News

Governor LePage Announces EBT System Has Been Restored

Power outage at Xerox prevented use of EBT cards on Saturday

AUGUSTA –Governor Paul R. LePage announced this morning the system that processes Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) transactions has been restored and is now fully operational.

“Access to EBT accounts has been restored, and card holders may now access their benefits at locations accepting EBT,” said Governor LePage. “There is no need to talk to a Customer Service Representative about the system failure yesterday. All services have been restored.”

Xerox, which provides EBT service to 17 states, including Maine, experienced a major power outage on Saturday, preventing the use of EBT transactions. The service interruption, which affected access to programs such as SNAP and TANF, has been restored to Maine and the other states where Xerox manages EBT service.

“We appreciate your patience while Xerox worked to resolve this issue, and we apologize for any inconvenience,” said Mary Mayhew, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Service. “We realize that access to these benefits is very important to Maine families, and we will follow Xerox’s investigation into the cause of the failure so we can ensure a similar interruption does not happen again.”

FMH Announces First-ever Certification of its Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

 

Application process required extensive documentation of the program’s practices

 

FARMINGTON , MAINE ¾

 

Franklin Memorial Hospital (FMH) is proud to announce the first-ever certification of its pulmonary rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). FMH was recognized for its commitment to improving the quality of life by enhancing standards of care.

 

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with pulmonary problems such as COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases, recover faster and improve their quality of life. It includes exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families. Pulmonary rehabilitation cannot cure lung disease, but it can greatly improve one’s quality of life.

 

David Ames, cardiopulmonary manager; Dr. David Hyde, pulmonary rehabilitation medical director; Vicki Adams, RN; and Meghan Hoar, CRT; were actively involved in the application process that required extensive documentation of the program’s practices. The AACVPR Program Certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by the AACVPR and other professional societies. Each program is reviewed by the AACVPR National Certification Committee and certification is awarded by the AACVPR Board of Directors.

 

The FMH Pulmonary Rehabilitation program, located on the first floor of the hospital, sees patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. For more information, call 779-2734 or 800-398-6031, ext. 2734.

 

AACVPR-certified programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation because they offer the most advanced practices available. AACVPR Program Certification is valid for three years.

 

Governor LePage Appoints Jim Rier As Acting Education Commissioner

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage has appointed Jim Rier as Acting Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education, effective immediately.

Rier, a native of Machias who now lives in Topsham, has been at Maine DOE for a decade, first as Director of Finance and Operations and most recently as Deputy Commissioner since 2011.

In his tenure at the Department, Acting Commissioner Rier has established himself as the state’s foremost expert in education funding, and has headed reforms to the state’s School Funding Law, Child Development Services and within Maine DOE that have improved operations and increased transparency and accountability to Maine taxpayers.

In addition to overseeing day-to-day operations, he has been responsible for implementation and management of the Essential Programs and Services Funding Model and the 2005 School Funding Law; school audits; all school facilities, transportation and nutrition programs; teacher certification; data management; and State and federal reporting.

“I am pleased to appoint Jim Rier as acting commissioner. With Jim's expertise in fiscal responsibility and his leadership of improved operations, I am confident the department is in very capable hands,” said Governor LePage.

“It is an honor to serve the people of Maine and I look forward to working with Governor LePage and the talented team at Maine DOE to continue the transformation of our education system so that it serves all Maine students and prepares them for success after they leave our schools,” said Acting Commissioner Rier. “

Prior to joining Maine DOE, Acting Commissioner Rier was a Senior Project Engineer at Buick and worked for 25 years as President of Rier Motors Co., a car dealership in his native Machias founded by his father.

Committed to community service, he was on the State Board of Education for two terms during which he led the overhaul of the State’s school construction process and served as Board Chair from 1997 to 2000. He also served on the Board of Directors for Bangor Hydro Electric Co., the Maine Community Foundation, the Regional Medical Center at Lubec and the Washington County Education & Economic Development Alliance, which he chaired.

He has been recognized by the Maine School Superintendents Association, the Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education, the Maine Municipal Association and the American Lung Association for his outstanding leadership and service to education in Maine.

Governor LePage will continue to consider candidates for the permanent Commissionership and could introduce his nominee to the Legislature’s Education Committee as early as January 2014.

