Staff Writer
FORT KENT — The Aroostook County Commissioners met on Jan. 20 in Fort Kent to discus and deliberate northern Maine matters and their concerns about the FY2011 Correctional Services Budget. After numerous communications from the Board of Corrections (BOC) and the Corrections’ Working Group (CWG), County Administrator Doug Beaulieu brought to the attention of the commissioners specifically restrictive guidelines related to staffing and FY2011 proposed budget adjustments made by the CWG and the Budget Process Group.
One item Beaulieu expressed concern about was the decision of the CWG to remove step increases and cost-of-living adjustments to Aroostook County jail budget as well as the jail budgets of other counties.
“This will create an undue hardship on collective bargaining efforts and present health and safety concerns for staff and inmates,” Beaulieu expressed.
The BOC is scheduled to present a tentative budget to the joint standing committees on Criminal Justice and Public Safety and Appropriations and Financial Affairs within the next week or so, upon which more information will be know about the suggested budget cuts.
During his administrator’s report, Beaulieu discussed with the commissioners progress made in transferring grant sub-recipient designation from the county to the Northern Maine Development Commission. Beaulieu is currently working with the Department of Labor, the Bureau of Employment Services and NMDC to compete the transition.
Beaulieu also positively reported on the Maine Pretrial December ‘09 report.
Also discussed during the meeting, the Maine County Commissioners’ Association (MCCA) dues will be $7,999 this year, and commissioner Paul Underwood presented an update on the annual MCCA meeting. A motion was approved to appoint commissioners Norman Fournier and Paul Adams as alternate members of the MCCA board of directors and risk pool to represent the county in the event that current board member Underwood was unable to attend a meeting.
Public Works Director for the County Paul Bernier attended the meeting, updating the commissioners on the status and requirements of LD 797, “An Act to Fully Implement the Legislative Intent in Prohibiting Offensive Place Names.” Bernier informed the board that a committee meting of local interested parties will be scheduled soon to ensure the county’s legislative compliance.
The next meeting of the Aroostook County Commissioners is scheduled for tonight at 5:30 at the Caribou Courthouse.
