FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a proposed renovation of the Superior Court remote clerk’s office on the second floor of the courthouse.

Stephanie Lull, of Smith Reuter Lull Architects, said the state Judicial Facility Department is looking into renovating the office so those being charged fines or fees can make payments at the courthouse rather than go across the street to the District Court building.

The remote Superior Court clerk’s office was previously on the third floor of the courthouse. It was moved downstairs for safety reasons to the former jury room off the courtroom on the second floor.

There will be no additional cost to the county, Lull told commissioners. The state will pay for the renovations, she said.

The plan is to make a service window where there is a door to the clerk’s office off the main staircase, just outside the doors to the courtroom, Lull said. The plan is to install new carpet, do some painting, put in new shelving and install a new ceiling.

The project is scheduled to be done between April 26 and May 25.

“This should not affect any other county services,” Lull said. It will make it easier for the clerk of courts to provide services, she said. Lull stressed that if any local contractors are interested in working on the project under a general contractor, they should send her their information either by email stephanie@smithreuter.com or by mail to Smith Reuter Lull Architects, 179 Lisbon St., Lewiston, ME 04240. Her phone number is 786-5623.

The project will go out to bid to about four general contractors, she said.

In other business, Commission Chairman Gary McGrane of Jay told Selectman Rupert Pratt of Strong that the county will look into how to get Strong a back payment for fire service the Fire Department provides to unorganized territories.

Pratt said it was discovered no payment was made through the state Unorganized Territory budget to Strong for 2005. Payments have been a year behind since then.

Deputy Treasurer/Deputy Clerk Vickie Braley said she looked through invoices and there was no invoice to Strong for fire services in 2005. She also checked QuickBooks and there was no payment made.

The amount owed is $6,500.

Clerk Julie Magoon said she will talk to someone at the state to see what can be done since the 2005 fiscal year books were closed long ago.

In other matters, commissioners voted to hire Jason Hamlin of Wilton as a full-time corrections officer at the jail. He was hired part time two weeks ago and had worked for the county for several years before he was laid off when the state took over the jail in 2009.

Commissioners also voted to have Franklin Printing of Farmington print the ballots for the June 12 referendum on a new dispatch center for a cost of $995.70. The company was the low bidder.

They also agreed to enter into another five-year contract with ICON Software Corp. for $2,360 a year for services provided to the Register of Probate Office.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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