Joint Labor Committee opens public hearing on Sharon Blaisdell’s reappointment to MainePERS board

The Joint Standing Committee on Labor opened a public hearing to consider the governor’s nomination of Sharon Blaisdell of Manchester for reappointment to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees.

Under state law and the joint rules of the Legislature, the committee is required to hold a public hearing and to recommend confirmation or denial of a nominee by a majority vote of committee members present, the committee said at the start of the session.

Committee members present introduced themselves before the hearing. Those who identified themselves included Representative Collins (House District 61, Sydney and Vassalboro); Rafael Macias (House District 51, Thompson); Matthew Beck (House District 122, part of South Portland); Representative Valley Geiger (House District 42, Rockland and nearby islands); Representative Gary Drinkwater (House District 27); Representative Amy Raider (House District 23, portion of Bangor); Senator Bradstreet (Senate District 15, Augusta, Belgrade and surrounding towns); and Marshall Archer (identified with parts of Saco). The committee announced that it would hear testimony from and have an opportunity to question the governor or the governor’s representative, the nominee, and any other persons who wished to speak for or against the nomination.

No vote or recommendation was recorded at the opening of the hearing. The committee said it will send written notice of its recommendation to the president of the Senate following the required vote.

The record of the hearing, including any testimony and questions, will determine whether the committee recommends confirmation or denial by majority vote; at the opening, the committee simply set the hearing in motion and identified the process required by law.