Penobscot County public meetings in 2023
12 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
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The Commission approved the purchase of the Patten Tower land and building site and extended a two-year contract with EMDC. They also authorized a sheriff's office building project and updated the FMLA policy. A proposal for collaborative use of remaining ARPA funds with Bangor City Council is being developed for mid-January 2024.
- Approved $195,000 purchase of Patten Tower land and building site (3-0)
- Approved 2-year contract extension with EMDC (3-0)
- Approved sheriff's office administration building project under $40,000 (3-0)
- Approved updated FMLA Policy (3-0)
- Approved Penobscot County CLE (3-0)
- Approved 2024 meeting schedule for first, second, and third Tuesdays (3-0)
- Approved payroll and A/P warrants totaling $394,440.04 (3-0)
- Appointed representatives and proxies for MCCA and MCCA Risk Pool (3-0)
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Commissioners approved the 2024 County Budget, which includes a tax assessment increase of $1,800,520. The board also approved several Unorganized Territory agreements and a funding request for eclipse event coordination. A motion to extend a contract with EMDC was tabled.
- Approved 2024 Penobscot County Budget of $29,204,636 (3-0)
- Approved $19,850 PILT request for April 8th eclipse project event coordinator (3-0)
- Approved Patten Ambulance Service Agreement (3-0)
- Approved interim agreement with GRACE, LLC (3-0)
- Tabled 2-year extension with EMDC (3-0)
- Approved closing county offices at noon on December 22nd (2-0)
- Approved payroll and A/P warrants totaling $1,500,000+ (2-0)
- Approved December 5th, 2023 meeting minutes (3-0)
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The Penobscot County Commissioners approved a pay raise for animal control officers and signed agreements with Howland Fire and Ambulance and the Town of Mt. Chase. The board also approved several payment warrants and awarded ARPA funds to various organizations.
- Approved $.50 raise for animal control officers (3-0)
- Approved Howland Fire and Ambulance Agreement (3-0)
- Approved 1-year solid waste agreement with Town of Mt. Chase (3-0)
- Approved November 28th, 2023 Meeting Minutes (3-0)
- Approved payroll and A/P warrants totaling $1,191,611.81 (3-0)
- Awarded ARPA funds to Bangor Historical Society ($40,000), Bangor Humane Society ($45,000), and City of Brewer ($25,000)
- Awarded ARPA funds to Kenduskeag Union Church ($49,999), Town of Etna ($49,999), and Town of Newburgh ($19,287)
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The board approved several ARPA Commissioners Fund grants for local organizations and towns. They also voted to stop providing dispatch services for the Hermon Volunteer Rescue Squad. Various payroll and general fund warrants were approved.
- Voted to stop dispatching for Hermon Volunteer Rescue Squad effective Jan 1, 2024 (3-0)
- Approved $40,000 ARPA grant to Bangor Historical Society for Hill House restoration (3-0)
- Approved $45,000 ARPA grant to Bangor Humane Society for spay/neuter program (3-0)
- Approved $25,000 ARPA grant to City of Brewer for narcotics analyzer (3-0)
- Approved $49,999 ARPA grant to Kenduskeag Union Church for electrical upgrade (3-0)
- Approved $49,999 ARPA grant to Town of Etna for portable radios (3-0)
- Approved $19,287 ARPA grant to Town of Newburgh for playground equipment (3-0)
- Tabled ARPA grant request from Town of Kenduskeag (3-0)
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The Penobscot County Commissioners approved a TIF application for a mobile emergency response vehicle in Patten and adopted the revised FY25 UT Budget. The board also approved a liquor license renewal and a special event permit for the Millinocket Marathon and Half.
- Approved $54,000 TIF application for Town of Patten emergency response vehicle (3-0)
- Approved Lee Ambulance contract for Kingman and Prentiss (3-0)
- Approved revised FY25 UT Budget (3-0)
- Approved liquor license renewal for River Driver’s Restaurant (3-0)
- Approved special event permit and waived $50 fee for Millinocket Marathon and Half (3-0)
- Approved November 7th, 2023 Meeting Minutes (3-0)
- Approved Payroll and A/P warrants for General Fund, ARPA, and Unorg Terr (3-0)
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The board approved the 2024 County Budget with total expenditures of $29,204,636. They also awarded a demolition contract for the Y Building and approved the repayment of an ARPA loan. Several departmental budget modifications were decided, including staffing changes for HR and the Sheriff's Office.
- Approved 2024 County Budget with total expenditures of $29,204,636 (3-0)
- Approved $297,400 contract to Prism Response dba Alloy Group for Y Building demolition (3-0)
- Approved repayment of $7,500,000 ARPA loan plus interest of $135,175.85 (3-0)
- Approved HR budget for one additional part-time clerical position (3-0)
- Denied salary increases for PRCC Director and Deputy Director (3-0)
- Denied request to move a part-time clerical position to full-time in DA's Office (3-0)
- Approved modified Sheriff's Office budget declining a new Sergeant position and adding a half-year Deputy Sheriff position (3-0)
- Approved various warrants including A/P General Fund of $880,004.60 (3-0)
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The Board approved funding for National Q Services and an Amazon Web Services project. They also authorized expenditures for the DA's office and appointed representatives to the Central Maine Highlands Fire District. No decision was reached regarding the Y Building demolition RFP.
