STRONG — The Board of Selectmen is investigating employee use of town accounts with retailers. “We have been made aware of people using the town account to make purchases without us knowing it,” Chairman Richard Worthley said in a phone call Monday. The phone call followed a Freedom of Access Act request for invoices pertaining […]
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Posted inMaine
For 11 months, LePage administration dodges public records request for travel receipts
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has traveled widely in the past six months, from meetings or conferences in the White House, California and Texas to trade missions in Iceland and Finland. But how much taxpayers are spending on the far-flung travels by the governor, his staff and security team is a mystery. The Portland Press […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage heads back to court against Democratic attorney general
A legal feud between Republican Maine Gov. Paul LePage and the state’s Democratic attorney general returned to court recently when the governor filed a new complaint alleging his political foe is improperly holding back public records he wants to see. In a complaint filed in Androscoggin County Superior Court, LePage alleges that Attorney General Janet […]
Posted inMaine
Paul LePage accuses left of bombarding his office with FOAA requests
Gov. Paul LePage called the public records requests flooding his office “a form of intimidation” during a radio interview Tuesday. “I just find it outrageous” that opponents bombard his office with demands for records that “they never use” because they don’t find anything untoward, the governor said. The Associated Press reported this week that the […]
Posted inMaine
Gov. Paul LePage says state faces mountain of records requests
AUGUSTA — The governor’s office says it’s facing a mountain of public records requests, but one law firm isn’t waiting for its documents so patiently. Andrew Schmidt Law filed a lawsuit against the state, saying it’s been waiting for six months to get information behind Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s decision to withdraw from the refugee […]
Posted inMaine
Lewiston dentist Jan Kippax won’t face hearing until at least May
AUGUSTA — Delayed in part by the sheer size of the case the state compiled against Lewiston oral surgeon Jan Kippax, the controversial dentist’s hearing on his professional fate has been put off again until at least May. Hearing officer Rebekah Smith ordered the delay of a proposed April 14 hearing because there are “many […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Kippax hearing awaits; dental board and Attorney General's Office clashing
AUGUSTA — On the same day the Maine Board of Dental Practice agreed to suspend the license of Lewiston oral surgeon Jan Kippax last month for numerous allegations of professional misconduct, it apparently held an illegal executive session that led to a complaint about the quality of the legal support it receives from the Attorney […]
Posted inFranklin
Livermore chooses paper over email
LIVERMORE — Town officials voted Tuesday night to continue using paper copies instead of setting up separate email accounts for each selectperson at the Town Office. Administrative Assistant Amy Byron said it had been suggested the town set up a free email account for each selectperson. Selectpersons expressed concerns about using personal cellphones or computers […]
Posted inMaine
Mark Eves asks open records committee to review Warden Service conduct
AUGUSTA — A top state Democratic leader is calling on the Legislature’s Right to Know Advisory Committee to look into concerns that the Maine Warden Service either delayed or ignored requests for public records under the state’s Freedom of Access Act. On Thursday, outgoing Speaker of the House Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, sent a letter […]
Posted inMaine
Warden Service defends undercover stings
AUGUSTA — The head of the Maine Warden Service on Wednesday endured a barrage of questions from legislators about how wardens handled an undercover investigation that resulted in convictions for poaching and felony possession of firearms. Col. Joel Wilkinson told the Legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, which has jurisdiction over the service, that his […]