York County News – BIDDEFORD GAZETTE

The final decision would require voter approval, but some commissioners say the position is largely ceremonial and somewhat redundant because the county already pays a finance director and support staff

By TAMMY WELLS | York County Government Media

ALFRED, Maine – York County Commissioners are poised to decide later this spring whether to ask voters in November if they wish to appoint a county treasurer, thus abolishing the elected position.

Proponents of the proposed referendum note that York County government has a finance director and staff who carry out the treasurer’s duties and more, and that the elected treasurer role in York County is purely ceremonial and has been for nearly 20 years.

**YORK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS** are contemplating whether to ask voters in November if they wish to abolish the elected county treasurer position, which in York County is largely ceremonial – the county government instituted a finance director position in 2007. Shown here from the left are York County Manager Greg Zinser and Commissioners Richard Clark, Robert Andrews, Chair Richard Dutremble, Donna Ring and Justin Chenette. (*Photo by Katherine Derby*)

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Richard Clark, a York County Commissioner for nine years and a member of the county budget for six years before that, said he favors committee a referendum to create an appointed treasurer position.

“The elected treasurer does nothing,” said Clark. “We reduced the salary to $500 a year……We have professional financial management here. To continue this in my mind is pointless.”

Commissioner Justin Chenette said voters have previously made their wishes clear in a referendum on the question. That 2018 referendum saw 63,100 voters cast ballots in favor of keeping the elected part-time position, while 27,136 voters cast ballots to abolish it.

Chenette said he would be hesitant for the county to deviate from the will of the voters. “I have a feeling they’ll decide again to retain the position, so what has changed from that referendum to this referendum? I think we should abide by the wish of the voters. Just sending it out again does absolutely nothing.”

According to state law, the only qualification for an elected county treasurer is that the individual be a resident of the county.

The same statute addresses the qualifications of an appointed treasurer: “The treasurer must be qualified in matters of business administration and finance.”

Duties of the treasurer – carried out in York County by the finance director and staff – include keeping the books, paying the bills, enforcing payment of taxes, if need be, making an annual accounting of the books, and with the advice and consent of county commissioners, make investments, according to the statutes. The county’s finances are audited annually by a professional firm.

“The treasurer position is obsolete in today’s society,” said Commission Chair Richard Dutremble. “We really don’t need it.”

Dutremble reminded commissioners that a referendum campaign could see a proliferation of misinformation. He said the last time the matter went to a county wide referendum “people said they didn’t understand the question.”

The current York County Treasurer is Stacy Kilroy, who is not seeking re-election. She was appointed to the post by Gov. Janet Mills following the 2024 resignation of the prior treasurer, Bobby Mills.

“The treasurer position is obsolete in today’s
society. We really don’t need it.”
— Chair Richard Dutremble of Biddeford

Mills was first elected in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. He is running for the spot in the Democratic primary June 9.

York County Commissioners hired the county’s first finance director in 2007, after discovering a $1.2 million deficit in the fund balance that year. With hard work, it was cleared and the fund balance was rebuilt to healthy levels.

In 2015, York County Commissioners of the day, noting that the duties of the treasurer were being carried out by the finance director, voted to reduce salary for the elected part-time treasurer to $500 annually starting with the 2018 election.

Commissioner Donna Ring said she would like to study the matter further and proposed postponing the decision until May. Voting in favor were Commissioners Robert Andrews, Chenette and Ring, while Clark and Dutremble were opposed.

Today, three of Maine’s 16 counties – Androscoggin, Cumberland and Knox – have appointed treasurers. The rest remain elected, but voters in Washington County could see the question in an upcoming election.

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By TAMMY WELLS, York County Government media

ALFRED, Maine – On a recent Saturday as the Mass at York County Jail neared its end, those eligible for Holy Communion moved to partake. Others were asked by Bishop Robert Deeley if they would like a blessing, and several residents stepped forward with their arms crossed on their chests, as instructed. He smiled at each one as he made the sign of the cross.

