Former DA
to serve as victim witness advocate
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — While the Aroostook County Commissioners regretfully discussed the resignation of the former part-time victim witness advocate due to medical reasons, they were quite pleased with the qualifications of the individual selected to temporarily fill that position.
Echoing the recommendation of District Attorney Todd Collins, County Administrator Doug Beaulieu requested during a recent commissioners’ meeting that the commissioners approve the hiring of former District Attorney Neil Adams to serve as a part-time victim witness advocate operating out of the Presque Isle office.
“[Adams] has agreed to assume the post on a 20-hour per week basis through the end of this fiscal year, which will be Dec. 31, at the base salary of $10.49 per hour — which is less than we were paying,” Beaulieu told the commissioners.
Beaulieu also expressed his thoughts as to what a great opportunity this was for The County.
“[Adams] is kind of excited about doing this; I think he’s looking for a little something [to do] during retirement and he’s obviously someone that will hit the ground running,” Beaulieu said. “This is a great opportunity more for us than probably him,” he added, mentioning how aside from the resignation of the former part-time witness advocate, another victim witness advocate is out on medical leave.
“We’re very fortunate to have someone like Neal step into this position — it’s great news for us,” said Commissioner Norman Fournier; Adam’s hiring was quickly approved.
During the regularly scheduled meeting, Beaulieu also informed the commissioners that the already low workers compensation experience rating for county employees will most likely drop even lower — which can mean cost savings on insurance.
“Instead of being .99 — and as you know, anything under one is really good —it’s .77,” Beaulieu said.
According to Beaulieu, The County’s experienced very few losses in terms of their workers compensation claims.
“In fact, the losses amount to $2,963 — that’s extremely low,” Beaulieu explained. “This is a preliminary report, but it’s quite likely that the final number will be very close to .77”
Last year’s workers compensation experience rating for county employees was .85, which Beaulieu described as being “exceptionally good,” and expressed that the lower rating should save the county some money in 2013.
The commissioners also discussed matters of the near future like the upcoming budgets for The County and the unorganized territories as well as the commissioners approaching appointment of someone to represent Aroostook County on the newly created Main Land Use Planning Commission; that appointment is anticipated to take place mid-December.
No action was needed during the meeting on the future appointment to the commission, but Beaulieu highlighted the importance of the nomination.
Commissioner Fournier, who attended the meeting through teleconference, agreed with Beaulieu’s recommendation to revisit the nomination in early November and suggested that the board obtain input from Commissioner Paul Adams, who was unable to attend the meeting.
“He’s been our lead person on this and he has worked very, very hard with the legislature, with the powers that be and with the land companies,” Fournier described. “I think we need some input from Paul and I would like to see [the subject of nomination] back on the agenda sometime in early November.”
Beaulieu explained that Aroostook and Piscataquis Counties — Maine’s largest counties — will make the initial appointments to the new Maine Land Use Planning Commission.
