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Board criticizes county government

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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

MINOT - Auburn City Councilor Ronald Potvin brought his frustrations with how county government operates to selectmen Monday night.

"County government is the fourth largest piece in Auburn's budget and we just get a bill. There's no accountability, no opportunity to give input," Potvin said.

Potvin said he wants to open up communications between Auburn and the towns of Minot, Mechanic Falls and Poland, which comprise District Two of Androscoggin County, with the intent to gather support for an effort to create a county charter commission and examine how the operation of county government might be improved.

A selectman agreed that changes in the way the county does business are overdue - starting with when and where county commissioners hold their meetings: at 1:30 p.m. in a room a little larger than the table the commissioners sit at.

"And if you have something to say that they don't want to hear, they shut you right off," Selectman Dan Gilpatric said.

Selectmen noted the town has little input into the county budget, and they didn't think the town received much for the $166,000 bill it is asked to pay.

"We get rural patrol every other month but they're not in the town all the time even then," selectmen Dean Campbell said.

Selectman Steve French agreed that charter reform might engender a greater degree of trust among the towns.

Potvin said he would confer with Auburn council members and work on a date for a meeting involving elected officials from the four municipalities.

A selectman also met with school committee members to discuss the transfer of the Minot Consolidated School and land to the proposed new Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland school unit.

The Minot Consolidated School sits on a corner of the town-owned 160-acre parcel where the school, town office, town garage, fire station, two athletic field complexes, and 3 miles of walking trails are located.

The two boards agreed to meet at the Minot Consolidated School Saturday for a walk around to determine how much of the 160 acres will go with the school.

Since the town will retain ownership of the athletic fields at Minot Community Park, which will be used by the school, selectmen will draw up an interlocal agreement on field maintenance and use.

An interlocal agreement will also be drawn up to cover the well that supplies water to the school. The well is located near the town garage and it appears separate water meters to measure school and town use as will be required.

Road Manager Arlan Saunders reported that following the latest washout of Shaw Hill Road at Indian Brook, he was installing two additional pipes under the road. He estimated this will almost double the flow capacity and should help protect the road.

Saunders said the road crew has started roadside mowing operations but, with having to dance around the monsoons, has only managed to do a portion of the south side of town.

Selectmen tabled a discussion of a proposed Minot-Buckfield highway district.

CLICK HERE To Show/Hide Discussion Thread - (7 Comments)
Comments
Posted By:Frank at August 13, 2008 8:00 AM (Suggest Removal)
Let's not forget there has been a system in place for years where cities/towns in each of the three county districts nominate private citizens to serve on the Androscoggin County Budget Committee which oversees and votes on the budget on behalf of the towns.

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Posted By:taxpayer at August 13, 2008 10:05 AM (Suggest Removal)
who is Ron Potvin representing???? The City of Auburn or is it again his owm personel push. Where does the auburn mayor stand on this topic. Isn't Mr Povin also a deputy Sheriff. I agree totally with the comment made by Frank. I also know that auburn has two budget committee members

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Posted By:Hymn at August 13, 2008 10:10 AM (Suggest Removal)
Lets not forget the county commission is a farce. They are all in need of new jobs.

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Posted By:pluto at August 13, 2008 10:21 AM (Suggest Removal)
Let's not forget how many people are actually interested in attending the Commissioner's Meetings and understand the issues and decisions. The only time people are interested is if they want to bitch and complain.

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Posted By:Frank at August 13, 2008 10:42 AM (Suggest Removal)
I agree drastic changes are needed in county government. Commission meeting times should be broadcast live on the public access TV channel at night when more of the public can attend and comment after agendas are legally published. But someone else should be lobbying towns for support for a needed County Charter. Potvin is an employee of the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Department. He must be doing this on his own independent of the Auburn mayor and council. This is a potential conflict of interest in the making.

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Posted By:dr. dosh at August 13, 2008 8:11 PM *'>(Suggest Removal)
No conflict of intrest , Frank . Audit the County Government . Someone pay to have a performance audit done . This entails going through every piece of paper and e-mail that comes across County employee desks on a day-to-day basis . The constituents demand it . As a service provider , the County fails. Let them now prove otherwise . Alo'ha (=>*

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Posted By:Frank at August 13, 2008 8:20 PM (Suggest Removal)
I guess you don't know what a conflict of interest is Dosh.

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