[0:00] flesh and one in the machine. Um, so we will start with commission

[0:06] updates. If anybody have anything they'd like to

[0:10] add or discuss or bring up. >> I'll I'll start. Um, whatever you do,

[0:18] find a way to avoid the flu. It is not a nice friend.

[0:24] » That's the whole thing. I don't really have I can't remember it yesterday.

[0:31] » Basically, it's been it's been pretty intense.

[0:34] » I'm sorry. Hopefully, you get better.

[0:39] » Commissioner, anything? >> I think the only thing I update on today

[0:43] is the LD 2158, the legisl Oh, sorry. LD 2158, the legislation that will allow

[0:52] our budget committee to um appoint will allow the commission to appoint one new

[0:58] member to our budget committee and then allow the budget committee to convene

[1:03] and uh vote in their other members has been signed by the governor. It was an

[1:10] emergency piece of legislation. So once it was signed by the governor, it is

[1:14] immediately lost, which is great news and we can go forward with our budget

[1:20] convening and have a 2026 budget, which uh I just want to acknowledge also how

[1:28] incredibly stressful it has been for the staff and the county and the towns uh to

[1:34] be operating with so much uncertainty. And I'm just really happy that we can

[1:40] address that right away and uh as soon as we can. So uh that's the the good

[1:46] news there. >> Um other legis

[1:55] um a bill to fund the county jails that's

[2:00] going through the legislature now. I think it's going to be in front of the

[2:04] uh finance committees. um coming up that would give the jails

[2:09] an extra all the jails across the counties in the state an extra $8

[2:14] million. Uh which would be nice. Almost all of

[2:19] the counties are dipping in reserve funds to make ends meet in the jails

[2:24] because uh we're trying to keep it from being put on the backs of the taxpayers.

[2:28] But jails are costing more and more every county across the state. We're no

[2:33] different than everybody else. And so the extra money would be nice to have.

[2:37] Um, another bill is related to that is they want to put

[2:43] together a study committee that will over the next two years study the jails

[2:47] in the counties and see if there's something that the state should be

[2:51] doing. Are we organized correctly? Is there a different way to organize the

[2:56] jails to see if there's uh a better way to deliver the service? And I think what

[3:03] they want to do is look at jails in county jails across the United States

[3:08] and see if there's any other models that we could be adopting. So I think they're

[3:12] putting together a study committee for that. Um we don't know exactly where

[3:17] that stands, but we think that'll pass. And then um my understanding as far as

[3:24] the deeds goes is the uh 1% that the state was going to take from the real

[3:32] estate transfer tax has been defeated. But that doesn't mean they're not trying

[3:37] to find something else taking money. So we'll keep an eye on that.

[3:43] Keep fighting that. But other than that, there's nothing else.

[3:46] » A question about the funding for jails. Would that be $500,000 to each county or

[3:52] is it distributed based on population or >> there's a formula that they use that has

[3:58] something to do with prisoners and valuation and a whole bunch of other

[4:02] things that they already use. I would imagine that they would just put this on

[4:07] top of what they already have and so we would get a small portion,

[4:13] you know, but every hundred,000 or every 200,000 would help.

[4:19] Thank you. >> The next is public comment. Is there

[4:23] anyone who would like to address the issue,

[4:27] » please? Hey, I'm Donald Gell. I'm chair of the budget committee in the town of

[4:32] Washington. Now that the budget committee has it, the county budget

[4:36] committee has a forum. Could you tell me what the next process and how that

[4:41] budget process will work so that the public uh both from the municipal side

[4:47] and the public in general can can attend meetings and have some input into the

[4:52] draft county budget that I see is it's been defined

[4:58] today. How where did that draft budget come from?

[5:02] » What's the county budget process going forward?

[5:07] Um, we're still working through this. Uh, our part, the commission's part is

[5:15] the budget is brought to us basically by administration. Administration has been

[5:20] working through the needs for the year. Um, we'll try to keep it down as much as

[5:26] they possibly can. They will bring that to the commission and we will uh, we've

[5:31] already looked at it a little bit. We will basically just adopt it at that

[5:35] point. um unless there's something that's glaring on it. The next step is

[5:40] the uh county budget committee has not yet met the have a quorum. Uh we have to

[5:47] appoint somebody to that and we will do that either in another week or two weeks

[5:52] somewhere in this time period. They have to because there's a series of members,

[5:56] they all have to get together and meet on their schedule. Once they've got a

[6:00] quorum, they will then appoint the other members to the committee. Uh once they

[6:06] have that meeting uh where they have members then we will sit down with the

[6:11] schedule of going over the budget because at that point the budget

[6:15] committee is the one who works on the budget and the budget committee will

[6:20] develop what they think is the best budget. It may be exactly the same as

[6:24] the uh budget we give them or it may have some changes.

[6:29] uh after probably a series of four or maybe five meetings with different

[6:33] departments that are all open to the public, uh they will come up with a

[6:38] budget that will be sent out to the towns for the towns to have a minimum of

[6:44] 10 days to look at it and then there'll be a public hearing based on that budget

[6:51] and then the budget committee will either adopt it or make changes at that

[6:54] point and then the commission can either just let it go at that point where if we

[6:59] want to make changes, as long as we vote on it unanimously, we can override

[7:04] something that the budget committee does and if the budget committee doesn't like

[7:07] it, they can then override what we say. So, it is a process. We don't have all

[7:12] the dates at this point and all of the process once it's out there will be um

[7:18] hopefully all those dates will be on the county's website uh so everybody knows

[7:23] and knows what departments being discussed. All of the meetings are

[7:26] public. I think there's a public hearing, as a matter of fact, before

[7:30] they adopt that first budget. Um, so there's going to be a series of

[7:35] different meetings. We just don't have the dates yet,

[7:39] but those are available, will be available.

[7:43] So, you're looking at probably 30, 60, 90 days out before you finally get a a a

[7:50] public hearing for the budget itself. Um, no. I think we will probably have a

[7:57] public hearing uh right away >> within the next two or three weeks and

[8:03] then there'll be when we finally finish the process which will probably be um

[8:09] certainly over 30 days but less than 60. Uh we will have another public hearing

[8:14] on that final budget that the commission the committee has put together. Okay.

[8:20] » Thank you.

[8:25] Anybody else wishing to address the commission?

[8:31] Seeing there's none, we'll move on to the the regular part of the agenda. And

[8:36] the regular part of the agenda includes uh routine business. Um the agenda,

[8:42] which is what we have here. I don't know that there's anything we want to add to

[8:46] the agenda, so I think that's okay. Uh department head reports. Thank you all

[8:50] very much for the four reports we've gotten. Payroll and expense warrants and

[8:54] reserve withdrawals. May I hear a motion?

[8:57] » Second. >> It's been and seconded. Thank you. Uh

[9:01] any discussion on any of these?

[9:07] Seeing as there's none, I'll call the vote. All those in favor?

[9:12] » Yep. Three in favor, none opposed. Now we can get to the discussion items where

[9:19] we'll talk about some of these things. Uh the first one is the adoption of the

[9:23] two 2026 draft budget for the budget committee.

[9:29] » Yay. Um I'm going to go out of order because I believe

[9:35] the grant language. >> Yeah, I did. I sure did.

[9:39] » I sure did. Um, I think going to number C then B then A makes more sense because

[9:45] those all affect the 206 adoption of that funding.

[9:50] » So, we're going to start with C, which is the grant language and acceptance of

[9:54] the LEPC and EMPG grants. These are grants through EMA. Um

[10:02] based on the approval or misapproval, we'll have a final updated budget for

[10:08] the commission to adopt um to provide to the budget committee.

