Lincoln County Commissioners agreed to an audit contract with Berry-Talbot Royer of Falmouth, which turned in a bid of $5,000 for three years. This is $3,000 less than the previous contract, and Commissioner Hamilton Meserve said that was owing to the county administration and finance departments, which in the last two years had begun to do their own financial plan, leaving the auditor to conduct only the audit. Administrator Carrie Kipfer agreed. “The auditor is spending a lot less time working on our fiscal plan, because it’s already done,” she said.

The commissioners also agreed to spend no more than $12,000 to add a second server to accommodate changes to the METRO system, which allows remote users, including the four police departments, to access public records such as driving licenses and arrest records, as well as the National Crime Information Center. Sheriff Todd Brackett said some of the remote users were not showing an Agency Originator, known as an ORI, when logging in. In some cases, access failed when the system crashed. After an investigation, Burgess Computer, which handles the IT needs of the sheriff’s office, said new software and a new server capable of accommodating it were required, and new licenses would be needed for any outside agency, such as the four police departments, that would want digital access. Without the license, a police department could still access METRO, but only by phone or through dispatch.  Because the cost was unexpected and unbudgeted, the funds will come from a capital IT account.

Two bids for the county vehicle maintenance contract were opened, from the current contract holder, Hillside in Waldoboro, and from Quick Turn in Damariscotta. Brackett asked to be allowed to review the bids before making a recommendation.

Brackett also recognized Karen Hamilton, who has worked for the county for 27 years. He said Hamilton would be honored at a banquet or barbecue later this year.