Staff Writer
HOULTON — Paul Adams of Houlton was unanimously re-elected chairman of the County Commissioners at their organizational meeting Jan. 5. Saying “Thank you, I enjoy the job” Adams accepted the chairman’s position he has held for the last eight years. He was first elected as a commissioner in 1987.
Also, unanimously elected were Commissioner Norman Fournier of Wallagrass as the chief local elected official for the Workforce Investment Act and Commissioner Paul Underwood of Presque Isle as a director for the Maine County Commissioners Association (MCCA) Risk Pool. Both Fournier and Underwood were elected as representatives to the executive committee of the Northern Maine Development Commission.
Sheriff James Madore recommended Ross McQuade to fill a full-time deputy sheriff slot which the commissioners approved unanimously. Madore said McQuade understood the current one-year funding for the position may not be renewed. He added that McQuade works as a part-time deputy sheriff and previously had been a trooper after completing the police academy in 1998 in addition to serving with the Presque Isle Police Department.
County Administrator Douglas Beaulieu and Madore both spoke of his “good solid work ethic” and his love of law enforcement.
The commissioners unanimously accepted with regret the resignation of Sue Pelletier of Caribou, accounts payable clerk who is retiring. She was acknowledged “a team player” who was employed 25 years with the county.
The commissioners approved Beaulieu to sign a six-month contract with Correct RX to “piggyback” on the state contract and manage pharmaceutical costs for inmates. “I anticipate that this is going to save us 50 percent over and above what we were paying before,” said Beaulieu. He attributed the expected savings to Correct RX’s buying power for drugs which, according to Beaulieu, is 4percent over cost. Another reason for the savings, he said, was “a nominal administrative fee of $3.55 per inmate for the average number of approximately 90 per month.”
The contract expires June 30, 2010. At that time, said Beaulieu, the county could renew or look at other options/pricing structures.
In his report, Beaulieu stated a grant of $306,800 was approved by the Department of Energy to upgrade county buildings budgeted for capital repairs and energy improvements on windows, doors and a boiler.
Beaulieu also reported that at the MCCA meeting, the county’s bill for the risk pool was lower than expected, coming in at $84,412 which indicated that the “experience with claims was good.”
Carroll’s Auto Sales in Presque Isle won the low bid for an emergency management services vehicle at $20,885, $298 less than the closest competing bid.
Following the county administrator’s report, the commissioners went into executive session on a personnel matter. The next meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 20, 5:30 p.m. in Fort Kent.
