Union contract signed by County Commissioners

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Just a little over seven months before the county’s collective bargaining agreement expires with its jail employees, the County Commissioners signed an 18-month contract covering Jan. 1, 2010-June 30, 2011 with Teamsters Local Union 340.
    According to County Administrator Doug Beaulieu there are no raises in the contract that was ratified by its members last month. However, some provisions for increased contributions to the health insurance plan will increase the county’s contribution from 82.5 percent to 85 percent. The new contract, Beaulieu said, is retroactive and soon “we’ll be right back into contract negotiations.” He added that the majority of the employees affected by the contract are jail employees.
Personnel matters
    Shawn Van Tasel of Houlton was re-commissioned as a full-time deputy sheriff and Artimus Coffin of Ashland was re-commissioned as a part-time deputy sheriff.
    Also hired was Wendy Holmes of New Limerick who will fill a 20-hour part-time position as a custodian in Houlton. Beaulieu stated that Holmes’ “references were good to excellent, with most in the excellent category.”
Other matters
    Thanks to a $2,000 grant from the Maine Municipal Association, the North Lakes Fire & Rescue will be getting turnout gear for three firefighters.
    Beaulieu also stated that the computer equipment for the registry of deeds in Houlton will be upgraded to improve the functioning of that department. 
    The next meeting of the County Commissioners will be in Fort Kent on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m.