Town of Buxton
Minutes for July 30, 2008 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Dianne Senechal
Members Present: Jean C. Harmon, Clifford L. Emery, Robert C. Libby and Linda W. Pulsoni. Absent: Daniel T. Collomy.
Others Present: Keith Emery, Peter Burns, Peter Pinkham, Larry Miller, Dave Harmon, Tashia Geaumont, Kevin Robbins, Ken Breslin and Jason McClure.
Business Meeting Agenda
1. Call to Order.
The Meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m.
2. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes.
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes July 23, 2008. Approved 3-0-2. (Selectman Pulsoni was absent the prior meeting and Selectman Collomy was absent at current meeting.)
3. Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. – Carl Epic and John Duncan – PACTS – Gave a presentation on PACTS area and the towns that are served. Buxton is in the outlying area and the Selectmen gave them their concerns regarding residents concerns.
6:00 p.m. – Sarah Nash – discuss Buxton Newsletter postage issue and alternatives
4. Review of Correspondence.
· Letter from Roger Cloutier – Re: Speed limit on Spruce Swamp Road
· Representative Don Marean State Issues Update
· Letter from Kate Dufour, Maine Municipal – Re: Election of 2008-09 Legislative Policy Committee ballots due by Thursday, July 31
5. Review of Projects and Issues.
Selectman Libby reported that the Board has been reviewing applications for the Police Chief position.
Selectman Pulsoni reported that she had been on vacation but she has visited the Berry Library and has met the new Librarian. The new librarian is Mrs. Emerson and Selectman Pulsoni encouraged others to visit the library and meet the new Librarian.
Selectman Emery reported that he has been working on the heating oil, propane, gas and diesel pricing for the upcoming season. He believes that the firm the Town is using has the best pricing but a little more work needs to be done.
6. Old Business.
None
7. New Business.
Excavation of the new garage should start next week.
8. Executive Orders.
E.O.080907021 – An order to approve 72 hours of vacation time for Dianne Senechal.
Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080907022 – An order to approve 40 hours of vacation time for John Myers.
Approved 4-0-1.
9. Executive Orders by Initiative.
None
10. Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants.
E.O.080907019 -- An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #05-09. Approved 4-0-1
E.O.080907020 -- An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#05-09. Approved 4-0-1.
11. Next Meeting of the Board.
Selectmen’s Workshop Monday, August 4 at 5:30 p.m.
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
12. Other Business.
Selectman Emery read the resignation of Corporal Kim Emery. Corporal Emery’s last day of employment is August 10, 2008.
Tashia Geaumont, Recreation Director, gave a presentation of the fall programs that will be available to the residents. She noted that several of the programs are free.
13. Public Comments and Questions.
Keith Emery stated that he had heard that two Board members were upset with his comments the prior week presented at the Selectmen’s Meeting. Keith stated that if the Board had a problem with his comments he wished that they would come to him with them rather than go to the Town Garage and talk to Lary.
Selectman Libby stated that the Town Garage was presented for bids as suggested by the engineering firm and it was a cost savings to do it as it has been put out for bid. Keith indicated that it was cheaper to bid if both parts were put out for one general contractor.
Dennis Santolucito wanted to know about the leadership of the day to day operations of the safety operations as there was no longer a Police Chief and the Corporal had resigned. Dennis was informed by the Board that the day to day operations were being handled by two people. During the Day Corporal Emery was in charge and at night Officer Grovo was in charge. That arrangement may change with Corporal Emery’s departure. Dennis stated that he would like to have one person in control of the Department and not a couple of people.
Peter Pinkham stated that he had watched the other Board members when the resignation of Corporal Emery was read he it was obvious to him that something was going on between the Board Members and the Police Department and the public was not being told. Selectman Harmon stated that she was disappointed that Selectman Emery read the resignation letter. Peter Pinkham stated that there appeared to be a lot of animosity between the Board members and something was definitely going on.
Peter also stated that the Town could have saved money with a General Contractor handling the entire construction of the new Town Garage rather than the method used. Selectman Libby stated that they went by the advice of the licensed engineers. Peter wanted to know how much money was saved by not using a General Contractor for the entire job. Chairman Harmon stated the Selectmen would make the information available next week.
A lady took the podium and specifically asked Selectman Emery why he read the resignation letter of Corporal Emery? Selectman Emery stated that he wanted the public to know as an Executive Order was not done. It was pointed out that letters of resignation had not been read in the past. Selectman Emery stated that he had not been told that the Executive Order to accept the termination of Chief Thomas was being turned into one Order as prior to the Meeting it was going to be an Executive Order to accept the resignation and an Executive Order to pay nine months of salary to the Chief.
Peter Burns thanked May Schumacher and her Committee for all the hard work that went into Community Day and he felt it was successful.
Peter expressed that he was sorry to see another officer leave the Police Department and appreciates hearing when a person leaves the Town employment and learning why they are leaving. Peter stated that he would like to see all letters of resignation read.
Peter Pinkham thanked May Schumacher for the wonderful job that she did on Community Day and he stated the event went much smoother than last year. Peter also stated that he appreciated hearing the resignation letter from Corporal Emery.
14. Executive Session.
Motion made and seconded for the Selectmen went into Executive Session at 7:50 p.m. per
1 MRSA (405)(6)(A). Executive Session and Meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
15. Adjournment.
See Above.
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