With hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars at stake and the economic viability of the Katahdin region in the balance, I am gobsmacked that a deal between Millinocket, East Millinocket and Gov. Paul LePage was sealed with just a handshake.
A $250,000, multiyear agreement between the state and two towns rests on a handshake? Somebody’s word against somebody else’s and nothing more?
Gov. LePage has two lawyers in his office and the largest law firm in the state, the Office of the Attorney General, at his disposal. It’s difficult to imagine how such a complex deal, involving long-term liability and economic development, would hinge on an agreement that isn’t written down.
According to the reporting by the Bangor Daily News, that’s exactly what has happened.
Last year, the state agreed to acquire the Dolby landfill as part of an effort to revive two closed mills in Millinocket and East Millinocket. The landfill is a liability and without state intervention, it’s unlikely that a new buyer could have been found for the mills. It was a pickle, but the LePage administration did the right thing by agreeing to purchase the landfill and breathe new economic life into the region.
Taking on the landfill was politically charged, and a number of Democrats have tried to make an issue out of the purchase. But bringing good jobs back to the region, I believe, was a good investment of state resources.
Government has a role — in fact, an obligation — to fight for jobs. Sometimes, those efforts are unsuccessful or the price is too high. But I don’t think any governor should sit back and allow the lifeblood of a region slip away.
As part of the deal for the state to purchase the landfill, an agreement was apparently struck between the governor and the two towns.
The governor maintains that the towns agreed to a multiyear deal to pay $50,000 each to maintain the landfill, while the state would contribute $150,000 per year. Millinocket says the deal was for one year.
And that’s where things have turned nasty.
According to Bangor Daily News reporter Nick Sambides Jr., the governor ordered that economic aid slated for the town be withheld, costing Millinocket $206,000 in Sudden and Severe Impact funding.
Leaders in Millinocket have responded with threats of a lawsuit and by saying that the governor is a liar and a bully, and even claimed that the governor has threatened to withhold support for a critical natural gas pipeline if the town doesn’t play ball.
Intergovernmental agreements are tricky business. Sometimes the details get fudged to reach agreement and then the harder aspects of a deal have to get worked out after the fact. But the events that appear to be unraveling between Millinocket and the governor go beyond anything that is appropriate.
Eventually, we may be able to determine the facts about the landfill deal.
But here’s what we know already. Gov. LePage took a fast-and-loose approach to a deal over a dangerous landfill, apparently failing to document the terms of management with the two towns most directly affected.
When a dispute emerged — and with no paper trail to set the record straight – the governor withheld much needed aid that was meant to offset massive economic loses. He punished the people of the town for a disagreement between local and state government.
And then he dared the town to sue.
The work of government is complex and it requires men and women who can put aside their own anger — even if justified — and do the right thing for the people.
Leadership means rising above the fray and keeping a cool head, even when people are taking political shots at you. And it means finding a path forward and solving problems, not making them worse with red-faced rhetoric.
While LePage’s supporters seem to like it when he goes volcanic on a reporter or rival politician, I wonder if even they are offended by such a display when it’s directed at the people of a region who have suffered through such tough economic times.
The governor did the right thing when he worked to save those mills. But now he’s blowing it. Economic retaliation and threats are no way to solve a dispute. Especially when you’re the governor of the state.
David Farmer is a political and media consultant. He was formerly deputy chief of staff and communications director for Gov. John E. Baldacci and a longtime journalist. You can reach him at dfarmer14@hotmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @dfarmer14.
Why is that state involved at any level. This is another example of why the government should stay out of the market place
Have not read your article, Farmboy, because you will not write anything positive about our Governor.
There isnt anything positive I have ever seen. Think about it ? Lepage is not governor material.
And when, oh reading-challenged one, has he ever had occasion to write something positive about this loser of a governor?
Then you shouldn’t be commenting on the op-ed. Farmer was fair.
I was making a point like you but I can see this is not allowed in your world.
You also should not call names. No need to be mean, even when we disagree.
Good article, but, I fear, wasted in the current political climate. Do you suppose Paul will get all huffy and try to bully the Chinese? Man, I’ll bet they’ll run with their tails between their legs.
Yea, I hope you noticed “He was formerly deputy chief of staff and communications director for Gov. John E. Baldacci” A somewhat biased article.
I know! Was really expecting some glowing support from a Baldacci coat-holder…NOT.
it’s not his fault the governor has been shown to be a liar numerous times
And Baldacci was so good of a Gov. If that is the case a few of the Council I think give Baldacci the credit for this, so then we should give him the fault then.
This was not an article, but an OPINION piece. Please note the heading.
Unfortunately here, I think there is a lot more than a handshake here. The Gov. stepped out on the ropes contrary a lot people not wanting to pay for this. Maybe a mirror should be in the Town Councils chambers when calling someone a liar? We are not privy to all the communications, which is probly more than we see in a few articles. You also forget the Town of Millinocket are the ones that threatened to sue. If you were to see the whole meeting in Council chambers, maybe you would have a completely different viewpoint. It is easy for everyone to 2nd guess.
“I think there is a lot more than a handshake here”
Are you not “second guessing?”
The legend of the buffoon continues to grow. What a busy year! Hardly a week goes by without this clown stepping in another pile of crap. If anything, at least he’s entertaining. Next time you read another story of this fools antics, try and imagine the theme music for the three stooges as backgound music. It really helps set the tone. Only thing funnier are his defenders trying to cover the ample posterior of this walking disaster. Must be tiring.
“… his defenders trying to cover the ample posterior of this walking disaster. ”
Well, you have to hand it to him,java88, he DID say he was going to create jobs. Too bad the pay is so lousy.
