Staff Writer
CARIBOU — The Aroostook County Commissioners met on Nov. 4 in the Administrative Hearing Room in the Caribou Courthouse, discussing the newly named Madawaska Lake — formerly known as T16R4 — and the Maine Pretrial Services agreement. The commissioners approved a motion to authorize County Administrator Doug Beaulieu to sign the lease agreements with Maine Pretrial Services for 2010 with some discussion as to what would happen should the Board of Corrections implement a statewide pretrial program. According to Beaulieu, it would be advantageous for the County should the state impose a statewide pretrial program given the county’s agreement with their present provider for 2010.
Executive director of the Aroostook County Action Program Connie Sandstrom recommended that the commissioners approve Raymond Mersereau, Gregory Bagley, Wilfred Bell, Peter Caron, Gary Sanfacon, Dan MacDonald and Butch Asselin to serve a one-year term on the ACAP Board of Directors and, based on her recommendation, the commissioners approved those individuals to the Board.
During his County Administrator’s Report, Beaulieu informed commissioners that the county has retained the services of Attorney Peter Marchesi of Waterville to assist with the MacImage situation; MacImage LLC. sued Hancock County over their fee for obtaining public information such as deeds and it has been suggested that other counties may find themselves in a similar situation over the nominal fees charged to obtain those documents. Beaulieu also informed the commissioners that Hancock County has since decided not to charge for electronic copies of their documents.
In a relatively close vote, Beaulieu informed the commissioners that during the Nov. 3 Election, the referendum question to rename T16R4 Madawaska Lake passed by an unofficial tally of 54-38 in favor of changing the name. Eighty percent of registered voters eligible to participate in the election voted.
The commissioners were also informed of a possible tax abatement issue regarding two requests that originated from the town of Van Buren and that Peter Crichton was elected to the Maine County Commissioners’ Association (MCCA) Board of Directors at a recent meeting. The Aroostook County Commissioners are a member of the MCCA.
The commissioners entered into executive session; upon adjourning, no action was taken.
The next meeting of the Aroostook County Commissioners is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. in Houlton.
