PARIS – Oxford County administrators will begin holding regular meetings to discuss finances and other related matters.

The first gathering took place Tuesday during the county commissioners’ meeting, with the heads of the Sheriff’s Office, Oxford County Jail, Register of Deeds, Probate Court, Emergency Management Agency, Regional Communications Center, and Treasurer’s Office present.

Commissioner David Duguay of Byron said the meetings will encourage teamwork among the departments. Commissioner Steven Merrill of Norway said the meetings will help the departments to see if their budgets are on track with those approved for fiscal 2008.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Sheriff Wayne Gallant said. “It shows that we’re all trying to manage the county’s money the best we can.”

Jim Miclon, head of the dispatch center, agreed.

“It’ll help to get some ideas off the rest of the department heads,” he said.

The next meeting of the administrators will take place Feb. 19.

Commissioners also heard from Ben Conant, who requested an increase in mileage reimbursement for civil process servers.

“The price of gas is going up daily, and we’re on the road all the time,” Conant said.

Servers are paid 40 cents per mile, and Conant is requesting an increase to 50.5 cents per mile. He said the money would not affect the budget since the service is paid by clients.

Commissioners expressed reservations, saying an increase in reimbursement may have to apply to other departments. They tabled the issue.

Duguay and Merrill also nominated Commissioner Caldwell Jackson of Oxford as the board’s chairman for the year.