Town of Buxton Planning Board
Minutes
Monday, January 27, 2014 at 7 p.m.
Recorded by Krystal Dyer
Members in attendance: Cliff Thomas, Christopher Carroll, Keith Emery, Jeremiah Ross, and Larry Curtis.
Members not in attendance: None
Others in attendance: Cliff Emery, Kerri and Steven Rappold, Code Officer Fred Farnham
Keith called the meeting to Order at 7pm, by opening with the pledge of allegiance.
Discussion with Selectmen concerning decreasing the Planning Board from 7 to 5 members.
Selectman Cliff Emery stated the Planning Board has had one opening for a year and a second opening since June 2013. The Select Board was concerned that with seven members you need a quorum of four, but with five members you only need three for quorum. As is, it only allows for one Board member to be out per meeting. The decrease in members will allow the quorum to be only three members. Since the Planning Board is here for the people of the town, the selectmen are all for this change. They will have to amend the charter on a secret ballot warrant article. We will have a public hearing in the middle of March, for the June election.
Cliff Thomas asked if the Board of Selectmen have considered alternate members. Cliff Emery says we can’t even get regular board members now, let alone alternates. The Board needs to be there for the applicants.
Jere suggested an option to have the quorum be the majority of the members on the board for that evening. Cliff does not think it is fair to prolong the applicants.
Keith says he has had to cancel meetings in the past because we could not meet the quorum. Lately we have had to cancel meetings due to a lack of agenda. Cliff continues, the Board of Selectmen are thankful for the Planning Board members who put their time in. We want people who want to serve. This puts more of a burden on the five dedicated board members if one member does not care.
Cliff Emery said the economy has a lot to do with it. If the Board becomes busy again, people could have a sudden interest in the Board again.
Jere suggests hiring a part time planner, share with another town, but it will be a long time before we see that. If we can drop from four to three it would be that much better for the Board members. Jere added that the board can do the day to day, but would have to wait for the majority of Board to make big decisions or to vote.
Kerri Rappold is requesting a conditional use permit for a daycare facility at 993 Long Plains Road. Tax Map 6, Lot 69A.
Steven Rappold stated they are planning on opening a childcare facility at 993 Long Plains Road. We have been looking for a building that matched our licensing criteria. This will be Kerri’s full time job. They will be moving back to Buxton in May. Kerri added that she has been teaching childcare for 12 years with a masters in special needs and a bachelors in early childhood education.
Her goal is to open a center caring for ages 6 weeks to school age children, approximately 25-children to start. No changes will be made to the building. Karri will follow the Maine state Early Childhood Care program. Our goal is to be on level four and to have National Accreditation as well as State. She would like to open on March 1st, 2014. They Fire Marshall is coming on February 7th.
Cliff T. asks if the two apartments up stairs and on the first floor will still be occupied. Kerri confirms the apartments will still be occupied by tenants.
Christopher asked about a play area? Kerri added that there would be a small fenced in area in the back to start and possible change later. The Board informed them they will need a dumpster, where it is a business they cannot put out for roadside pick-up. They will need a letter from the Refuse Company stating they have agreed to pick up the trash. Steven inquires about bringing it to the transfer station. As long as they have a letter from the director, stating it is okay to being their trash. The septic and parking look good.
We calculated one parking spaces for two children. We are getting licensed for 20 children, so we will need 10 spaces. The map is showing 30 spaces.
Site walk – we do not need to go inside, we are only looking at the exterior.
- Cliff motioned to schedule a site walk for Saturday, February 1st at 8a.m. at 993 Long Plains Road, seconded by Christopher, the motion passed with a 5 – 0 vote.
CEO Report: None
Approval of Minutes:
January 13, 2014
- Motioned by Larry, seconded by Cliff to approve the Monday, January 13, 2014 minutes as amended. Motion passed with a 4 – 0 – 1 abstention.
Approval of Bills: none
Communications:
~Memo from Chris MacClinchy SMRPC concerning the shoreland mapping – have not received a response.
~SRCC – has received a grant from Nonpoint Source Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) – provides planning strategies
with low impact development. There is also a note from Michael Robinson who highly recommends this presentation.
Krystal will contact SRCC to schedule a presentation.
~Maine townsman – January issue
~Memo to BOS
Other Business:
~Review and vote on final 2014/2015 Budget – Larry summarized the budget the trend has gone it is safe to reduce the budget
by 5%. Larry will be meeting with the Selectmen this coming Wednesday to speak about the digital projector. Would that
be included in the broadcast. The audience can follow along.
~Review ordinance amendments if any. None at this time.
Attendees may address the Board on the evening’s business: Cliff Emery updated the Board on the liquor licenses process
Adjourn:
- Cliff motioned to close the meeting at 7:47 pm, seconded by Larry. A unanimous vote.
Approval Date: ___________
________________________ ________________
Keith Emery, Chair Signature Date
[type or paste agenda here]
| 