[10:14] And the director is here if you have any questions. Um and I think in your packet

[10:19] is all the language from both grants. >> How much

[10:25] money we talking about? One question I wasn't prepared for. I

[10:30] believe it's 68,000.

[10:35] The EMPG was 68885, something like that. The uh LEPC was

[10:44] two pieces. the 6,000 something for um

[10:52] wages for one of my employees and then around 7,000 that goes directly to fire

[10:57] departments to pay for hazmat training.

[11:05] Now, my understanding is having read through these that the uh since these

[11:11] are Department of Homeland Security grants that are doled out to the uh EMAs

[11:19] across the country, includes the uh main emergency management agency.

[11:25] They have changed the wording because of court cases. So, it no longer obligates

[11:31] the county or the recipient uh to administer federal law in terms of

[11:38] immigration statutes. And so, as long as the court cases hold,

[11:45] uh then these are perfectly fine. If the court cases get overthrown, then

[11:51] we're back potentially to the original word,

[11:56] » except that the state has the right to withdraw.

[12:00] So, we we wouldn't have to then follow that language,

[12:04] » right? But it would put us back where we were before is the money we've spent we

[12:10] have to return back to the federal government.

[12:13] » So, it would impact the the budget that way, too.

[12:16] » Yes. But in the meantime, we are clear of the uh ownorous

[12:23] requirements that were put in there before.

[12:28] » Great. Sounds good. >> We have any uh information on the

[12:35] process of of court uh situation with this bill?

[12:44] I haven't heard anything else at this point. There there's a preliminary one

[12:49] has a preliminary injunction against it. The other one has a permanent injunction

[12:53] against it. But that means that they're both available for still working its way

[12:57] through the courts. I have not heard that the federal

[13:01] government has appealed any of them yet. >> Okay. Um, and so if we okay them, uh,

[13:10] they would go into our budget. Um, but then if for some reason they get turned

[13:15] around and the language comes back, we will certainly have to, uh, return the

[13:20] monies. So, it's a it's a gamble, I guess, but I think I believe the state

[13:28] is very strong about making sure that wording that they originally tried does

[13:34] not go through. So, I'm in favor of okaying these uh and

[13:41] rolling the dice a bit. >> Correct.

[13:47] Um if we are in the position to have to return funding and will not be able to

[13:56] uh use federal funding to cover these this money or you know these um

[14:04] expenses. Do we have any

[14:08] uh funding in reserves that we could tap to cover this if we find ourselves in

[14:15] that position at the very minimum for what we would have already spent?

[14:23] We always hope, but this is not the year I think to to take that risk. I will say

[14:28] something um Candace and I chatted about this is a grant for 2025 through October

[14:33] of 26. So by the time we right so we're already about six months in yeah to it

[14:39] already um and I can't remember which one we we shared this with but uh by the

[14:45] time any kind of court case goes through and it gets over to we're looking at the

[14:49] 26 27 cycle is probably when we're going to have to be a little bit more

[14:53] concerned about that happening in in my opinion. Um, yeah, because that all

[14:57] takes time and we're already well into this grant year to the point where if

[15:02] these are not approved, 20 budget would be short in EMA about $30,000,000ish.

[15:10] » Yeah. And and so

[15:14] any court decision, say we are in the 26 27 year before anything theoretically

[15:21] flips back, >> um

[15:24] will we have to pay back all the way back to 2025 to the federal government?

[15:32] » There's no way to know that for sure. I'm sure that would get haggled out with

[15:36] the various states that are in the lawsuits.

[15:39] That would be a good question, but I didn't know if they had already

[15:45] discussed that. And is it So, the state divies up that money. So, if this So, if

[15:53] this did get overturned, the state would have a lot of work to do.

[15:56] » Yes. >> To try and get that. So, that's kind of

[15:58] our carrot that we're hoping is uh I mean, it's it's it's definitely

[16:04] a small risk, I'll say. Um,

[16:09] » okay. That's I just wanted us to be really clear on,

[16:13] you know, how far back this goes. If we know, we don't know

[16:17] » what just what the general implications are.

[16:21] » Yeah.

[16:26] » Director Richards, how important did these grants for budget?

[16:32] » They are incredibly important. with the EMPG in particular because it directly

[16:37] offsets my budget for that budget year up to that amount. It's 50%

[16:44] reimbursement up to that amount which offsets all of our wages and stuff in

[16:50] EMA. So since this grant should have started back on October 1st of last

[16:55] year, that's why the 25 budget would when they

[17:00] go to do the audit that we are going to be underfunded for last year

[17:05] significantly and then this year would also be negatively impacted to the point

[17:11] where we would have to figure out where to make cuts because the majority of my

[17:16] budget is wages and benefits. It's a small department

[17:26] » and the so the other the alternative would be to increase your budget for the

[17:33] regular budget committee and regular taxes and prefer not to do that at this

[17:40] time of course. Um, so I guess I have to I have to again lean on okaying

[17:48] accepting the funds um you know and and uh think that um the right things will

[17:56] be done in the courts if they even challenge it which they haven't yet and

[18:00] go forward.

[18:03] » I'll make one other observation. We are making the assumption that if it came to

[18:07] us with the old wording that we would vote it down. We have not taken a vote

[18:13] on that. There's no reason to to jump the gun and say we would definitely uh

[18:19] turn it down if it came in with different language. We've never taken a

[18:23] vote on that. And I don't want to make an assumption that that's how we would

[18:27] vote if it came to us. But in the meantime, you know, I think I would not

[18:32] be surprised if there are some counties that would take it with that word.

[18:37] » Whether the state would accept it or not, I don't know.

[18:41] It might be that the state would just turn it back rather than wait for the

[18:46] towns or the counties to turn it back. But in the meantime, we shouldn't be

[18:49] making the assumption that we will be sending it right back.

[18:54] That's a different calculus to make at that point if it's worth whatever the

[18:58] new wording would be. Uh that we're still willing to go along with it. In

[19:02] the meantime, that's not what's on the table. What's on the table is the

[19:05] current wording. And with the current wording, I don't see any reason why we

[19:08] would say no. I don't

[19:13] » you would like >> um

[19:19] I think I think we want to put that aside um as part of the regular budget

[19:24] process rather than do that now because we'd have to add it to the agenda and I

[19:28] don't know that we need to add it to the agenda at this point. We'll just assume

[19:38] » don't you have your copy of the agenda?

[19:44] Yeah. So then you wanted to do B next. >> B next.

[19:50] » Yeah. Get all the hard stuff out of the way.

[19:53] » Um so B is prioritizing the schedule CPI and step adjustments for the 2026

[19:59] budget. This I believe was an agenda item at the end of last year in maybe

[20:06] November or December's agenda. Um it's been tabled a few times. We are waiting

[20:11] to get to this point where we know we have a 2026 budget. Um again, not a

[20:17] formal vote, but the 2026 increases are included in the budget draft that you

[20:22] were provided. Um so that is already included.

[20:26] I believe some of the discussion back then

[20:30] was we were kind of waiting to see how 2025 closed out to see what we have

[20:34] undesated and just kind of a a net if you will.

[20:38] um we don't have that luxury. 2025 is not closed out. We cannot rely on those

[20:43] numbers. So, we kind of have to put a decision on your plate to go off of what

[20:48] is proposed for 2026. Um

[20:52] understanding that some of our und designated aren't exactly where where we

[20:56] want them to be.

