CARIBOU, Maine — In an effort to reduce backlogs and optimize workflow, Aroostook County Probate Court Register Darleen Guy appeared before the County Commissioners during their Feb. 3, 2016 meeting in the Caribou Courthouse, asking them to approve Donna Rockwell as a part-time probate clerk. In the end, the panel voted 2-1 to add the position.
Commissioner Norman Fournier stated, over the phone, that he had read the memorandum written by Guy and moved to recommend the hiring, which Commissioner Paul Adams seconded.
Commissioner Paul Underwood did not support the motion as he did not believe it would solve structural problems within the office, and added that his opinion is in no way a reflection of the applicant’s character, whom he had not met.
When asked by Guy to elaborate this position, Underwood said “I think we need to look at the way the work is getting done there, there’s a lot of duplication and roadblocks.”
“The work is getting done to the extent that I’m putting in an extra 20 to 30 hours a week,” said Guy. “I understand, being salaried, I am to work more than 40 hours a week. However, there is enough work there to justify a part-time position.”
This exchange elicited some clarification from Commissioner Fournier about his decision to accept the new clerk.
“I’m making this motion for the part-time position with the understanding that we will get some updates regarding where we are with backlog and to make sure we are moving forward as rapidly as possible,” Fournier said.
County Administrator Douglas Beaulieu added that it would be ideal for Guy to send a monthly or quarterly report and also to appear before the commissioners to facilitate a “dialogue and feedback.”
Guy agreed to the conditions, stating that she had no issues regularly reporting her progress to the commissioners.
