Town of Buxton
Minutes for August 4, 2010 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Jean C. Harmon, Peter E. W. Burns, Robert C. Libby, Clifford L. Emery, and Dianne Senechal.
Others Present: David Harmon, Michael Robinson, Robert Elwell, Daniel Collomy, and Olive Collomy.
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The Meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes July 28, 2010.
Approved 4-0-1. (Selectman Senechal was absent last week.)
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:00 Chief Mullen came in to discuss some pump issues with one of our engines. He mentioned one of the trucks will be turned into a tank truck and he would like to see the pump re-built on the other one. It will cost about $10,000 but needs to be done because there is nothing wrong with the engine. He also talked about having our Town Mechanic, Larry Anderson, take some classes to be trained in how to fix the pumps which can be a cost savings for the Town. The Chief is going to gather more information about that.
At 5:30 Sue Myers & John Myers met with the Board to review the Tax Collector’s job description. There was good discussion on what was drafted up. The Board has a few changes to make and will be coming back with the second draft for everyone to review. Hopefully that will be the last one and the Board can vote on it.
- Email from Kate Dufour, Maine Municipal Association—Re: Interstate Truck Weight Limit Increase Data Gathering Effort.
- Health Alert from Maine Public Health—Re: Increased Potential for Dengue Infection in Travelers Returning from International and Selected Domestic Areas.
- Email from Marian Alexandre, Southern Maine Regional Planning—Re: York County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update.
- Email from Ellen Heath, Maine Department of Health & Human Services—Re: State Mandated Shut Down Day on Friday, August 6, 2010.
- Email from Dennis Oliver—Re: Buxton Community Days.
- Email from two Buxton residents thanking Fred Farnham for the work he has done on the FEMA Flood Control for Bonny Eagle Pond.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Libby reported he is handling a lot of Email, and going through the Maine Townsman finding out what all the other towns are doing. He said it is a very informative magazine. Other than that he has been handling phone calls and a few assessment questions.
Selectman Burns stated that most of the Board members attended the Public Hearing last Thursday for the Charter Commission. He said it was well attended and there were a lot of comments that showed people did in fact review the Charter and had some detailed questions. He thought it was a good hearing and lot of information was put forward. He hopes a lot of people saw it, and encouraged those who have not to watch the replay. Selectman Burns said this is something all the residents of the Town should take an interest in and fully understand it.
Selectman Emery thanked everyone on the Charter Commission for the time and effort they put into it. He noted there were different opinions expressed at the hearing and he hopes no one took it personally. Selectman Emery reported that he tried to talk to the well guy to see how he made out but did not make contact. He is quite sure the work has been finished.
Selectman Senechal reported that as a member of the Charter Commission she thought the hearing went well. She took a lot of notes and commented that she did not feel beaten upon at all. She thinks most of the committee members wanted to hear what the public thought. She commended John Myers for making an excellent speech. She said she took everything that was said to heart and noted that the Charter Commission has a meeting scheduled for tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. that is open to the public. She urged people who are interested to attend.
Selectman Senechal reported also working on the Efficiency Maine audit. She said the auditor will be here at 9:00 a.m. in the morning to do the energy audit walk through at the Bar Mills Fire Station. He will be looking at heating, ventilation, air conditioning, boiler room, heating units, hot water demand, electrical consumption devices, refrigeration, and office equipment which is pretty much the whole basement.
Selectman Harmon asked if they will have a template that can be used for some of our other buildings in regards to lighting, etc. and Selectman Senechal said there will be a written report in all the areas mentioned.
Selectman Harmon reported that one of the reasons Selectman Senechal was not at the Selectmen’s Meeting last week is because she attended a recognition conducted at the Groveville Fire Station. Selectman Harmon read a statement from Chief Mullen including the names of the past Chiefs and others who were recognized that night. Selectman Harmon said most of them served in the capacity as Chiefs for at least 3 to 10 years. She said Selectman Senechal was there representing the Board and it was a very nice ceremony. Selectman Harmon said it was nice that they were able to give plaques and recognition to those long-time members of our community. She hopes everyone has a chance to watch the ceremony.
Sick Bank Policy—The Board is still reviewing.
Tax Collector’s Job Description – The Board will have a second draft ready and hopefully can remove this item next week.
The Buxton Recreation Department will host a Blood Drive for the American Red Cross on Saturday, August 14, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Town Office, 185 Portland Road in Buxton. Please contact Tasha Geaumont, our Recreation Director, if you have any questions.
E.O.101108003 - An order to allow Bruce E. Mullen to carry forward 8 hours of Vacation Time to be used before November 18, 2010.
Approved 5-0.
E.O.101108004 - An order to approve John Myers’ attendance at the 2010 Elections Conference.
Approved 5-0.
E.O.101108005 – An order to approve John Myers’ attendance at the MTCCA Board Meeting.
Approved 5-0.
E.O.101108006 – An order to approve John Myers’ attendance at the Clerks Networking Day & Annual Business Meeting.
Approved 5-0.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None.
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.101108001 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #05-11. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101108002 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#05-11. Approved 5-0.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Charter Commission Meeting, Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
The Buxton Recreation Department will be hosting a Blood Drive for the American Red Cross on Saturday, August 14, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Town Office on 185 Portland Road in Buxton. Please contact Tashia Geaumont, our Recreation Director with any questions. Selectman Harmon reported that the last Blood Drive was hugely successful. They were so impressed with the number of people that showed up and the number of employees who donated and that is why they have asked to come back. It was very successful.
