Town of Buxton
Minutes for April 29, 2009 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Dianne Senechal
Members Present: Clifford L. Emery, Robert C. Libby, Daniel T. Collomy and Linda W. Pulsoni. Jean C. Harmon was absent.
Others Present: Dave Harmon, Keith Emery, Robert Elwell, David Pinkham, Frank Scott, Peter Burns, Larry Miller, Steve & Lori Anthony, Lary Owen, Peter Pinkham and Mike Grovo
Meeting Agenda
The Meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.
Open Winter Sand Bids – 3
- Gorham Sand and Gravel Screened delivered to Church Hill $11.50 per CY
Screened delivered to Portland Road $11.50 per CY
- Pompeo Sand & Gravel, Inc. Screened delivered to Church Hill $12.00 per CY
Screened delivered to Portland Road $12.50 per CY
- Shaw Brothers Screened delivered to Church Hill $10.75 per Cy
Screened delivered to Portland Road $10.75 per CY
Loaded at I-Pit, Route 35 Dayton $7.00 per CY
Open Hot Bituminous Bids – 3
- F. R. Carroll, Inc. $65.40 per ton – MDOT escalation included w/bid
- Dayton Sand & Gravel $60.85 per ton – MDOT escalation included w/bid
- Pike Industries $65.85 per ton – MDOT escalation included w/bid
3. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes.
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes April 22, 2009. Approved 3-0-1. (Selectmen Emery, Collomy and Pulsoni voted ‘yes’. Selectman Libby was absent at the 4/22/09 Meeting)
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
None
- Review of Correspondence.
- Email updates from Maine Center for Disease Control – Re: Update on H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)
- Letter from Richard B. Brown, York County Manager – Re: Free training course for Maine’s Freedom of Access laws
- Review of Projects and Issues.
Selectman Libby reported that he has been working on the expected income and the budget articles.
Selectman Collomy reported that the lights are up at the Fuel Canopy.
Selectman Pulsoni reported that the Selectmen held a Workshop last Monday night.
Selectman Emery stated that the Selectmen will be meeting with Deluca & Hoffman and the engineers to go over outstanding issues at the new Town Garage. Selectman Emery reported that the overage for the new Town Garage would be in the $7,000 - $8,000 range.
Selectman Emery reported that the Selectmen have asked the DOT to do a speed limit review on Spruce Swamp Road and Waterman Road.
None
8. New Business.
None
9. Executive Orders.
E.O.080904046 – An order to appoint Bernie Groves to the position of Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director effective until December 31, 2011. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904047 – An order to appoint Susan Ferris to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904048 – An order to appoint Sharleen Fields to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904049 – An order to appoint Shirley Libby to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904050 – An order to appoint Burton Pease to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904051 – An order to appoint Barbara Pease to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904052 – An order to appoint Christine Joyce to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904053 – An order to appoint Bette Robicheaw to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904054 – An order to appoint Patricia Morrison to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904055 – An order to appoint Ruth Richards to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904056 – An order to appoint Jane Cummings to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904057 – An order to appoint Everett L. Towle to the position of Ballot Clerk effective until the completion of the May 5, 2009 election. Approved 4-0-1.
10. Executive Orders by Initiative.
None
11 Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants.
E.O.080904044 -- An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #43-09. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.080904045 -- An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#43-09. Approved 4-0-1.
- Next Meeting of the Board.
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
There will be a SAD #6 District wide Budget/Validation Meeting on April 30 at 7:00 p.m. at Bonny Eagle Middle School.
- Public Comments and Questions.
Police Chief Mike Grovo informed the public that the Census Bureau personnel are in Town doing their work. If any resident has questions, please feel free to call the Police Department. Chief Grovo reported that he has received positive feedback on the new look of the cruiser.
Robert Elwell asked about the correspondence that the Town received about the rebuild of Route 112 which was in last week’s correspondence. The Route 112 construction will be done if the Bond passes in November.
Robert asked about the piece of land that is going out for bid. He was informed that the land has not gone out for bid yet.
Robert asked the following questions as a result of the Meeting between the Selectmen and the contractors for the new Town Garage.
