Stories Related to Critics Question Lepage Plan To Outsource Park Jobs, Cut Management Positions

AUGUSTA — Conservation advocates are raising concerns about Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to outsource two dozen jobs at Maine’s state parks and to eliminate management positions involved in overseeing historic sites or public lands. But LePage administration officials say the changes – including the shift to seasonal contract laborers – are aimed at improving efficiency and refocusing resources at a time when the state parks are adding programs and setting visitation records. “It’s not just the weather that is responsible for higher attendance,” said Walt Whitcomb, commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Lawmakers are expecting a spirited discussion next month when they begin diving into LePage’s budget proposals related to Whitcomb’s department.