Town of Buxton
Minutes for April 13, 2011 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Jean C. Harmon, Peter E. W. Burns, Robert C. Libby, Clifford L. Emery. Dianne M. Senechal.
Others Present: Mike Grovo, Dennis Santolucito
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes April 6, 2011.
Approved 5-0.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:00 the Board had Debi Rix, our Treasurer, come in to talk to them about hours for that position. The Board budgeted for it to be a 32 hour per week position based on the recommendation of our Auditor. It is currently 24 hours per week. Debi gave her thoughts on the whole set up. The Board appreciated the information she provided to them.
The Selectmen discussed some budget items and added an article to the Warrant. The Warrant is not final yet but should be finished next week.
No correspondence was read but Selectman Harmon did mention a letter the Board received from Twelve Town Group about their meeting that will be Monday at 6:30 p.m.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectmen Bob Libby and Peter Burns reported that they have been working along with the other Selectmen past 8:00 p.m. every night this week on the budget.
Selectman Emery said it has come to an end and the budget is now complete. The only thing the Selectmen are waiting for is the bid results for our Curbside Waste pick up. The bids are due in by Friday and will be opened next Wednesday night.
Selectman Senechal said the Board is is doing some background work and they are getting information together to prepare a fact sheet of what needs to be done before the Hanson School can be occupied. She said it is an old building and there are some things that need to be done.
Selectman Harmon said the Board met with the Budget Committee last evening and voted on the Warrant. There are a few minor changes that were done and something was given to the Board today as a money article.
Selectman Harmon said the Board is waiting for the petition being passed around for the Hanson School. The Board will not come up with a different question. They feel comfortable going forward with what is on the petition to enter into a lease agreement for the Hanson School for a one year period to do studies. The Board will have some facts and information to give to people prior to the June vote so the people have information about the Hanson School. Cliff Emery contacted some people about ADA requirements and what the Town may be looking at both temporary and permanent.
The Board is meeting with Roger Kelley next Wednesday at 5 p.m. He is the negotiator on the Union Contract. The meeting has to do with the proposed increase in wages the Board is giving employees this year. Since Police and Dispatch are Union, the Board has to do a wage re-opener based on that proposal. Roger Kelley will give the Board recommendations on the best way to go.
None
Selectman Cliff Emery reminded everyone about the Special Town Meeting next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. to allocate funds for unpaid FICA taxes.
Following the Special Town Meeting, the Selectmen will open bids for Curbside Waste Pick Up.
E.O.10. 101104007 – An order to appoint Carol Sanborn to the position of Trustee of Carroll Park, to be effective until December 31, 2013. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104008 – An order to accept the letter of retirement from A. Kerry Harrison to be effective June 30, 2011. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104009 – An order to approve 8 hours vacation leave for Bruce Mullen. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104010 – An order to approve 8 hours personal time for Tashia Geaumont. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104011 – An order to approve 16 hours of personal time for David Pinkham. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104012 – An order to accept the resignation of Scott Havu from the Planning Board, effective immediately. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104013 – An order to accept the resignation of Charles McNutt from the Budget Committee, effective April 13, 2011. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104014 – An order to deny a Poverty Abatement for Case Number PA11-002. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104015 – An order to approve an Application for Veteran Exemption for [Map 9, Lot 47-4]. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104016 – An order to shorten the nomination paper process to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board under 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2602; ordering the Town Clerk to prepare and issue nomination papers for the vacancy created by Scott A. Havu for the 2011 Annual Town Meeting, effective upon approval. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104017 – An order to shorten the nomination paper process to fill a vacancy on the Budget Committee under 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2602; ordering the Town Clerk to prepare and issue nomination papers for the vacancy created by Charles A. McNutt for the 2011 Annual Town Meeting, effective upon approval. Approved 5-0.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O.101104018 – An order to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Buxton and the Town of Scarborough, regarding Mutual Fire Aid.
Approved 5-0.
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.101104005 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #41-11. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101104006 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#41-11. Approved 5-0.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Special Town Meeting Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at 7:00 p.m.
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, April 20, 2011 immediately following the close of the Special Town Meeting.
