Town of Buxton
Minutes for February 11, 2009 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Dianne Senechal
Members Present: Jean C. Harmon, Clifford L. Emery, Robert C. Libby, Daniel T. Collomy and Linda W. Pulsoni.
Others Present: Carol Sanborn, Chief Grovo, Robert Elwell, Butch York, Dennis Sweatt, Nick Pinkham, Larry Miller, Lori and Steve Anthony, Keith Emery, Sheridan Bennett, Rob Hunt, Peter Burns, Dennis Santolucito, Peter Pinkham and Dora Clements.
Meeting Agenda
The Meeting was called to order at 7:01 and
followed with the Pledge of Allegiance
Open Bids Town Farm Park – Lawn Mowing – 3
1. Knight Property Management $6,000 per season
2. West Property Management $3,400 per season
3. DWB Lawn Care $1,200 per month or $275 per mowing
2. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes.
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes February 4, 2009. Approved 5-0.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Executive Session at 5:55 p.m. pursuant to 1MRSA 405(6)A -- out of Executive Session at 6:20 p.m. – discussed Public Works Director position
- Review of Correspondence.
- Memorandum from John J. Sylvester, Chair, Twelve Town Group – Re: Meeting Monday February 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Waterboro Town Hall
- Review of Projects and Issues.
The Selectmen reported that they conducted interviews in the last week to fill the open Public Works Director position.
Selectman Collomy reported that the new Garage is coming along very well. They are cleaning up the building and waiting for a few overhead lights and will be installing the dial tone and the fire alarm system.
Selectman Emery reported that he is gathering information on the Dispatch to determine actual costs and savings.
Selectman Emery stated that he is also working on gathering information regarding the new Town Manager position. He has Town Charters from other towns about the size of Buxton and is studying that information. He also reported that the fuel canopy over the fuel tanks at the new Town Garage is being constructed.
Selectman Harmon reported that the Selectmen have received most of the Department Head budgets and have started reviewing. She also reported that new cameras for the Meeting room have been ordered and should be in place within the next two weeks
None
7. New Business.
The Budget Committee will hold its first informational meeting after the Selectmen’s Meeting tonight.
8. Executive Orders.
E.O.080902009 – An order to accept Merton Waterman’s resignation as Trustee of Berry Memorial Library. Approved 5-0.
9. Executive Orders by Initiative.
None
10. Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants.
E.O.080902007 -- An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #32-09. ($66,534) Approved 5-0.
E.O.080902008 -- An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#32-09. ($30,719) Approved 5-0.
- Next Meeting of the Board.
Public Hearing Victualer License for Buxton House of Pizza – February 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 7:05 p.m.
Twelve Town Meeting Monday, February 16, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
The Pythian Sister will be holding a free turkey dinner on February 15 from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Pythian Sisters Hall on Route 22.
- Public Comments and Questions.
Robert Elwell stated that he felt the Warrant Article passed several years ago regarding the filming of discussions in the Selectmen’s office between 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. should be recorded. Robert was interested in the background discussion of votes and topics when architects meet with the Selectmen.
Selectman Pulsoni stated that she was totally against any filming in the Selectmen’s office.
Robert Elwell wanted to know what the holdup was with the Town Garage and when would it be occupied. The Selectmen stated that the contractor is waiting for overhead light fixtures and the heat exchange that warms the air when the heat exchange system is on. It is expected that the Garage may be occupied in two weeks.
The question was asked what is the plan for the old Town Garage. No definite plan has been made, but Selectman Emery stated that it may make a good space for grass.
Robert asked when the new Public Works Director would be announced. The Selectmen stated next week.
Larry Miller asked about the financial results of last year. He wanted to know when the Audit Report would be finalized. Selectman Harmon reported that she had spoken to the Auditor and he is out of state and the Selectmen will be meeting with him next week. There will be a Special Town Meeting to reconcile some accounts.
Larry Miller also stated that he attend several of the discussion times from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in last summer and early fall and he found some of the sessions had nothing of substance and other times there were items that were discussed that he felt the public may have been interested in hearing. Larry stated that he was on the fence and he would like to see the pros and cons of the importance of televising the session.
