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Oxford County residents, commissioners discuss whether treasurer should remain elected
Summary
Public commenters and commissioners discussed the possibility of changing Oxford County’s treasurer from an elected to an appointed position; Commissioners said a statute governs the process and that no formal plan is underway.
Chair Lisa Keim opened the Feb. 17 meeting and took public comment on whether the county treasurer should remain an elected post. Patricia Shearman of Norway, a former Oxford East register of deeds, told the Commissioners she “feels elected VS appointed treasurer is best for county,” adding that “the people need to know they have a player in the game.”
Janet Jamison of South Paris said the state practice is for the party in power to appoint the treasurer and that she did not want to “take voice away from the people here in Oxford County.” Commissioner Keim said a statute lays out the process for changing the Treasurer from elected to appointed and clarified that there had “only been one brief conversation and that no real plans to pursue this change have occurred.” She explained the change would first require a vote by the Commissioners and then a public vote, and noted it had failed previously.
Commissioner H. Sawin Millett and other speakers in public comment urged retaining the elected position. Richard Gagne, who identified himself as a candidate for sheriff, and Don Berry also voiced support for keeping the treasurer elected. Keim said upcoming discussions with the current treasurer, Beth Calhoun, would focus on duties and appropriate salary if changes were considered.
The meeting record does not show the Commissioners taking formal action to change the treasurer’s status at this session; Keim’s remarks framed the comments as preliminary and procedural.
