Town of Buxton
Minutes for January 13, 2010 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Dianne Senechal
Members Present: Daniel T. Collomy, Robert C. Libby, Linda W. Pulsoni and Peter E. W. Burns. Jean C. Harmon was absent.
Others Present: Keith Emery, Jack Hanna, Dennis Sweatt, Peter Pinkham, Olive Collomy, Steve & Lori Anthony.
Public Hearing – Liquor License Renewal -- 7:00 P.M.
Selectman Collomy opened the Public Hearing at 7:01 p.m. by reading the Notice of Public Hearing. Selectman Collomy asked for comments from the public.
There were no comments from the Board of Selectmen and the Public Hearing closed at 7:03 p.m.
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The Meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes January 6, 2010. Approved 4-0-1 (Selectman Harmon was absent)
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Fred Farnham notified the Selectmen that the water was tested at the Town Office and it came back unsatisfactory. Fred will wait for a couple of weeks and then retest the water.
David Dunn asked about using the Old Town Garage for snowmobile club meetings.
- Memorandum from John J. Sylvester, Twelve Town Group – Re: Notice of Meeting January 18, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Waterboro Town Hall
- Email from Maine Health – Re: H1N1 update
- Email from Peter Coughlan – Maine DOT – Re: E911 Workshop
- Email from Paul Schumacher, So. Maine Regional Planning – Re: Next Meeting of York County Delegation has been rescheduled to January 28 at noon at the State House
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Libby stated that he has had several valuation questions and there have been several people come in to ask about the Old Town Garage.
Selectman Burns stated that a Workshop was held on Monday night and the discussion was: smoking policy, Treasurer Job Description and Internal Control Document.
Public Works Garage -- Floor Sealing – on hold until spring
Repair Church Hill Salt Shed -- on hold until spring
Installation of Plexiglas in Front Office – No input
Update on Fuel Service Switch – No input
Antenna at Buxton Center – No input
Internal Control Document -- Worked on during the Monday Workshop – not completed.
Designated Smoking Areas – Designated areas have been identified, but no Smoking Policy is in place.
None
E.O.091001009 – An order to approve an Application for Veteran Exemption for [Map 3, Lot 71-B]. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.091001010 – An order to approve an Application for Veteran Exemption for [Map 9, Lot 47-7]. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.091001011 – An order accept the resignation of Anne T. Robishaw effective January 14, 2010. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.091001012 – An order to appoint John Myers to the temporary position of Town Treasurer effective January 14, 2010. Approved 4-0-1.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O.091001013 – An order to approve an application for a Class A Liquor License for Robert Shepard d/b/a the Buxton Tavern LLC. Approved 4-0-1.
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.091001007 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #29-10. Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.091001008 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#29-10. Approved 4-0-1.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Twelve Town Meeting Monday, January 18, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
The Town Office will be closed on Monday, January 18, 2010 for the Holiday.
- Public Comments and Questions
Larry Miller clarified information that was brought up from last week’s Selectmen’s Meeting. It was stated last week that the student teacher ratio was 9 – 1. That figure was presented by the State Education Commissioner for the whole State of Maine, not Buxton schools.
MSAD has 4,020 students
347 Teachers, librarians and social workers
136 Ed techs
The elementary grade schools have a class size of 15 – 20 students per classroom. Overall there may be a ratio of 12 – 1.
Steve Anthony wanted to know how many Administrators there were in the District. Larry stated there were 21 which includes principals and assistant principals.
Dennis Sweatt stated that every Town and business is cutting positions and expenses and there are tough decisions to be made. Dennis wanted to make sure that the Selectmen were studying ways to save money and evaluate positions if required.
Selectman Pulsoni stated that the Selectmen have already made the decision of no raises and budgets will be cut by 5%
Keith Emery stated that the 1.8M building that was built for the Public Works was the best investment the Town had made. He also stated that the Recreation Director does a considerable amount of work for the Town which includes all Departments.
Steve Anthony asked about the Town Charter and the teachers voting at the public meeting to ratify the School Budget. He felt it was a conflict of interest with the Town’s Charter. Steve felt no employee should be able to vote. Selectman Collomy stated that an employee can vote if the person is a registered voter.
Steve asked about the status of the S D Hanson School and if it was going to be offered back to the Town. Selectman Burns stated that the School Board wants to give the school back to the Town, but the Town has not received an official letter.
Steve Anthony wanted to know specifically what Selectman Pulsoni did not like about the Charter Commission Survey. She stated personally she did not like the questions as they had nothing to do with the Charter.
Steve Anthony questioned the Selectmen about the Bar Mills section of Town that a resident had asked if the Selectmen could look into the grant to get money for a livable community. Steve felt that that section of Town met the criteria stated in the letter presented to the Town.
Keith Emery stated that a conflict of interest would be if a developer came in before the Planning Board and Keith got the contract to cut trees if he made sure the project got approved.
Dennis Sweatt stated that he was on the Building Committee for the new Public Works Garage and he supported the garage but it should have cost 1.3M. Dennis stated the 1.8M cost was way too high.
Dennis Sweatt said that the Charter Commission was not making any headway and it was 4 hours of nothing.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 8:03 p.m.
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