County commissioners planning for remote meetings

DOVER-FOXCROFT — With Gov. Janet Mills having announced stricter limits on public gatherings last week, including banning gatherings of more than 10 people, the Piscataquis County Commissioners and county officials are taking steps to meet remotely and keep the public involved should the order still be in place for the next regular meeting of the commissioners at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7.

County Manager Michael Williams wrote in an email that due to the coronavirus and the limit of meeting attendees being 10, he has set up a conference call number. This provision is allowed in Legislative bill LD 2167, passed last week. He said the conference call capabilities will be in place for April 7, and beyond if needed, should the limit still be in place. 

The commissioners’ regular meetings are at 8:30 a.m. the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Peaks House on the county campus on East Main St. The Peaks House is closed to the public until further notice. Next door the courthouse has restricted public access and more information is available at the Piscataquis County website https://www.piscataquis.us/. 

The call in number for the commissioners meeting conference is 978-990-5000. From there callers need to type in the pass code 801306. 

A conference call test was conducted on Tuesday morning with several department heads and others, and those involved were each able to successfully connect and speak with one another.