FARMINGTON – The Franklin County budget committee unanimously approved the 2005 county budget of $4,185,618 at its meeting Monday night. It was attended by about 45 people.

Though the total budget received unanimous approval, several line items were opposed by some committee members.

The sheriff’s department budget was restored to the original request of $901,384 after committee members heard Chief Deputy Ray Meldrum, Sheriff Dennis Pike and several deputies speak.

Meldrum explained that much of the overtime was mandated or contractual and could not be avoided. Full-time deputies, by contract, must be offered any regular shifts that will be missed before part-time deputies can take them. His other option, he said, was to leave the shift open but he didn’t feel that best served the public. To dramatize his point, Meldrum showed photographs of a deputy who was recently assaulted while on duty – another deputy and law enforcement officers had come to his aid.

Committee member Keith Swett suggested that adding additional full-time deputies would alleviate overtime hours. Commissioner Fred Hardy countered, saying the cost of full-time officers would also include benefits. They would also be provided with a cruiser, bullet-proof vest, uniform, firearm and liability insurance, added Cpl. Nathan Bean.

Specially trained officers, such as canine officers or accident reconstructionists, may be called out on overtime as needed. And time in court is always mandated overtime.

Deputy David Rackliffe pointed out that nobody else can replace them in court when they are needed to testify on a case in which they were involved.

The committee voted to approve the budget with overtime at its requested level of $901,384 – personnel wages being $660,444 of that total.

Also restored was the $60,000 originally requested by the Greater Franklin Development Corp. The committee had cut the request in half at the meeting in November. Executive Director Alison Hagerstrom said she could not describe current prospects for new jobs in the region, but alluded to the possibility of more than 500.

She and Peter Judkins, board treasurer, acknowledged their seemingly excessive reserve, but said they need that money for flexibility.

“If a prospect asks for aerial photographs of the area, you have to get them,” said Charles Murray, a Farmington selectman and former board member for the agency.

But board member Keith Swett of East Dixfield was not convinced, saying that nobody has a year’s budget in the bank as they do.

A current board member and county commissioner, Fred Hardy, said the county was spending $60,000 a year for economic development before the agency was founded.

The committee voted to restore the request to $60,000, 7-1 with one abstention. Opposing was Swett. Craig Stickney, of Chesterville, abstained.