A Lincoln Academy school resource officer is literally heading back to school this month. Deputy Sheriff Sean Pfaler won’t be returning to the Newcastle private school as he has taken a job to teach at Wiscasset Middle High School. Sheriff Todd Brackett announced Pfaler’s departure during the Sept. 1 Lincoln County Commissioners’ meeting. 

“He has a degree in post-secondary education and has decided to teach school. He is an outstanding young man and we will miss him,” Brackett said. The sheriff’s department is advertising for an SRO replacement at Lincoln Academy. Brackett announced Sgt. Matt Day would fill the position on an interim basis. 

In other action, commissioners accepted Finance Director Michelle Cearbaugh’s recommendation not to implement President Trump’s executive order for a proposed payroll tax holiday. Cearbaugh explained the executive order signed Aug. 8 gave employers an option to withhold the employees’ 6.2% FICA contribution between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31. The employees’ portion would double between Jan. 1 to March 31 to recoup funding for the federal program. “This would be a nightmare for us to administrate, and I don’t see how it would be beneficial to our employees,” she said. “They would probably save $50 per pay period, and pay $100 per pay period in the next quarter.”

Chief Deputy Rand Maker reported the next alternate sentencing program is scheduled for Oct. 2-8. The program will be held at WAVUS, a summer camp in Nobleboro. Maker reported 30 inmates had signed up. “There is a cap at 50, but as the courts reopen we are getting more calls from lawyers to attend next month. We expect to do community service programs and the facility is large enough to promote social distancing,” Maker said. 

Commissioners approved the purchase of training ammunition for the sheriff’s department. Commissioners voted 3-0 to buy 850 rounds from TJ Morris & Sons in Thorofare, New Jersey.

The meeting ended with two executive sessions. One regarded a personnel issue. The other was for a legal matter. County Administrator Carrie Kipfer didn’t expect a vote after either session.

Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission building in Wiscasset.