Commissioners set chair, vice chair for 2026
DOVER-FOXCROFT — During the first meeting of 2026 on Tuesday morning, the Piscataquis County Commissioners set the chair and vice chair for the new year. Paul Davis will serve as chair, after being vice chair of the three-member board, and Adam Coover will be the vice chair.
Last month, previous Chair Andy Torbett, R-Atkinson Township announced that he plans to run for the Maine House District 31 seat in the fall. Torbett had been chair of the commissioners from 2023-25.
Torbett will serve as a county commissioner up until potentially being elected, at which he would step down. If not elected, he would remain.
Torbett had requested his name be removed from consideration for commissioners chair or vice chair. His term as a county commissioner runs through the end of 2028.
Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Dover-Foxcroft, will be running for the Maine Senate District 4 seat, Torbett said last month. Sen. Stacey Guerin, R-Glenburn, is in her fourth and final term, having reached her term limit.
In other business, Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Todd Lyford said, “We recovered a significant amount of property in Bradford.”
The week prior the department received a report of a theft of two tractors from a Barnard Township residence. Deputies quickly identified the location of the tractors. A search warrant was executed and the tractors, along with other items stolen from the property, were recovered in Bradford.
Deputies arrested Randolph “Randy” Bourgoin, 38, of Bradford. Bourgoin was charged with theft, Class C felony and violation of condition of release. He is being held at the Piscataquis County Jail in Dover-Foxcroft. More charges are pending as the investigation continues.
Piscataquis County Emergency Management Director Debra Hamlin thanked the sheriff’s office dispatch for letting EMA know about road closures so this information can be shared on the agency Facebook page to let the public know.
Piscataquis County District Attorney’s Office Manager Corina Rackliff said in 2025 the office had 714 cases with 981 offenses. Of these cases, 682 were closed out.
Piscataquis Area Community Center Executive Director Manda Stewart reported that water began going into the pool the previous Friday. Over the next few weeks, while ideal temperature and conditions are set, training will be conducted. The hope is to have the renovated pool open to the public in mid-February.