County Manager Lamontagne told the Board on Jan. 30 that, following an executive order imposing a freeze on federal funding, county staff began contacting departments to assess potential impacts and to gather information on what mitigation or pivots might be needed if the freeze takes effect. The manager said staff work started immediately after the order and that the county is compiling an appraisal of possible effects across operations.

Lamontagne singled out Lindsay, Brenton, Daryl and Carolyn for assistance in the rapid information-gathering effort and thanked department heads for providing detailed responses. The manager also reported a separate legislative development: House Bill 24, a statewide measure related to downzoning, was introduced in the House on the same day; there was no companion bill in the state Senate at the time of the meeting. County staff said they will monitor both the statewide bill and any local bills that may be advanced in the Senate and will return updates as more information becomes available.

Lamontagne announced upcoming dates the county is tracking: a joint school board meeting on Feb. 25 at 6 p.m., the legislative breakfast on March 3 at 8:30 a.m., and the winter managers conference the following week. The manager said he and two staff members will attend the managers conference but will remain reachable by email while away. The board asked staff to continue compiling the departmental assessments so the commissioners can consider potential budgetary or programmatic impacts at subsequent meetings.

No formal action was taken during the manager's report; commissioners asked that staff return with any findings that could affect county budgeting or services.