Penobscot County commissioners approve forfeiture transfers, contract extensions and budget seed fund; enter executive-session items

Penobscot County commissioners approved a group of administrative and financial actions during their Jan. 21 meeting, including criminal forfeiture transfers, a six-month contract extension for a consultant working on regional fire and EMS collaboration, and creation of a professional development fund seeded by credit-card rebates.

The meeting included separate votes to transfer criminal forfeiture proceeds to the district attorney’s forfeiture account and to the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department. A representative of the District Attorney’s Office asked the commissioners to approve the transfers and reviewers moved and seconded the motion; the commission approved the transfers.

Commissioners also approved an extension of the county’s contract with Paul Froman, the consultant who has been facilitating cross-municipal fire and EMS discussions and supporting the Central Maine Highlands Fire & EMS District. County staff said the six-month extension would cost about $45,500; the funding will come from LATCF funds the county received (identified in the meeting record as G2/LA TCF related to the unorganized territory and the Woods and Waters monument), and will cover a stipend plus travel expenses.

The commission extended its contract with the Old Town transfer station to accept bulky waste and recycling for the townships of Argyle and Greenfield; that contract will now include a consumer-price-index (CPI) adjustment, the staff report said. The commission also approved the transfer of forfeiture funds to the Sheriff’s Department for departmental use (the presentation mentioned conferences and training as examples of planned spending).

Other administrative votes included: - Appointment of Chris Fox as Emergency Management Agency director (provisional director to permanent appointment). The commission approved the recommendation from administration and human resources. - Establishment of a professional development account funded by credit-card rebate proceeds with a cap of $15,000; rebate proceeds above that cap will return to the general fund. - Approval of the currently published county warrants on the consent agenda.

The commission also moved to enter executive session on two items: confidential records (MRSA 405) and acquisition of real property; motions were made and seconded.

No roll-call vote-by-name was recorded in the public transcript for each motion; the meeting record shows commissioners voiced “aye” for each motion and proceeded with the items.

Votes at a glance - Criminal forfeiture transfers: approved (motion moved and seconded; commissioners voiced aye) - Forfeiture transfers to Sheriff’s Department (total cited in presentation ~ $3,068.50): approved - Old Town transfer station contract extension (Argyle and Greenfield bulky waste/recycling): approved - Appointment of Chris Fox as EMA director: approved - Extension of Paul Froman contract (6 months; estimated cost ~$45,500): approved - Creation of professional development account funded by credit-card rebates, cap $15,000: approved - Approval of published warrants: approved - Motions to enter executive session under MRSA 405 (confidential records) and for acquisition of real property: motion moved and seconded

Commissioners did not provide itemized roll-call tallies in the transcript; the public record shows motions were seconded and commissioners answered “aye.”