Town of Buxton
Minutes for September 15, 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: None
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The Meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes September 8, 2010.
Approved 5-0-0.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Debi Rix, our Treasurer, met with the Board to discuss some issues with funding and to talk about her relationship and how it works with the AP personnel. Selectman Emery said this is the time of year when the Town is probably at the lowest in its funding, and the Board felt it would be prudent to send a letter to department heads asking that any purchases over $500 come through the Treasurer so she can tell them the money is there or ask them to hold off for awhile. He said people should not take this as anything bad; they just need to understand that the Board is trying to be fiscally responsible at the lowest point in the year. Selectman Harmon said tax bills would be going out by the end of this week so as tax revenues start coming in that
does change things.
Selectman Emery said Bob Libby brought up that a gentleman in the Chicopee area has some concerns about the parking space the State created when they re-did the end of the Chicopee Road. Selectman Libby rode up there and met with the gentleman who has some ideas and issues he wants the Board to discuss. Selectman Libby brought those issues up tonight and the Board discussed them. Selectman Emery said he would imagine it would not be something the Board will deal with until at least spring.
Selectman Burns said the Board talked about the Police Contract. Selectman Harmon said the Board does have the final contract to review and approve so they can get that ratified.
- Email from Marian Alexandre with Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission —Re: Free Fall Workshops for Planning Board & Zoning Board of Appeals Members.
- Email from Sharon Leahy-Lind –Re: Maine CDC Public Health Update. Selectman Harmon mentioned that the Board has been contacted about a flu clinic for some time in October but those can be subject to change. She said as soon as they give us a definite date the Board will let people know so they can take advantage of it here at the Town Hall.
- Memo from John Sylvester with the Twelve Town Group —Re: Their September meeting.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Bob Libby said he has been working on the State Valuation Report. He said it is just about all done, John Myers and Bev Gammon have been helping with it and it should be finished within a couple of days. He said he is just checking the numbers.
Selectman Burns reported he met with David Pinkham at the Public Works garage last Friday. He said Fire Pumper #6 has been repaired. It was finished Thursday and the tests showed that it is pumping more than it was originally rated for. He said they did a real good job and finished faster than they thought. He also talked with David about the fuel pump tanks that went dry and needed repair, and some of the reasons for that. He said they discussed some of the road projects he has been working on and what he has planned for the future. Selectman Burns said he has been working on correspondence and has reviewed the 54-page energy audit that was done on the fire barn. He has a meeting scheduled for Friday morning with Chief
Mullen to go over that and a few other things.
Selectman Cliff Emery said he did not have much this week. He calls the Board Chair every day to see if there is anything he needs to get involved in and if there is he takes the opportunity to deal with it.
Selectman Senechal reported she has also been through the energy audit report and sent a copy over to the Chief. She said there are things in there he can handle because they are minor and direct, and there are some bigger issues the Board can address. She mentioned that the Charter Commission has turned in the Charter to the Selectmen. They are reviewing that and getting ready to put it on the ballot. She reported that the Board is working with David Pinkham on changing fuel vendors and said there is a lot of mail coming in to the office.
Selectman Jean Harmon reported that there have been some issues with the Town fuel pump. The Board is gathering information and there are several companies that have contacted them and would like to provide that service to the Town. They are getting figures to the Board. She said she talked with David Pinkham in regards to work the State is doing down on Route 112 near Haines Meadow Road for ditching. He had contacted DOT and the supervisor there was not pleased with the results of the work that had been done. It was not quite what they expected it to be and there is some concern about whether or not a significant rain would just wash away what they did.
Selectman Harmon said the Board has the Charter and she has contacted the Town’s attorney in regards to wording they need to make sure they have when putting it on the ballot. As soon as the Board has that they will submit it to the Town Clerk so he can get it to the printer and have the absentee ballots ready to go.
Selectman Harmon talked about the Planning Board meeting that she attended Monday night where they were going over the Shoreland Zoning Map that was defeated at Town Meeting. She said the State has not implemented their rules yet and she hopes there is not some complacency thinking that because they are so busy it is not going to happen for another nine months and that the Board can take their time dealing with this issue. She said some of the communities have already passed their Shoreland Zoning Maps and we are working towards getting to that point along with a number of other towns. She said she knows there are some other towns that have flatly refused to enforce those on their residents. She does not know how many of those towns are
around but she knows there are some. She said the Planning Board is doing the best they can with what they have and as far as what they are allowed to do because a lot of the restrictions come from the DEP, and it is not local control any more. Selectman Harmon said the Planning Board is scheduling another workshop to discuss it as well and they encouraged everybody who is affected by this to make sure they attend. Some residents did not receive the notices of the meeting because the notices came back are undeliverable or marked as having no mail receptacle. She asked the Planning Board to try to find out who those people are and get correct mailing addresses so someone does not come and say they never got notified.
Tax Collector’s Job Description.
Selectman Harmon stated she has an Executive Order for later on in the meeting to accept it and verified with the other Board members that there are n o changes to the second draft.
None.
E.O.10110003– An order to hire Benjamin Pinault as a Camera Operator effective September 9, 2010, at a pay rate of $13.27 per hour.
Approved 5-0-0.
E.O.101109004 – An order to approve John Myers’ attendance at a State Genealogy Meeting & Clerks Vitals Committee Meeting in Augusta.
Approved 5-0-0.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O.101109005 – An order to hire Adam Ricci as a temporary Animal Control Officer at a rate of $12.69 per hour effective September 22, 2010.
Approved 5-0-0.
E.O.101109006 – An order to approve the Tax Collector’s Job Description and to increase the hours of the position to 40 Hours per week effective September 15, 2010.
Approved 5-0-0.
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.101109001—An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #10-11. Approved 5-0-0.
E.O.101109002—An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#10-11. Approved 5-0-0.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Charter Commission Meeting Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m..
Twelve Town Group Meeting Monday, September 20, 2010 at 6:30 p.m., at the Waterboro Town Hall.
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Charter Commission Meeting Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Selectman Harmon announced that there will be a “Mystery Supper” Saturday, September 18, 2010 from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m., at the Buxton Community Food Services Co-op Building located at 935 Long Plains Road in Buxton Center. The cost is $7/Adults and $3/Children under age twelve. The supper is being held to raise money to help pay for heat and lights this winter.
Selectman Harmon also gave a reminder that there will be 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. This is a chance for the public to see the gorgeous new, elementary school.
- Public Comments and Questions
None.
None.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
Approved 5-0-0.
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