Penobscot County Commissioners' Meeting Minutes March 13th, 2018
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Penobscot County Commissioners’ Meeting Minutes March 13, 2018 2180
9:00 AM Commissioners Peter Baldacci, Tom Davis and Laura Sanborn 30°
UT Update –
Barbara Veilleux and George Buswell requested approval to contract with the University of Maine for animal control of their special needs students service animals. Commissioner Davis made a motion to allow the contract to transport the animal to the Bangor Humane Society when students leave the campus for medical issues. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0.
Barbara stated that the public hearing for the UT municipal cost component has a tentative date for March 20th at 1:00 pm. She and George will attend.
After this next storm George will reevaluate the sand and salt in the sheds. We are very low on sand but the temperatures have been in our favor.
Bill Collins addressed the Commissioners’ stating that we received a call from Carol Woodcock at Senator Collins office letting us know that the MDOT Tiger Grant proposal that the Commissioners wrote a letter of support for has been approved. This grant is in regards to Mattawamkeag, Pleasant River and West Branch bridges.
Barbara stated that she is waiting on quotes for the Matagamon dam for TIF monies.
EMDC Update –
Vicki Rusbult came before the Commissioners to request their endorsement to expand on a pilot project that will assist communities to aggressively build their strategic technology plan. This plan is being submitted as a community broadband planning grant program through ConnectME.
Axioms Technologies and Eastern Maine Development Corporation worked with four Penobscot County Communities in 2017 to build their broadband technology. This now serves as a model for another round of communities to do the same. Ten communities have been invited to participate including Lincoln, Veazie, Corinna, Hermon, Howland, Dexter, LaGrange, Newport, Orrington and Veazie. At this time, Lincoln and Newport have responded that they would like to participate.
This plan is to address two critical elements; broadband infrastructure and bridging the digital divide.
Vicki says that she has requested $ 70 K for the ConnectME grant with $ 50k for Axiom for all the planning with the communities. If the funding is been approved, the project will likely start in the fall of 2018.
Commissioner Sanborn volunteered to be on the Broadband committee.
Commissioner Davis motioned to support the ConnectME planning project. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0.
Vicki will forward a letter of support for the Commissioners’ signature.
Executive Session---Commissioner Davis made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:20 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: Bill Collins, Dan Tremble, Chad Labree, and Chris Lavoie. Session ended at 9:30 a.m. with no votes taken.
Executive Session---Commissioner Davis made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:30 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: Bill Collins and Dan Tremble. Session ended at 9:45 a.m. with no votes taken.
Administration Update -
Commissioner Davis made a motion to deny Gregory Boober, Sr., his request for a tax abatement with the Town of Eddington for the reason that the Assessor Agent did not make an error in his valuation of the property. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to deny the grievance request past 3 – 0.
Bill stated he received communication from MCCA Executive Director Charlie Pray with language changes regarding legislation having the County Commissioners be the local authority on the approval and sale of marijuana establishments within the UT. The Commissioners are supportive of the legislative language changes submitted by Mr. Pray.
Commissioner Baldacci will not be able to attend the MCCA meeting on Thursday. Bill is not sure if he will be attending due to the weather.
Ms. Maha Sabawi from Orono came to visit Commissioner Davis bringing him a gift of a Dragon Tree. This will be kept in the hallway leading into the Commissioners’ Chambers.
Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve the building committee’s recommendation of entering a contract with WBRC as requested in our RFP. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3-0.
Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to approve the TAN representation letter for Eaton Peabody as our Bond counsel on the $4.4M request. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. Vote to approved passed 3 – 0. Signed.
Bill has been receiving emails in our general mailbox with political content that has become a concern. Authorities have been notified and are aware and will be handling the situation.
Weather permitting, Bill and Dick Hansen will meet Thursday morning regarding supplemental insurance for retiree’s.
Chief Deputy Bill Birch provided today’s jail population. 193 inmates comprised of 158 males, 35 females and 41 boarded out to other county jails. There are currently 58 inmates involved with pre-trial services. There are no federal inmates.
The Commissioners’ have agreed to closing early today at 1:00 p.m. and approved a late opening tomorrow when they can reassess if we should open due to the impending blizzard.
Payroll change notices signed for: Erik R. Candage, Ian M. Libby, Tracy L. Novak, Seth Scholl, Aaron M. Smith and Dakota W.H. Turnbull – Hired Full-time; Dustin Umlauf – Change of hours; Robin Gerry and Jessica Gray – Transfer.
Payroll Warrant to be approved for: $ 226,300.71
Account Payable Warrant to be approved: $ 126,495.32
Unorganized Territory Warrant to be approved: -NONE-
Public Comment –
Dick Hansen has recommended that Dave Merritt draw up blueprints for two showers to be installed in the County’s Fitness Center and forward them onto Maintenance Director, Cap Ayers.
Meeting Adjourned-
Commissioner Sanborn moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 with no further business on the agenda. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. Moved to approve passed 3-0.
Certified By:
Administrator, William Collins
Peter K. Baldacci, Chairman
Laura J. Sanborn, Commissioner
Thomas J. Davis, Jr., Commissioner
