Multiple resignations leave vacancies; committee to ask commissioners to appoint replacements and meet Feb. 10

The Penobscot County advisory committee reported multiple recent resignations and agreed to ask the county commissioners to appoint replacements at their Feb. 4 meeting.

Speaker 2 told members that several committee members had submitted resignation emails and named Angela Walker, Sheriff Troy Morton and Wendy Dana as departing members. “As per our policy, it is their right and responsibility to appoint new members to this committee,” Speaker 2 said, urging the group to prepare names and recommendations for commissioners.

Members identified the positions the policy requires: one county government representative, a law enforcement representative, someone with procurement experience, and two people with lived experience of opioid use disorder. Speaker 1 said the committee needs at least three new members and that four would be ideal to keep an odd number for decision-making.

The group also accepted Randy, who joined the virtual meeting, as a panelist during the session. Speaker 1 said she would email Mary Anne to add Jamie and Wendy to the Feb. 4 commissioners agenda and that the committee would reconvene on Feb. 10 at 9:00 a.m. to follow up after that discussion.

Next steps: committee members will identify candidate names for commissioners to consider, Speaker 1 will request the Feb. 4 agenda slot, and the full committee will meet Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. to review commissioners’ responses.