Penobscot County Commissioners Meeting Minutes for July 24th, 2018
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Penobscot County Commissioners’ Meeting Minutes July 24, 2018 2198
9:00 AM Commissioners Peter Baldacci, Tom Davis and Laura Sanborn 72°
Executive Session---Commissioner Davis made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:00 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matter. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins and Dan Tremble. Session ended at 9:09 a.m.
Commissioner Sanborn made a motion for Administrator Collins to execute a severance agreement. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. Motion passed 3 – 0.
Executive Session---Commissioner Davis made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:10 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matter. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins, Dan Tremble, and Chad LaBree. Session ended at 9:28 a.m. Commissioner Sanborn made a motion for Administrator Collins to execute a severance agreement. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. Motion passed 3 – 0.
Executive Session---Commissioner Davis 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 Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins, Dan Tremble and Sheriff Morton. Session ended at 9:46 a.m. No votes taken
Executive Session---Commissioner Davis made a motion to go into Executive Session at 9:46 am, under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (E) Contract Matter. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins, Dan Tremble, Sheriff Morton and Attorney Adam Lee. Session ended at 10:02 a.m. No votes taken
Sheriff’s Update –
Sheriff Troy Morton stated that today’s jail population is 200 (167 males, 33 females) with 65 boarded out to other county jails. There are no federal inmates while we have 49 inmates in Pre-Trial Services.
Commissioner Sanborn moved that we approve the 2019 supplemental contract for the Town of Levant. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. Signed.
Sheriff reported last week the 2012 transport van that broke down in Knox County with transmission problems has been repaired and is working well with the rebuilt transmission. Sheriff is grateful for all the assistance that Knox County has provided us during this time.
Sheriff announced that former Civil Deputy Wes Parlee has passed. Wes was retired from the Brewer Police Department, then came to the Sheriff’s Office where he worked in the courts, then moved on and became a part time civil deputy.
Two Bridges is requesting the Sheriff speak to their board on a contract for a longer term than one year. Sheriff has been negotiating with Somerset and Cumberland Counties for boarding arrangements as well.
UT Update –
Commissioner Davis made a motion for the new road name request for IP3 to McGaffigan Way. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. Signed.
Barbara presented the contracts for the Littlefield Myra Road and Cross Road paving contracts that had been awarded to Eaton Paving. Signed.
Commissioner Davis moved to accept the salt/sand storage agreement with Piscataquis County. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0. Signed.
Barbara presented the ATV use permit with Mt. Jefferson Back Country Riders for signature. Signed.
George thanked the Sheriff for allowing inmates from the jail for their work as trustees in the UT. Currently we are using them one day a week. They have mowed the cemeteries in Greenfield with Argyle next. George will also be using the trustees help with the salt/sand sheds.
Roadside mowing began and our contractor, Vance Lambert does a fabulous job.
Ryan Pelletier, Aroostook County Manager is putting together a working group for counties working together for regulation on the sale of marijuana in the UT.
Terry Hill is forming a working group on getting broadband into the Shin Pond area. Barbara and George will be invited to participate.
PRCC Update -
Chris Lavoie reported that he plans to present weekly updates to the Commissioners.
Chris reports for week ending July 22nd generated 3,027 incident cards for service as well as 1,215 9-1-1 calls. PRCC just got access for the business lines calls, so next week he will be able to report on those numbers as well.
The tower site that overheated in Medway, is running smoothly now with no problems since the air conditioner was installed.
Chris states that they are working with end users and rebuilding relationships with them. There will be a full scale active shooter exercise on August 3rd with Hampden PD; Dexter PD will have one next month and Lincoln will be in the fall.
Chris feels that in order to build morale and take pride in the organization we need to engage our staff with projects.
o Two dispatchers have been assigned to set up two separate trainings for our end users. The first one is educating them our operation and radio systems. The second one is on EMD and EFD protocols.
o One dispatcher is in charge of getting the Verizon backup phones up and running.
o Another dispatcher is in charge of checking our backup equipment in Northern Penobscot County to make sure that is up and running. This is something that should be done monthly and has found that this is something that has not been done since early spring.
o Chris recently appointed a dispatcher to sit on the PSIMS Committee. Chris feels it necessary for a user of the Spilman System to represent PRCC.
o Two dispatchers are currently assigned to LT Hotaling to work on the mapping project.