A York County Jail resident receives a blessing administered by Bishop Robert Deeley, who says Mass at the jail once a month for inmates who sign up to attend. While retired from administrative duties since 2024, he remains a priest and a Bishop and says Mass weekdays in his home parish. *(Courtesy photo)*

It was a special moment in an hour of special moments, as 17 general population jail inmates – some sentenced, some awaiting trial – took part in the Mass, repeating the familiar, and to some, not so familiar readings, and listening as Bishop Deeley delivered the homily.

Catholic Prison Ministry, a joint initiative of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Sanford and The Brothers of Christian Instruction in Alfred, has provided a regular Catholic presence at York County Jail since 2018, after planning for a year, said member Raymond Wallace.

“They need to know what they’ve done is not who they are,” said Wallace of jail residents. “God has a better plan.”

The prison ministry group had long desired a Saturday evening Mass for inmates, but, as Bishop Deeley noted, Saturdays are busy times for priests, who regularly say Mass on Saturday evenings in their own parishes. Deeley retired from his administrative duties when James Ruggieri was appointed Bishop of Portland in 2024, but he remains a Bishop and a priest and recently began offering the Saturday evening Mass at the jail once a month.

*Brother Henry Monday, left, of the Brothers of Christian Instruction in Alfred, and Bishop Robert Deeley take part in a recent Mass at York County Jail.*

Having Mass at the jail requires additional corrections officers to provide security, said Sheriff Bill King, and staffing levels are challenging so he, and Jail Administrator Maj. Lori Marks or an alternate attend to ensure the service is not cancelled. “It is truly an honor to have a retired Bishop come to the jail and celebrate mass,” King said. He said several inmates have become regular attendees and seem to have developed a connection with the Bishop – who recognizes “the regulars.”

Many of those attending on a recent Saturday weren’t Catholic – the Bishop said most aren’t. They listened and participated respectfully.

“I emphasize to the inmates how fortunate they are to have a Bishop celebrating mass at the jail,” said King. “Even amongst the non-Catholics, they seem to recognize the Bishop’s importance to the Catholic faith.”

York County Jail has an average daily population of about 230 people, who hail from many walks of life. Religious or spiritual services are offered to the majority of the jail population, who sign up to attend, said King.

He said groups like Catholic Prison Ministry provide mentorship. “I’ve seen where people released relied on them for guidance,” King said.

In addition to the Mass, Brother Henry Monday is a regular visitor to the jail, and is often sought out by residents for counsel, Bishop Deeley said.

Brother Monday put it simply: “When we come together, we are all children of God,” he said.

There are other services and opportunities for religious and spiritual counsel. Maj. Marks, the jail administrator, said Calvary Chapel hosts a Tuesday Bible study at the jail.

Rabbi Levi Wilansky is available to provide guidance to those of the Jewish faith, said King.

And York County Jail provides the services of a chaplain.

“Unlike chaplains in state facilities who often have the chance to build longer-term relationships, county jail chaplaincy mostly involves short-term care, meeting people facing an uncertain future and planting seeds of hope that may hopefully grow later,” said Chaplain Trent Boyd. “The Chaplain does their best to support each inmate’s right to practice their faith and to request reasonable accommodations for sincere beliefs.”

Bishop Robert Deeley, shown here greeting a York County Jail resident, is retired from his administrative work for the Diocese of Portland but remains a Bishop and priest, and says Mass once a month at York County Jail.

Boyd said chaplains listen, care, and are there to offer hope.

“A county jail chaplain tries to bring what we call “a ministry of presence” into the jail,” Boyd said.

On a winter Saturday evening, as the Mass was said, there was a warmth and a sense of peace and goodwill in the meeting room.

“I hope, through our presence with them, and having the Mass, they will know that whatever has gone wrong in their lives does not remove them from the love of God,” Bishop Deeley said of those who attend. “Remember that Jesus reached out to the prisoner next to him on Calvary. That prisoner is today in heaven. In whatever way we can help the people in the jail to know they are of great worth, and capable of doing great things, we have fulfilled our mission.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Tammy Wells is a media specialist with York County government. You may reach her at tlwells@yorkcountymaine.gov

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