Penobscot County public meetings in 2024
9 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Copy document link
The Commission approved ARPA funding allocations for various district agencies and county capital projects, including equipment for the Sheriff's Office and EMA. They also appointed representatives for the MCCA and the County's Risk Pool. Remaining ARPA funds were allocated to the County building HVAC project.
- Approved $153,568 in ARPA allocations for District I agencies (3-0)
- Approved $40,000 ARPA award for Town of Newport (3-0)
- Approved $20,000 ARPA award for Breaking the Cycle (3-0)
- Approved $329,450 for County Capital Requests, including SO radar and AED units (3-0)
- Allocated remaining ARPA balance to County building HVAC project (3-0)
- Appointed CC Cushing as MCCA representative with CC Tremble and CA Adkins as proxies (3-0)
- Appointed CC Marshall to the Risk Pool with CC Tremble and CA Adkins as proxies (3-0)
- Approved payroll and A/P warrants totaling $2,221,676.21 (3-0)
Copy document link
Commissioners approved the 2025 County Budget and the FY26 Unorganized Territory (UT) Budget. The board also authorized several ARPA grants and approved a 2% wage adjustment for employees.
- Approved 2025 County Budget ($31,457,861) and FY26 UT Budget ($2,614,310) (3-0)
- Approved $1M release of funds for Bangor Y (2-1)
- Approved $50,000 from ARPA undesignated funds for Veazie Water District generator and camera (3-0)
- Approved $49,999 from District 2 ARPA funds for Harmony Hall repairs (3-0)
- Approved $12,000 from District 3 ARPA funds for Town of Lincoln drone (3-0)
- Approved 2% increase in wage adjustments (3-0)
- Approved $8,500 from ARPA for three Starlink devices (3-0)
- Approved new retiree and spouse health coverage buy-out policy (2-0)
Copy document link
The board approved several ARPA funding requests for local organizations and the Town of Lincoln. They also renewed a liquor license and approved a memorandum of understanding regarding the Argyle landslide. Warrants and previous meeting minutes were approved.
- Approved $10,000 ARPA grant for Bangor Art Society (3-0)
- Approved $5,800 ARPA grant for Stetson Historical Society (3-0)
- Approved $41,033 ARPA grant for Town of Lincoln TRU Narc request (3-0)
- Approved reallocation of $350,000 for United Way Nonprofit Hub Project (3-0)
- Approved liquor license renewal for River Drivers Restaurant (2-0)
- Approved MOU for the Argyle landslide (2-0)
- Approved payroll and A/P warrants (3-0)
- Approved November 19 and November 21 meeting minutes (2-0)
Copy document link
The board approved several ARPA grants for the Millinocket Regional Hospital and Patten Memorial Library, while denying a request from UMaine Ambulance. They also approved an ambulance contract for 15 townships and a special event permit for the Millinocket Marathon and Half.
- Approved ambulance contract for 15 townships (3-0)
- Approved special event permit for Millinocket Marathon and Half and waived $50 fee (3-0)
- Approved $150K ARPA grant for Millinocket Regional Hospital CT scan project (3-0)
- Approved $150K ARPA grant for Patten Memorial Library with conditional thresholds (3-0)
- Denied ARPA grant request from UMaine Ambulance (3-0)
- Approved dividing $220K in returned Wellspring funds equally between three districts for Commissioners Funds (3-0)
- Approved policy allowing sign-on bonuses for employees after three years of separation from County employment (3-0)
- Tabled vote on Unorganized Territory Food Sovereignty Ordinance
Copy document link
The Commissioners approved the 2025 County Budget with total expenditures of $31,457,861. They also approved the FY26 Unorganized Territory budget and authorized additional staffing for the District Attorney's Office. Several grants and service agreements were approved.
