FARMINGTON – A county road agent does not need to be a county employee, according to Doreen Shieve, fiscal administrator for the unorganized territories. Shieve met with Franklin County commissioners Tuesday morning to review several items on the budget for the unorganized territories.

A road agent answers residents’ road-related complaints and can work on an “as-needed” basis, she said.

One budget item that surprised the administrator was a line item for snow removal that had not increased significantly as a result of increased fuel costs. Commissioners told Shieve that this item had already been bid out and was set.

Her major concern, though, was with the budget submitted by the town of Rangeley. Rangeley submits a budget for services, such as fire and ambulance, it provides to surrounding unorganized territories.

The budget request for ambulance service alone jumped from $4,938 to $10,041. Commissioners told Shieve about difficult ambulance negotiations with the hospital that were still under way, but Shieve held that the increase may not be justified. It covers a very small population, she said.

In addition, unlike fire service, ambulance service is not something the county is legally required to provide to the unorganized territories.

Commissioners agreed that Rangeley’s request did seem extreme and that not much justification for the increase was provided. They also said that Rangeley officials did not seem willing to negotiate.

County Clerk Julie Magoon said the town had done its homework and that Perry Ellsworth, Rangeley town manager, dropped off the budget personally, saying he would gladly answer any questions they had. Commissioners agreed to ask Ellsworth to meet with them to discuss the budget further.