- The propane tanks that were filled by the Town, how does that work with the contractor. The Contractor will be responsible for filling the tanks for the amount of fuel that was used during the construction phase.
- Was the paving part of the bid for the new garage. Paving was part of the bid, but the Selectmen took the paving out of the bid from Emery Brothers as the Town could get a better price for the paving rather than what came in with the bids. $4,500 will be used for paving the garage parking lot and the money will come from the road money.
- Why is the switch for the Crane transformer located on the upper level of the garage. The Selectmen reported that the switch is located where the State electrical inspector required it to be located.
Robert wanted to know if something could be done with the parking situation on Route 112 next to the Weymouth Park. There were cars parked on both sides today and no cars in the parking lot. When cars are parked on both sides it is very dangerous with the trucks that travel Route 112. Robert wanted to know if ‘No Parking’ signs could be put up on one side.
Lary Owen questioned the use of paving funds to pave the garage lot when the voters had voted to use the funds to pave the roads. The Selectmen stated that there was no other money and the funds will have to come from the paving budget.
Steve Anthony questioned the excess money in the Recreation Department under the revenue account. Steve said there appeared to be $100,000 in extra revenue. Steve wanted to know if the money could be used to offset expenses. The Enterprise Account was not established to pay expenses but to offset programs that may or may not be making money. The amount that Steve was looking at was not the true balance of the Enterprise Account. The Selectmen want to re-assess the programs and perhaps give more scholarships so more kids can participate in programs.
Selectman Pulsoni stated that the Recreation Program is in transition. Selectman Pulsoni reported that the Recreation Director has checked with other towns and Buxton’s programs and within the costs of what other towns are charging.
Selectman Libby stated that the amount of money that Steve was using was not the true amount in the account as it contains receivables and some of the receivable amount is not going to be collected. At the end of the year there will be some write off. Selectman Libby stated that it was the intent to have the taxpayers pay the salary of the Recreation Director. Steve Anthony said that the Recreation Department started out with a miscellaneous budget of $3,000 - $4,000 and now it is $13,000.
Steve asked if the proposed Warrant is passed as written what would the tax rate be. Selectman Libby stated that it is not known as the Selectmen do not have the State Revenue Sharing, Veterans and tree growth numbers. Selectman Libby stated that revenue from the State is down and the excise collection is off by $100,000. Even though the Selectmen feel comfortable that the budget is down, they hope to have the same tax rate as last year unless the State does not come through on revenues.
Larry Miller stated that the Auditors have already written off $13,000 for the Recreation Department and $7,000 is remaining as uncollectable bad debt. There are other costs of the Recreation function that are not measured such as the benefits for the Recreation Director and the cost of the Town facilities – parks. Accounting for recreation is not a full accounting as there is a need to measure indirect costs as well.
Peter Pinkham asked if the $8,000 overage for the new Town Garage would go to the voters. The Selectmen stated ‘yes’. Peter questioned the $4,500 for the paving of the garage. He also questioned the $12,000 for striping then $2,000 was put back in to do the parking lot. Peter stated that it looked like the Selectmen were trying to sneak things through.
Steve Anthony asked the Board what percentage of salary comprised the benefit package. The Selectmen said 43% is typical for the benefit package. Steve Anthony wanted to know if the Selectmen had considered reducing the employee’s pension match from 6% to 4 ½%. The Selectmen did not consider cutting benefits this year.
Steve stated that the roads in Town are in terrible shape and the voters will not get a chance to vote on the full paving numbers that was requested this year. Selectman Libby said that the roads in Town were in good shape compared the towns surrounding Buxton.
Lori Anthony asked about the proposed basketball court that is planned in the Bar Mills section of Town next to the Saco River. She felt it would be noisy. Selectman Libby said that the space next to the river is very large and with picnic tables there would still be peace and quiet.
Robert Elwell wanted to know if the Selectmen had received a letter back from Hollis on how much they were going to give the libraries. Selectman Emery reported that he had called the Hollis Board of Selectmen and found that Hollis was going to reduce libraries by 7%.
15. Executive Session.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 8:14 p.m. Approved 4-0-1
| 
