Maine’s county officials meeting in Bangor

BANGOR – County officials and employees from Fort Kent to Kittery will be in Bangor next month when Penobscot County plays host for the Maine County Commissioners Association’s annual convention, a role it last played 11 years ago.

The theme of this year’s convention – which opens Friday, Sept. 14, and concludes after breakfast Sunday, Sept. 16 – is “Stronger Counties for a Stronger Maine.”

An estimated 250 elected officials and employees from all 16 Maine counties are expected to attend the event, which will be headquartered at the Bangor Motor Inn and Conference Center on Hogan Road, according to Richard Blanchard, chairman of the Penobscot County commissioners.

Blanchard said Friday that the annual fall convention of Maine counties is held in a different part of the state each year. Last year, the convention was in Lincoln County, the year before it was in Piscataquis and the year before that, it was Aroostook County’s turn.

Some of the first events scheduled take place Friday morning at the Penobscot County offices, where the state county clerks, registers of deeds, registers of probate and treasurers associations will hold business meetings. Before the action moves to the motor inn, Penobscot County officials will offer conventioneers a tour of their historic courthouse and lunch.

The convention officially opens at 3 p.m., with welcoming remarks by Chairman Blanchard, Bangor Mayor John Rohman, Senate President Michael Michaud, Senate President Pro Tem Richard Bennett and guest Stephen Oelrich, sheriff of Florida’s Alachua County and chairman of the national Sheriff’s Association Gift of Life Foundation.

Other items on Friday’s itinerary include MCCA business and risk pool meetings, the first of two days of vendor and service provider exhibits, dinner and the presentation of retirement and safety awards.

Hot county topics to be addressed during panel discussions Saturday morning and afternoon are “E-911 – Past, Present, Future,” the county bid process, dealing with difficult public, stress management in the workplace, “Jail Population: Overcrowding-Underfunding,” emergency management for everyday operations and – if there’s enough interest – “Feng Shui in Your Workplace.”

Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky will deliver Saturday’s luncheon address. His topic, according to the convention program, will be “Using the Internet to Reach Your Constituents.”

U.S. Rep. John Baldacci has accepted an invitation to speak at the convention’s main banquet Saturday night, Blanchard said. He said other speakers have been invited but had not committed themselves as of this week.

Though county conventioneers will work hard while here, Blanchard said, time also has been set aside for play. Bangor area Elvis impersonator Bruce Nye has been lined up for Friday night. Performing Saturday night will be Debbie Myers, a country singer and recording artist whose credits include performances with Mickey Gilley, Steve Wariner and Highway 101, to name a few.

Members of the planning committee also have compiled a list of local attractions, amusements, restaurants and arts venues for consideration as leisure time activities.