Maine Cannot Rely on Federal Money to Fund our Government

The government shutdown sent the National Guard home without pay. Federal officials are reducing food-stamp benefits, and they just yanked funding for our psychiatric hospital. But liberals still think they can rely on federal funds to pay for the expansion of welfare in Maine.

Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage.

The failure of leadership in Washington, D.C. resulted in the government shutdown, and we don’t expect to see better leadership any time soon. The federal government is now $17 trillion in debt, and it is cutting food-stamp benefits on November 1.

With gridlock in Washington, the massive debt and the end of stimulus funds, we cannot rely on the federal government to pay for existing programs, let alone new programs. The feds pulled $20 million for Riverview Psychiatric Center, even though the center is now in compliance with federal law.

Congressman Michaud and Congresswoman Pingree even voted against paying veterans benefits if the shutdown continues.

The federal government laid off our friends and neighbors in the National Guard; it is cutting food stamps for our neediest residents; and it has revoked funding for the mentally disabled. It won’t even pay for veterans benefits.

But still, liberals in Maine believe the federal government will pay for a massive expansion of welfare. They don’t live in reality.

That is why I am pushing so hard to make long-term structural reforms to Maine’s budget. We cannot count on empty promises from Washington to pay for programs and services for Mainers. We have the third most expensive welfare system in the country, and our educational costs are higher than the national average.

With future reductions of federal funds, we would have to make drastic cuts to the programs that our families and children need and deserve. That is why we have to make the tough decisions now to enact fiscally responsible budgets.

We must provide financial stability that offers an affordable and appropriate level of services to Mainers. Quite simply, we must learn to live within our means. As we have seen over the past couple of weeks, relying on the federal government is a recipe for failure.

Thank you for listening.

MDOT Delivers “Rail System Safety Report” to Governor LePage

Existing rail safety practices are found to be adequate

AUGUSTA – In accordance with the Executive Order issued by Governor Paul R. LePage dated July 9, 2013, MaineDOT Commissioner David Bernhardt has submitted the “Rail System Safety Report” to the Governor.

The Executive Order, titled “An Order Requiring MaineDOT to Review the Safety of Freight Rail Transportation in Maine,” required MaineDOT to review available Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rail safety reports; to request reports on Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (MMA) inspections; to use any available information on the cause of the Lac Megantic tragedy to mitigate any safety concerns; and to continue to cooperate with the FRA.

In addition, the report contains the results of a request by Commissioner Bernhardt to Maine’s five freight rail companies about best practices for securing freight trains and emergency orders that have been issued by federal rail safety regulators in Canada and the United States, along with findings and recommendations.

On July 6, 2013 a runaway and unattended freight train operated by MMA carrying 72 cars of crude oil derailed and exploded in Lac Megantic, Quebec, taking 47 lives and destroying more than 30 buildings in the town.

“The tragedy in Lac Megantic forced us to ask tough questions,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “While the results of this report are encouraging, it is paramount that operators of all modes of transportation put safety first for themselves and for all Mainers.”

As the report indicates, while no form of transportation is free from all risk, existing rail safety practices are adequate. A tragedy like Lac Megantic should not occur in Maine if the private railroad operators follow their own safety practices and those of the FRA, which is the agency responsible for rail safety in the United States.

MaineDOT, working in cooperation with the FRA, thoroughly reviewed inspection reports after the Governor’s Executive Order to ensure that the ongoing FRA inspection program in Maine is consistent and concentrated in areas of the highest rail traffic and/or concern.

“The tragedy in Lac-Megantic, Quebec has caused everyone to reflect on how our transportation industry can provide the level of railroad safety that the public deserves and expects, while at the same time allowing the efficient movement of goods needed to support our economy here in Maine and across North America,” said MaineDOT Commissioner David Bernhardt. “We have received good cooperation from the freight rail operators in the state that helped facilitate the completion of this report for Governor LePage.”

Federal law governs rail activity, and the FRA provides oversight and enforcement of railroad safety. FRA rules govern all aspects of rail safety including the following five disciplines: track, grade crossings, mechanical/rail equipment, operating practices and procedures, and movement of hazardous materials.