Chris reports that there are a couple of radio consoles that are being checked regularly
at the State police barracks and University of Maine Augusta campus.
Chris reports that interviews last week had a very strong group of applicants. The panel have narrowed down offers to four applicants. Another four applicants can be held on to for a year for future openings.
The supervisors meeting that was held two weeks ago. It was to address outstanding issues. It was very productive. In an effort to keep our staff better informed a redacted copy of the minutes has been provided to all the dispatchers.
Jim Ryan up dated the Commissioners that the new call taker consoles are and running as well as licenses retained for all these positions. Computers and radios have been installed on the consoles.
Jim feels the staffing levels should be kept at 19 dispatchers, of which three need to be filled, and six call taker positions. It is the consensus to keep dispatchers as such since they have more systems education and can always fill the role of a call taker position if needed. However, call takers cannot fill the role of a dispatcher. In the future Chris would like to see a junior dispatcher more of a floater position which will allow more flexibility for staffing.
Jim feels that the call taker seating location is not ideal for all parties involved. Currently they are seated right outside the Director and Administrative Assistant offices which Jim feels are not secure as people are walking right through a working space. Jim feels these positions would be better suited to be moved to the training room since it had already been wired for additional seating.
Commissioner Davis moved the request for PRCC to acquire backup power supplies for the radio systems and monitors. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0.
Finance Update –
Commissioner Davis moved to approve the FY 2018-2019 Jail budget. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Motion passed 3-0.
Judy provided the June County figures year to date to the Commissioners. Revenues are right on target. As of June 30th, the jail deficit is up to $ 1 M. Those numbers will change as soon the jail funding monies come in from Augusta.
Judy reports that a letter of credit for FDIC was renewed with $ 10 M coverage.
Executive Session---Commissioner Davis made a motion to go into Executive Session at 11:00 a.m., under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A) Personnel Matter. Commissioner Sanborn seconded the motion. Vote to approve 3-0. Present were: Bill Collins, Dan Tremble, Chris Lavoie and Jim Ryan. Session ended at 11:29 a.m. No votes taken
Administrative Update –
Next Tuesday Bill, the Sheriff and Aaron Frey will meet to discuss the jail funding situation.
Bill had a meeting with the Postmistress and she has agreed to allow the Sheriff’s Department two postal spaces.
Last week Rob Frank from WBRC and the architects from New York met with all department heads for their future spacing needs. There was discussion on taking a road trip to the Syracuse, New York facility to see the concept.
Commissioner Sanborn will serve on the board for the expansion of broadband in the UT. There will be a meeting held at EMDC tomorrow.
There is also a Health and Safety meeting tomorrow.
Sheriff and Bill have scheduled dates for negotiations with FOP.
A reminder was sent out not to park near the building on Saturday as the window washing crew will be here.
Bill reminded the Commissioners that Joanna Russell, Director of the Northeastern Workforce Development Board, has invited the Commissioners and their spouses to Lobster Mania taking place July 26th 6-8:00 pm at the BARN.
Bill is finalizing attendance for the Maine County Convention taking place September 14, 15 & 16 in Portland.
Payroll change notices signed for: LaNiece Sirois – Layoff; James Ryan – Hired; Blake Miller – Resignation Rescinded; Cap Ayer, Bradley Fitzgerald, Tracy Hall, William Lovejoy, and Tyler Thompson – Comp Time.
Payroll Warrant to be approved for pay date 7/13/18: $ 278,928.67
Payroll Warrant to be approved for pay date 7/20/18: $ 225,441.06
Accounts Payable Warrant to be approved for pay date 7/12/18: $ 300.00
Accounts Payable Warrant to be approved for pay date 7/17/18: $71,206.00
Accounts Payable Warrant to be approved for pay date 7/24/18: 41,623.66
Unorganized Territory Warrant to be approved for: $ 20,613.15
Commissioner Sanborn made a motion to approve the TIF Agreement for Matagamon Lake Association for $ 100 K. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. Vote to approve passed 3 – 0. Signed.
Public Session – Former US Representative Mike Michaud was in attendance at the meeting and wanted to give thanks to Penobscot County Commissioners for their service to the citizens of Penobscot County.
Meeting Adjourned-
Commissioner Davis moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:35 am with no further business on the agenda. Commissioner Sanborn 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