Twelve Town Group Meeting Monday, April 18, 2011, at 6:30 p.m., at Waterboro Town Hall.
The Buxton Town Office will be closed Monday, April 18, 2011, for Patriots Day and the Transfer Station will be closed Tuesday, April 19, 2011, for Patriots Day.
There will be a Bean Supper on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at the Buxton Community Food Services Co-op from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Cost is $7/per person. Children under 7admitted free.
Selectman Harmon read the Warrant Article for the Special Town Meeting to be held April 20, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting; Article 2. To see what sum not to exceed $57,707.00 (fifty Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Seven Dollars) to cover under-paid FICA taxes due and payable by May 2, 2011. Said money to come from Undesignated
This is money that was not being paid. The error was brought to the Board’s attention and they are correcting it as promptly and efficiently as possible. Selectman Libby said it has been that way for eleven years; fortunately the IRS only makes us go back three years.
- Public Comments and Questions
Chief Mike Grovo talked about the National Drug Take Back initiative that will be held Saturday, April 30th. If people have expired prescription medications or medications that are not being used you can take them to Rite Aid or Hannaford in Buxton that day. The week before, police will pick up medications from facilities that help people living in Town.
Chief Grovo reported that the police have responded to a total of 315 calls in the past 9 days.
Selectman Harmon asked about posters for Drug Take Back Day and Chief Grovo said that signs will be posted within the next week or so.
Dennis Santolucito made a pitch for people in the community to come forward and run for office. He said he has been on the Budget Committee for the last 3 years and there is no better way to learn where your tax dollars go.
Mr. Santolucito asked if the Selectmen would be comfortable giving out an estimate on what the increase in our Mil Rate will be if the budget passes as submitted. Selectman Libby responded by saying the Board is not comfortable giving out anything right now but they can probably let people know within the next couple weeks or so.
Mr. Santolucito asked if the fact sheet the Selectmen referred to earlier would include what every renovation would cost to bring the Hanson School building up to standard.
Selectman Harmon responded that it may not be to that extent. Cliff Emery has contacted people to find out about ADA accessibility. The Board has been told if they lease the building for 1 year, they can make reasonable accommodations for accessibility. However, at the end of that year they would have to have a plan developed for how they are going to make the building handicapped accessible. By having someone come out and look at the building, they will have an idea of what that is going to be.
The Selectmen want to let people know that there are things that need to be done prior to occupancy or making anything permanent.
Mr. Santolucito asked if the building will be occupied and available to the public in year one. Selectman Emery answered that it is a possibility. He said there will not be immediate access to that building because they still have to deal with having the building tested, ADA, air quality and things along that line, and get the lease straightened out. He said they are not going to hold anything up but they are not going to do anything that holds the Town liable either.
Mr. Santolucito asked if the $68,000 will be the operating budget for the building. Selectman Emery said that is not the way it is worded. It is to be used for studies; engineering, elevator, electricity, heating, maintenance, the septic system area has to be bush hogged, water testing, etc. Whatever money is left over could be put towards looking into all the other things.
Selectman Emery said Alpha One is an ADA specialist who will come in and go over the preliminary changes that need to be made for immediate occupancy. He said people need to know there is a cost side to this issue. The Board is making an effort to provide as much factual information as possible so people can know both sides and understand what this is going to cost them long term.
Mr. Santolucito said year 2 there could be significant changes necessary and he asked what happens at the end of the 1 year lease.
Selectman Emery said either through the Selectmen’s Office, or through a petition, it would have to come back to the people to ask if they want to enter into a long term agreement with SAD 6 with all costs coming from the Town of Buxton.
Mr. Santolucito summed up by saying that year 1 is exploratory and an opportunity to use part of the building but the true operating cost will not be known for months to come. He asked if the $68,000 would come from Undesignated Surplus.
Selectman Harmon said as the article is written, yes.
Selectman Emery said the Board has to caution people; the Warrant article says $68,000 and we would have to be very cautious as to how we spend that money. He said the school does not plan on incurring any cost.
There were no other comments or questions.
None.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 7:33p.m. Approved 5-0.
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