Prior to the Lac Megantic tragedy, there were 1,021 FRA observations performed in 2013 on railroads in Maine across the five disciplines from January through June.

Since the tragedy took place, additional 581 observations have been conducted by FRA and state inspectors. As standard practice dictates, all concerns and defects observed in inspections are documented and forwarded to the railroad being inspected and FRA staff for correction and follow up. During this process, defects were identified, requiring attention by the railroad operators. However, no defects were found that warranted the shutdown of any rail lines in Maine.

“When that horrible event in Lac Megantic happened, we increased the focus on the safety of the rail system in Maine,” said Governor LePage. “But I continue to be optimistic about the steady growth of this industry, which provides good jobs and contributes to the state’s economy.”

MaineDOT, which will closely monitor the investigation into the cause of the Lac Megantic tragedy being conducted by Transport Canada, will continue to work closely with the FRA to ensure that there are timely safety inspections of Maine’s rail infrastructure throughout the state.

Governor Declares Civil Emergency to Minimize Fiscal Impacts of Federal Shutdown

With uncertainty of federal shutdown, emergency proclamation provides Governor flexibility to manage impacts to State

 AUGUSTA –With the federal shutdown now into its second week, Governor Paul R. LePage today issued a proclamation declaring a civil emergency so his administration can minimize the financial impact to the State of Maine and its federally funded employees. Maine law enables the Governor to declare a civil emergency.

“The failure of leadership in Washington, D.C. has resulted in a federal shutdown, preventing the flow of federal money to Maine,” said Governor LePage. “Unfortunately, this means that a large number of our federally funded state employees may have to be laid off. The State of Maine simply cannot fill the financial gap created by the prolonged loss of federal dollars. It would be unlawful for the State to ask our federally funded employees to continue to work without having the authority to pay them.”

More than 2,700 state employees are paid, either partially or entirely, by federal funding. Governor LePage sent a letter to all state employees, explaining why the civil emergency is necessary.

The federal shutdown not only affects federally funded state employees, it also impacts many federally funded programs and services that Mainers rely upon.

Services and/or programs have already been adversely impacted at several state agencies, including the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor. 

“Some politicians tell us not to worry about it, that the check is in the mail,” said Governor LePage. “But they cannot tell us when or if any federal money will be available. In the meantime, we cannot use Maine taxpayers’ money to pay for positions or programs that are supposed to be federally funded. We did not create this mess in Washington, D.C., but our administration is working tirelessly to assist our employees and to allow the continuation of important programs and services to the citizens of Maine.”

The proclamation language is as follows:

WHEREAS, the Civil Emergency Preparedness Act (“CEPA”), 37-B MRSA §§701-850 confers emergency powers upon the Governor in civil emergencies;

WHEREAS, since October 1, 2013, Congress has failed to pass appropriations legislation for the 2014 fiscal year;

WHEREAS, the shutdown of federal government and the resultant impacts to the State of Maine have unexpectedly extended beyond a time period manageable by the State of Maine;

WHEREAS, the State of Maine funds hundreds of state programs with federal grant moneys that are not currently available due to the federal shutdown;

WHEREAS, the State of Maine regularly employs thousands of workers whose positions are funded either entirely or partially by federal moneys;

WHEREAS, the loss of federal revenue disrupts state services and interferes with the Governor’s ability to meet his obligation to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Maine citizens;

WHEREAS, there may be statutory or regulatory obligations with which the state is unable to comply due to impacts from the federal shutdown;

WHEREAS, Departments and Agencies of the Executive Branch of the State of Maine may be unable to comply with, carry out or enforce their laws or provide state services;

WHEREAS, Congress has failed to pass appropriations legislation to meet its obligation to fund the employment of thousands of State of Maine employees over a prolonged period of time;

WHEREAS, it is unknown at this time whether appropriation legislation ultimately passed by Congress will fund and authorize reimbursement of the State’s expenditures since October 1, 2013 which were made in reliance on previously promised federal funding;

WHEREAS, the State of Maine has incurred the cost of wages of the aforementioned State of Maine employees due to the lapse of previously promised federal funding;

WHEREAS, the Governor has no authority to continue to pay these wages that the federal government is failing to fund;

WHEREAS, the State of Maine has a severely constrained budget and the Governor has no authority to continue to make payments that have not been appropriated;

