Improving the county starts with a road map to progresss

Nobody should be surprised that I am writing about county government, especially since this is an election year, in which two of the three Androscoggin County commissioner seats are up for grabs.

Elections are being held in commission District 1, Greene, Lisbon, Livermore Falls, Livermore, Leeds, Sabattus, Turner and Wales, and District 2, Auburn, Durham, Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland.

I support county government for one simple reason: It is the potential podium for true consolidation of services for our communities. I do not have to look far to identify areas where substantial savings, from the standpoint of law enforcement, could benefit local property taxpayers.

For instance, on any given arraignment day in Lewiston District Court, local law enforcement agencies perform the duties of court officers. Their basic responsibility is recording data of a defendant’s plea, fines or trial schedules. This responsibility removes the officer from their municipality, which reduces the level of service to its citizens.

Instead of this individual representation, could one county employee (not necessarily a certified police officer) provide the same administrative service for all local law enforcement agencies?

Second, could the county sheriff’s office assume the responsibility for animal control countywide? It is estimated more than $200,000 is spent annually by communities for this service. Could the county do it more economically?

I think so. But first we must address the weaknesses of our county, before adding more responsibilities.

Androscoggin County was incorporated in 1854. It covers 470 square miles, with an estimated population of 107,000. It has 14 communities within its boundaries, including the two major cities of Lewiston and Auburn.

With the exception of establishing a county budget committee, little about the organization of county officials has changed since 1854. County leadership consists of three elected commissioners, a district attorney, a sheriff, a registrar of deeds, an emergency management director, a clerk, a treasurer and a registrar and judge of probate.

Of these 11 county officials, nine are elected and two are appointed – the clerk and EMA Director – by the commissioners. Of the nine elected positions, the commissioners and registrar of probate are considered parttime.

The 2008 county budget is $10.4 million, but there is no full-time administrator or charter to give guidance on a consistent basis. There are state statutes in place, but most are antiquated and contradictory, wherein lies the problem with county government consistency – or the lack thereof.

I’ve been told by some opponents that a charter would only increase county government and its cost. My reply is simple – that they truly don’t understand the concept of a municipal/county charter.

If designed properly, a charter can not only improve public services, but provides the ability of delivering them more efficiently. It is all about setting priorities and better managing existing dollars, not increasing them.

For more than a year, I have either attended or viewed on television many of Lewiston’s and Auburn’s city council meetings. Although both cities share interests of economic growth, education, public safety and how these services are administered, they are governed by charters, designed by citizens to fit the community’s needs.

When there is a question of authority, process or responsibility within the councils, they turn to the charter for direction toward resolving the issue. The charter is not only their road map, but the “people’s voice” which allows the legislative body to make decisions based on the rules, procedures, and most important, the people’s concerns.

For those that participate in city council meetings, imagine trying to maneuver even the simplest of issues without a charter. That’s what I envision for county government: a road map, drawn by the people.

So, I challenge all three county commissioner candidates, during this campaign, to express their opinions, either for or against, the concept of establishing a county charter for Androscoggin County.

I also challenge each and every voter of Androscoggin County to become involved in this campaign and question, in detail, each county candidate on their thoughts and concerns of county government, both as it stands today and how it can be improved. I believe we in county government can improve.

But we cannot forget to involve the citizens in the process.

Guy P. Desjardins is sheriff of Androscoggin County.