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Sagadahoc County approves expanded probate clerk schedule and job description
Summary
The Board authorized increasing a probationary probate clerk position to 30 hours per week and approved a revised job description; county officials said reallocating existing funds will largely cover costs and could save about $7,000 annually while offering benefits may help recruitment.
The Sagadahoc County Commissioners voted Nov. 13 to increase a Probate Court clerk position to 30 hours per week and to approve a revised job description for the role.
Probate Register Donald Lawson-Stopps told the board that reallocating funds already in the department would allow the office to add a second 30-hour clerk and to offer benefits that make the position more attractive to candidates. “Ultimately the department would still save $7,000 a year with the change of the clerks’ hours and schedule,” Lawson-Stopps said.
Probate Judge David Paris and Deputy Probate Register Hannah Dickinson told Commissioners the office needs cross-trained staff to maintain continuity if a clerk is absent. Dickinson described a staggered schedule (one clerk Tuesday–Friday, the other Monday–Thursday) that would allow weekly one-on-one cross-training.
Finance Director Jill Flaherty told the board that a single employee’s health insurance costs run about $11,000 annually, and Commissioners discussed how offering insurance would affect budget trade-offs. Commissioner Charles Crosby said the Budget Advisory Committee should be informed before final implementation, even though current budget funds may cover the change.
Commissioner Todd McPhee moved to authorize the Probate Court staffing plan; Commissioner Crosby seconded the motion, and the board carried it. Commissioners also voted to authorize the revised Probate Clerk job description and the 30-hour scheduled hours for the role.
Next steps include HR processing the position paperwork and implementing the new schedule and benefits eligibility as defined in county personnel rules.
