Lincoln County commissioners hired Kenneth Desmond as the part-time Assistant Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director at their meeting Tuesday morning. Desmond was previously the Woolwich Fire Chief.

The commissioners approved EMA Director Tim Pellerin's recommendations to hire a part-time training specialist for five hours a week, and an assistant EMA director for 15 hours per week.

The county advisory committee approved $8,000, during this year's budget discussions, to hire a part-time assistant EMA director providing another $8,000 would be coming from a state grant. The position was for 20 hours a week.

Pellerin requested that the commissioners divide the position to hire a part-time training specialist dividing the time and the money.

"The bottom line will remain the same," Pellerin said. "The two positions will not exceed the $16,000."

Commissioner Kenneth Honey objected to splitting the position. He said. "People will think we are trying to build an empire here."

Bond said, "We are getting two qualified people for the price of one."

"We are not trying to build an empire," Pellerin said, "We are trying to provide a service and help train the local people. Yes, we are growing in number, but our workload is increasing also."

After a brief discussion the commissioners voted 2-1 in favor of hiring Wally Morris as the training specialist and Desmond as the Assistant EMA Director, separating the two positions.

Bond and Pellerin also explained that in the event of a disaster, the county would have the experience of these two men to draw on.

The county will soon have a new voice digital recorder. The current recorder is over five years old. The cost to buy the recorder would be $14,000. However, the county will enter into a five-year lease option which will cost the county $3,770 per year.

Pellerin said he would not recommend buying the recorder because of the fast changing technology. "Most agencies are going with the lease option because of the technological changes taking place," he said.

The cost of leasing the recorder is included in the 2008 budget.

Courthouse parking was discuseed. Building maintenance supervisor Jim Hopler suggested taking down the fence in back of the former Lincoln County Jail to make about eight new parking spaces.

The commissioners were receptive to the suggestion but decided to look at the proposal when the weather would allow the work to be done.

Commissioner William Blodgett was appointed to the Jail Authority replacing Charles Ault whose term expired at the end of the year.

Dan Bradford was re-appointed for another term.

The commissioners approved a Bremen shellfish contract after accepting minor amendments by the Bremen selectmen.

The commissioners accepted year-end reports from Marcia Silva, from the deeds office, and from Amy Winston from the economic development office.