WHEREAS, these constraints prohibit the State of Maine from continuing to employ workers whose positions the federal government is failing to fund;

WHEREAS, this substantially affects the means by which the Executive Branch may faithfully execute the laws in accordance with Article V, Part First, Section 12 of the Maine Constitution;

WHEREAS, these stated constraints and circumstances give rise to a civil emergency within the meaning of the Maine Civil Emergency Preparedness Act, 37-B MRSA 701 et. Seq; and,

WHEREAS, the CEPA empowers the Governor, upon declaration of a civil emergency, to minimize and repair injury and damage resulting from the emergency;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Paul R. LePage, Governor of the State of Maine, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of Maine, and after finding that the aforementioned conditions constitute a civil emergency within the meaning of 37B M.R.S.A. § 742, I do hereby declare a State of Civil Emergency as of October 9, 2013 and exercise my authority to suspend strict compliance with laws or rules that prevent, hinder, and delay effective management of the emergency.

 

United Way Days of Caring Continue: Do what you love, love what you do!

 

I just wanted to let you in on a great event happening with Mount Blue Middle School students as they fan out in

downtown Farmington to help others.

             

Mt. Blue Cares for the Community Friday, October 11, 8:30 am undefined 2 pm

       

Days of Caring Schedule: One group of students will be building interior storm window panels at Henderson Memorial Baptist Church and re-installing panels at Farmington Public Library throughout the day; one group will be cleaning up the patio area at Orchard Park Rehabilitation and Living Center and then move to the home of George and Carol Trickett, 162 Perham St while another group will spend the day at the home of Don and Barbara Nicholson, 484 Bailey Hill Rd; students will be baking and cooking items for food pantries and older adults at the FACS Room at Mount Blue Middle School: the last group will spend the day at the United Way office on Broadway making button bracelets for the Buttons for Babes Project.

 

Time frame: students will begin at MBMS at 8:30 and be bused to the above various locations. They will return to school by 2 pm.

 

Please stop by one or more of these locations if you have time, it should be a lot of fun while this great group of kids continues to make a difference throughout our communities!

 

Contact for additional information:

Nancy Teel, Volunteer Center Coordinator

United Way of the Tri-Valley Area

778-5048; nancyteel@uwtva.org

 

The United Way of the Tri-Valley Area is excited to announce Days of Caring 2013 – a great way to get involved in your community this summer and fall. Give an hour or give a day, meet new people, and make a difference. Last year, 11 days and 14 projects were offered to volunteers, and 240 volunteers contributed 1,176 hours in the community. These hours equate to $19,804 dollars invested in service hours alone! Additionally, $4,203 worth of supplies and professional services were contributed in-kind.

 

This year, 10 diverse and exciting projects are being offered to anyone who wants to get involved. Volunteer opportunities are listed below. Pick one or more ways to LIVE UNITED. Get your friends together, form a team from work, or come alone, but please participate – all skill levels are welcome. Contact Nancy Teel, Volunteer Center Coordinator to sign up or for more information at 778-5048 or nancyteel@uwtva.org. (Advance sign up is very much appreciated for planning purposes. All pre-registrants will be provided specific details about their opportunity.)

 

Volunteer engagement through the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area is supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Maine Commission for Community Service, and The Maine Community Foundation.

 

 

 

Nancy E. Teel

Volunteer Center Coordinator

                                     

232 Broadway

PO Box 126

Farmington, ME 04938

(207) 778-5048

nancyteel@uwtva.org

www.uwtva.org

Federal Shutdown Forces Temporary Layoff of 56 Federally Funded DHHS Staff

Disability Determination Office in Winthrop closed temporarily

AUGUSTA – The federal government shutdown has forced the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to notify all 52 state employees at the Disability Determination Office in Winthrop that they are being temporarily laid off.

These employees, whose salaries are 100 percent federally funded, make Social Security Disability Determinations on behalf of the federal government.

In addition to these staff members, four other employees were laid off temporarily, including two employees in the Office of Aging and Disability Services, one employee in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and one in the Office for Family Independence.

All of these positions are 100 percent federally funded, and no funding is available to provide their salaries. Employees were notified Monday, and the layoff was effective immediately.

