FARMINGTON — County commissioners approved the hiring of a cook supervisor for the Franklin County Detention Center, along with two cooks and five corrections officers in a bid by the county to get the jail operating at full service within the next few weeks.
According to County Clerk Julie Magoon, commissioners approved the hires after agreeing to contract with three organizations to provide medical, mental health and educational services for inmates. Those services, as well as food services, need to be in place before the Maine Department of Corrections approves a license to allow the jail to reopen as a full-time facility. The Board of Corrections approved the mission change in January.
On Tuesday, the county commissioners hired Lorna Nichols of New Sharon, wife of Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols. Lorna Nichols formerly managed Nichols Top of the Hill Grill & BBQ on Main Street in New Sharon until it closed a few years ago.
In that position, Lorna Nichols will report directly to the jail’s administrator, Doug Blauvelt, as the supervisor of detention center personnel.
Commissioners also hired four full-time corrections officers: Bridget Pinkham, Billie Martin, Brandon Sholan and Ethan Keys. Richard Dubois was hired as a part-time corrections officer.
The jail will also be hiring one full-time cook and one part-time cook. They will start work in late March.
Training for the new staff members begins Monday.
Can you explain why that wasn’t published? I’m curious. Thanks for any answers
Congratulations to the new hires. It’s good to see our County Tax Dollars going to employ Franklin County Residents instead of supplementing the budgets of other counties.