[21:00] I think what we want to do is make sure that all of the employees going back to

[21:07] the January 1st of 2026 get what they're entitled to by

[21:13] contracts or by agreements which includes the the CPI as well as any

[21:18] steps. The question is going to be I guess the

[21:22] board of finance. At what point do we how do we do it? How do we give it back

[21:28] to them once the budget is approved? Uh is it going to be a lump sum? Is it

[21:34] going to be a um a figuring that we add to the rest of

[21:39] the year? Um it would seem that it must be a probably has to be a lump sum

[21:44] because we want everything else to not be the the basis for where they go the

[21:49] year after this. So,

[21:52] » so I I think there's um two questions in there. Um whenever it is approved to

[22:00] move forward for the 26 increases um then it will be retro back to January

[22:05] 1st to make employees whole and it will happen as soon as the

[22:10] agreement is made by the commission that we can forward. I think the um question

[22:16] that came up and when we were talking about moving it forward to March was at

[22:22] that point to review whether we could move forward now or whether we'd wait

[22:27] until the 26 budget was approved. Preliminary figures are closing on 25.

[22:36] We would have to we you would have to make the decision based on a 26 budget.

[22:41] not relying that it would be undesated in 25 that could cover those changes. Um

[22:50] especially where it's not just salary increases in 26, we have a lot of

[22:53] contract increases that we also need to cover.

[22:58] So the question right now is whether you're agreeable as

[23:06] a commission to move forward with the retros to January now. or whether it's

[23:11] going to pause until we get through the budget cycle.

[23:17] » And your recommendation just based on keeping us solvent would be what?

[23:25] » I think it is based on whether you as a commission feel very strongly to support

[23:31] this as we continue to move forward in 26. Um and understand there is a budget

[23:36] impact that is presented to the commission excuse me to the budget

[23:40] committee. I am saying that from a undesated perspective

[23:46] we should not be looking at that where we're projecting 25 to make that

[23:50] decision. if I may. So, are are we then

[23:57] um

[24:00] making an creating an incumbrance that we are forcing on the budget committee

[24:05] if we approve it ahead of the budget process?

[24:09] » Yes. But it's really no different than where

[24:14] we have entered into contracts, whether it be a continuation or whether it be a

[24:19] builtin 5year that increases every year that's already built into the 26 that

[24:24] we're presenting to the budget committee. Yeah.

[24:26] » Um so they don't have to approve it. >> It's in the figures that they will be

[24:31] approving when I'm speaking about contracts or whether I even our

[24:36] insurance for the county that's gone up substantially. Yeah. um that's part of

[24:42] numbers that are being presented to them. So salaries are just another layer

[24:48] in that that is being presented in the budget

[24:52] » for our internal policies. Um I can't quote it exactly but the commission does

[24:58] need to approve the CPI step each year is is kind of how it's written in our

[25:02] personnel policy and then it does get kind of flushed out with the budget

[25:05] committee. Okay. Um but typically that vote starts with the three of you and

[25:10] would have been a normal process right last year as as

[25:14] part of that

[25:19] » I'd like to add in in regarding this that my my stance has always been the

[25:26] people are the most important thing that we have working for us and whatever we

[25:31] can do to make their lives a little bit easier especially as we've made them

[25:36] more difficult ult. Uh we didn't personally do it, but it was it's been a

[25:39] more difficult time because of the circumstances. Um I think I think we

[25:44] should improve it, but that's where I stand.

[25:52] » I think I'm not disagreeing in terms of our ultimate commitment and our uh is to

[25:59] the employees and they we know that they're going to get back. The question

[26:04] is exactly when is it going to happen soon? Uh which I think puts the whole

[26:10] process um in doubt just in case it doesn't

[26:15] pass. Um there is, you know, where does the money come from if it isn't already

[26:21] there? If it isn't coming in through tax dollars, is this something that

[26:25] eventually we wind up increasing our tip spending on? not active spending, our um

[26:31] tax anticipate anticipation notes, um our CANS

[26:37] uh and therefore puts us in a worse position financially for the county. Um

[26:42] or if we wait an extra month and we get the budget passed, then it just becomes

[26:47] a a natural part of what we're doing. I would prefer the second just because I

[26:53] don't want to put us in a financial bind down the road.

[26:59] knowing that everybody's going to get the money. The problem is, you know,

[27:03] there are people who probably can use the money now.

[27:08] And that's where the problem comes in is how soon do we get them the money, which

[27:12] is one of the reasons why I want the budget process to move as fast as it can

[27:17] once we get it going now that we've got the approval for the quorum. I want to

[27:22] see this get going. I don't want to see us drag this out any longer than we have

[27:25] to. But I also don't know that I really want to see us commit to spending money

[27:31] that we don't have yet. Could we potentially kind of meet in the middle

[27:36] with this that our first budget committee uh meeting to review budgets

[27:42] that we discuss that with the budget committee and maybe get a verbal that

[27:46] they're agreeable to move forward at that point which could allow us to move

[27:51] this forward maybe four weeks earlier than waiting till the end.

[27:56] » You're a genius. I think that's a great idea. Yeah.

[28:01] At >> least that gives us some backing and we

[28:06] know that that's the direction we're going to we don't usually discuss it

[28:08] that way because we discuss it department by department

[28:12] » but we are going to have a beginning meeting where we discuss a little bit

[28:15] about the philosophy of what we're trying to do and how we approve the

[28:18] budget and what we're allowed to cut and what we're not. Um so it'll be

[28:22] appropriate to bring it up then. And if by some chance the budget committee is

[28:27] not completely agreeable, then we're waiting until the budget goes all the

[28:31] way through, which is maybe another couple of weeks. But if we can get it in

[28:36] the beginning when we start in April, that would be great.

[28:40] » Sounds good. >> Agreed.

[28:42] » You think? >> I do. Thank you for that compromise.

[28:48] » Mark, you're happy? >> I'm happy. Okay. Then we will move on to

[28:53] the next one which comes to a which is the adoption of the

[28:57] » Yes. So based on some conversations today with the grants and the stepping

[29:02] in cola, I will present or I will provide and produce a final um budget

[29:07] summary that will go to all of the towns. We will post our budget draft on

[29:11] the website in the next 24 hours. Um, and I will get working on our budget

[29:17] binders for budget committee members and commissioners to pick up. That's their

[29:21] tool to use as we go through this budget process. Um, and then our visual budget

[29:27] will also be coming out sometime next week, which is that interactive tool

[29:30] that anybody can find on. So once these changes are made that

[29:35] proposed draft will go out definitely by the end of the week hoping sometime

[29:39] tomorrow um again to towns budget committees will be will be posted on the

[29:44] website etc etc

[29:48] » and this is for the towns to understand that this is really just a draft that is

[29:53] not even approved by the budget committee.

[29:56] » This is not the budget that they'll be voting. This is the vote the one that

[30:00] we'll be using as a working document for them.

[30:03] » Yeah. But a tool to keep the towns informed of where we are and our

[30:07] progress just because of this and then the towns excuse me

[30:12] » and we won't know what the schedule is till after the budget committee's first

[30:16] meeting >> most likely. I'm going to try and keep

[30:20] pulling some strings with them. Um I have heard a little maybe interest in

[30:25] doing a Tuesday Thursday schedule. Um, so I'm going to try and get some more

[30:30] traction. It looks like the first meeting of our joint budget to get

[30:33] everything squared away will be March 31st at 6 PM. So again, I'll put that

[30:38] out. Uh, and then at that time we'll finalize that process with them.

