Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Meeting Outcomes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sagadahoc County commissioners approve administrative policies, accept FY22 audit and set mileage rate
Summary
At their Feb. 10 meeting in Bath, the Sagadahoc County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved multiple administrative policies, accepted the FY22 audit, raised the employee mileage reimbursement to align with the IRS, and set a 3.3% placeholder COLA for FY27 budget drafting.
The Sagadahoc County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 10, 2026, in Bath to approve a package of updated administrative policies, accept the county’s FY22 audit and increase the employee mileage reimbursement rate to align with recently updated federal guidance.
The actions approved included adding Patriots Day to the 2026 holiday schedule; adopting an updated Standard Response Protocols Policy (an ‘‘all-hazards’’ update to the former Emergency Action Plan); an amended Procurement Policy that incorporates FEMA’s new thresholds; an updated Hazard Communication Plan; a refreshed Safety Manual; and a Community Navigator Provisions Policy governing donated funds in the Community Navigator office.
"The document is an update to what was previously known as the Emergency Action Plan," EMA Director Phil Davis said of the Standard Response Protocols Policy before the board voted to approve it. The board approved the policy package on motions by Commissioner Charles Crosby, seconded by Commissioner Todd McPhee; the votes on individual items were unanimous.
The Procurement Policy changes reflect updated FEMA guidance cited by Davis. Under the revised policy, small purchases are set at $15,000 for general-quote requirements, and the county amended its micro-purchase thresholds as reflected in the updated document presented to the board.
Deputy Administrator and Finance Director Jill Flaherty told the board that the IRS increased its standard mileage rate to 72.5 cents per mile (from 70 cents) and that the state rate used for DHHS civil-service processes rose to 56 cents (from 54 cents). "I am recommending we align county employee reimbursements with those updated rates," Flaherty said. The board voted unanimously to adopt the recommended alignment.
On audit matters, Commissioner Steve August said the FY22 audit had not been posted earlier as expected and summarized that auditors' management recommendations did not require material changes to county record-keeping. The board voted to accept the FY22 audit unanimously.
The board also set a placeholder cost-of-living adjustment of 3.3% for use in the FY27 budget draft. Commissioner August framed the vote as setting a placeholder only; the ultimate COLA decision will be made later in the budget process. Commissioners discussed three reference figures: the SSA COLA (2.8%), the CPI Northeast (3.3%), and the CPI-U (2.7%) before voting to use 3.3% as the working number.
Personnel items included the public introduction of newly hired Probate Clerk Shyann Miller, who began work Jan. 14 and will assist with digitizing historic probate records. After an executive session to discuss personnel matters, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Amber Jones, effective Feb. 10, 2026; Commissioner August thanked Jones for nearly five years of service.
The board’s actions were largely procedural and administrative; where matters will require further work, commissioners noted them for the FY27 budget process or future committee review (for example, discussion of absorbing a long-standing VOCA-funded position into the District Attorney’s budget because the federal funding that previously offset the position is no longer available). The board adjourned at 5:12 p.m.
What’s next: the commissioners will continue FY27 budget work with ClearGov (a budget presentation originally planned for Feb. 27 will be rescheduled due to a courthouse trial) and will revisit program and staffing funding decisions as the draft budget develops.
