Town of Buxton
Minutes for September 8, 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 M. Senechal.
Others Present: Jack Hanna
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes September 1, 2010.
Approved 3-0-2. (Selectmen Jean Harmon and Clifford Emery were absent last week).
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:00 John Wise came in to speak to the Board in regard to videotaping the meetings. At 5:30 Ben Pinault came in also regarding the video taping of meetings. Selectman Burns said both met with Les Volland and he went through the equipment, and setting up for the meeting, and he gave them a little history so they know what it is about. The Selectmen agreed if they are still interested the Board will talk about it afterwards.
At 6:00 Chief Grovo met with the Board regarding Adam Ricci, an Animal Control Officer who may be filling in for a couple of months. The Chief introduced him to the Board and Mr. Ricci talked about himself a little bit. The Board agreed he will be a great candidate.
Selectman Burns said the Board talked about how the State left the Estes Park area and some things that they were supposed to do that did not get done, and also bush hogging the area up there this fall. Selectmen Burns said he and Bob Libby and had some discussion earlier about the tax rate and the overlay. They also had a discussion concerning EMA’s request for a printer/copier at the EMA building.
- Email forwarded by John Myers from Paul B. Schlein, Public Information Officer for the Maine Board of Pesticides—Re: Free Disposal of Banned Unusable Pesticides. Selectman Harmon said we have flyers that will be posted at the Town Hall and there is a number for people to call to register. The number is 287-2731 or they have a web site that is www.thinkfirstspraylast.org. She also reported that our Hazardous Waste Day will be coming up September 25th and that is posted at the Transfer Station so if you miss that day you can participate in the State one.
- Email from Myranda McGowan, Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission—Re: Office supplies and Maine DOT links.
- Email from Adam Theriault, a Civil Engineering student at the University of Maine in Orono—Re: A Senior college project. The Board agreed they are interested in contacting him to find out what the project entails.
- Email from Greg Payne, Avesta Housing—Re: Maine Affordable Housing Coalition Annual Legislative Reception.
- Email from the Maine State Planning Office—Re: Maine Floodplain Management and Mapping News.
Selectman Harmon had some correspondence that was not on the agenda. The Board just received a thank you letter from the Child Abuse Prevention Council of York County. They wanted to thank the Board and the Budget Committee for the $400 donation that they allotted at the Annual Town Meeting to the Child Abuse Prevention Council of York County.
Selectman Harmon also read an invitation to a Commemoration and Dedication Ceremony celebrating the dedication of the new Buxton Center Elementary School including the Dr. Paul Vincent Library, and honoring the legacy of Eliza Libby School, Frank Jewett School, Jack Memorial School, and the S. D. Hanson School. This event will be held Sunday afternoon, September 19th from 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m., at 912 Long Plains Road in Buxton. Selectman Burns added that it is open to the public.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Bob Libby said it has been a busy week. He had to put together all the information that the Board needs to complete the tax commitment. He said he has been working with Sue Myers on that all week and it is coming along quite well. He said they will get that all together by next week.
Selectman Peter Burns said he has been coming in every day doing the correspondence. He met with Chief Mullen last Friday over at the fire station to discuss one of the purchases made that he wanted a little more information on. He said they will meet again in two weeks to tour the building and he will have with him the audit report that the power company did for the building. Selectman Burns said he wants to see for himself what got written up and discuss possible corrections or things the Board can do to save some money over there. Selectman Burns also reported that he has been looking at the budgets and preparing for the Board’s meeting on carry-forwards.
Selectman Cliff Emery reported he attended last night’s meeting with DOT to go over the Route 112 re-build. He also shared comments about his recent vacation and trip across the country from Maine to California and back.
Selectman Dianne Senechal said there have been a number of ongoing issues she has been working on. She said the Board got the report back from Efficiency Maine on the audit that was done on the Bar Mills Fire Station. She said she has not had a chance to read it in depth but from a brief overview, it looks like there are some areas where the Town can save some money, especially on lighting. She said the Board will probably workshop on that.
