AUBURN — Androscoggin County Commissioner Alfreda Fournier of Auburn is resigning her seat because she is moving out of the district.

Her letter of resignation is scheduled to be taken up by the commissioners at Wednesday’s meeting.

“Alfreda has had a very positive effect on this board,” county Administrator Larry Post said. “We’re sorry to lose her.”

Still in her first term, Fournier was elected in 2014 as the commissioner for District 5, which includes part of Auburn.

“I am proud to have been a part of the work we’ve accomplished toward a healthy, productive, effective current status,” Fournier wrote in her resignation letter.

Fournier spoke of three goals that were accomplished during her tenure. She cited that the panel became “a kinder and gentler commission” and building respect and trust with the union during contract negotiations.

During her first two years, she was frequently at odds with commissioners on the high legal fees the county was paying. With a goal to be “fiscally responsible by diminishing the constant stream of legal bills which put major constraints to, and negatively impacted” the budget, Fournier questioned each legal bill. Her efforts helped change the policy of when attorneys could be consulted, which has drastically cut the legal fess this fiscal year.

While staying in Auburn, Fournier is moving out of District 5 to an address in District 7, which includes Livermore Falls, Livermore, Leeds, Turner and Minot. 

If the resignation is accepted at Wedneday’s meeting, scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. at the county courthouse, Auburn Democrats in District 5 will have 30 days to caucus and select her replacement to serve the remainder of her term through 2018.

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