- Approved $48,000 for National Q Services (3-0)
- Approved up to $86,500 for Amazon Web Services (AWS) Project with Aspen-Morse (3-0)
- Approved $850 for forensic mannequin and $1,456 for National Cyber Crime Conference from DA forfeiture account (3-0)
- Approved $10,014.79 in forfeitures to the DA’s Office (3-0)
- Approved $207.00 forfeiture to the Sheriff’s Office (3-0)
- Appointed Director Buswell to Board of Directors and Deputy Morrison as alternate for Central Maine Highlands Fire District (3-0)
- Approved Haley Ward to proceed with a written proposal for real property acquisition (3-0)
- Approved payroll and A/P warrants totaling $436,286.10 (3-0)
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The Commission approved the 2024 budget for Soil Conservation and amended the Elected Official Retiree Policy to include non-union employees. Several other department budget requests and demolition bids for 127 Hammond Street were taken under advisement. The board also renewed Cigna as the county's health insurance provider.
- Renewed Cigna as health insurance provider (2-0, 1 abstaining)
- Approved Dept. 38/Soil Conservation 2024 budget request (3-0)
- Amended Elected Official Retiree Policy to include non-union employees (3-0)
- Approved early termination agreement with Probation and Parole (3-0)
- Approved 2024 Holiday Calendar (3-0)
- Amended Dept. 40/Wage Adjustment credit line to $5,000 (3-0)
- Took demolition bids for 127 Hammond Street under advisement (3-0)
- Took budget requests for PRCC, Civil, Sheriff's Office, Jail, and Revenues under advisement (3-0)
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The board approved 2024 budgets for Loans & Interest, EMDC, and Penquis, while taking the DA and IT budgets under advisement. Several program donations were approved, and a snow removal contract for the Town of Chester was authorized. The board also presented ARPA awards to five organizations.
- Approved $39,370 Town of Chester snow removal contract (3-0)
- Approved Broadband MOU for T5R7 WELS (3-0)
- Took Dept 5/DA Office 2024 budget under advisement (3-0)
- Took Dept 15/IT 2024 budget under advisement (3-0)
- Approved Dept 31/Loans & Interest 2024 budget (3-0)
- Approved Dept 30 EMDC 2024 budget (3-0)
- Approved Dept 36/Penquis 2024 budget (3-0)
- Approved program donations including $24,000 for Orono Hazmat and $12,000 for Hirundo Wildlife Refuge (3-0)
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The board approved the 2024 budgets for Penquis, ME State Retirement, County Insurance-Retirees, Bridges, and Labor Negotiations. A $12,259.75 solid waste agreement with the Town of Medway was approved. Several other budget requests and consultant bids were taken under advisement.
- Approved $12,259.75 Town of Medway Solid Waste Agreement (2-0)
- Approved $25,000 for Penquis (Dept. 36) 2024 Budget (2-0)
- Approved $4,500 for Dept. 18 ME State Retirement 2024 Budget (2-0)
- Approved $6,000 for Dept. 19 Health and Safety 2024 Budget (2-0)
- Approved $105,000 for Dept. 22 County Insurance-Retirees 2024 Budget (2-0)
- Approved $100 for Dept. 24 Bridges 2024 Budget (2-0)
- Approved $4,000 for Dept. 39 Labor Negotiations 2024 Budget (2-0)
- Extended current MOU on double overtime for correctional officers (2-0)
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The board approved a $198,710 asbestos abatement contract and a $23,640 payroll services contract. Two 2024 department budgets were approved, while three others were taken under advisement. The board also approved several payment warrants.
- Approved asbestos abatement contract with Landside Concrete Cutting and Abatement Professionals for $198,710 (3-0)
- Approved payroll services contract with iSolved People Cloud for $23,640 (3-0)
- Approved 2024 budget for Dept. 10 / Deeds (3-0)
- Approved 2024 budget for Dept. 7 / Treasurer/Finance (3-0)
- Took 2024 budget for Dept. 3 / EMA under advisement (3-0)
- Took 2024 budget for Dept. 8 / County Buildings under advisement (3-0)
- Took 2024 budget for Dept. 32 / Building Improvement under advisement (3-0)
- Approved payroll and A/P warrants (3-0)
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The board approved several ARPA Commissioner Fund grants for community projects and equipment. They also signed four ambulance and fire agreements for various townships and approved $36,000 for EMA radio equipment. Budget requests for HR, Administration, and Unorganized Territories were taken under advisement.
- Approved $45,000 ARPA grant for 19th Century Curran Village education center (3-0)
- Approved $10,000 ARPA grant for Welcome to Housing solar arrays (3-0)
- Approved $25,000 ARPA grant for Town of Stetson boiler replacement (3-0)
- Approved $22,500 ARPA grant for Katahdin Area Trails equipment (3-0)
- Approved $10,000 ARPA grant for Town of Lee CPR device (3-0)
- Approved $36,000 for EMA amateur radio equipment and supplies (3-0)
- Approved ambulance and fire contracts for Argyle, Grand Falls, Summit, Mattamiscontis, Drew, and T2R8 NWP townships (3-0)
- Took asbestos abatement bids and 2024 budget requests for Dept. 2, 6, and 14 under advisement (3-0)