A pair of greater Portland residents have been appointed to the nine-member board created to oversee the state's county jails, the governor's office announced today.

Portland lawyer Neale Duffett and Falmouth doctor Kimm Collins have been recommended to the panel, Gov. John Baldacci announced in a statement.

The new oversight body was established this year by the legislature in an effort to consolidate oversight of the state's 15 county jails.

The board will approve budgets, develop policies and review all proposed jail construction projects to see if they are necessary. Lawmakers said they hoped the nine-member oversight panel would help control spending and better serve inmates.

Other appointments include Bangor lawyer Tom Brown, longtime Kennebec County Commissioner George Jabar of Waterville and Waldo County Sheriff Scott Story. Two social services experts were also nominated: Tim King of Ellsworth, executive director of the Washington Hancock Community Agency and Irving Faunce of Wilton, director of program operations at Western Maine Community Action.

They are scheduled to face a Senate confirmation vote on Aug. 20, according to the governor's office.

Department of Corrections Commissioner Martin Magnusson and Martha Freeman, director of the state planning office, will also serve on the board but are not subject to Senate confirmation.