[30:44] Um, but I'll I'll hopefully get some insight prior so I can at least give

[30:48] everybody a heads up of when those might be.

[30:50] » It may be a lot, but the other option could be that we just do more at each

[30:56] meeting. Yep. Yeah. >> Yep.

[30:58] » We can't do the twice weekly. That's I know that's a lot of uh using your brain

[31:04] » and looking at numbers, but yeah, it it's I think there's pros and cons to

[31:09] both, right? I packing it in. I think it's spot on the brain. We're constantly

[31:14] talking about it. Questions come up. You wait a week. You kind of lose some of

[31:17] that. But it also gives time to ask questions and follow up. So, I think

[31:21] that first meeting will be a good good indication. Yeah. And then even if they

[31:26] do agree to meet that following Thursday, we'll probably do our admin,

[31:30] IT, finance, um, probate, some of the smaller department to kick it off, be

[31:36] dive into some meteor ones.

[31:42] » The next discussion item we have on here is employee recognition presentation in

[31:47] a >> chair. I just want to sorry, one more

[31:50] question about budget committee. Um, as I reviewed the budget, um, I did have a

[31:56] few things that came up and so our opportunity as commissioners to address

[32:03] questions and concerns we have is also during those meetings. Is that correct?

[32:08] » Yeah. I mean, anytime. >> Yeah. I mean,

[32:14] » yeah. is the way it will work is we're going to be having a joint meeting

[32:19] between the right >> budget committee and the commission and

[32:24] so the departments will be here they will make their presentation the budget

[32:28] committee will ask them questions if we don't get our questions answered then

[32:32] once the budget committee is done with their deliberations then we will

[32:37] ask questions >> okay

[32:39] » at that point and then you know we'll have other ideas at that point but we I

[32:45] um sort of as a straw approve our own budget that we have some

[32:50] idea what we're going to come back to. I just one of my big concerns is the cost

[32:55] of fuel and heating oil and just thinking that uh this budget was um put

[33:05] together before the president's war in Iran which has obviously drastically

[33:11] already increased the price for fuel and heating oil and who knows what the

[33:16] future will hold but it that could be a really significant impact for our budget

[33:22] um as we have a lot of facilities to heat and a lot of vehicles to fuel up.

[33:27] So, um that's just one thing that I want to be thinking about and I have a couple

[33:32] of other items that can wait, but I think that that's really the big one.

[33:36] » You can certainly bring that up to the administrator privately.

[33:39] » Yeah. >> You know, on your own, okay, at some

[33:41] point to get the answers and get that that thinking going behind the scene,

[33:46] too. The question on that is we usually do

[33:51] those as bids oil.

[33:55] » Yes. >> When do those bids go out and when is

[33:58] the bids that we're working under or are there um caveats in that whole thing

[34:04] that says in case of war all bets are off.

[34:08] » Um so this year we actually went with Macau to do our bidding for our game. Um

[34:13] so maintenance director Jim and I um I don't know last week finalized those

[34:18] numbers and what they do is they work with um I'm assuming they're going to

[34:22] work with maritime again because they're one of the best but um costwise um so

[34:28] they lock in a price and then that's provided to county and a lot of towns

[34:32] and the Camden library and a bunch of other people. So there is a hope that we

[34:37] will be able to lock in especially when the county did it we were getting kind

[34:40] of less and less less and less and didn't make it as worth it for whatever

[34:44] vendor we were going with. Um, so now MCO has taken it over and they work with

[34:49] all the towns, all the smaller nonprofits, the county. Um,

[34:52] » they work with the schools too. >> Yes.

[34:55] » We did previously. So what I did is I just gave the list that we worked with

[34:59] right to Max and Pog and he reached out to everybody. So he's taking that over.

[35:03] So I'm hopeful just with their credibility and all of that that we will

[35:06] be able to lock something in soon. That should be April that April, May. So

[35:12] we'll know shortly. Um, not that that helps answer your question, but just so

[35:17] you understand the process. Yeah, that was for planning works. Yes,

[35:22] » you guess my concern is still the conversation you had on you guys that

[35:27] had last commissioners meeting where most of us are having our warrant

[35:31] articles and ballots printed prior to you um really getting into your budget

[35:37] process. I know the plumary work has been done. Um, and last budget there was

[35:41] a lot of conversation on the floor about adding this and adding that and

[35:46] you know it's where's the cap and where's it coming down for us to be able

[35:49] to know like you can't come back to us and say we need another 50 $60,000 and

[35:54] in August where you were debating last meeting about adding offices this

[35:59] whatever the topic was how do you get to the top and then work and have the

[36:04] discussion and bring it down or leave it there but we're budgeting at the top end

[36:07] versus somewhere we're trying They say, "Okay, we have to cut something locally

[36:12] to make our asses contribution to the county, which would be devastating."

[36:18] I would I'd make the observation that we're um between us and the

[36:25] uh budget committee, the chances of us adding anything to what we get from the

[36:31] administration are going to be pretty slim to none. Um, that's the point of

[36:36] the budget committee in most cases is to make sure we don't go over and I don't

[36:40] think that they will be adding anything. They did a little bit when we had ARPA

[36:44] funding. They would throw things at they say, "Oh, look, we've got more money,

[36:48] but we don't have that opportunity and we don't have that luxury now." So, I'm

[36:53] pretty sure whatever we administration develops for numbers, uh, is going to be

[36:59] our top. Okay? >> And it's not going to go above that. um

[37:05] if it does then then you know the whole process is skewed and so I don't think

[37:10] we're going to do that and we know and that's going to be one of the problems

[37:13] we have that we're going to discuss with the budget committee is even if there's

[37:17] a temptation to add we don't have the money and we won't be able to get we're

[37:20] not going to be able to squeeze more money out of the towns after the fact.

[37:25] Uh, so what we give you or what the administration sends out in that first

[37:30] draft budget will be as high as it's going to go.

[37:36] Does that help answer? >> It does. Yeah.

[37:39] » Because I can't imagine we're going to go more than that.

[37:42] » Yeah. Just like, you know, we're sitting here thinking about um how we get enough

[37:49] money to pay our employees what they're due. Uh we're not going to overspend

[37:56] just to make that happen. We're not going to overspend to make the budget go

[38:00] up any more than what it already is because it's already too high.

[38:04] » Yeah.

[38:08] Any other questions on the budget while Mark?

[38:11] » Just add one thing. Um been a member of the Camden budget

[38:16] committee for a number of years. This is my last year. So finishing that while I

[38:21] take on this responsibility and I know the anxiety about the numbers and you

[38:28] know having to get it all done and we need to expedite the county budget as

[38:32] quickly as we can so that all the towns do have the final numbers and that's our

[38:38] that's our main responsibility right now I think just getting it done and getting

[38:42] it to you so we can do it properly and knowing that in this incredibly

[38:47] difficult year which is becoming more difficult. We're just going to have to

[38:50] live with what we come up with. And it's it's going to be a tough year, but we

[38:55] have to be prepared for that.

[39:06] » And we will move on to which is the employee recognition.

[39:12] » Okay. I'm just putting this uh in your brains that in April we will have an

[39:17] employee. Um,

[39:20] we'll recognize employees.

[39:31] » Um, so yeah, just making you all aware that anyone we will have employee

[39:35] recognition uh presentation. Looks like there's about six employees that will

[39:40] recognize. Uh this is a committee that's been left over for years and years and a

[39:46] small fun project I hope to tackle in the next year or two um about our

[39:51] employee recognition. But right now what we're doing is providing extra vacation

[39:54] days as a thank you. Um so we'll go ahead and do that in April. Um everybody

[39:59] will be invited their supervisor etc. So just want to make sure everybody's

[40:03] prepared for that. Um, and actually have the list.

