The Lincoln-Sagadahoc Jail Authority, which runs the Wiscasset jail, made a written request to Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) Commissioner Mary Magnusson "for a copy of any final reports, findings, or conclusions" as a result of their audit on September 18 and 19. The DOC did this audit (and audits of all county jails) following Governor John Baldacci's August 30 announcement that there would be a $10 million savings if the state took over the county jails.

At the authority's November 7 meeting, Two Bridges jail administrator Wayne Applebee distributed a letter from DOC Associate Commissioner Denise Lord, who wrote, "any requests for information from the Executive Branch of the Maine State Government (this includes, but is not limited to DOC…) should be directed to Bob Howe, executive director of your associations. I will be providing Mr. Howe with information as it is developed. He will respond to your request for information if it has been made available; if it is a new request, he will forward the request to the department for response."

"If you choose to file a Freedom of Access request, please understand that the law only applies to existing records. The department, or any public entity, is not required to generate information to answer your request. Additionally, you may have asked for information that may be developed in the future. Again, the law only applies for information that exists at the time of your request. You must file subsequent requests for information. Requests for information under the Freedom of Access law should be directed to my attention."

The letter said DOC charges $10 per hour excluding the first hour and 25 cents a page for photocopying. Applebee said during the day and a half audit at the jail, four jail staff members spent several hours helping the state auditors while they made several hundred copies of documents at no charge.

The governor's proposal will be debated at the next legislative session. However, according to Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett, the counties are working on an alternate plan that will be presented to the legislature. The plan will be based on work done by the consultants hired by the two associations.

"I hope we are heading in the right direction," Brackett said. "We aren't afraid of change. We just don't think this is the way to go."

Applebee told the authority the inmate count as of November 7, was 108, with 38 inmates from Lincoln County, 41 inmates from Sagadahoc County, 18 inmates from Warren State Prison, five inmates from Waldo County and six inmates from Somerset County.

Sagadahoc County Sheriff Mark Westrum said the high inmate count is being caused by pre-sentenced offenders. "There is something wrong when about 30 of your inmates are pre-sentenced, waiting for a court date," he said.

Westrum said he is working with the District Attorney's office to see what can be done to expedite the sentencing process. Maine sentencing laws require anyone sentenced to at least nine months and a day be committed to a state correctional facility. Those sentenced to under nine months go to a county jail. Another part of that problem is offenders sometimes wait for months in a county jail before their case is heard in court, thus creating additional expense for the county.

The authority has received three applications for Applebee's replacement. Applebee recently announced he has accepted a position in Florida. The deadline for submitting applications was Monday, November 12.

Although November 29 will be the last day Applebee will be at the jail, he will continue to be on the payroll until January 4, using leave time. He has offered to continue, during his leave time, to be available for administrative duties when he is needed.

The authority's next meeting will be Wednesday, December 5, at 4 p.m.