Staff Writer
Aroostook County voters decided that three elected positions in county government should remain their prerogative in determining who should have those jobs.
According to unofficial returns from last week’s balloting, a total of 6,489 voters or 56 percent turned down a referendum to have the county treasurer be an appointed position as opposed to being elected. A total of 5,026 voters approved of the measure.
The same referendum would have changed the two registers of deeds from elected to appointed.
County officials proposed the change as a way of modernizing the way the county does business. Douglas Beaulieu, county administrator, said earlier that the positions in question require computer knowledge and skills, as well readiness to manage an office and staff.
Beaulieu said Tuesday that it’s too early to tell whether the issue will be reintroduced during a later election.
“This was a missed opportunity,” Beaulieu said. “We’re involved in day to day operations of county government. We know where the strengths and weaknesses are.”
Already, two-thirds of the county’s employees are appointed, Beaulieu said. A total of six department heads are appointed, he said.
County officials have learned a lesson throughout this referendum process, according to Beaulieu.
“How do we more effectively get our message out to the public,” said Beaulieu. “We can’t spend money for a campaign. We have to educate the public through the media.”
Aroostook County has two registers of deeds and one county treasurer. The treasurer position is about 15 to 17 hours per week, while the two registers of deeds jobs, located in Fort Kent and Houlton, are full time. The current terms of the three positions expire in 2010.
According to unofficial returns, a majority of County municipalities rejected the proposal. Caribou’s tally was 767 to 657, while Presque Isle rejected the measure 701 to 608. Houlton, the county seat, also turned down the proposal by 861 to 533,
The larger County communities that approved the referendum were in the St. John Valley. Madawaska approved the plan by 344 to 276. Van Buren also approved the measure by 201 to 175.
However, Fort Kent voters rejected the plan by 310 to 288.
