Penobscot County Commissioners Minutes from September 15, 2020
For a downloadable copy click HERE
Penobscot County Commissioners’ Meeting Minutes September 15, 2020 2301 9:00 AM Commissioners Peter Baldacci and Laura Sanborn 48° Commissioner Andre Cushing arrived 9:10
Approval of Minutes –
Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to approve September 1, 2020 meeting minutes. Commissioner Baldacci seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 2-0.
Public Comment – None
Bid Opening for Kingman and Prentiss paving Projects -
• Commissioner Baldacci opened up the Kingman and Prentiss paving projects for 2020. The following three vendors submitted their bids by the deadline.
VENDOR Binder Price per ton
Vaughn Thibodeau $225 Hopkins Paving $200 Streets Landscaping $130
• Commissioner Cushing made a motion to approve Street’s Landscaping for the Kingman and Prentiss paving projects for 2020. Commissioner Baldacci seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 2-0. Commissioner Sanborn abstained from the vote.
Explore New England TIF Presentation –
Matt Lewis from Maine Street Finance presented the following information:
• Explore New England Media, LLC is based out of Rhode Island.
• They are looking to produce a 60-minute documentary film that showcases all four seasons of the area surrounding Millinocket/East Millinocket and neighboring Baxter State Park.
• They have done half of the production already and have aired it online and on NESN.
• They are looking for funding for the remaining production. A quarter of the production would be of the Unorganized Territory and require TIF funds.
• Their TIF request of $49,042 had been submitted to the committee. There were questions for the production team. It is important that the TIF funds go to showcase and promote the unorganized territory.
o One of the stipulation offered was to do a deferred forgivable loan. o The TIF dollars would be the last dollars in for the Film. o The UT would have to featured proportionally in the film. • Commissioner Baldacci requested that access for Katahdin Development Corporation to the final product at no cost in order for their promotional purposes.
• Commissioner Cushing moved to approve TIF funding for this project as outlined by the Committee. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0.
UT Update –
• Director Shaw weeks presented for signature 2020 County Road Gravel Project. Reinzo Excavation and Recycling of Greenfield will be the contractor. Signed.
• Director Weeks presented for signature Ambulance Protection agreement for the Town of East Millinocket for the Unorganized Territories of Kingman and Prentiss. Signed.
o A draft copy for the Sheriff’s deputies (2) agreement funded by the UT Budget was presented at $ 109 K annually for each deputy including all expenses o Funding again from the UT budget o Director Weeks will be presenting a finalized contract next week.
Executive Session---Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:25 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 Sheriff Morton, Lt. Hotaling, and Treasurer John Hiatt. Session ended at 9:50 a.m. No votes taken
2021 Jail (Department 9) Budget Presentation-
• Sheriff Troy Morton and Lt. Keith Hotaling presented the Jail’s (Department 9) budget. Sheriff noted 13.62% increase in the budget ($1,400,704) comes from:
o Payroll – proposing $5,277,873
▪ 2021 has 53 not 52 weeks
▪ Adding four new positions – Cook, Training Officer, Custodian, and Clerical Staff person.
▪ As a result of higher payroll comes higher payroll overhead.
▪ If the Commissioners approve a new custodian position, the cleaning and sanitary line can be reduced back to $9,200
o Building/Equipment Repair and Maintenance – proposing $135,500 (+47.36%)
▪ Last year’s budget was $91,950 – also increase of buildings & structures from $ 8K to $ 50K
o Training Education – an increase of $ 5K. This is for tuition fees. o Miscellaneous changes were inmate uniforms and clothing; additional $ 10K for buildings and improvements in our capital account.
• Projected revenues for 2021 are $9,691,020 – an increase of 3.04%
• Commissioner Baldacci stated this was a good first run of the jail budget. It is time to sharpen out pencils and determine our priorities.
2021 Sheriff’s (Department 12) Budget Presentation-
• Sheriff noted the 11.16% increase ($539,961) in the budget comes from:
o Payroll – proposing $3,007,450 – up 10.5% from last year. 53 vs. 52 Weeks. o Payroll overheard also increases accordingly o There was conversation on the newly formed agreement with Bangor with the forensic employee. $18K will be in this budget. o Registration and training have a proposed budget of $17,000 (39.37%) o More deputies result in increases in the budget for: tires, statute & reference books, motor vehicles equipment and public safety equipment o The revenue will also need to be Adjusted for the two UT patrol deputies
2021 Civil (Department 13) Budget Presentation -
• This department consists of two full time civil deputies, one full time clerical and approximately ten part time deputies.
• Revenue has decreased due to COVID. The budget shows no increase in revenue.
• Commissioner Sanborn moved to approve Civil (Department 13) expenses budget as presented. Commissioner Cushing seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0.
Finance Update –
• Director Judy Alexander reported that there is a Presidential Executive Order for all businesses and organizations to eliminate payroll taxes. Opting out creates challenges. Commissioner Cushing moved to not apply this executive order eliminating payroll taxes. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0.
• Municipal Tax revenues have been coming in steadily. Currently we have $ 4 Million of Cash on Hand; Director Alexander will pay down a portion of the TAN this week.
• Judy will also be meeting with the software company to get a better sense of future costs. Administration Update -
• Administrator Collins reported he and HR Director Erika Honey participated in the MCCA meeting held virtually last week. Prior to the meeting, all counties submitted their Jail shortfalls for end of year to the Maine County Commissioners. During the meeting, Oxford County stated that they made a mistake and was $437,327 short. Discussion ensued as how to address their shortage. There was a special MCCA LPC meeting held yesterday with 12 participants. MACCAM was asked to come back to MCCA with their recommendation as to how to address Jail Funding shortfalls for year-end 20 and 21.
• FOP negotiations will be held this week for Line and Supervisor units.
• We will have a health insurance update next week
• There are additional grievances scheduled for next week
• Kudo’s to IT department for assisting the Registry of Deeds last week
• Facilities Director Brian MacDonald will be meeting with the Sheriff’s Department this afternoon.
• Apparently Maine Revenue Service has changed their valuation process to personal properties in the unorganized territories.
• Payroll Change Notices signed for: NONE • Payroll Warrant to be approved for September 11, 2020: $ 247,117.72 • Accts Payable Warrant to be approved for September 15, 2020: $ 186,775.43 • UT Warrant to be approved for September 15, 2020: $37,461.07 • UT TIF Warrant to be approved September 15, 2020: $6,612.59
Executive Session---Commissioner Cushing made a motion to go into Executive Session at 10:50 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matter. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0. Present were: Commissioners, Administrator Collins, Director Honey Sheriff Morton, Chief Birch, Captain Clukey, & Lt. Hotaling, FOP Representative Joel Wilkerson and Sgt. Ray Goodspeed. Session ended at 11:25 a.m. No votes taken.
Executive Session---Commissioner Cushing made a motion to go into Executive Session at 11:27 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (D) Contract Matter. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0. Present were: Commissioners, Administrator Collins, Director Honey, Treasurer John Hiatt, Director Chris Lavoie and Deputy Josh Lilley. Session ended at 11:34 a.m. No votes taken. Meeting Adjourned-
Commissioner Sanborn moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:35 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
