Minutes of Selectmen’s Meeting
February 12, 2008

 

1.0     Meeting convened at 6:30 P.M. Pledge to flag

Selectmen Present: Muriel Bonin, Glen Ridley and Mark Russell

Guest included: Elaine Carpenter, Vicki Russell, Kendall Bonin, Eric Seaman, Steve Ochmanski, Jim Murphy, Kevin Doyle and Walt McCarty

 

2.0     Motion by                 Seconded by     Accept minutes of     Passed

          Mark Russell               Glen Ridley       1/29/08                   3-0

         Following minutes remain on table

          Mark Russell*             Glen Ridley       12/20/07                 3-0          

          Mark Russell*             Glen Ridley       12/27/07                 3-0

          Mark Russell*             Glen Ridley       1/3/08                     3-0

*Mark Russell will compare his notes to the tabled minutes

 

4.1     Town Manager:

          (a) Part time hire for Town Office:

- Becky Lamoreau not available to work the required (approximate) 60 hours/month

- A candidate was interviewed this morning

(b) Reviewed MDOT’s Rte. 295 reconstruction project (details in today’s KJ article);

(c) Board reviewed Planning board’s memo regarding Robert Gordon’s resignation

 

4.2      C.E.O.:

           Submitted copy of his permit log to the Board (see attachment #1 for details)

          Board also reviewed copy of C.E.O.’s letter to Douglas Caton (see attachment # 2)

 

5.1     Assessing Agent:

          Jim Murphy reviewed the following abatements (see attachments # 3 for details)

          Name                     Abatement   Moved by     Seconded by    Passed

          David Smith           $170.17       Mark Russell    Glen Ridley     3-0

          Richard Waterhouse$331.81      Mark Russell              Muriel Bonin   3-0

          Mary Swain           $75.02        Mark Russell              Muriel Bonin   3-0

          Ralph Campbell      $61.56         Mark Russell    Muriel Bonin    3-0

          William Baker        $800.78      Mark Russell    Glen Ridley      3-0

          Peter Lachance       $75.89        Mark Russell    Muriel Bonin    3-0     

 

          Mark Russell moved/ Muriel Bonin seconded (passed 3-0) a $157.30 supplemental tax on the heirs of Ethel tower (see attachment # 4 for details)

 

5.2     Recreation Committee:

          After discussion with the Board, Vicki Russell will ask electrician, Dan Stewart, for a quote to install a timer-controlled security lighting system for the ballfield.

          Also, the Manager will check insurance requirements for a requested “snow softball” fund raiser for a resident cancer patient.

 

5.3     Downeast Energy:

          Manager reviewed $2,961.64 credit to Town as vendor had been charging current retail prices rather than the school contract price of $2.355/gallon

 

5.4     Public Works Breakroom:

C.E.O. reviewed history of various floorplans for the building’s new addition.  Consensus to have manager ask Foreman Skelton to draw up his breakroom floorplan for submittal to the Fire Marshall for review.

 

5.5     2008 Spirit of America Candidates:

          After discussion Manager will draft an article for the Sodalite soliciting candidates.

 

5.6     General Assistance Basics workshop:

          Manager and C.E.O. will attend this 2/28/08 workshop at the Augusta City Center.

 

5.7     Martin’s Lane;

          Mark Russell moved/Muriel Bonin seconded (passed 3-0) to accept this name for E-911 purposes.

 

5.8     Working Bulls 1-31-08 Proposal:

          (see attachment #5)  After discussion, board agreed with Elaine Carpenter’s suggestion that Public works crew this summer should inventory the scrap metal behind the Public works garage and haul it to the Transfer Station for a 100% return to the Town.        Working Bulls would remit between 35% to 55% to the Town for this work.

 

6.1     Uncollectible Gardiner Ambulance Invoices:

          Invoices totaled $5,291.99.  Manager to follow up with Steve Musica as to collection protocols.

 

6.3     MDOT’s Rte 126/Hallowell-Litchfield Road “Calming” Project:

          In order to inform the public of this pending construction project, the Board directed the Manager to:

          (a) Post the construction plan on the Town office bulletin board;

          (b) Workup a Sodalite article soliciting public comment on the project.

 

6.4     Review Town’s 2/12/08 Revenue & Expense Summaries:

          Manager reviewed:

          (a) Auto excise, interest on taxes & liens, interest on investments and state revenue sharing line items, all of which are tracking at or above budget.

          (b) Expenses, especially Public works, which are tracking over budget.

          (c) A Public works daily time sheet drafted by Walter McCarty to develop a cost data base for monitoring operations and budget forecasting.

 

6.5     Litchfield Academy:

          Chair Muriel Bonin said that a recent insurance inspection resulted in a need for an exit sign.

 

6.2     Executive Session:

          At 8:37 P.M. Muriel Bonin moved/ Mark Russell seconded (passed 3-0) to go into executive session to discuss a personnel matter.  At 8:55 P.M. Chair Bonin declared coming out of executive session.

          Mark Russell moved/ Glen Ridley seconded (passed 3-0) to appoint Walter McCarty as Deputy Road Commissioner.

 

9.1     Mark Russell moved/ Muriel Bonin seconded (passed 3-0) to approve/sign Town voucher # 17 for $119,206.60

 

9.2     Mark Russell moved/ Glen Ridley seconded (passed 3-0) to approve/sign Town Payroll #17 for $20,308.02

 

9.3     School voucher # 17 for 44,401.24 will be submitted to 2/26/08 Board meeting

 

9.4     Mark Russell moved/ Glen Ridley seconded (passed 3-0) to approve school payroll #17 for $136,428.45, will be signed at 2-28-08 Board meeting.

 

10.0   Selectmen/ Public Discussion/Communication:

          Elaine Carpenter said she will update the Transfer Station service’s survey.

 

12.0   Meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.

 

          Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

          MG Byron

          Secretary