Penobscot County Commissioners' Meeting Minutes January 23rd, 2018
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Penobscot County Commissioners’ Meeting Minutes January 23, 2018 #2173
9:00 AM Commissioners Peter Baldacci, Tom Davis and Laura Sanborn 23°
Commissioner Davis made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:05 a.m. 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (E) Contract Matter. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins, Barbara Veilleux and George Buswell. Session ended at 9:15 with no votes taken.
UT Update –
Barbara brought before the Commissioners the Regional animal control contracts for the towns of Eddington, Hudson and Orono for their signatures. Commissioner Sanborn moved to approve the contracts with Commissioner Davis seconding the motion. Move to approve passed 3-0.
The TIF application for Matagamon is going forward.
George Buswell stated that it had been an extremely busy weekend with road issues and flooding.
State roads have been posted in Alton and Millinocket.
Sheriff’s Department Update –
Sheriff Troy Morton stated that today’s jail population is 180 inmates comprised of 147 males, 33 females and 48 more boarded out to other county jails. There are currently 59 inmates involved with pre-trial services. There are no federal inmates.
Troy stated that four correction officer candidates left Monday to go to the academy for the mandatory eight week training. There is another candidate that will be undergoing a two week in-house training. This corrections officer is able to undergo in-house training as he is a transfer from another jail.
The new medical service MEDPRO is in place and the Sheriff is comfortable with the contract. The final contract ironed out the overage fee as stated at last week’s meeting. These figures include the training costs but do not include medication operations that MEDCO services offer. Sheriff stated that this topic will be revisited at a later time. Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve the contract as written. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Motion to approve passed 3-0.
Sheriff requested the Commissioners approval to bid on seven cruisers and a jail cargo van. Commissioner Davis made a motion to go out to bid for these vehicles. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Motion to approve passed 3-0.
Sheriff has been working closely with the town of Patten in order to have a full time patrol deputy in that area. Patten is showing more serious crimes lately and having a full time deputy would benefit the town. Commissioner Davis made a motion to support the Sheriff in negotiating a contract with Patten. Commissioner Sanborn seconded it. Motion to approve passed 3-0.
Last week one of our deputies and his pregnant wife were involved in a head on car accident. Everyone is well and the baby boy was brought in the world later in the day. The State Police have taken over the investigation in order to avoid potential conflict of interest issues.
Sheriff Morton stated that since Miller Drug Pharmacy has changed hands they are having a difficult time with the new billing cycle.
Sheriff presented the end of the year statistics for 2017 on inmates. Average was 189 inmates, 33 boarded out and 276 that we’re responsible for.
The Jail Administrator position closed today and the interview process will start the end of week.
The jail’s telephone operating system, SECURUS, expires at the end of April after a two year contract. There are seven other counties that contract with SECURUS. Maine Sheriff’s Association is handling the negotiating. The Sheriff would like to see video visitation added to our new contract. There is legislation in Augusta which would mandate contact visitation. Our current policy is we have face to face visitations with a panel between the inmate and visitors.
Sheriff stated that Finance Director Judy Alexander, LT Hotaling and Bill had a telephone conference with Bob Devlin from Kennebec County regarding the $17.6 M jail income that is being requested. This will be the dollar amount that will be presented to the Maine Sheriff’s Association meeting on January 25th.
An email was sent to Bill through the county’s general mailbox with concerns regarding video conferencing not having a Judge present during these arraignments. The Sheriff and DA Almy addressed the concerns to the complainant.
Bill stated that the union had questioned representation on Hermon contract. Sheriff had an initial contract meeting with the Hermon Town Manager. Originally there was talk of a continued five year plan, however, there has been no decision made.
There will be a Corrections Officers Supervisor Union Meeting on Friday, January 26th.
Executive Session---Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:45 a.m. 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (E) Contract Matter. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins, Dan Tremble, Sheriff Morton, LT Hotaling, Brian Thibeau, Jim Parker, Harry Sanborn, John Rouleau and Jim Ring. Session ended at 10:20 with no votes taken.
Building Committee Update –
Callie Ferguson from Bangor Daily News was in attendance and introduced to the Commissioners. Callie posed some questions to the Commissioners and Building Committee Members that were present.
The Building Committee was formed in November with each Commissioner picking two members to be on the Board with all different backgrounds of experience.
The Committee members are looking for some professional help to assist in facilitating with the needs of the County and how they can be met. The Committee hopes to be able to lay out a timeline with in the next two weeks.
The Committee states that there is hope that within the next couple months after careful consideration a RFP will be able to go out to bid.
Commissioner Baldacci states that the Jails needs are a very complex issue and there are many variables that need to be looked into.
Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to go into Executive Session at 10:35 a.m.
1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matter. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins, Dan Tremble, and Michelle Tanguay. Session ended at 10:40 with no votes taken.
Administrative Update –
The Commissioners were presented a forfeiture of property from the State of Maine vs Justin Grover to be signed by the Commissioners. Signed.
Bill presented the Commissioners the Tax Abatement decision from January 9th, 2018 for State of Maine vs Edward DeRoche for their signatures. Signed.
Nordic track bids were read with George Buswell the high bidder in the amount of $375 and Sgt. Mark Johnson bidding $125.51 for the second unit. Commissioner Davis made a motion to accept these bids. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Motion to approve passed 3-0.
Mike Rogers from the State of Maine has sent Bill the certified evaluations of Penobscot County properties. The Commissioners were given copies for their records.
Lindsey Chastain from the Attorney General’s office communicated with Bill that 62 confirmed overdose deaths with potentially six more when the toxicology tests are received.
Payroll change notices signed for: Dustin Umlauf – Change of Hours; Deborah Sargent – Temporary F/T assignment; Patrick Knaide – Resignation; Cap Ayer, George Buswell, Tyler Thompson and Mary Anne Hesseltine – Comp Time.
Payroll Warrant to be approved for: $ 207,929.55
Account Payable Warrant to be approved: $97,915.61
Unorganized Territory Warrant to be approved: $44,128.50
Public Comment – None
Meeting Adjourned-
Commissioner Davis moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 a.m. with no further business on the agenda. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Moved to approve passed 3-0.