Selectman Jean Harmon spoke briefly about her trip last week to Oklahoma to take her son off to college. She said she was in last Friday and there was an issue over the weekend having to do with Dodge Oil. She said she called them and is waiting to hear back from them. She thinks the Board needs to discuss whether or not we keep our business with them, depending on the answer she gets in return. She said the Board has had complaints from department heads the past couple of years and she thinks the Board seriously needs to look at this issue and do they really want to continue with that type of service. She reported that the Board has been discussing the tax rate and tax bills are being prepared to be sent out very shortly. She
said it will get very busy in the next month or so. She said the department heads have until this week to do their carry-forwards if they have any and the Board needs to set up a workshop once they get all those in. They have been trickling in slowly and some departments may have money to carry forward, others do not. She said as soon as the Board gets all of those they will set up the workshop and get those done.
Tax Collector’s Job Description.
Selectman Harmon said she and Cliff Emery were absent last week and John Myers was out for part of last week. The Selectmen asked him if he had reviewed the job description along with the Tax Collector and asked if there were any changes to be made. Selectman Burns said he talked with John earlier and he said there are no changes. Selectman Harmon said maybe they can finalize that when they set up the workshop.
Selectman Harmon reported that the Board received a memo from the Comprehensive Plan Committee. They are looking for the Selectmen to send a memo to each of the department heads to find out where they envision their department heading in the next 5-10 years. The Comprehensive Plan Committee is trying to move forward in getting that plan finished and they would like to know where the department heads think we should be in the next 5-10 years in infrastructure, equipment, financially and that sort of thing. Selectman Harmon said she will get a letter out to the department heads along with a copy of the memo.
E.O.101108030 – An order to approve 8 Hours Vacation Time for John Myers.
Approved 5-0-0.
E.O.101108031 – An order to approve 6 Hours Vacation Time for Fred Farnham.
Approved 5-0-0.
E.O.101108032 – An order to hire Dale Cabral as a part time employee at the Transfer Station effective September 11, 2010, at a rate of $10.00 per hour.
Approved 5-0-0
E. O.101108033 – An order to hire Parker Weyer as a part time employee at the Transfer Station effective September 11, 2010, at a rate of $10.00 per hour.
Approved 4-1-0.
E.O.101108034 – An order to set the Tax Rate for fiscal year 2010-2011 at $9.90 per thousand.
Approved 5-0-0.
Selectman Harmon commented on the tax rate. She said this will be the third year in a row that the Board has kept it at $9.90. However, you may see a change in your tax bill once you receive it due to the fact that the Homestead Exemption has changed this year. Previously it was $13,000 and it has decreased by $3,000. That is something the State has set and something they changed. So you may see a slight change in your tax bill but it is not something due to the tax rate or anything that the Town has done. Selectman Libby added that it will add about $15.
E.O.101108035 – An order to approve the Interest Rate on prepayment of taxes not yet due or assessed at 2% per year.
Approved 5-0-0.
E.O.1011036 – An order to set the Interest Rate on Unpaid Taxes at a rate of 4% per year.
Approved 5-0-0.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None.
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.101108028—An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #10-11. Approved 3-0-2.
E.O.101108024—An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#10-11. Approved 3-0-2.
- Next Meeting of the Board
The Selectmen will be meeting in Executive Session pursuant to 1 MRSA, 405(6)(A), on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. This is for an exit interview.
Charter Commission Meeting Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:00 p.m..
Planning Board Meeting Monday, September 13, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Comprehensive Plan Committee Meeting Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 6:15 p.m.
None.
- Public Comments and Questions
Selectman Harmon said there were four selectmen there last night for the Public Hearing that DOT had on the Route 112 rebuild. She said the room was packed which was good and there were also some people who came from Saco. The map on the wall behind the Selectmen has been updated with new information and they will be sending the Board a new one. She said the Board will receive a condensed version of what the DOT had last night so they can post it on the wall. They are anticipating the starting date will be next July and anticipating a completion date in the fall of 2012. They do not anticipate that they are going to run out of money as the money has already been allocated for that. Selectman Harmon thought people had legitimate
concerns and questions they were asking. She said Ernie Martin, the project manager, will be meeting with a number of residents Friday who had specific concerns. If anyone at the meeting wants to contact them, they can contact the Selectmen’s Assistant and she can give you the number to call. Selectman Harmon said the meeting went well and was well attended. Selectman Burns said the meeting was televised. He was unable to attend but he said he watched most of it at home. He said it will be re-played so those residents who did not see it will get a chance to watch. He thought it was very informative and he said a lot of information came out along with legitimate concerns by residents who are along the route that are being addressed which he is pleased about.
None.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
Approved 5-0-0.
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