As the smallest municipality in Androscoggin County with 1.5 percent of the population, the town of Wales believed its clout would barely create a ripple in the lawsuit dividing nearly the entire county’s municipal governments and the county commissioners.

Besides, the town is focused on its own local issues, such as the Regional School Unit 4 budget, roads and local taxes.

“We’re a small enough town that we really didn’t think it would make much of a difference,” Selectman Eric Gagnon said. “We believe we have more important things than that to worry about that.

“We focus on our town and use our money the best we can for our residents,” he said.

Wales is one of two municipalities in Androscoggin County that did not join the lawsuit against the Androscoggin County commissioners over their salaries and the role of the county Budget Committee. 

Twelve of the 14 municipalities in Androscoggin County signed on to the lawsuit filed in Superior Court last week, calling the commissioners’ move to set their own salaries a “power grab.”

The lawsuit contends that the county commissioners overstepped their powers in approving the county budget and voting in smaller cuts to salary and benefits for themselves than what was approved by the Budget Committee.

Because the new County Charter was increasing the number of commissioners from three to seven members, the Budget Committee voted to cut commissioners’ yearly salaries to $3,000 and the chairman’s yearly salary to $3,500.

The three commissioners at the time — Beth Bell, Elaine Makas and Randall Greenwood — voted 2-0-1 (Greenwood abstaining) to reject the Budget Committee’s ruling and approved a yearly salary of $5,000, with an extra $500 for the chairman.

They also kept an individual health benefit of approximately $8,400 per commissioner. The Budget Committee had voted to eliminate all health insurance benefits.

The total amount in question is more than $70,000.

The municipalities claim the commissioners did not follow the County Charter approved by voters that gave the Budget Committee final say on financial matters with a supermajority vote. The commissioners claim the current charter, amended by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Paul LePage, gives them that authority.

The commissioners issued a 94-word statement that said they were confident that they followed the charter in approving their own salaries and benefits.

Joining the lawsuit spearheaded by Lewiston is Auburn, Durham, Greene, Leeds, Lisbon, Livermore Falls, Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland, Sabattus and Turner.

Only Wales and Livermore did not sign on as plaintiffs.

Livermore was among the first municipalities to send a letter protesting the commissioners’ actions. In the two-page letter dated Dec. 24, 2014, selectmen said they found it “egregious that you would disregard the recommendations of the Budget Committee and amend your stipend/salaries and benefits.”

However, Livermore never followed through to join the lawsuit.

“We kind of wanted to explore our options, but we’re not happy with the commissioners,” Livermore Selectman Peter Castonguay said. “The majority of the board wanted to wait and see. I was a little surprised that we didn’t join the lawsuit.

“In my opinion, we probably should have joined,” he said.

In Wales, Gagnon admits that the town could benefit financially from the lawsuit, but the amount would likely be small.

“In the end, were we going to make a difference? We are only a small, small town. We don’t have a lot of power when it comes to anything.”

ssherlock@sunjournal.com

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