AUBURN — The Androscoggin County Commission spent more than 3½ hours in executive sessions Wednesday evening with their attorney Ronald Lebel.

Commissioners considered three separate topics during those sessions.

Very little business was conducted in open session.

The first executive session lasted one hour and 40 minutes and dealt with an undisclosed personnel issue.

Commissioners then required less than 10 minutes to privately discuss the acquisition or the use of real estate.

The final executive session, which was not listed on the agenda, was the longest of the three, lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes. Commissioners discussed current litigation with Lebel — likely the lawsuit brought against the commissioners by 13 of the county municipalities. Municipal officials contend commissioners overstepped their powers in approving the county budget by voting in higher salaries and benefits for themselves than what was approved by the Budget Committee in 2014.

Commissioners made no official statements about the three executive sessions.

During the brief portion of the meeting that was conducted in public, commissioners authorized District Attorney Andrew Robinson’s request for he and members of his staff to attend the Maine Prosecutors’ Conference next month. 

They also approved some payroll changes and Treasurer Robert Poulin’s request to hire a temporary employee for a few weeks.

The seven commissioners also tabled correspondences from Sheriff Eric Samson to approve a job description and to advertise for the vacant assistant jail administrator’s position.

Commissioners voted to present a draft of the 2016 budget to the Budget Committee at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30.

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