Some 10,000 fliers will go out to civic organizations, churches, and various locations informing Lincoln County citizens where they can get help this winter for heating in the communities throughout the county.
County EMA Director Tim Pellerin showed the pamphlets to the Lincoln County Commissioners at their regular meeting Tuesday morning, providing telephone numbers of town office locations for fuel assistance, as well as contact persons and non-profits where they can get other help this winter, such as the Boothbay Region Community Services, Community Housing Improvement Project, Community Energy Fund, Community Gatherings Program, and LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy).
The Midcoast United Way in Bath has contributed the funds for the printing of the fliers for Lincoln County plus 10,000 for Sagadahoc County, he said.
Pellerin told the board his office has updated the flier for publication and includes the addition of a list of volunteers who have offered to help people fill out applications for assistance like LIHEAP after receiving training for the task.
The EMA has also made provision for pet food donations at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter in Edgecomb, since people lacking funds for fuel might also have a need to obtain funds for pet food. Pellerin said the need came to his attention, and he felt it should be included in the list of phone numbers.
The fliers also contain a list of numerous food pantries throughout the county from where people can obtain food and their hours of operation besides numbers for Corporal Works of Mercy, a faith-based organization and the Central Maine Power Co. where citizens can make payment arrangements before they need them.
In a discussion about a conference Dep. Communications Director Kathy Blagdon attended recently, Pellerin informed the board that she learned new things about 9-1-1 calls concerning suicide and domestic violence.
The county receives several domestic violence calls every week. “It’s very high,” he said.
Pellerin also spoke briefly about the wave phenomenon that occurred last Tuesday causing about $25,000 of damage to ramps and a lobster boat slammed against rocks in Boothbay Harbor, where the greatest damage occurred.
The National Weather Service offered no definite explanation about the occurrence of a four to 12-foot wave that wreaked havoc with ocean water from Bristol to Cundy’s Harbor, only that it could have been a combination of the weather pattern and possible simultaneous shifting of the ocean floor, he said.
Union issues
The board went into executive session for an hour with Annalee Rosenblatt and Sheriff Todd Brackett on contract negotiations and an employee medical benefit request, which it denied.
Negotiations have been continuing for a new contract for Sheriff’s Dept. employees which Board Chairman Sheridan Bond characterized Tuesday as “amiable.”
Administrator selection
The process of selecting a new county administrator to replace Jim McMahon, who is leaving his position in December, continued Tuesday in executive session without coming to any decision. The board has narrowed down the candidates and was expected to make its final decision on one of the three finalists some time this week. McMahon plans to help the new administrator transition into the position.
Motor vehicle impound area
In a board discussion with Sheriff Brackett, McMahon said preparation of an impound area behind the county recycling center in Wiscasset could be funded from the capital improvement account.
McMahon recommended proceeding with the project after obtaining approval from the state Dept. of Environmental Protection. The project will entail taking fencing from the play area behind the former jail in the Courthouse complex and using it for the 40 by 40-foot space allotted for the purpose. He recommended laying down canvas under gravel and laying absorbent pads underneath motor vehicles that are not drained of fluids that could leak into the ground.
The board approved moving ahead with the project with the condition of inclusion of the environmental measures.
Brackett reported a “tied” jail count of 39 inmates from Lincoln County and 39 inmates from Sagadahoc County on Tuesday at Two Bridges Regional Jail. The total inmate population as of Tuesday amounts to 68 males, including 29 under house arrest/jail diversion/monitor and 12 men diverted by the Volunteers of American program.
Of the total figure, 26 inmates have come from state probation cases, 13 inmates have been sentenced, and 45 men await trial.
Recycled goods prices
Recycling center supervisor Mike Thompson reported prices for some recycled goods down considerably this month, including, for example, cardboard has dropped from $115 to $55 per ton. Also newspapers, which he said have been a big commodity for the center, had dipped down to $85 from $145.
The universal/e-waste pickup program the center now offers to communities has seen increases lately with a few more communities joining the project and a few more that have expressed a desire to take advantage of the free service, he said.
Thompson also presented sealed bids for a new center truck which the board tabled, a decision to allow him time to review them along with a couple of bids for a hoist. Some of the sealed bids contained bids for a hoist as well.