- Public Comments and Questions
Michael Robinson with the Pleasant Point Park Commission said he wanted to make a public announcement and inform the Board of the upcoming archaeological dig. He said they were fortunate enough to receive a grant from Narragansett Number One Foundation in the amount of $10,000 which is what the Maine State Historical Preservation Commission charges for what is called a level 2 survey. For those folks who do not know, last year they conducted a level 1 survey for the Maine State Historical Preservation Commission for the purposes of trying to understand and know where sensitive sites are in the park. They actually went outside of the park boundaries because the community went across Simpson Road onto the property around the curve. They found
two home sites over there. The purpose of this is that when we get in and do the unfortunate task we have had in the last three years of cleaning up storm damage, and other future logging operations we want to be aware of where some of these sensitive sites are. That was the purpose of beginning the archaeological dig last year. They found so many interesting artifacts and they found 5 or 6 home sites. They found the original fort or the garrison and the adjacent home site as it was back then. The struggles they had, which is kind of interesting, finding and centering on these areas is that the areas were completely clear cut and farmed for years after the original settlement so the plows would go through the debris areas and spread the debris field far and wide from where the original garrison and the home sites were so they start this grid pattern and when they start finding more and more artifacts then they can hone in and that is how they found the fort. They actually
found where it burned. They could find in the clay the original logs that caught fire down in the blue packed clay about 2 feet down. So they got pretty excited and the head Archaeologist, Dr. Leith Smith, who did his PhD in Africa, who is pretty worldly and a pretty interesting guy really got into Buxton Pleasant Point Park and actually did a presentation at the Maine State Archaeological gathering about what they did at Pleasant Point Park. Mr. Robinson said those guys do not drive around in Mercedes and they do not make a lot of money so he said it would be great if we could get them to come back and do a Level 2 survey because that will expand the search. It will not only detail what they found but they would also like to do a little more digging in the refractory building that was down in there where they made bricks. They actually found some of the bricks that were melted together so they applied to Narragansett Number One and thankfully got the grant.
They will begin the dig on the 16th of this month. He said they put the word out and received a lot of interesting volunteers to come out and help with the dig. They wanted somewhere around 8 or 10 and we are up to twelve now. He said they are all from Buxton and that does not include those who are going to be down at the dig anyway. He said they have a nice group of people and it is a really interesting thing for anybody interested in the history of Buxton to maybe join them for the two week period and pick an hour or two or an afternoon or morning for these 10 days to give them a hand and that allows them to do that much more exploration and detailing of stuff that they find in the soil. The other thing he wanted to lay out as an interesting event is that Saco River Television also received a grant from Narragansett to do a history of Buxton and they want to work hand in hand. He talked with Patrick, the Station Manager, and they want to sort of do
arm in arm in this thing. He is going to actually document aspects of the dig and the results of the dig and they are going to interview Dr. Smith at the end of it so hopefully they will have some kind of a special presentation at the end and they will present it to the Town and Select Board as well as perhaps a showcase of the artifacts they found; everything from bone handled knives to the buttons that came off the uniforms that were brought over, pottery shards, clay pipes and even the hanging pots, the hinges that they used to hold the pots in the fireplace, and things like that. Mr. Robinson said anyone who is interested is welcome to come down and get involved. As far as contact information, you can reach Michael Robinson through Krystal Dyer in Code Enforcement. She has been handling this so far, or Michael Robinson said he is in the phone book and you can give him a call to get set up.
Robert Elwell asked if revisions will be made to the Charter from what people proposed. Selectman Senechal said her understanding and personal opinion from the public hearing is that they need to make some changes. She said we will have to wait until the Commission meets tomorrow to know exactly what they are going to do. She assumes there will be changes. She said her goal as a Commission member is not to put out a Charter that people have issues with. She said it will be in the best interest of everyone to make some changes. She said this is her personal opinion; there are 9 on the Commission.
Robert Elwell asked the Board about changes to the Sick Bank Policy they have been working on. Selectman Harmon explained that the language in it makes it difficult for people to donate accumulated sick time to the bank. She said the intent of the policy originally was to allow someone who rarely uses sick time, or someone who has accrued a lot of sick time to someone who has an event, needs to be out and has used all their sick time. Selectman Harmon said when the policy was developed it became a little too complicated and got away from its intent. She said the Board needs to clean up the language, make it more user-friendly and understandable when someone wants to donate time or take time from the Bank. Mr. Elwell asked if Sick Banks
are common because he never heard of it. Selectman Harmon said it is very common.
Mr. Elwell asked questions about designated smoking areas and smoking receptacles. Selectman Harmon explained where the designated areas are around the Town Office.
Mr. Elwell asked if there have been any updates on the ISO rating. Selectman Harmon responded that she had a discussion about that with Chief Mullen tonight. He said they did not forget about it. They hope to have final testing for Scarborough completed next week and then they can gather the information. Mr. Elwell shared his opinions on using the Town Mechanic as much as possible. Selectman Emery explained that the mechanic is busy all the time. He knows what he needs to do for Public Works and schedules other work around that. Mr. Elwell said his emphasis is on saving the Town money. Robert Elwell asked what is going on with the Census because he has never been contacted and has not received anything in the mail. Selectman Senechal asked if he uses a Post Office Box because she does and a similar thing happened to her. She said finally someone came knocking on her door. She told Mr. Elwell she does not think they have finished yet and believes someone will eventually
catch up with him.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 p.m.
Approved 5.0.
_________________________ Jean C. Harmon, Selectman
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________________________ Robert C. Libby, Selectman
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_______________________________ Clifford L. Emery, Selectman |
____________________________ Dianne M. Senechal, Selectman |
_______________________________ Peter E. W. Burns, Selectman |
Date Signed: _________
Videotaped by Kyle Durkin
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