Holden man to head emergency agency

BANGOR – The Penobscot County commissioners this week named a Holden man director of the county’s Emergency Management Agency.

One of three finalists, Calvin “Tom” Robertson accepted the post this week and officially assumes his new duties Monday.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge,” Robertson said Friday. He said he visited his office in the basement of the county courthouse building this week to familiarize himself with the operation. He fully expected administrative assistant Barbara Cox, who has handled EMA duties on an interim basis, would aid his transition.

“She’s a wealth of information,” he said.

Robertson has extensive experience in the emergency field. He began his career in fire services in 1966 as a firefighter for the U.S. Navy. That was followed by a 20-year career with the Bangor Fire Department, after which he retired as a captain in July 1995. Also at that time, he retired from his position as chief of the Maine Air National Guard fire department.

More recently, he worked for the county as court transportation officer and court security officer as well as a Federal Aviation Administration security supervisor at Bangor International Airport.

Robertson will take on the duties held by Bert Ingraham of Hermon, who also served as roads and mapping manager. Ingraham resigned in mid-May after accepting a job in the private sector.

Roads and mapping, and emergency management supervision have made up two halves of a full-time post since at least the mid-1980s. Don Madden of Old Town, a retired Department of Transportation employee and former part-time consultant for the county, took on roads and mapping duties.

Chairman Peter Baldacci said Friday the commissioners were pleased with the decision.

“I think it’s a good way to go,” he said. “EMA and roads and mapping are two completely different things. This way, we have expertise in each area as opposed to a generalist.”

Ingraham was earning about $38,000 a year as supervisor of the two operations. By dividing his duties between two part-time employees, the county will save an estimated $5,000 in health insurance costs. Robertson and the county have yet to negotiate pay for the EMA post.