Committee hears nomination to reappoint Paul H. Gendreau to Maine Workers’ Compensation Board

The Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing held a public hearing Oct. 27, 2025, on the reappointment of Paul H. Gendreau of Waterville to the Maine Workers’ Compensation Board. The governor’s representative outlined Gendreau’s work history and the statutory role of the board, and a committee member moved that the committee recommend confirmation. A recorded committee vote or final recommendation was not included in the provided transcript.

Mary Anne Tarowski, senior policy advisor to Governor Janet Mills, told the committee that the Workers’ Compensation Board “was established to serve the employees and employers of the state by ensuring the prompt delivery of legally due benefits, promoting the prevention of disputes, reducing litigation by facilitating labor management cooperation.” She cited the board’s statutory authority under Maine Revised Statutes, Title 39‑A, chapter 3, section 151‑A, which frames the board’s composition and duties.

Paul H. Gendreau, the nominee, described himself as representing management on the board. The governor’s representative summarized Gendreau’s background: a graduate of the University of Maine at Orono, more than 30 years at Twin Rivers Paper Company in Madawaska in roles including quality control, labor relations and superintendent of finishing and shipping; a 2018 hire as human-resources manager at Huhtamaki in Waterville; and, as of 2024, serving as manager of labor and employee relations at Sappi in Skowhegan. Tarowski also said he serves on the board of directors of the Mid‑Maine Chamber of Commerce and has held municipal roles in Madawaska.

Senator Eric Bradstreet (Senate District 15) made a motion that the committee recommend confirmation of the nominee. During brief committee discussion a clarification was raised about whether the filing was an appointment or reappointment; members confirmed it was a reappointment. The transcript includes no recorded second to the motion and does not contain a vote tally or the committee’s final written recommendation.

Under Maine law, the committee must hold a public hearing and then report a recommendation by majority vote of members present; the chairs will send any recommendation to the president of the Senate. The hearing was advertised as live-streamed and the committee permitted questioning of the governor’s representative and the nominee.

Because the provided transcript ends before any recorded committee vote, the final formal action — whether the committee issued a recommendation for confirmation or denial and any vote tally — is not specified in the record provided to this article. The committee may take further action in a subsequent meeting or record a vote later in the same session.