ROCKLAND — In chambers October 11, at the Knox County Courthouse, the Knox County Commissioners voted to allow its chairman to sign a contract between Knox County and the towns of Cushing, Thomaston, St. George, South Thomaston, Warren and the Georges River Regional Shellfish Management Committee for shellfish warden services.

As mandated by the Georges River Regional Management Ordinance, the purpose is to establish a regional management program for the participating towns of the Georges River Regional Interlocal Clam Management Agreement.

The agreement ensures sustainable harvest practices and optimum utilization of soft shell clam resources within the limits of the municipalities.

This agreement encompasses establishing licenses and limiting the number of shellfish harvested, time and area where digging is permitted, minimum size limitations of shellfish, amount of harvest and providing effective enforcement of the ordinance.

The ordinance is governed by a joint board of selectmen consisting of one municipal officer from each of the five towns.

A Georges River Regional Shellfish License is required to harvest soft shell clams in the jurisdiction making it unlawful to dig and take clams from the shores and flats for the purpose of selling. Licenses are issued in two classes, Commercial and Recreational.

Commissioner Rick Parent, Jr., likened the appointment of a warden as the same as an animal control officer.

Knox County Sheriff Donna Dennison and Chief Deputy Tim Carroll explained it a different way.

The current warden resigned, explained Dennison.

"With that particular type of work you have to have a certain type of training under your belt or be a law enforcement person," she said. "It was Tim's idea because I wasn't sure we could take it on."

"Right now it's a reassignment of a deputy," said Carroll. "We have a contract now to supply a deputy for 30 hours of service per week with the Georges River Shellfish Committee."

Carroll said they want discussions with the committee to provide future services.

"It's at no additional cost to the county and taxpayers," he said. "It's something the committee wanted and was paying someone for anyway. They are now paying for that service through the sheriff's office."

The contract expires December 31.

"Due to budgetary reason is why it's set to December 31," he said. "Now that this one is in place we'll start pretty quick to discuss what we can do to provide it for a full year or continuing years."

The Georges River Ordinance outlines violations, fines and penalties. Carroll said the deputy will be enforcing those violations except that he would have the full power of law enforcement behind him.

"It started with the sheriff," he said. "It's providing, or what we can do to provide better service to the communities, or different services. It has to be a law enforcement person or they have to have certain training. The training is only offered through Marine Resources and to be a shellfish warden is only offered in March. If they did not have anyone trained already they would not have any enforcement powers for their ordinances. They can't just hire somebody and say you're a shellfish warden because then they would have no powers under that group, but under the sheriff they have those enforcement powers."

It's tidal waters and falls under the management of shellfish for the St, George River. It also falls under the jurisdiction of the state Marine Patrol, but this is specific to the five towns and the shellfish management of that river.