“The State of Maine has no choice but to suspend operation of disability determination because it relies solely on federal funding,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “This is just one of the many difficult situations we must address as the federal shutdown in Washington continues with no immediate resolution in sight.”

As a result of the federal shutdown, the Disability Determination Office in Winthrop until further notice.

State of Maine Seeks Bids for New Liquor Contract

New contract will lower prices, provide revenue for clean water and transportation projects and replenish rainy day fund

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage announced today that the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations (BABLO), a part of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, is seeking bidders to provide spirits administration and spirits trade marketing for the State of Maine.

By issuing this request for proposals (RFP), the State of Maine is continuing the implementation of Governor LePage’s plan for a new wholesale liquor contract.

“The current contract has cost Maine hundreds of millions in lost revenue,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “These new contracts will allow the State of Maine to take back the significant revenue created by the spirits business and provide a better deal for Mainers.”

In 2004, the State of Maine signed a 10-year agreement to lease its liquor operations to Maine Beverage Company in exchange for a one-time payment of $125 million and annual revenue sharing with the state. In 2012, the spirits business in Maine generated $45.8 million in operating income after covering its direct costs. The state’s share was just $8.7 million.

In September, Governor LePage fulfilled his pledge to pay nearly $490 million in welfare debt to Maine hospitals. The state’s portion of that debt, $183.5 million, was paid for with a revenue bond that pledged the state’s liquor business revenue as its collateral.

“The governor’s plan represents a vastly superior spirits wholesale services strategy and business model than the current contract,” said Gerry Reid, director of BABLO. “By recovering lost revenue that resulted from leasing the business and removing the 36.8% gross profit guarantee that existed in the old contract, Maine consumers will get a much better value from these contracts than they have previously.”

After recovering and controlling the full value generated by the business, BABLO will carefully reduce the consumer price of spirits stocked in agency liquor stores and improve the stores’ profitability. Reduced prices will also allow the state to recover a portion of the sales lost to New Hampshire. BABLO estimates that the new 10-year contract will more than double the operating income received by the state compared to the past 10 years.

Revenue from the liquor business will be used to make payments on the hospital bond. Excess revenue will be used to pay for clean water and transportation projects, along with increasing the balance of the state’s depleted rainy day fund.

As outlined in the RFP, the BABLO is seeking bidders to provide spirits administration and spirits trade marketing. Interested vendors can bid on one or both contracts.

Maine is one of 17 control jurisdictions, where the government controls the sale and price of spirits.

Governor LePage and First Lady Honor Returning Maine Soldiers at Freedom Salute Ceremony  

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage attended a freedom salute ceremony Sunday to honor soldiers of 488^th Military Police Company and the121st Public Affairs Detachment. The unit recently returned from Afghanistan in June. Freedom Salutes are designed to publically recognize the sacrifice of soldiers, families, employers and friends that have supported them throughout the deployment.

During the ceremony the soldiers were reminded of the rich heritage of the Maine National Guard, the appreciation of their state for their service, and the selfless sacrifice an entire family makes when a soldier is deployed.

“We owe our men and women in uniform and their families a debt of gratitude for all that they do for our State and Nation,” said First Lady Ann LePage. “Our service members and their families have made tremendous sacrifices. Maine has a very rich military heritage, and it is important that we honor these courageous men and women,” she said.

"This morning we are here to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of two deployments as well as the sacrifice of those who have supported you at home," Governor LePage said. "Despite the current gridlock in Washington nothing can diminish your accomplishments. I am proud of you and the people of Maine are proud of you. Thank you for your service.”

The 488th Military Police Company, from Waterville, Maine, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 2012 to 2013. They returned in June 2013 after serving 9 months in Afghanistan. Their primary mission was Entry Control Point (ECP) operations at Bagram Airfield. Additionally, they had a secondary mission as part of an "internal" quick reaction force.

Four members of 121st Public Affairs Detachment, from Augusta, Maine, deployed to Kosovo as part of the U.N. Peacekeeping mission called Kosovo Force in July 2012. While there, they were the Public Affairs element for Multi-National Battle Group East. The unit covered major historic operations and created more than 140 news stories for KFOR, the soldiers and their multi-national partners. The 121st returned from deployment in June 2013.

Both units served with distinction.