MINUTES OF THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING
 June 27, 2007

 

 

1.0              Tonight’s meeting convened at 7:00 P.M.  Pledge to flag.  Selectmen present:  Muriel Bonin, Glen Ridley and Mark Russell.  Guests included:   

Marion Williams                                   Larry Williams

Eric Seaman                                         Kevin Buckmore

Ed Avis                                                Stan Labbe

Bruce Slattery                                       George Rogers

Carol Smith                                          Casey Westling

Judy Rogers                                         Judy Bourget

Bill Cumming                                        Diane Clay

Rachel Sukeforth                                  Harold Lilly Jr

Betty Jo Wade

 

Town Manager, Steve Musica, also served as secretary. 

Motion by Mark Russell seconded by Glen Ridley to elect Muriel Bonin as chair for 2007-08.                                                   Passed: 2-0-1 (Muriel Bonin abstained)

 

2.0       MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Glen Ridley to accept minutes of June 7, 2007 as submitted.                                                   Passed 2-0-1 (Glen Ridley abstained)

Mr. Ridley was not on Board 6/11/07

 

3.0       6.1    Strategic Planning Committee

6.2        Historical Society Microfilm

6.3        MMA Executive Committee

 

4.1              Basketball poles installed by Public Works, pit reclaiming work done to satisfaction of D.E.P., Oakhill lots survey completed by Robin Redmond, Pangburn lien paid off, Smithfield Plantation received $2,500 check from Mobil Exxon for Smithfield parcel.

 

4.2              Mr. Ochmanski submitted memo on his and manager’s visit to tax acquired property Map R2/120 on 1 ( new bill of sale needed between Dale Filion and new owner (plus transfer dollars and minimum clean-up); and, R03/13 Lilly property.  Mr. Lilly present and Board of Selectmen read letter from his attorney Dennis Jones seeking B.O.S to Quit Claim property back to Lilly even though he was not in compliance with reclaiming procedure.  C.E.O. noted property in violation of auto graveyard/junkyard laws.  Also, house was hazard.  Lilly’s history of junkyard violations discussed.  B.O.S. favored clean-up before Quit Claim.

MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin that Manager contact Lilly’s attorney and develop a clean-up plan acceptable to both parties allowing Town to reclaim said costs along with foreclosure costs and Lilly to repurchase his property.

Passed: 3-0-0

C.E.O. noted tarp violation on Rine’s Rubbish pickup trucks hauling rubbish.

 

 

 

5.8       R4/44A Repurchase Agreement

Casey Westling present and agreed to following: MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin to set terms of repurchase agreement as such: $650.00 down payment; $503 payment due 8/1/07; $503.00 and final payment due on or before 9/1/07.

PASSED: 3-0-0.

 

4.4       Manager explained upon request, Sheriff’s Office submitted final bill for work to date and approximately $1,200 balance in account.

 

4.5       Assessing Revaluation done. Board of Selectmen reviewed and accepted recommended procedure from Jim Murphy.  They also received alphabetical listing of all reval. assessments for review and comment.  Town crew to do same before notices mailed to taxpayers.

 

5.5       Planning Grant

            At 8:00 P.M. on MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Glen Ridley enter a Public Hearing  to discuss and hear comments on a recently received Planning Grant allowing application to Dept. Economic Community Development Housing Assistance Grant.

                                                                                                                        PASSED 3-0-0

            Town Manager explained program in general and how steps being taken to form a Committee to establish application criteria and have a planner.  A question and answer period followed.  Chairman brought out of hearing at 8:09 P.M.

 

5.1       Dispatching/Ambulance

            Manager in process of getting input from area ambulance companies.  Further time required.  LFD and Manager reiterated that they felt having our own equipment and frequency in Augusta was the best and safest option.

            Bruce Slattery warned that a decision should be made ASAP. Dispatching logistics discussed.  Mr. Slattery and Manager would schedule a meeting with CMCC, Gardiner, and Litchfield.

           

6.1       Strategic Planning Committee

Chairman Bill Cumming questioned if B.O.S. still interested in reviewing a Growth Management Ordinance (yes) and Board agreed to allow a economic survey at November 2007 polls by S.P.C.  Was suggested, if applicable, to combine with a Senior questionnaire.

 

5.2       Libby Road: Discontinued Section

Selectmen minutes and (possibly) other relative documents destroyed in Town Office fire in 1980’s.  Marion & Larry Williams disturbed that verbal agreement by Town Manager Richard Smith not upheld and they never knew a public easement would be retained on 1200 feet of discontinued road in 1974 (See 5/29/07 minutes).  June 22, 2007 letter to Selectmen from Smithfield Plantation Trustees submitted and explained by three trustees present: (in short) not in best interest of Town in general and Smithfield in particular to discontinue public easement.  Various gate/access scenarios covered.  Town already committed to assisting Mr.Williams with barrier material just past new amphitheater pathway.

MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Glen Ridley to authorize article on next Town Meeting Warrant to discontinue public easement on discontinued section of Libby Road from amphitheater trail west to Huntington Hill Road.

PASSED 2-1(Muriel Bonin) -0

Town will attempt to provide Williams with copies of documents pertinent to this 1974 partial road relocation action.

