FARMINGTON – Commissioners voted against the creation of a utility deputy position at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday, citing concerns about the proposed system and possible additional costs. The idea had been presented as an alternative to the department’s longtime system of handling civil process paperwork.
Currently, two civil deputies travel to Farmington, pick up the paperwork at the Franklin County Sheriff Department’s office and distribute it throughout the county. Approximately 50 to 55 papers are delivered per month, with the service being funded by lawyers, the state of Maine and private individuals who need to serve subpoenas or other documents relating to the civil courts.
In an effort to gain more oversight over the process, Sheriff Scott Nichols had proposed adding a utility deputy position, which would handle the civil process and also give the department the ability to cover a couple of shifts each week, amounting to as much as $30,000 in overtime. Additionally, Nichols had said, even when serving papers the employee would provide another deputy on the road, someone who could respond to accidents and crimes in progress.
Under Nichols’ proposal, the cost of the position would be paid for out of the revenue generated by the civil process itself. In 2013, that generated a total of $57,420 and, as of March 2014, the civil process has generated $68,124. The position is estimated to cost $53,169, including benefits.
Tuesday, commissioners voted unanimously against the proposal. Among concerns cited were additional possible costs, such as the utility deputy’s uniform and use of a vehicle, as well as sending the officer to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Commissioners also indicated that they thought the current system worked.
“If it isn’t broke let’s not try to fix it,” Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon said.
Commissioner Clyde Barker of Strong, who spent decades delivering civil paperwork, said he thought the proposal would not work as well as the two deputies who currently delivered the documents.
“I’ve done it a long time, and I don’t think it’s going to work for you,” Barker told Nichols.
Nichols said that he would remove the position from his proposed 2014-15 budget, but would likely leave funds in place to install a computer program module to allow better tracking of civil deputy deliveries.
There you go! We have always done it this way and cant stand to change it,even if it might be better for the people of the county. This is so typical of the establishment. OY VEY!
Great finally say “NO” to our high sheriff. Now start cutting the budget, before we are all in
“The Poor House”.
The key here is the word ” civil”. The papers being served by civil deputies are just that, not criminal or uniformed officers’d be all over it! The key to “serving” someone is to get them to actually open the door of their home. With an appearantly less domineering force knocking on doors, the job does get done.
The sheriff has some good, progressive ideas however this was not one of them which fortunately the commissioners recognized. While I’m sure Sheriff Nichols proposes changes that he believes will benefit the county, one man should not have unilateral authority which is why we have commissioners. One man should also not hold all the keys to the kingdom.
The most dangerous phrase in the English language is , “we’ve always done it this way.”
Red,
Maybe you should find out the costs involved in each manner of serving before passing judgment–Sheriff
Nichols has done a lot and is doing a fine job. However this move would not have been beneficial to the
County or the taxpayers!!!
This is a travesty. Shame on the commissioners for costing the tax payers more money. This position would have saved between $15k and $30k in overtime. In addition, it would have produced an estimated $30k more than the position would cost! Quick addition says it would have saved/cut county taxes by an estimated $45k to $60k a year. Instead, all that money will go into the hands of two men who don’t even belong to this community and don’t spend their money here. Again, reducing the funds spent at local businesses. This same type of system is in place in several other counties and is working very well. Oxford county instituted a similar system and is employing two full time deputies to do just what this position would have done. The chief deputy from Oxford county spoke to the commissioners a few weeks ago about how well it is working there. I guess they weren’t listening to experience, but once again leading by emotion, not knowledge. This was a great idea to cut taxes and provide better service to the community. I applaud the sheriff for continually seeking new ways to do business that will provide excellent service at a reduced cost. Shame on the Commissioners and shame on those nay Sayers that don’t understand how this position would have worked. Once again, the “its not broken, so let’s not fix it” attitude has ruined a great opportunity to save money. The only ones benefitting from the current system are the two men who don’t live here!
And by the way, most of those numbers above were from the Treasurers office, not the Sheriff.
BOB. YOUR RIGHT ! THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!
“The two men who don’t even belong to this community and don’t spend their money here” according to the pen name “you don’t know” work ALL hours of the day and night. They have to, in order to get results. The folks whom they are serving aren’t yet considered criminals, so perhaps we should leave the crime fighting to the criminal deputies and the civil disputes to the civil deputies. Each department has a specialty and should stick to it and stop wasting their time with the jealousy and greed.