FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted Tuesday to table a request from the Budget Advisory Committee to adopt a policy giving the committee the authority to set commissioners’ pay and benefits package.
Commissioners wanted Clerk Julie Magoon to review the request legally and gather more information on the proposal.
Commission Chairman Gary McGrane of Jay said by tabling it, he was not saying that it will not be discussed, he didn’t believe Tuesday’s commission meeting was the proper venue. He said he wants to find out the legality of who is responsible for policymaking, among other issues, before having a discussion with the Budget Committee.
The other commissioners agreed.
Commissioner Clyde Barker of Strong said he would like to keep the request active but wants more information before meeting with the budget panel.
In other business, commissioners also agreed to hear a presentation from Community Concepts Finance Corp.
Farmington Selectman Joshua Bell, a member of the Budget Advisory Committee, requested that commissioners listen to a presentation from Glen Holmes, the corporation’s director of economic development. Bell said he had no affiliation with the organization.
According to the corporation’s website, Community Concepts Finance Corp. is a division of Community Concepts Inc., and is the economic development organization for Oxford County.
Franklin County has a similar nonprofit entity, the Greater Franklin Development Corp. in Farmington, that promotes economic development, works to attract businesses, assists local employers and encourages entrepreneurship, according to its website.
Executive Director Alison Hagerstrom also works with Magoon to oversee a committee that accepts grant applications connected to the county’s unorganized territory tax-increment financing agreement with TransCanada. The committee makes recommendations to commissioners for funding. Hagerstrom is also working with the county to amend the tax increment financing agreement.
Greater Franklin Development Corp. was established in 1998 by a group of local business people to strengthen economic development. It started out as an entity of Franklin County and is still supported partially with county funds. For years it received $60,000 coming from the county, and after the TIF was approved, half of it was paid through TIF funding and the remainder from county funds.
In the last couple of years, the Franklin County budget panel reduced the corporation’s funding. It is being funded in the current budget at $50,000 with $25,000 from the county and $25,000 from TIF funds.
At some point, Bell said, the Budget Advisory Committee will have to decide whether to fund Greater Franklin Development Corp. or not.
Commissioners have held to not funding any new programs for several years.
“I don’t have a problem listening,” Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon said.
However, he feels the committee is heading down the wrong path if members think they are going to replace Greater Franklin Development Corp., he said.
It was a county function years ago, he said.
Hardy said the bugaboo is the county was promised by some people several years ago that Greater Franklin Development Corp. would be on its own in five years, but it hasn’t happened.
Barker said Hagerstrom is doing her best for the whole county not just one or two towns.
“I’d be willing to listen. I think we have enough programs to fund,” Barker said.
McGrane said he wanted to keep the doors open to encourage economic development. He suggested a presentation be done in May.
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