AUBURN — What had been a smooth, quick-moving Androscoggin County budget hearing Wednesday dissolved near the end into a squabble over a recommendation by Chairman Matthew Roy for commissioners to send all proposed cuts in advance by email two days after next week’s final budget hearing.

Commissioners have scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 5. Following the public hearing, commissioners will then begin voting on changes — cuts or additions — to the 2019 county budget.

Roy’s recommendation, which came after commissioners had heard presentations from three department heads on nine budget categories, asked that commissioners make any proposed changes to the budget in writing by Friday, Aug. 31.

The final budget hearing, which will largely focus on the sheriff and jail budgets, is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 29.

Proposed changes to the budget would be submitted before the scheduled public hearing. As presented, the 2019 budget would raise county taxes by 5.46 percent.

Before making a decision on the contentious proposal, commissioners adjourned the meeting.

Roy said he made his recommendation to avoid some of the chaos from the budget-cutting meetings of previous years, and keep this year’s process on track.

The budget session two years ago lasted more than seven hours and did not end until 12:30 a.m.

Learning of the cuts in advance would allow commissioners a few days to consider the impact of the proposed changes and department heads to study how they would affect their budgets, Roy said.

Noel Madore of Lewiston liked Roy’s idea, but Isaiah Lary of Wales vehemently disagreed, saying he wanted the opportunity to propose changes during the meeting and not be tied to submitting cuts in advance.

Madore suggested some of Lary’s proposed cuts during last year’s budget hearings were poorly worded and not well thought out.

Lary conceded while some of his motions might have been poorly worded, he took exception to being unprepared. Lary said he spent a lot of time reviewing the budget and his proposals were not “harebrained” at all.

Ray Lafrance, a new commissioner from Poland and the only other commissioner present, said he could see both sides of the issue, but was concerned with the restrictions in Roy’s proposal.

‘I don’t think we can stop a commissioner from making additional cuts on Sept. 5,” Lafrance said.

During the discussions, Lary made a motion to adjourn, which the commissioners agree to do.

After the meeting Roy disagreed with the suggestion that submitting cuts before hearing from the public would make the public hearing worthless. He said there would be a second public hearing before the budget committee finalizes its suggestions to the commissioners for final adoption.

The hearing began with commissioners hearing from Facilities Director Dave Cote, County Administrator Larry Post and Treasurer Clarice Proctor.

Cote spent much of his time discussing the capital improvement plan for the county building, setting aside funds to repair a portion of the slate roof and flooring. He also proposed spending money to seek feedback on remodeling the building’s basement and replace the boilers in the building.

Cote said eight of the building’s 10 aging boilers are working, and he needs a minimum of six working boilers to serve the needs of the courthouse.

Instead of buying a new truck, Cote recommended spending $3,000 to fix the 2002 Chevrolet truck to stretch its usefulness for another five years. The truck is mostly used for plowing snow and hauling supplies.

Lary suggested the county save money by paying an outside firm to plow the parking lots.

The commissioners own budget would increase 3.55 percent. Post said the county has paid nothing in legal fees this year. 

Absent commissioners included Sally Christner of Turner, Bonny Starbird of Poland and Melissa Willette of Lewiston.

Budget committee members Norman Beauparlant of Poland and Kristin Cloutier of Lewiston attended the meeting.

Androscoggin County Building in Auburn. 

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