Town of Buxton
Minutes for May 11, 2011 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Jean C. Harmon, Peter E. W. Burns, Clifford L. Emery, Dianne M. Senechal. Robert C. Libby was absent.
Others Present: Suzanne Lukas, Carol Weeks, Larry Miller, Tom Joyce, Charles McNutt
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The Meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes May 4, 2011.
Approved 4-0-1. Selectman Robert C. Libby is absent.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:30 Greg Heffernan, our Transfer Station Manager, was in to introduce three part-time employees to the Board.
The Selectmen talked about the Warrant, and the Accounts Payable job that we are going to be advertising.
- Email from the Superintendent’s Office – Re: Special Facilities Meeting.
- Letter from Twelve Town Group – Re: May meeting.
- Email from Maine Public Health – Re: Viral Hepatitis Awareness Month.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Burns added that prior to this meeting the Board also discussed the situation on Route 112 and the resident who is trying to get an answer. When the Public Hearing was held they said the re-build was going to start July 1, 2011. Some of the correspondence is now saying that the actual road work will not start until next spring. The Selectmen are trying to get in touch with the Project Manager, Ernie Martin, to try to find out what the real answer is. Selectman Burns has been coming in to the office every day, handling mail, and reviewing the Warrant Articles.
Selectman Emery has been in taking care of mail and reading through the Job Applications the Board received for the Transfer Station Attendant position.
Selectman Senechal said Ernie Martin, Project Manager for the Route 112 project, did not respond to her phone call so she will be calling him again probably tomorrow to get the conflicting information they have on the re-build straightened out.
Peter Burns is working on setting up a meeting with Dayton on the Skelton Hydro Dam for next Wednesday.
Selectman Harmon has been coming in, going over correspondence, and trying to make sure that the Warrant is correct. The Planning Board held a Public Hearing Monday night to go over all of their Articles for the Warrant. There were only three people in the audience. The Planning Board went over all of those Articles that will be in the Warrant that deal with zoning issues and also Secret Ballot items which are Articles 3 & 4.
None.
The Superintendent is here to give a presentation on the upcoming District Budget that we will be voting on.
Selectman Harmon will read the Warrant Articles again.
E.O.101105008 – An order to approve a Victualer License for Personal Touch Catering.
Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.101105009 – An order to approve the Warrant and Notice of Election calling Maine School Administrative District No. 6 Budget Validation Referendum.
Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.101105010 – An order to approve 16 hours of Personal Leave for John Myers.
Approved 4-0-1.
E.O.101105011 – An order to approve 8 hours of Personal Leave for Beverly Gammon.
Approved 4-0-1.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.101105006 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #45-11. Approved.4-0-1.
E.O.101105007 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#45-11. Approved 4-0-1.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at 7:00 p.m.
Public Hearing Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 7:00 p.m.
After some discussion, the Board agreed to change the time of their meeting on May 25th. The Selectmen’s Meeting on May 25, 2011 will start at 6:30 p.m. with the Public Hearing following at 7:00 p.m.
Twelve Town Group will be meeting Monday, May 16, 2011, at 6:00 p.m., at Oak Street Bistro in Alfred.
There will be a Public Hearing on three Secret Ballot Articles for the June 14, 2011 Annual Town Meeting at the Buxton Municipal Building, 185 Portland Road, on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
At this time Selectman Harmon talked about the need for reading the non-budgetary Warrant Articles. She said there have been discussions about whether or not she needed to read the Planning Board Articles. In the past they have not been read because the Planning Board has their own Public Hearing and those Articles are read at that time. However, there have been some discussions that all of the Articles need to be read again.
Selectman Harmon then read all of the non-budgetary Articles in the Warrant for the 2011 Annual Town Meeting.
- Public Comments and Questions
Selectman Harmon asked if there were any public comments or questions. She then turned the meeting over to the Superintendent. Suzanne Lukas introduced herself. She was accompanied by Carol Weeks, Assistant Superintendent, Larry Miller a member of the School Board and Chair of the Budget Committee, and Tom Joyce who is also on the School Board and the Budget Committee. The Superintendent thanked Peter Burns and others who were there for many of their late night budget meetings.
The Superintendent then gave the presentation and overview of the budget. She explained the budget process, their philosophy, goals, challenges, funding, and budget cuts. The proposed budget for 2011-2012 is $42,250,101 which is $340,000 less than last year’s budget that was approved by the voters. Buxton’s increase amounts to $225,133. The final budget will be set at the June 2nd meeting and on June 14th the voters will be asked to vote on whether or not the final budget should pass.
Larry Miller commented on the level of undesignated surplus. He explained that the State defines essential programs and services and the local community is expected to raise by itself a certain amount to pay for those services and programs. If we do not raise that amount ourselves, we get penalized in the amount of State subsidy that we get.
The Superintendent added that this year the State has made an exception and they are not going to penalize those who do not meet that but if we continue to cut the budget in the future we definitely are in danger of losing some of the State subsidy.
Charlie McNutt asked about the carry-forward and said he is bothered by the fact that they reduced the overall budget by about $322,000 but the local share is going up about $1 million.
The Superintendent responded saying that we are right on the cusp of just barely meeting the amount we have to raise. She talked about staffing, EPS ratios, the carry-forward, and where that money comes from.
Larry Miller said it is similar to the Town’s undesignated surplus and how it affects the budget.
Charlie McNutt asked if the district would have been penalized if the local share had been kept flat.
Larry Miller said if the State had not made the exception this year, we would probably have been penalized about $250,000.
Charlie McNutt asked about the EPS guidelines and the Superintendent explained that the district is right on target for staff and class size.
The Superintendent closed by reminding everyone about the June 2nd district budget meeting at the Middle School where the budget will be finalized, and the June 14th final vote at the polls.
The Selectmen thanked the Superintendent for coming. There were no other comments or questions.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 8:00 p.m. Approved 4-0-1.
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