Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett and Waldo County Sheriff Scott Story are members of the ad-hoc committee appointed by the Maine Board of Corrections. The two presented recommendations that are specific to the BOC structure, their authority and their duties.

The BOC agreed with two of the five recommended changes,  needed further information on two others, and amended one of changes.

The BOC agreed with a recommendation that would allow the board to make purchases and contract for services across the entire system.

The board also approved of a recommendation to add language to the budget to clarify that the BOC could edit that document item by item, across the whole system.

A third recommendation to add three members to the board was not immediately approved. The committee recommended adding a member of the Administrative Office of Courts, a prosecutor and a member of the defense bar.

The board needs further information before making a decision on expanding the board’s membership. The BOC currently has nine members.

Sheriff Story said the board needs members from the court system on the board. “No reflection on the current board, but something needs to get done,” he said. “There is nothing being accomplished, with them at the table it will make a difference.”

Sheriff Brackett told the board he supported the recommendation to increase the membership to 12 members, and the need for the judicial members.

Board of Corrections Chairman Mark Westrum said he wouldn’t mind taking another look at that recommendation, but he would like to do some research

The BOC board agreed to discuss the issue with members of the court system.

A recommendation to add guidelines into the budget on how counties negotiate labor contacts received some opposition from BOC board member Douglas Beaulieu.

Beaulieu, an Aroostook County Commissioner, expressed concern, saying the BOC would be taking control away from the counties.

Although Brackett and Story said it was not the intent of the proposed change, the BOC decided to have further discussion on the issue also.

The Commissioner of Corrections currently decides the movement and placement of inmates within the county system. The ad-hoc committee recommended the BOC assume that authority, but the board suggested a different route.

Instead of making it a legislative change, the BOC said they would write a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) so that they could be consulted about inmates' movements.

The proposed legislative changes comprise a first step in helping the BOC oversee the implementation for other recommendations presented by the ad-hoc committee, according to Brackett.

“There are about 75-80 recommendations that have come down from the three reports,” Brackett said.

“We will be presenting these recommendations over the next several meetings to the BOC for their consideration,” he said.

Charlotte Boynton can be reached at 207-844-4632 or cboynton@wiscassetnewspaper.com.