[40:08] Um, and if anybody can't make that presentation, if you want to send a note

[40:13] or something that I can read on your behalf, I'd be happy to do that.

[40:21] » I think it's appropriate. We need to put as many of those kinds of things into

[40:26] place on a regular basis. One of the problems we've had over the last few

[40:30] years is we do these things on a inconsistent

[40:35] basis. It would be good to have some consistency between that and whether

[40:40] it's a 10 year recognition or five year recognition recognition for a job well

[40:44] done. We need to come up with something consistent.

[40:49] » We also only recognize increments of five. So 5 10 15 20 for the year prior.

[40:54] So, these are people that have hit a 5year commencement anniversary in 2025.

[40:59] So, again, the whole thing needs to be revamped. We're well aware of that. It's

[41:03] just been lovely, unfortunately. Um, but we still want to bring them to the

[41:07] commission to present, you know, recognize some

[41:13] » ready for E. >> Yes.

[41:14] » Okay. So, public safety coordinator. Um, in the budget, there is a page titled

[41:20] miscellaneous. Those are uh individuals or nonprofits that we fund. MCOG being

[41:27] one of them. We just discussed that. Um another one being the Knox County Mutual

[41:31] Aid Association. Um this year on top of their request for funds from the county,

[41:35] they also requested a specific position to be funded by the county. The proposal

[41:42] was for a fire commissioner, I believe. Um so what we did was we worked with the

[41:48] mutual aid association. We worked with the Eboard. We worked with some of the

[41:52] chiefs. Um, we have an internal position. It's titled public safety

[41:58] technology coordinator. This position is vital in making sure that our dispatch

[42:03] center stays running, all towers stay in in service and doing what they're doing.

[42:07] Technology needs are met. Um, amongst a lot of other things. They also go out

[42:12] into the towns and help them make sure that their radios are hooked up

[42:15] appropriately, helping with new hire training, coordinating training with

[42:18] EMA, helping looking right, all all sorts of things. Um, so all we did was

[42:23] slightly update that job description to be more in line with what the request

[42:28] from the mutual aid association was, which was more somebody more focused on

[42:31] kind of fire coordination and training. Um,

[42:36] this is no budgetary impact. This is just kind of a change in essential

[42:41] duties. It's a more town focused or town centered position. Um, and we hope to I

[42:47] think training and resources are the top two goals for all of our municipalities.

[42:52] Um, we weren't sure if we were going to be able to do this, but we were and

[42:57] we're slowly kind of trickling out uh some of these some of these requests

[43:01] from the mutual aid association showing schemes for structure fires and things

[43:05] like that. So, this position is is slowly getting getting ramped up. Um

[43:12] I'm trying to think of anything else I can share about this role.

[43:18] » No, >> and it's a work in progress, right? So

[43:20] » it seems like Billy is taking a position that was already in flux from the last

[43:25] few years. The the position of um what did you call it? public safety

[43:33] technology coordinator was a fairly new position to start off with, only a year

[43:38] or two old and it was evolving as it was. So, this is just changing the

[43:43] wording and changing the job description and therefore what the job is just a

[43:49] little bit. It's another tweak to a job that's evolving.

[43:55] » I think we've done our diligence with the chiefs, with the mutual aid

[43:57] association, with the commission and letting everybody know that this is

[44:00] coming. What we haven't been able to tackle yet is getting with our town

[44:03] managers and ensuring they're aware of this position, ensuring that they have a

[44:06] a voice at the table for needs and can have some sort of easy mechanism to

[44:11] communicate with their chief and just make sure that that's that's flowing.

[44:15] Um, the position itself will be added to the executive board agenda at their

[44:19] regular meeting. So, it will be a topic for discussion. That is a public

[44:22] meeting. So, we're just trying to find ways to ensure everybody has an

[44:26] opportunity to to provide feedback, especially as we are just now rolling

[44:31] this out in >> Will this be funded as part of the

[44:36] communications etc budget fees or is this going to be funded directly from

[44:43] our regular administration budget? >> Currently, it's in the communications

[44:47] budget. um it's where it seemed to make most sense at the time. But I do think

[44:52] again after having conversations about what the role should look like, what the

[44:55] town want to want, what the county needs, um I think we'll we'll probably

[44:59] re revisit that, see what department makes the most sense, what that

[45:02] structure chain of command makes more. The net effect is not that different to

[45:10] the individual towns, whether it comes out of that fee or whether it comes out

[45:14] of directly out of property taxes.

[45:18] But it would make it cleaner and neater. Um, the reason to make it not part of

[45:23] communications is it becomes a wholly um run part of the county as opposed to

[45:31] something the he has a say in. >> Yeah.

[45:37] Mark,

[45:41] » one of the things that you know question somebody might might ask is what happens

[45:46] to the work that the person was doing. And one of the things a lot of the

[45:52] things still fit in the description properly, but one of the things that's

[45:55] happened in the last couple of years, I think the the job has been sort of

[46:01] overseeing dispatch as well and working really closely with the dispatch center.

[46:07] And as we've the dispatch center, brought in a new director that that

[46:12] person now has the ability to move uh into this new circumstance really

[46:17] smoothly. uh without any interruption in any of the the the job services being

[46:25] provided previously. So we're not losing anything.

[46:32] » Correct. The only um butt that I'll put in that is this is

[46:39] when we create a job, it's not about a person. It's about the position and

[46:44] making sure that if we create this position, we will find a person uh we

[46:50] just happen to have one on staff who can do this, but that it's we're creating a

[46:55] a job that is not so tailored to one person that somebody else could step in

[47:00] and do it down the road.

[47:04] » Great.

[47:07] I do feel like the changes in the job description reflect that it seems like

[47:13] to me. >> Yeah.

[47:17] » Anything else on this? Do we need to do anything or you can just go ahead and

[47:21] change that job description without us? >> Yeah, typically job descriptions will

[47:25] come in front of the commission if there's a monetary impact. Um, this

[47:28] doesn't have a monetary impact. I just wanted to to show the changes and and

[47:31] what was there before and how you do it. I just want to say I think this is a

[47:36] great example of the county doing more work at the municipal level and making

[47:42] our services more available and finding better ways to partner. So, I'm really

[47:47] excited about this transition and I think it will um hopefully only enhance

[47:53] our reputation at the municipal level. >> I mean, it could lead down the road to

[48:00] us having a fire commissioner in effect. it could grow from this to something

[48:07] else. But I think it's a good step in terms of the services we're one of the

[48:10] only provided counts >> and a good I don't want to use a

[48:15] position or a person as a tool but it is a tool to evaluate what hasn't been

[48:20] happening in municipalities. It's it's a way to excuse me create some equity. So

[48:25] not just one department is getting all the resources. We can now resource

[48:29] share. We can all go in and fund something together. So I think it

[48:35] it's a positive. >> I I can add uh from the day I was

[48:41] elected to the position even before I was sworn in one of my first meetings

[48:45] with the a select board chair. Um the discussion was about how we were sitting

[48:53] in Rockland watching a Rockland fire training and how to coordinate better

[48:58] between fire departments. So they they the economics of ordering equipment and

[49:04] making sure that the equipment was spared out to where it should be and no

[49:09] duplication. It was one of the first concerns that came up and it's it's I've

[49:14] had those conversations many times. This is something that the towns are really

[49:18] looking forward to.