 

5.3       School Regionalization

            Tabled until next meeting when updated information available

 

5.4       Glen Dube’s Overlook Dr.

June 25, 2007 letter from Dube to Selectmen requested Road Ordinance waiver of required one inch surface asphalt until 10/15/07 on his “road” (definition) in new Woodbury Ridge Subdivision.  Road Commission felt it was a good idea pursuant to construction techniques.  Following clarification of affects on permitting by CEO and Subdivision Ordinance standards and on MOTION by Glen Ridley seconded by Muriel Bonin waive one inch surface requirement for paving a “road” in Road Ordinance until (no later than) 10/15/07 and allow one building permit issuance by G. Dube in Woodbury Ridge Subdivision as long as it’s not a violation of any Town Ordinance.        

                                                                                                                        PASSED 3-0-0

6.2       Historical Society

            Members George Rogers and Ed Avis explained a 6/20/07 letter from said society requesting the Town’s Historical Preservation Commission share the $720 cost of converting previously microfilmed records to a digital format.  Related reserve fund’s balance was $661.96.  MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin to authorize transfer of $400 from Historical Commission’s reserve fund as Town’s share of converting our microfilmed records to digital format.                        PASSED: 3-0-0

 

5.6              Solid Waste Haulers

Five applications and attachments reviewed.  MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin to approve 2007-08 Solid Waste Haulers License for:

Pine Tree Waste

Waste Management

Barry Estabrook

Kevin Smith

PASSED: 3-0-0

 

MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin to approve a provisional Solid Waste license to Dick Rines which will be revoked unless covering violations corrected within 2 month period.                                                                      PASSED:3-0-0

 

5.7       Annual Town Meeting

Manager recapped major article “events” including voters rejecting Kennebec County Sheriff’s extra coverage and interior revaluation of all structures.  All ordinances action passed, approval of part time Senior Director position—all local school articles passed as recommended by School Committee.  Overall Municipal appropriations increased $15,440 and education decreased $97,529.  Consensus was moderator could have moved meeting along at a quicker pace (6 1/2 hours was longest in recent history) Selectmen gave Manager authority to solicit road paving bids.

 

5.9       Public Works Trailer

Following explanation by Manager and on MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Glen Ridley approved use of up to $1000 from Public Works Capital Equipment fund to purchase a tag-along trailer for hay mulcher/power washer.              PASSED 3-0-0

                                                                                   

5.10     Assessing

MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin to approve Supplemental Tax   Warrants of (A) $6,100.96 , and (B) $1,121.57.                               PASSED 3-0-0

 

MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin to approve a Real Estate tax abatement of $473.10 for Map R3, Lot 105 F Hull; and, $718.61 for Map R2 Lot 18A Guzman.                                                                                             PASSED 3-0-0.

 

5.11      Manager

Manager submitted letter of retirement/resignation effective 12/28/07.  He provided Selectmen with M.M.A.’s new manager hiring package.  Discussion on spending $4,500 on MMA, whether to have search committee and history of past few hiring processes.  Next agenda.

MOTION by Muriel Bonin seconded by Mark Russell to accept with regret resignation of Town Manager.                                                                               PASSED 3-0-0

 

6.3       MMA Executive Comm. Nominations

            No action

 

8.1       MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin to appoint the following Town Officers to stated positions:

Steve Musica-Town Manager, Road Commissioner, Deputy Clerk, Tax Collector, Deputy Registrar of Voters, Treasurer, Welfare Agent and Administrative Assistant to the Assessors.

Rebecca Lamoreau- Deputy Clerk, Deputy Tax Collector, Deputy Registrar of Voters, and Deputy Treasurer

Trudy Lamoreau- Deputy Clerk, Deputy Tax Collector, Deputy Registrar of Voters, Deputy Treasurer, and Deputy Welfare Agent

Doris Parlin- Clerk, Deputy Tax Collector, Registrar of Voters, Deputy Treasurer,

Lezley Sturtevant- Deputy Clerk, Deputy Tax Collector, Deputy Registrar of Voters, and Deputy Treasurer,

Steve Ochmanski- Code Enforcement

Tiffany Caton- Recreation Director

Martin Ford- Animal Control Officer

Claire Welch- Local Health Officer

Joan Thomas- Trustee to Gardiner Library

Tina Gowell- Rescue Director

Bruce Slattery- Emergency Preparedness Director

Chris Shaw- Town Constable

PASSED 3-0-0

MOTION by Mark Russell seconded by Muriel Bonin to appoint Eric Seaman and John Hatch to Planning Board for 3 year term.                                                 PASSED 3-0-0                                                                                   

9.1       MOTION made by Mark Russell seconded by Glen Ridley to approve Town Voucher Warrant # 24 for $52,202.63.

PASSED 3-0-0

 

9.3       MOTION made by Mark Russell and seconded by Muriel Bonin approved School

      Payroll Warrant # 26 for $126,069.25

Voucher Warrant # 17 for $77,151.32                                                                                                                                                                                                        PASSED 3-0-0

 

9.2       MOTION made by Mark Russell and seconded by Muriel Bonin to approve Town Payroll Warrant # 25 for $26,813.86.

                                                                                                                        PASSED 3-0-0

 

 

12.0          Meeting adjourned at 10:40 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

  

Steve Musica

Secretary