Lincoln County commissioners accept emergency-management grants, approve warrants and several personnel actions

Lincoln County commissioners on Jan. 20 approved routine finance items and payroll, accepted two emergency-management grants and authorized a set of contract and personnel actions, while a Jefferson resident urged the board to resume opioid-settlement grant rounds for local recovery services.

Sharon Bailey, a Jefferson resident, told commissioners she lost her only son, Matthew, to an accidental overdose on Sept. 7, 2012, and asked the board to "reconsider the disbursement of the opioid settlement funds and prioritize ongoing grants to our community based organizations," saying local nonprofits provide prevention, recovery and grief-support services. Bailey said she facilitates in-person grief groups and supports a statewide Facebook group for parents who have lost children to substance-related causes.

The board moved through a series of finance approvals. Commissioners approved AP warrant number 98 (a 2025 closeout) for $6,094.86, AP warrant 37 for $366,216.47 (largely health-insurance and annual-contract payments) and AP warrant 38 for $442,810 (including jail assessments and CAD-related software). They also approved the second payroll of 2026 for $265,976.64. All warrant and payroll motions were approved by voice votes.

The sheriff’s office reported jail-population changes and operational items, and the board approved two animal-control (ACO) contract renewals and authorized a payment to Time Clock Plus for scheduling/timekeeping software as part of a records-system transition.

Communications staff requested and received approval to change supervisor Emily Salley’s status from full-time to a reserve role; the board was told reserve staff typically cover two shifts per month. The district attorney’s office was authorized to send two employees to an out-of-state conference in Texas (estimated cost about $1,900 per person). The board also approved hiring Violet Paris Dodge as a legal secretary (pending background) and accepted the immediate resignation of legal secretary Jessica Prentice.

Emergency-management staff asked the commission to accept two grants: LEPC funds of $10,095.84 to support a local emergency planning-committee liaison and training, and the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) to support department operations, including salary costs. Staff said previous concerns tied to a Homeland Security standard that could have required participation in certain enforcement activities were alleviated by a multi‑state lawsuit and agency bulletin; commissioners voted to accept the grants and authorized the emergency-management supervisor to sign award paperwork.

Regional planning asked to authorize payment to engineering firm Fuss & O’Neill for a sewer-and-water feasibility study, authorizing up to $204,900 for work through August (about $140,000 covered by a state housing grant and $64,900 from the county strategic-plan reserve). The board approved a purchase-order approach so monthly invoices can be paid up to the total.

Facilities staff described a vendor proposal to replace an aging courthouse HVAC control system (the central computer runs on unsupported Windows 7 and one control panel is incompatible with modern software) and reported a vendor estimate of $73,264 for full replacement of panels, computers and installation. Staff recommended planning the replacement in the FY2027 budget while keeping capital reserves available for an emergency if the system fails.

The board authorized returning $8,410.68 to the Maine Connectivity Authority as a grant closeout payment for a regional/tribal broadband partner grant and received updates on community grants, including a $1,818,000 contribution to the Lincoln County Historical Society and the opening of a Tedford Housing shelter in Cooks Corner.

Before adjourning to executive session on personnel pursuant to 1 MRSA 4056(a), the board heard staff discussion of jail funding requests at the State House and ongoing inter-county collaboration efforts to manage costs.

Actions recorded at the meeting include approvals of warrants 98, 37 and 38; payroll 2026-2; ACO contract renewals for Waldenborough and Southport; payment authorization to Time Clock Plus; supervisor-status change for Emily Salley; acceptance of LEPC ($10,095.84) and EMPG grants; authorization to pay Fuss & O’Neill up to $204,900; DA office travel approvals; hiring of Violet Paris Dodge; acceptance of Jessica Prentice’s resignation; reimbursement of $8,410.68 to the Maine Connectivity Authority; and a motion to enter executive session for personnel.