[49:22] And I'll just add because I have to keep adding things is um how valuable mutual

[49:30] aid is to Knox County that everybody's willing to work together to get that to

[49:36] to provide services to all of the towns and share services makes a big

[49:40] difference uh in terms of firefighting in terms of emergency response

[49:45] throughout the county. And if this is something that we can help them with,

[49:51] then it's a good thing.

[49:58] Then our next one in terms of discussion items is F which is policy updates and

[50:05] policy review committee. >> So just some internal things. Uh we are

[50:11] kicking off our department manager monthly meetings again. um hoping to

[50:15] squeeze one in in March, but looking like April. Um I've also offered some of

[50:20] the leadership from the courthouse to meet regularly. I think

[50:24] all c all uh excuse me, all departments valuable, but especially when we're in

[50:28] one building together, a lot of similar issues come up. So, we're just trying to

[50:31] find mechanisms base and be able to bring things to the

[50:35] commission a little bit easier. Um, but on top of that, we are revamping, well,

[50:42] I shouldn't say that, we're updating our personnel policy. We're hoping to get

[50:46] that out shortly. Um, from there, we're going to create a policy review

[50:49] committee, inviting various employees to sit at a table similar to this and just

[50:55] chat through our policies. Every department is so different here. It's

[50:58] really important to have that feedback um and ensure that it works for each

[51:01] department or if we need to have some some further discussion. So, um, mostly

[51:07] for employees, but also for you all that those changes will be coming. Um, and to

[51:11] give you a heads up, we do have a lot of policies that need updating and those

[51:15] all have to be approved by the commission. So, I will find the best way

[51:19] to get them to you, make sure there's background for you to understand why we

[51:22] made the changes, um, and try to not pack them all in one night. Um, so we'll

[51:28] we'll chat about the best way to to get those approvals, but we may see some as

[51:32] soon as the next cable commission meeting.

[51:35] Uh when I was on the school board, we had a policy committee uh which you know

[51:41] would be hard to do with a commission of three. Uh we just have to have a second

[51:46] meeting every month. Um but uh we did have the um policy committee reporting

[51:55] out at every commission or every schoolboard meeting.

[51:58] » So you know that might just be a good standing agenda item. And you know, as

[52:04] the committee review committee comes together, um you know, if we can just

[52:09] have a goal of working through at least one or two policies at every commission

[52:15] meeting going forward, that gives us something to work toward. And um you

[52:21] know, if you find that it's helpful to have a commissioner sit in on the review

[52:27] committee meetings, you know, that's also something for us to think about.

[52:31] Maybe it could even be a rotation so that each of us has an opportunity to

[52:35] sit on on that committee in the future just to make sure that we're all staying

[52:41] familiar with the work that's happening and also uh just playing our role in

[52:48] moving that forward. It doesn't get stagnant.

[52:54] » I'll add something that um wasn't on the agenda related I guess. Uh

[53:00] about a month ago, we had an open forum where I sat with the um with staff and

[53:09] employees um which I think was very helpful to me.

[53:13] Um, and I think once we're done with the budget cycle, we might want to have each

[53:18] one of the commissioners have an open meeting with staff on a afternoon when

[53:24] everybody can attend uh get input from them um and give input so everybody has

[53:31] a chance to meet and exchange some ideas. I think it's a good

[53:36] » Yeah, >> absolutely.

[53:42] It wasn't mine. I was just told to do it.

[53:47] You just spoke about it. >> And I know we already talked about the

[53:53] budget process quite a bit. You you've mentioned some things. I've mentioned

[53:57] some things, but I think we have most of our ducks in a row. We've got their um

[54:01] certificates ready to go. I have people's

[54:05] oh gosh, can't remember the word off the top

[54:08] where you need all your signatures. So that's all filled out for them. They do

[54:11] want

[54:15] » Yes. So all their paperwork is ready. Whether they're trying to come on the

[54:18] budget committee, trying to leave the budget committee, trying to do another

[54:21] term on the budget committee, we have it all set up and ready for them. Again,

[54:26] we're constant communication with the budget

[54:29] committee on where we are. So we're speak, try and finalize a timeline

[54:36] meetings. So that's all I wanted to say. Those are the discussion items.

[54:39] um related to that but not necessarily on this agenda. Um I just don't want to

[54:46] lose track of a charter review committee and I know

[54:52] you're all thinking about that but um we do have a sunset for LD 2150 which is

[54:59] now public law but I don't know the number. Um and uh just want to make sure

[55:04] that we are staying on top of that because we need to

[55:08] um we can't we won't be in a position to do what we did were doing this year

[55:14] after December 31st 20

[55:20] 28 and I think the timeline in my head I'm

[55:26] not sure if you and I have discussed this yet is this year I get a lot

[55:31] uh education have about it, right? Where where do we leave? What do we need? Um

[55:36] get people involved because it does come to a public vote next year. Have all of

[55:40] our meetings get done what we need to get done. Um and then valid all that

[55:45] whole process in 2018. A lot of the changes we had already gone through and

[55:50] suggested would rely on the 2030 census. So, it's it's nice if we can have it all

[55:55] wrapped up by our deadline for the legislative bill, but as close to 2030,

[56:02] so it's fresh in people's minds as putting something on. So, it's

[56:06] » we'll have to talk about a timeline a little bit. Yeah.

[56:09] » But I think I'll add it as a kind of a every other month checkin status update

[56:15] the commission agenda just so we good things to just stay on text.

[56:20] Just to point out that the deadline that we have is sort of an artificial

[56:25] deadline. For 14 years or 15 years, this hasn't been a problem. Same charter. It

[56:32] just so happened that it sort of slipped through the cracks when nobody all of a

[56:35] sudden decided they wanted to run to reelect and nobody knew that they

[56:39] weren't going to run for reelection. So it may be that if we just pay a bit more

[56:44] attention to it before again that won't happen again which is what the county

[56:49] administrator is talking about being on top of the four people whose seats are

[56:53] up for election. Um but it hasn't been a problem so it may not be as dire

[56:59] sunsets. >> It's true.

[57:01] » But >> but it doesn't hurt.

[57:02] » Yeah. But we want to get it going. I have a number of people who reached out

[57:06] to me who would like to be on a a charter committee or commission.

[57:10] Any other discussion items?

[57:15] If there's not, we'll move to the uh action items. The first acting item is

[57:21] an act to approve the North Haven Deputy Services contract for January 1st, 2026

[57:27] through June 30th, 2026. We better hurry up and approve this because it's going

[57:32] to be announced soon.

[57:36] » Yes. >> I'll I'll make a motion.

[57:40] It's been >> and second

[57:43] discussion

[57:49] with chief deputy from the sheriff department and the

[57:56] administrator from Haven and uh was great discussion. They're very happy

[58:01] with the services they're getting and they just wanted to make sure that you

[58:05] know this this got done. It was it was a very pleasant conversation.

[58:12] » Great. Um, would you Kurt, would you like to make a presentation about it?

[58:16] » Well, I was just going to add that to echo what Mark said, there is some

[58:20] discussion about potentially having the contract longer in duration.

[58:27] We can discuss that at a later point, but there's been discussion of maybe a

[58:32] two-year contract, three-year contract, so we don't have to keep doing this

[58:37] every year,

[58:42] right? I think the only reason we would not do that is if we were worried about

[58:47] budget ramifications that down the road things are going to go crazy, you know,

[58:53] but on the other hand, it would also give us some stability in terms of

[58:57] budgets >> and North Haven is also interested in

[59:00] doing a an more longer contract. >> Yeah. Great.