Selectman Harmon asked Larry about the meetings that are televised at the School Board. The School Board Meetings that are attended by all of the Board members is televised and minutes are done and read aloud. Other meetings that are held in the afternoons where not all of the Board members are present are not televised.
Dennis Sweatt stated that he watched the Board Meeting last week regarding the Town Manager and he is still upset that the Selectmen put the article on the Warrant and he was made to go out and get a petition to override the Selectmen to put something on the ballot.
Dennis also stated that one of the richest communities in the State is looking at Dispatch Services and scrutinizing their budget. Dennis hoped that the Town would be scrutinizing each budget that is presented. Dennis asked how the revenue is for the Town. Selectman Harmon stated that the taxes are where they should be but revenue is down in the Excise Tax.
Dennis also questioned the use of sick time for a salaried employee. It did not make sense that a salaried employee would have accrued sick days when they would be paid anyway. Selectman Emery stated that all employees have the same amount of sick time per month and if an employee has a long term illness they go into Short Term Disability and then Long Term Disability and their salary stops.
Selectman Emery clarified that benefits for employees are all the same for non union employees.
Steve Anthony again brought up the subject of filming the Selectmen’s Meeting between 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Steve indicated that the change in the filming of the Board Meetings changed when the Board consisted of three individuals and it was tight quarters in the Selectmen’s Office and it moved to the large Meeting Room. Steve stated that last year $67,000 was received by the Town as Franchise fees from the Cable Company and he felt there was enough money to film the activity in the Selectmen’s Office between 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Selectman Emery reported that in the future he will bring up anything of substance that was discussed in the Selectmen’s Office between 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. This method will be used going forward to make sure all information is brought to the 7:00 p.m. meeting.
Selectman Pulsoni questioned what is substance?
Steve Anthony wanted to know if a 4-day work week could be explored during the budget process. Selectman Emery stated that it would be a toss up of how much could be saved as the building would still have to be heated and cooled in summer.
Steve Anthony questioned the Recreation figures that he had obtained from the Munis System. He stated that the figures seemed to indicate that the After School Program was making money but there was a loss of $33,000. Selectman Harmon stated that she did not have the figures in front of her but to her knowledge there was no loss since the new Recreation Director came.
Steve wanted the Tax Levy Limited explained. Selectman Libby stated that it was a factor that the State comes up with based on growth from the last year. The percent amount may increase from the prior year.
Butch York said that he felt the old Town Garage was worth something even though it was on a non-conforming lot. The Selectmen stated that the Garage did not have any land with it other than what the building was on. There was not a septic system on the lot.
Butch York also wanted to know why the Town did not post the roads for heavy load limits like other towns. The Selectmen stated they had tried to redirect traffic a few years ago and many complaints came in as residents who lived on the roads where the traffic was redirected complained. It is hard to post roads when the State posts the major routes of 22 and 112.
Peter Pinkham stated that it was not all the heavy trucks that were damaging the roads; it was the busses and the trash trucks.
Keith Emery said that he agreed with Selectman Emery that the old Town Garage should be torn down and it may make a good place for the Food Pantry.
Robert Elwell asked if the Board members had given any thought to changing the school budget voting to June rather than May. Larry Miller, who is a member of the School Board, stated that the District felt that the May voting was good and if the budget did not pass, they would have the June voting to put it through again. If the budget went further into July there are projects during the summer that need to be completed when the students are not at school.
Chief Grovo presented statistical information indicating the number of calls that come through Dispatch and how many calls are for Police service, Fire and Rescue in Buxton and Hollis. He also indicated the times of day that have the highest call numbers. Chief Grovo will be taping some Public Service announcements next week for the Public Access Channel.
Legislative Representative Hunt said that the legislators are now transitioning to the Bi-annual budget. There are less bills being handled this session. The State is anticipating stimulus money to come for projects to help get the economy up and running.
Selectman Libby questioned the status of the Excise Tax petition. Selectman Libby stated that if the Excise Tax question passed it would have a direct impact on municipalities in the form of lost revenue. Representative Hunt said that there is one thing for sure that $840 million will be cut from the current budget.
14. Executive Session.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 8:35 p.m. Approved 5-0.
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