FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the recommendation of Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. to hire Chris Rhinhart of Kingfield as a patrol deputy, pending passing a polygraph exam.
Rhinhart would fill the patrol position left vacant when Deputy David Rackliffe was promoted to lieutenant.
Nichols told commissioners there were three applicants. An interview team consisted of Chief Deputy Steve Lowell, Lt. David Rackliffe, Cpl. Ken Charles, Wilton Sgt. Chad Abbott and himself, Nichols said.
Rhinhart worked for Nichols when he was police chief of Carrabassett Valley before he was elected sheriff.
Rhinhart has been a police officer in Maine and in Florida. He went through criminal justice training in Florida and became certified in Maine.
He will be supervised by Ken Charles, Nichols said.
In other business, commissioners also voted to move county Emergency Management Deputy Director Amanda Simoneau of Wilton full-time status once she completes a few more days on her six-month probationary status.
Director Tim Hardy made the recommendation saying that she has proven herself, is very personable, works well with others and the public. He also said that she has helped out with other departments.
“She is a very good fit and a very quick learner,” Hardy said.
She has been a very big help with departments, county Clerk Julie Magoon said.
“She is an asset,” Nichols said.
Simoneau was moved to Level 4 pay-grade, which is $16.95 an hour. She is currently paid $15.28 per hour. She started the job in October 2012.
Commissioners also approved jail Manager Doug Blauvelt’s recommendation of moving corrections officer Walter Fails of New Sharon from probationary to full-time status.
Fails was hired in August 2012. He had worked at the Franklin County jail and was laid off when the state made the jail a 72-hour holding facility in 2009. Fails then went to work at Somerset County Jail in Madison.
Magoon said he would be on a Level 7 pay level, which is $15.89 an hour. He had been making $13.07 an hour.
NOTE: This story was changed to reflect the correct spelling of new Deputy Chris Rhinhart’s last name. The information was incorrect.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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