[59:07] For anybody who doesn't know, this is a budget. This is a contract between the

[59:13] county and North Haven uh the government of North Haven Island uh to provide a

[59:21] sheriff's deputy service to the island. And so what we're doing is basically

[59:28] approving the contract that is very similar to the one we've had in the

[59:32] past. How many years have we been providing that service to a contract?

[59:37] easily 20 to 30 years longer. >> Yeah. So, we're not breaking new ground.

[59:48] » Any other discussion? >> I was just going to say I think when we

[59:51] met with Final Haven last year, they had some interesting ideas on how

[59:57] how this could work better monetary discussions. So, this is really an

[1:00:01] extension of last year's contract to allow some time to to have those

[1:00:05] discussions and especially with other towns interested in sheriff's contracts,

[1:00:09] we want to make sure we take a step back and and look at what that should look

[1:00:12] like to make sure it was as equitable as possible while still understanding the

[1:00:15] islands are unique and they are going to be different no matter what.

[1:00:20] I'll just bring up the one unique thing is statute does say that as the

[1:00:25] commission because islands are not contiguous that there is a tax relief

[1:00:30] you can give them. Uh that has been something that's been between these

[1:00:34] contracts for some time as you get questions from the other communities.

[1:00:38] That is the difference between the islands and the main communities

[1:00:42] essentially are expected to pay 100% whatever that may be based off decision

[1:00:47] discussion. But the islands, they do get what's called a tax credit or a tax

[1:00:51] assessment credit. Uh we just handle a little different in how it's worded in

[1:00:55] the contract, but essentially it's the same.

[1:01:04] » Um any further discussion? >> Uh I'll make a motion,

[1:01:09] » it's already that we have to authorize the Knox County Sheriff to sign Oh, no.

[1:01:14] That's 21. Sorry. It's already been moved and

[1:01:18] » deputy services contract for uh January 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2026.

[1:01:25] » Great. Um

[1:01:29] seeing no further discussion, I'll call the vote. All those in favor?

[1:01:34] » Mark says yes. >> Three in favor, none opposed. Well, the

[1:01:38] next item we have, and I don't know if this is necessary or not, is an

[1:01:42] executive session. to convene an executive session pursuant

[1:01:47] to one MRS section 4056F a discussion of information contained in

[1:01:53] records made maintained or received by the sheriff's office that are not

[1:01:57] accessible to the public by statute and I will leave this to the uh

[1:02:03] commission

[1:02:09] before we before we make a decision about that I just want to take a moment

[1:02:13] and thank the county administrator, our finance director, all the directors of

[1:02:18] all our different departments, and all the employees for all the hard work they

[1:02:23] put in in this sort of very unpredictable budget season, and that

[1:02:28] we're finally coming out of it. Uh, and I especially like to thank uh,

[1:02:32] Commissioner Hine because she, you know, took the the the took the direction of

[1:02:38] getting the the legislation through the legislature. And uh I'm so thankful for

[1:02:43] all the hard work that everybody did. >> I'm a cynic. I'm sorry. Have you been

[1:02:48] watching the Oscars? I mean, all those thank yous. I'd like to thank my

[1:02:53] director. I'd like to thank Oh, anyhow. >> Well, I have my little piece of paper

[1:02:58] here, too, that my tuxedo.

[1:03:02] » Yeah, but I do agree. You're absolutely right. Thanks are always due to all of

[1:03:07] those the people who've been putting in so much work for this. Anyhow, let's get

[1:03:11] back to the executive session. Is there a motion to move into executive session?

[1:03:16] » Do a a motion and then discussion before voting.

[1:03:20] » Yeah. >> Okay. I'll I'll make a motion.

[1:03:24] » It's been moved and seconded. Discussion.

[1:03:27] » Um I wonder if maybe we want to hear from the sheriff first and what the

[1:03:34] sheriff can share about thisou. um and

[1:03:40] uh and then decide from there if we actually do need an executive session.

[1:03:45] Does that seem like an appropriate way of handling this?

[1:03:47] » Sure. If he's willing to just give us a little bit of background about why we

[1:03:51] would need an executive session. >> Yes.

[1:03:55] » I was under the impression you folks asked for the move the action item

[1:03:59] because I provided you with the the public facing.

[1:04:04] Um, but I understood that there was additional questions you may have.

[1:04:07] That's why you wanted the executive session because there may be items that

[1:04:12] specifically private that we can't share that you may want to know about.

[1:04:16] » In full transparency, I don't know if I'm the only one, but I asked have it on

[1:04:20] the agenda just so it was there in case we needed it. So if we don't need it, I

[1:04:26] don't think we need to go into executive session, but I would like to hear you

[1:04:30] know just a short presentation from you first on a second video to make that

[1:04:35] decision. >> So uh so you have the forward facing one

[1:04:39] I brought you with me today so we could speak on some of those things especially

[1:04:43] during the exact session. Uh but what this is is uh an agreement with the US

[1:04:49] Marshall Service uh to basically broadbrush deal with sex offender type

[1:04:54] of uh violations we see both at the state and federal level. It's a task

[1:04:59] force. It's put together. This will be I think the eighth annual or ninth annual.

[1:05:04] It's been a few years anyway. Done this for several years. Um the important part

[1:05:09] for us was that this is not tied to DHS US Marshall Service. None of those

[1:05:15] immigration things that we have talked about in this agreement in particular,

[1:05:19] but that's part of why I shared it with you ahead of time. So you folks could

[1:05:22] see that it is not hard. It's literally few thousand dollars to use our staff uh

[1:05:29] because there are things we can't enforce federally, but there's also

[1:05:32] things they can't do statewide. So they need us and they need them in a way for

[1:05:38] some of these things to work as a task force in order to fully enforce some of

[1:05:43] the things that they were looking into. >> Thank you.

[1:05:48] » Yeah. My my thought on the executive session and

[1:05:54] if it's stuff that the public doesn't know or doesn't need to know, we

[1:05:58] probably don't need to know it either. I mean this is about uh individuals and

[1:06:04] it's not about the process, it's about the individuals themselves and I don't

[1:06:09] need to know that. So in terms of the executive session, um

[1:06:15] I would vote no. I don't know how anybody else will I I will be voting no

[1:06:22] as well. I just wanted to make sure that we had the discussion and there wasn't

[1:06:28] something I was missing wasn't for me and I just wanted to be really clear

[1:06:31] that I wasn't missing anything and I think it's a good opportunity to educate

[1:06:36] the community if they're watching about what this is about and

[1:06:42] helpful. So, thank you. It also ties to like we discovered this past year that

[1:06:46] all money's in and out have to come for you

[1:06:49] » and it was a little bit of a a struggle to find exactly where in the exceptions

[1:06:54] for executive sessions may fit. Um because although so much can be forward

[1:06:58] facing that's a challenge for law enforcement in particular uh similar to

[1:07:02] the medical records thing with HIPPA there's certain things we have to

[1:07:05] protect and and we can share them with you in executive session to a point some

[1:07:10] things there that we can't share but that is the option but like said we've

[1:07:13] done it for some time we just didn't necessarily come to you in the past

[1:07:17] because it was no necessarily internal policy but like like we said once we had

[1:07:21] that legal review even it's $1 in and out still has to come before in some

[1:07:25] fashion So, we're just making sure that we do

[1:07:28] that bottomless correction. We'll talk about theou in a minute, but

[1:07:34] we're still talking about the executive session. Mark,

[1:07:40] » then let's let's call the vote. All those in favor of going into executive

[1:07:45] session, all those opposed. >> No.

