Executive Session---Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:29 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matter. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Vote to approved passed 3-0. Present were: Commissioners, Administrator Collins and Director Honey. Session ended at 9:50 a.m. No votes taken.
Executive Session---Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:51 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (D) Contract Matter. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0. Present were: Commissioners, Administrator Collins, Director Honey and Director Chris Lavoie. Session ended at 10:01. a.m. No votes taken.
Executive Session---Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to go into Executive Session at 10:02 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (D) Contract Matter. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0. Present were: Commissioners, Administrator Collins, Director Honey, Chief Birch, Captain Clukey and LT Hotaling. The Chief ad each Lt. left at 10: 35 am. Administrator Collins left at 10: 44 a.m. Session ended at 11:12 a.m. Open Session –
• Notice of Memorandum of wage pay adjustments effective the first payroll in September for our corrections officers. To include $1.75 per hour increase for all correctional officers; Part time correctional officers starting wages to $17.00 per hour. Hazard pay stipends for correctional staff will be addressed with the Union Representatives. Commissioner Sanborn moved to approve this as presented. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0.
• Administrator Bill Collins discussed his retirement after 18 years of serving Penobscot County. His last day of work will be Wednesday, December 23rd retiring on December 25th. The Commissioners and Administrator have discussed at length what the best transition would be for the County; HR Director Erika Honey will become Penobscot County’s next Administrator. The Commissioners also recognize that Human Relations will need additional staffing; hence they approve the process of advertising for a Human Resource Coordinator and at a later date a clerical specialist.
Commissioner Sanborn moved to approve Director Erika Honey as County Administrator upon Bill Collins’ retirement. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0.
Meeting Adjourned-
Commissioner Sanborn moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:18 a.m. with no further business on the agenda. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0
Certified By: Administrator, William Collins Peter K. Baldacci, Chairman Laura J. Sanborn, Commissioner Andre E. Cushing, III, Commissioner
