AUBURN — With Androscoggin County expected to receive $21 million from the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act in Washington, county Commissioner Noel Madore was eager to rush in, prepare a mission statement and consider potential uses of the unexpected windfall at Wednesday’s meeting.
Not so quick, other members told the Lewiston commissioner.
Some of the commissioners felt blindsided by Madore, who spoke to the Sun Journal on Tuesday about the expected $21 million grant from the stimulus package and his ideas on how to spend the money.
Commissioners Brian Ames of Lewiston and Terri Kelley of Mechanic Falls angrily denounced Madore, saying the county needs to wait and any talk of spending was premature.
“We need to step back, take a breath and find out what the criteria is,” Chairwoman Sally Christner of Turner said.
“We need more confirmation on when it is coming and get clarification on the rules,” John Michael of Auburn added.
But Madore pressed on, talking about the need for a mission statement and urging commissioners to hold a special meeting in two weeks to discuss ideas.
“We need to be ready and hit the ground running,” Madore said, adding later, “We need to think big on how we want to spend the money,”
With their next regularly scheduled meeting in three weeks, commissioners did not see the need for the extra session, and two of them said they would not be available if they did meet.
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan includes $65.1 billion in direct aid, divided among every county in the nation. Maine’s share of the funds for the counties is $261 million, with Cumberland County scheduled to receive the most at $57.2 million.
Androscoggin County is expected to receive $21 million, Oxford County should receive $11.2 million and Franklin County $5.9 million.
The first half of the grant is expected to arrive by May, while the second half comes the following year. Counties have until the end of 2024 to spend the money.
Several commissioners and County Treasurer Clarice Proctor said the county needed to await further instructions and guidance from the government on where to spend the funds and to see what the guardrails or restrictions limiting its use might be.
In other business, commissioners approved bids for five vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office. A bid for a 2021 Ford Interceptor was accepted from Darling’s Ford of Brunswick and Bangor for $33,757. Four 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV cruisers for the patrol division will be purchased from Colonial Municipal Group of Plymouth, Massachusetts, for $39,340.95 per vehicle
According to Sheriff Eric Samson, no Maine dealer had Tahoes available on their lots, the 2021 vehicles are no longer being made and General Motors has not yet revealed the cost for the 2022 models. Colonial was the only one of the 14 Chevy dealerships contacted that provided a bid.
Samson, however, did receive much pushback from Commissioner Isaiah Lary of Wales when he sought commissioners’ support to form a committee to review the status and needs of the public safety division in the building. The advisory or exploratory committee, which would likely include a couple of commissioners, would take inventory of the space, compare the facility with others and make recommendations.
Lary objected to the sheriff appointing a committee, saying the county charter says only commissioners have that power. But the other commissioners and County Administrator Larry Post saw no violation, saying it was not that type of a committee. Samson is merely seeking input from experts serving in an advisory role and would not be spending taxpayer money.
The request passed 6-1, with Lary voting no.
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