Commissioners approve reorganization

By Stuart Hedstrom

Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — With Finance Administrator John Baiamonte’s resignation taking effect next month, the Piscataquis County Commissioners approved a restructuring of positions in the finance office during a meeting on Oct. 20.

“We discussed this with the commissioners at the last meeting on Oct. 6,” Interim County Manager Tom Lizotte said, as two weeks prior Baiamonte’s resignation was accepted. A possibility mentioned then and later discussed in executive session was to cover the finance administrator duties with current employees.

Lizotte said the policy is to promote from within when there is interest and a qualified individual, and Kathy Walsh’s name was brought forward for finance officer.

“I think that Kathy is a great candidate for the position,” County Treasurer Johanna Greenfield said.

“We both feel very comfortable she is up for the job and are confident she can do that,” Lizotte said.

The commissioners needed to go into executive discussion to talk with Walsh as well as the finance office. When they came out of the closed session they voted to promote Walsh with an annual salary of $40,000 plus benefits, starting Nov. 2 and subject to final approval of a revised job description.

The other reorganization of the department expands Greenfield’s duties and obligations. As a result her annual stipend was increased from $8,000 to $25,000  as of Oct. 19.

The commissioners also gave their approval to the creation of an administrative assistant to the Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director. The position, subject to final approval, will include additional duties assisting the register of probate, with a maximum annual salary of $32,000 plus benefits.

The EMA vacancy was created when Deputy Director Felice Lyford left to take a job in the human services field. County EMA Director Tom Capraro said there is no internal candidate to succeed Lyford as he and the commissioners discussed the shift in the position duties.

“If you have a person on a five-day schedule, four days would come under me, or the hours, and one day would come under probate,” Capraro said. He said he and Probate Register Donna Peterson are both agreeable to the sharing of the employee and, other than during emergencies, a schedule can be developed well in advance.

“I think both department heads can manage that pretty easily,” Lizotte said, as the EMA/probate job will be advertised in the near future.

In other business, the commissioners signed fire contracts for 2016 with the town of Monson for providing coverage in Blanchard and Elliotsville townships. “$9,000, I believe, is the fee they charged us last year,” Lizotte said about the rate for each of the townships for the upcoming year. When asked, Lizotte said he has received no complaints related to the agreements or the service provided.