Something LePew has forgotten, if indeed the deal was struck w/a handshake: in olden times, a man’s word and a handshake were enough. LePage’s word is worth nothing. Absolutely nothing.
And a handshake? That’s what gentlemen did. He hardly fits that category, not by any stretch.
I can tell you can’t always believe what Millinocket says. I would still like to see all the information. Was there something different between the new and old council, that some may not know?
So, if LePage had behaved professionally, everything agreed upon would have been confirmed in writing and signed. Now it’s just he said he said, and the governor is definitely trying to bully Millinocket and hurting the community by withholding $200,000 in funding that has been appropriated. When will LePage grow up?
Is that why the town is trying to bully the state by saying they are going to sue? As I said there is more to this issue than what we are hearing. If you had heard the whole town meeting, you may see things a little differrently.
Bully the state? How can anyone being withheld what they rightfully are owed be called a “bully” for using the legal process? That’s how it works. I haven’t seen anything yet to suggest Millinocket was wrong. There should have been a plan in place to manage the landfill and to pay for its upkeep from the users. Not from a town that doesn’t even own it or have it in their town. Who the hell is in charge of this mess? Can you say Lepage? He should fire his PR manager and use that to fund the landfill upkeep. He’s doing a lousy job anyway. You listening Paul?
You also have to remember the State went to great lengths to get this deal done.
And the governor, with all his lawyers, never bothered to get anything in writing.
The deal really was not done, till the town(s) sent their offer of the $50,000 one time deal. According to the documentation provided by the town, if there was any problem with recollection that Millinocket should of contacted the Gov. office. In the letter it talks aabout annual costs of approx. $170,000.
Asking through the courts to get what you are owed is not bullying. It’s the legal process, something the governor ignores.
I’m sure this is part of the governor’s campaign to win hearts and minds in northern Maine.
I am sure the State is not quite happy paying $17 million either? (if that what it cost) It will probably be difficult to get anyone to co-sponser that bill. If you listened to the meeting you may have a diffrent viewpoint.
The Governor has the Attorney General’s office and plenty of lawyers. Yet he never got anything in writing. So now LePage claims one thing was agreed to, Milinocket believes something else was agreed to, and the Governor never put anything in writing, despite having access to the biggest legal team in the state. A handshake should be followed by a contract in this day and age. But because LePage didn’t know how to do it properly, he is now resorting to bullying to get his way. That’s going to go over well in northern Maine.
Bruce I resent your statement we stuck to what we agreed to, nothing more nothing less.
You can resent the word. I think there was a lot more behind the scenes that you or I know about. In regards to what the council agreed too, that can be open to interpretation in what was passed out. The council meeting went beyond merely voicing an opinion. I should of said Millinocket’s word is sometimes not what it should be. It is unfortunate that all those meetings were not recorded, or that certain information can not be devulged because of proprietary information, between Brascan and the agreement.
In the letter from DECD on Dec. 6th, it states, “The tasks remains an opportunity for the two communities to help the state with. The annual cost for these services are estimated to be approximately $170,000.” It further stats “Please let me know fi the avove correctly reflects your recollection of what was discussed and agreed upon so tha twe may proceed further on these offers of assistance. If not, contact me so we can clarify it.” The next thing is Order #280-2011, the towns offer. I see no place where the town contact Mr. Gervais before the order? If the fact the town stuck to what was agreed upon, then why was there no communication between the Dec. 6th, 2011 letter and the order?
I heard the campaign promises and BS that got LePage elected, and now I see the same humble man, running around in his expensive new suits with his movie star shades, telling people to kiss his butt, and the like…..do you think just MAYBE the job has gone to his head a bit ? LePage IS a bully AND a liar…already proven. Any dispute involving this crook is without any doubt HIS fault in my mind. Recall LePage !!!
That pretty much sums it up. The Governor, the Huffy Bully!
I’m left to wonder. Are Paul and Newt friends? They both are mouthy, but, they don’t make any sense.
Papers?
Papers!
We dont need no Stinkin Papers!
I wouldn’t let this nit wit close a deal on a box of popcorn!
I believe that the rule is that a verbal contract isn’t binding if the value of the contract exceeds some threshold amount, which is pretty low.
Presumably the agreement was the same for East Millinocket: so, what does East Millinocket say the conditions were?
Why doesn’t he just withhold the 50 thousand, not 206,000?
Is this supposed to be what running the state like a business looks like?
Mr Farmer as a baldacci clone is being dishonest to say a handshake and no paper is wrong and seemingly something new ans unique , i was at meetings with baldacci and other past governors politicians and that happened many times over, the paper if needed and the like plays catch up to the agreement – if it is needed at all.
In Maine our basis should be the handshake and honorable word – not a pile of lawyers and paperwork – Mr. farmer speaks like a phony
Between two individuals? Certainly, I agree that *should* suffice. However, this is between 3 governmental organizations and not the way the government, or a business, should be run. As I recall, LePage promised to run Maine like a business thus failing to live up to yet another campaign promise.
it is one screwed up town. Tractor Supply will not locate there now because of the problems involved dealing with the locals.
If you knew anything about the deal you would not say say something as stupid as this.
David Farmer said (( The Governer did the right thing.)) can you belive it!
LePage’s position may be deemed legal, that is a matter for a judge to decide; but it is certainly not honorable. Your word is your bond in this world and he has tarnished his with the people. The best way to move forward is to never trust him again. This should include not trusting him with additional executive privilege. If ever there was a need for maintaining transparency, this guy is the quintessential reason.