- Approved 2025 County Budget with a 9.65% assessment increase over 2024 (3-0)
- Approved FY26 UT Budget and motion to exceed the CAP (3-0)
- Approved one full-time clerical position and one full-time VWA for the DA's Office (3-0)
- Approved $5,000 ARPA fund request for Clifton Community Food Bank (3-0)
- Approved Drew Township (Reed Plantation) Fire Protection Agreement (3-0)
- Approved $0.75 per hour compensation increase for ACO Ethel (Ann) Greenlaw (3-0)
- Approved letter of project understanding for Hammond Ridge master plan phase two (3-0)
- Approved reallocation of Wellspring funds to unallocated funds (3-0)
Copy document link
The Commission approved an agreement with Epstein Commercial Real Estate to negotiate property for a new jail. They also approved several 2025 budget items, a finance software upgrade, and a fire protection agreement. A request for funding from the Maine Discovery Museum was denied.
- Approved agreement with Epstein Commercial Real Estate for new jail property negotiations (3-0)
- Approved $94,600 Edmunds Gov Tech finance software upgrade over three years (3-0)
- Approved $23,500 PDQ quote for Matagamon shed overhead door (3-0)
- Approved Springfield Fire Protection Agreement with Prentiss and Pukakon (3-0)
- Approved $27,000 for Orono Haz Mat Team 2025 budget (3-0)
- Denied $9,000 funding request for Maine Discovery Museum (3-0)
- Flat funded Pine Tree Hospice at $1,500, Hirundo Wildlife Refuse at $12,000, and Together Place at $10,000 (3-0)
- Approved 2025 budgets for MPERS, Health & Safety, County Insurance, Bridge Account, Loans & Interest, Soil Conservation, Wage Adjustment, and Miscellaneous Revenues (3-0)
Copy document link
The board approved 2025 budget requests for Probate, County Extension, EMDC, and Penquis, along with several program donations. They authorized the purchase of 11 sheriff's vehicles and allocated ARPA funds for radios and safety systems. Some budget requests for the jail and other donations were taken under advisement.
- Approved purchase of 11 vehicles from Colonial Municipal Group at $53,786 per vehicle (3-0)
- Approved 2025 budgets for Probate ($649,663), County Extension ($100,360), EMDC ($63,000), and Penquis ($25,000) (3-0)
- Approved 2025 Sheriff's Department budget at $9,392,518 and Civil Process budget at $575,528 (3-0)
- Approved ARPA funding for Jail Man Down System and radios ($250,000), Mobile Radios and Repeaters ($142,403), and Portable Radios ($43,870) (3-0)
- Approved 2025 donations for Rape Response ($3,500), Bangor Area Shelter ($15,000), B.I.L.L.S. ($22,500), and B.A.R.N. ($20,000) (3-0)
- Tabled 2025 budget requests for Jail, Jail Cap, and several program donations under advisement (3-0)
- Approved liquor license renewal for Five Lakes Lodge (3-0)
- Approved UAS (Drone) operations policy (3-0)
Copy document link
The commissioners will discuss fire and EMS service agreements, including joining District #1 and the Lee Ambulance agreement. They will also oversee bid openings for Greenfield Township road projects and ARPA-funded emergency equipment. Additionally, the board will review various payroll and accounts payable warrants.
- Approval of Central Maine Highlands Fire & EMS joining District #1
- Bid openings for Myra Road gravel and paving projects in Greenfield Township
- Review and approval of tuition reimbursement policy
- Bid openings for ARPA-funded equipment, including drones and message boards
- Approval of payroll warrant for $313,641.06
Copy document link
The Commissioners will discuss and consider approvals for East Millinocket's ambulance and fire service agreements. The meeting also includes reviewing RFPs for emergency management equipment and authorizing criminal forfeiture transfers.
- Discussion and approval of East Millinocket Ambulance and Fire agreements
- Criminal forfeiture transfers totaling $1,251.30
- RFPs for a communication tower, drones, and an enclosed cargo trailer
- Review of the $425,875.46 payroll warrant
- Executive session regarding the acquisition of real property