[1:07:52] So now we have on the floor the next is the action item which is an act to

[1:07:58] authorize the county sheriff to sign anou with US marches.

[1:08:06] » So move second.

[1:08:11] » So it's been moved and second discussion. an animal if you would I

[1:08:16] think we've discussed parts of this before that there are people out there

[1:08:21] we don't want on their streets and uh the best way for you guys to deal with

[1:08:28] them if it's on the federal basis is through the marshall service and I'm

[1:08:32] assuming this is part of that in a sense may I please

[1:08:39] so and would you like to introduce yourself a total detective with

[1:08:43] sheriff's office. I've been there for 28 years. The last 21 of those 28s, I do

[1:08:48] all of the sheriff's office sexual assault cases. So, it's just something

[1:08:53] I'm very familiar with and deal with on a daily basis.

[1:08:57] Um, in 1991, state of Maine started a sex offender registry. That registry was

[1:09:03] revamped in 95, again in 1999, and then again in 2013.

[1:09:09] Each one of those revamp of the sex offender registry in the state of Maine

[1:09:13] brought with it new regulations that sex offenders need to

[1:09:17] adhere to. And as you can imagine, not all people adhere to the rules that

[1:09:22] they're supposed to. Um what's unique about it is that every time there is a

[1:09:28] revamp, there's a period of time, let's just say between 1999 and 2013,

[1:09:33] that the people in that time frame was grandfathered under those rules. And

[1:09:36] then when it changed again, these so the rules are different for everybody so to

[1:09:41] speak. So it is a little bit complex. Another thing that makes county a little

[1:09:45] unique is that we hold in our county the main state prison. So our numbers of sex

[1:09:49] offenders are higher than most. They still need to be maintained, documented,

[1:09:56] their movements uh tracked and of course when they get

[1:09:59] released that's a whole another situation as well. In Knox County,

[1:10:04] currently there are 170 registered sex offenders. 27 of those are housed in the

[1:10:12] main state prison, which means we have approximately 140 registered sex

[1:10:16] offenders in Knox County out and about that need to be monitored and to ensure

[1:10:21] that they are in compliance with the standards of the main sex offender

[1:10:24] registry. As you can imagine, trying to keep track of 140 people to do

[1:10:30] everything that they're supposed to do in the time frames of whatever sauna

[1:10:34] that they were uh charged under can be a daunting task. What the

[1:10:40] Marshall Service does is provides us with funding to be able to allow a small

[1:10:47] group of us to be able to have the time to ensure that these people are

[1:10:52] compliant. And if they are not, they're dealt with accordingly.

[1:10:57] questions.

[1:11:02] » Is thisou that was signed purely for um sex registry administration?

[1:11:09] » Yes. So when this first started back in with us 2018 somewhere right in there

[1:11:16] 2019 uh it started it would be a two-day

[1:11:20] operation. There would be members of the Marshall Service that come up here. We

[1:11:24] would plan and coordinate. We' section off the county. We would team up and we

[1:11:29] would try to hit everybody in two days. A two-day fail swoop, day, night, try to

[1:11:33] get everybody done. After a year or two of doing that, they

[1:11:37] realized that we had a pretty good handle on how we handle things here. Um

[1:11:43] that we knew what we were doing. We didn't need to be babysat. in the last

[1:11:47] five to six years at least uh they've simply just funded us and

[1:11:53] allow us to do our own operation so to speak. So our primary concern and what

[1:11:59] we do with that funding is simply to ensure the sex offenders are complying

[1:12:04] and nothing more. >> How many staff are working on that?

[1:12:08] typically because it because it's kind of complex in nature. Typically there's

[1:12:13] only two of us that do these details. >> Do you still do it as a a batch like

[1:12:19] that within a day or two or do you do it over the course of the whole year? Now,

[1:12:23] » so these have a time frame. Uh usually they're about 30 days, 30 to 45 days.

[1:12:30] Yes. in here that's somewhere in that time frame

[1:12:36] trying to locate people where they're supposed to be can be difficult during

[1:12:40] the week. So it's typically nights and weekends. So in that time frame we will

[1:12:44] try to utilize as many nights spend in those weekends that we can locate as

[1:12:49] many people in a time frame.

[1:12:56] » Other questions? One more question. Just thinking about um like succession.

[1:13:01] You've been doing this for a long time. >> How long?

[1:13:04] » Yeah. So, I'm guessing there may be a point when you want to retire.

[1:13:08] » Several years. >> Yeah.

[1:13:10] » And you have one other person who's been

[1:13:14] working on this with you. I don't know who that person is if it's always the

[1:13:18] same person but just wondering how this skill set is uh being shared with other

[1:13:26] folks in the department. So if there is turnover in the future because it sounds

[1:13:30] like you maybe have it down to a science um and others may not time

[1:13:39] and that's more for the sheriff I think probably than for you. So that was the

[1:13:44] original intent of it. A lot of deputies were brought on at the same time

[1:13:49] bringing off deputies and detectives now because it is more spread out. We tend

[1:13:53] to use just who's available that understands. But to your point, it may

[1:13:57] be important for us to look at that for these future ones to start bringing

[1:14:01] those in. Um, typically what we've seen though is the investigators will decide

[1:14:07] which purview they want to be in, but the sheriff will ultimately say, "Well,

[1:14:11] you're the the better one at this choice because we do have several detectives.

[1:14:15] They all take on all of the functions, but they each have specialties."

[1:14:21] In preparation for that, we're looking at who do we bring on as that. Some of

[1:14:26] the staff having worked with Titan Twitchell throughout the last few years

[1:14:30] kind of gleing knowledge from him as as it were anyway.

[1:14:38] » Does sound like we're running a fairly good program if the Marshall Service has

[1:14:43] handed it over and said you guys can do it.

[1:14:47] So, thank you that you're doing a great job doing it. Um

[1:14:54] because if we weren't, I'm sure the Marshall Service would still be

[1:14:57] involved. On the other hand, they're probably willing to let it go.

[1:15:02] But it it is a testament once again that how well our sheriffs have gotten

[1:15:06] through. Thank you, Mark. Anything?

[1:15:12] » No, I'm just in a lot that you know people do this kind of work on a

[1:15:16] constant regular year after year basis and thankful for that.

[1:15:23] No other discussion. Uh all those in favor of theou

[1:15:29] says yes. >> Three in favor none. Thank you.

[1:15:35] » Other items. There's nothing else on the agenda. And if you need to discuss we

[1:15:41] need to discuss our next meeting which may be

[1:15:45] » March 31st. >> March 31st.

[1:15:49] Tuesday. Yeah. Which is going to be the one and that's joint budget committee.

[1:15:55] » Correct. >> Yeah.

[1:15:56] » Yes. >> Y

[1:16:00] that's going to be the purpose of the meeting is the web

[1:16:07] 3. >> Yeah. 6 p.m.

[1:16:11] 6. Okay. Thank you.

[1:16:16] » I will take a motion to adjourn. Second move and seconded

[1:16:23] and then once we meet on the 31st then we'll have some idea what all of our

[1:16:27] other meetings will be. >> Yeah. I'm hoping four

[1:16:32] » and those will probably be evening meetings or late afternoon meeting

[1:16:36] » Tuesday we still have our regular meeting in

[1:16:41] April whatever date that is. Yes. Great. Uh nothing further. All those in

[1:16:47] favor of adjournment.

[1:16:51] » In favor, none of Thank you.

March 17th, 2026 Regular Commission Meeting

Transcript