Dutremble to lead York County Commissioners in 2026

By TAMMY WELLS

York County Commissioner Richard Dutremble of Biddeford was unanimously voted as chair of the five-member board during its organizational meeting Jan. 7.

Dutremble has served as a York County Commissioner for 20 years – including seven years as chair since 2007  – and said this year will be his last as a commissioner.

“I’m not running for re-election,” he said of the upcoming November vote. Noting two major projects the county has undertaken are winding down – The York County Regional Training Center which recently began offering classes to first responders and the York County Recovery Center, expected to be completed this fall – and with the county in good financial shape, he said it is time.

Dutremble represents District 2, which includes Arundel, Biddeford Kennebunk and Kennebunkport.

Robert Andrews of Lebanon, currently vice chair, will serve in that position again in 2026, his fourth time in the role. He represents municipalities in District 1 – Acton, Berwick, Cornish, Lebanon, Limington, Newfield, North Berwick, Parsonsfield, Shapleigh, and South Berwick.

Commissioner Richard Clark  f Wells, representing  District 5 – Eliot, Kittery, York, Ogunquit and Wells – will continue as a director of Coastal Counties Workforce, Inc., a nonprofit that works to provide access to jobs, skill development and business services vital to the social and economic well-being of the communities in the six coastal counties it represents.

Commissioner Donna Ring of Alfred, who represents District 4 – Alfred, Dayton, Limerick, Lyman, Sanford and Waterboro, was voted as the board’s representative to Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission.

Commissioner Justin Chenette of Saco, who represents District 3 – Buxton, Hollis, Old Orchard Beach and Saco – was voted Maine County Commissioners Association representative as well as York County’s representative to the MCCA risk pool.

The five-member board of commissioners set fees for items ranging from mileage rates to notarization fees. For the most part, the fees remain the same as in past years, with the exception of the administration fee for serving civil papers. Currently at $10, commissioners voted to increase the civil process administrative fee by $25, as allowed by Maine statutes.

Those who need copies of accident reports will pay $20 – the same fee since 2021. Background check fees remain at the 2023 rate of $20; notarization and attestation fees are $5 and $10 respectively – the 2020 rate.

The county mileage reimbursement rate is 67 cents per mile – the same as in 2024, and meals for those on county business reimbursed $15 for breakfast, $20 for lunch and $25 for dinner, or a total of $60 per day.

The board approved a contract with Waterboro for deputy coverage. York County Manager Greg Zinser noted two changes – the contract spells out that the York County Sheriff’s Office will provide up to 80 hours a week coverage, and the county will purchase the cruiser and lease it hourly to the town. In prior contracts, the municipality purchased the vehicle. Zinser noted the county has always had the right to pull a deputy from coverage if needed elsewhere, and now the new contract spells it out with the “up to” 80 hours clause.

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Tammy Wells is a media specialist for York County government.

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