AUGUSTA – The Legislature may weigh in on the squabble between Androscoggin County commissioners and the Sheriff’s Department.

Rep. Scott Lansley, R-Sabattus, has submitted a bill that would increase the size of the commission from three to five members. The bill calls for putting the matter to voters via referendum in November.

The Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee is tentatively scheduled to hear the bill Friday afternoon.

Robert Howe, executive director of the Maine County Commissioners Association, said commissioners can increase their numbers on their own – unless it is prohibited under a charter. Although, going to the Legislature also is an option, he said. Howe said his organization has not taken a position on the sheriff’s issue and will not take a position on the bill.

Lansley said he submitted the bill in response to the ongoing feud between Sheriff Guy Desjardins and commissioners over Desjardins’ attempts to hire an additional patrol deputy. The commission maintains the additional position is not necessary.

Lansley said he hopes having a larger board would give better representation to outlying towns.

House State and Local Government Committee chairman Rep. Christopher Barstow, D-Gorham, who Lansley said advised him to submit the bill, said he is entirely supportive of the measure and plans to vote for it in committee.

“I see an increased number of commissioners as a positive step forward for the committee,” he said, later noting that he would support any county pushing a similar measure.

Senate chairwoman of the committee, Sen. Elizabeth Schneider, D-Orono, noted that three-member boards can be problematic. “It can be debilitating to have such a small group,” she said. “When there are absences it’s difficult to conduct business.”

She noted, however, that there were a few legislators on the fence about the issue.

Former chairwoman of the State and Local committee, Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, said the bill caught her by surprise. Typically, similar bills only came forward with unanimous support from both the respective delegation and the involved board, she said.

“The Legislature has not acted favorably when it has not been unanimous back in the county about moving forward,” she said.

Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds, who represents several outlying county communities, supports the measure.

“It’s something they need to do because of all the problems they’ve had,” he said.

None of the Androscoggin County commissioners could be reached for comment, but Desjardins said he is 100 percent behind the bill.

He said he was a selectman in Sabattus when it had a three-member board, and now that it has a five-member board, there is a substantial difference.

“It allows for more input and more accountability per member,” he said.

The only county with more than three commissioners is York, with five. Cumberland County is exploring expanding its board, with a referendum vote set for November.