Commissioners hear of promotions, awards

By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
    CARIBOU — The Aroostook County Commissioners were advised of deserving candidates for promotions and a managerial award at their regularly scheduled meeting held in Caribou on Dec. 19.
    After a review of the county audit reports for both organized and unorganized territories by CPA Peter Davis, Darren Woods, fire chief for the North Lakes Fire Department, which covers the areas of Sinclair and Cross, Square and Madawaska lakes, proposed a set of promotions within his department to the commissioners. 
    Woods requested promoting Captain Kirk Ward to assistant chief, based out of the Sinclair station; firefighter Harold Olmstead to captain, based out of the Madawaska Lake station; firefighter Dan Forbes to lieutenant, based out of the Sinclair station; firefighter Jesse Belanger to lieutenant, based out of the Madawaska Lake station; and firefighter Bryan Forbes to safety officer for the entire department.
    “These men have all shown a big commitment to our department through their willingness to take outside educational opportunities and with all of the extra time that they put in at fire stations,” Woods offered about his selections. “They are all well deserving of their titles and I’m proud of them all.”
    Woods advised that several of his men do a lot of non-firefighting-related work for the department, such as carpentry, plumbing and IT, which Woods finds extremely beneficial. The chief explained that these promotions will fill empty slots within the department and will assist with having the appropriate span of control from officers to firefighters both on emergencies and at training classes.
    The commissioners unanimously approved Woods’ recommendations for promotion.
    County Administrator Doug Beaulieu then addressed the issue of appointing an access officer for Aroostook County government. Beaulieu suggested that he be appointed himself as it is a duty that he already performs on a regular basis and he has extensive knowledge of public records. The state legislature made it a requirement that all government entities have a public access officer as of Aug. 30, 2012. The commissioners unanimously approved Beaulieu’s proposal and he will update the county website with this information.
    After reviewing bids from two Houlton-based businesses to redo the carpeting in the Houlton Superior Court hallway, Beaulieu then updated the commissioners on his attendance at a Board of Corrections meeting, and County Commissioner Norman Fournier advised the group on his attendance at a Maine County Commissioners Association meeting.
    Aroostook County Sheriff James Madore then presented the commissioners with an announcement of the recipient of the Maine Sheriffs’ Association Manager of the Year Award. The 2012 award will go to Darrell Crandall Jr., who is a 26-year veteran of the Maine Sheriff’s Office. Crandall currently works for the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, but still dons his sheriff’s uniform when necessary, according to Madore.
    Explaining why Crandall is deserving of this honor, Madore said, “He has more enthusiasm than some of our rookies. He knows how to talk to people and can tell when they are not on the up and up.”
    Madore explained that Crandall demonstrates strong management skills and makes major contributions to the office; he has testified as an expert witness in drug cases and helped establish the drug lab team, making him the perfect candidate for the award.
    Madore advised the commissioners that Crandall is aware of the award, which will be presented to him at a banquet in Augusta on Saturday, Jan. 12.
    The commissioners then reviewed a tax abatement meeting postponement in Caribou originally scheduled for Dec. 27 and moved to Jan. 7.
    Paul Bernier, the county’s public works director, then updated commissioners on where the town of Bancroft is in the process for deorganizing.
    According to Bernier, the final plan for deorganization was submitted on Sept. 24 to the Maine Commission on Municipal Deorganization and was reviewed on Nov. 29 with some minor housekeeping changes required after review. Bernier said once the changes are made, the report will be accepted and a public hearing will be held. Within 15 to 30 days after the hearing, a town meeting must be held with the majority vote and then the motion goes to the state.
    Bernier advised that a deorganization referendum vote could only be conducted during a general election, which will not be until Nov. 14, 2014. If the vote passes, the deorganization will take place January of 2015.
    Bernier reviewed Bancroft’s education and road maintenance plan and also the necessary care for two cemeteries located in the community. He advised there is no apparent opposition in the community and all seems to be on track for deorganization.  
    The meeting concluded with advisement that Woods has applied for a Stephen and Tabitha King grant to purchase “jaws of life” equipment for his department, valued at around $27,000, and brief discussion of a land use planning meeting regarding mining led by Commissioner Paul Underwood and Beaulieu advising of an upcoming MCCA annual meeting.