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Proposed EMA grants position deferred for the year amid funding uncertainty
Summary
Reviewers debated but ultimately chose to zero the line for a proposed Emergency Management Agency grants position this year, citing fiscal caution, state funding uncertainty and the existence of external grant-writing partners.
Reviewers discussed a proposed new Emergency Management Agency (EMA) position intended to pursue private and disaster‑recovery grants and to serve as a community outreach coordinator. After debate about timing and county capacity, reviewers voted to zero the position’s budget line for the coming year.
Phil (identified in the transcript only by first name) described the role’s intended functions: “they would also be utilized, in, disaster recovery, having a specialty in recovery to assist towns in their, public assistance applications, individual assistance applications, and really have that specialty, in that bringing the money back into the communities. Really pushing them out there and being the community coordinator, the community outreach person,” and added the person would help with the LEPC and support towns’ grant applications.
Opponents cited tight county finances and uncertainty in state and federal funding. One reviewer noted that the Maine Municipal Association (MMA) had warned of a citizen petition that could freeze state budget disbursements and that “the funding in the budget is currently frozen” pending that petition, increasing fiscal risk. Several reviewers said municipalities and regional partners (NCOG, Kelt, Midcoast) have provided grant-writing assistance and suggested using those resources before adding a new county position.
A motion to zero the EMA new-position line (referenced in the transcript as line 51-035) for the coming year was made and seconded and passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: the position would centralize grant-writing capacity for EMA and towns and could generate private or federal funds for local recovery and services, but adding a permanent staff role increases ongoing personnel costs. Reviewers decided to pause hiring the position for this fiscal year and to revisit the need later.
