After a  larger project for research into Lincoln County’s housing issues was sidelined during the budget process, Lincoln County Regional Economic Developer Mary Ellen Barnes came to county commissioners Dec. 18 with a proposal to have a small grant – $2,500 – to facilitate meetings of stakeholders in Lincoln County housing issues. While there is no central housing agency in the county, there are several private and public nonprofits that address housing issues and issues related to helping people remain in housing by weatherizing and upgrading it.

The funds would initially work with agencies on the Boothbay peninsula, and potentially the Damariscotta-Newcastle and Waldoboro areas. The objective would be to contract with an experienced housing developer to put together an action plan.

Some of the agencies active in housing include Eldercare Network, KVCAP, Rebuilding Together, CHIPS, Tedford Housing, Stepping Stones, Boothbay Region Community Resources Council, and Inn Along the Way in Damariscotta. Each has limited resources, Barnes said. Her goal would be to identify the housing plans of these groups, identify resources available, and see if collaboration with towns and these agencies might help address Lincoln County’s housing deficiencies.  The Planning Office would compile selected data through interviews with the state, regional and local agencies, developers, contractors, local officials and others, including those who have recently bought property for rental units or assisted living for seniors, as well as emergency housing in shelters, counseling for homebuyers, and more.

The commissioners approved the plan unanimously.

Although there are still several outstanding union contracts to be negotiated, the commissioners approved a fourth draft of the budget that incorporated both the Lincoln County Planning grant and other adjustments the finance office became aware of since the budget workshops ended. The vote occurred after an executive session related to some of the personnel matters still outstanding; no vote was taken on those. During a poverty abatement which followed, a summary of draft four of the budget was drawn up. So far, the county budget is $10,286,466, a 2.49 percent increase over the 2018 budget.  The final budget numbers will be known after the union contracts are settled.

Casey Stevens of the Emergency Management Agency said he had the funds in a Homeland Security grant to fund the Integrated  Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS), and would be contracting with Mac’s in Bristol to bring it online. Smart phones set up to receive emergency alerts will be able to get the messages in case of an emergency in Lincoln County as soon as it is online.

Patricia Cloutier has been hired as the part-time receptionist at the Regional Planning Commission. Cloutier, who works for the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce, is already at the building. The job is seven hours per week.  The commissioners also reviewed and approved policies on MePERS Retire to Work program, investments, and electronic signatures.

Commissioners meet next at 10 a.m.  Jan.  3. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap will preside over the swearing in of the commissioners. The meeting will follow.