AUBURN —The Androscoggin County Commission agreed Wednesday to spend $35,000 on a public safety space needs assessment.

The study will be conducted by Harriman Associates and consists of five tasks:

• Analyze space needs.

• Evaluate facility options.

• Conduct site evaluation.

• Develop preliminary project design and construction costs.

• Present final report.

Money for the study will likely come from the American Rescue Plan. County Treasurer Clarice Proctor, who has been the point person for the county with the American Rescue Plan, said she was 99.9% certain the study will qualify as an approved use.

Androscoggin County Sheriff Eric Samson presented the plan to have Harriman assess his department’s space needs within the courthouse facilities. He suggested if commissioners were uneasy about approving the $35,000 expenditure before receiving final approval for spending American Rescue funds, he was willing to go piecemeal and have the board agree to pay $4,000 for the first task of analyzing the department’s space needs.

That would cover having the company collect and review existing information, develop a space and operational program and review a space program with the planning committee.

“We need professional help to move forward,” Samson said. He cited Harriman’s familiarity with the facility as a plus. Harriman had studied the facility in 2011.

Commissioner Noel Madore of Lewiston felt that was unnecessary, saying the county needs to plan for the future.

“I don’t see a lot of benefit to go piecemeal when the writing is on the wall,” Madore said.

Commissioners rejected a proposal to only fund $4,000 for the first task, 4-2, before approving the entire amount by a 5-1 vote, with Isaiah Lary in opposition. Spending the full amount is contingent upon the study being approved for federal funding.

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