MADAWASKA, Maine — The community continues to pursue a controversial proposal to randomly drug test applicants for municipal General Assistance as the town manager gathers more information for selectmen before they take a vote.
Town Manager Ryan Pelletier told selectmen this week that much of the feedback on the proposal since it was widely publicized earlier this month has been positive, including reaction from Gov. Paul LePage.
In June, the Select Board approved moving forward with developing a policy that would require random drug screening for its General Assistance program, which assists eligible residents with paying for necessary living expenses.
During the board’s regular meeting on July 19, Pelleter cited a recent WABI-TV poll that showed 89 percent of respondents supported the idea of drug testing.
In an Associated Press article carried by the Sun Journal website on July 18, LePage expressed support for Madawaska’s efforts to implement a drug testing program.
“Ensuring our welfare programs are helping those who are truly needy and willing to work toward economic stability is important,” LePage said in the piece, calling the proposal “fiscally responsible.”
Expanding testing for welfare programs has been a long-term priority of LePage and other Republican governors, but courts have put up roadblocks to it without suspicion of drug use.
Maine passed a law in 2011 affecting the federal-state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, allowing it to test some applicants who have been convicted of drug felonies and current recipients who are drug felons.
The town manager also presented board members on Tuesday with letters from the Maine Equal Justice Partnership and Maine chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, who criticized the proposal and urged the town to reconsider the drug testing policy.
Pelletier said that he was open to listening to anyone with concerns or suggestions about the proposed program.
“We want to discuss issues with people as we develop this,” he said.
The 2016-17 town budget includes $16,600 in General Assistance benefits for eligible applicants. Last year, Madawaska approved 46 out of 88 applicants for some level of general assistance, according to Pelletier.
At a board meeting in June, Pelletier said there were no other municipalities in Maine requiring such drug testing.
Pelletier told board members this week that there remained “a lot of research and details left” to address before they can expect to have a local drug testing program to review and vote on.
There is no timeline in place for when the proposal might be presented to selectmen for a vote.
Changes to the General Assistance ordinance would ultimately be put to voters at a town meeting.