Town of Buxton
Minutes for June 1, 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: Dennis Sweatt, Henry Huntley, Cliff Thomas, Penny Booker, Jack Hanna.
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes May 25, 2011.
Approved 5-0.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:30 the Board met with a resident about cutting down a tree that is on his property. It also happens to be in the Town’s right of way. The Selectmen gave him permission to have the tree taken down at his expense, and suggested he contact Central Maine Power to see if it might be an option for them to take it down since the power lines are rubbing against the tree.
At 6:00 the Selectmen met with a couple of residents on Portland Road. They are requesting that the Board submit a request for a speed study to the State to have the speed limit reduced from Pease Road down to Broad Turn Road since it has become more residential and they said vehicles travel at a higher rate of speed than the limit that is posted there currently. The Board agreed to send the request to the State. These residents have been trying to get
the speed limit changed for over a year now but they do need a formal request from the Board to have that looked into.
The Selectmen discussed some budget numbers that were not coming out right and they came to the conclusion that their numbers are good to go.
Penny Booker talked with the Selectmen about some general budget questions.
- Email from Marian Alexandre, So. Maine Regional Planning – Re: SMRPC Annual Meeting Wednesday, June 22nd, 5:30 p.m.
- Email from Sharon Leahy-Lind, Maine CDC – Re: Take Care to Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning When Opening Camps.
- Email from Scott Warchol – Re: Ventilation System for the Fire Department.
- Email from Tresa Stevens, Daisy Troop Leader – Re: Planting daisies.
The Selectman thought this was a great idea and agreed on where the flowers should be planted. Selectman Harmon will contact the Troop Leader.
- Email from Saco River Cable Committee – Re: Saco River Cable Committee I-Net Meeting of May 26, 2011.
Selectman Burns gave an update on the meeting and discussions with Time Warner. Hopefully they will come to a consensus and agreement within the next few months.
- Email from Laura Veilleux, Maine Municipal Association – Re: Upcoming votes in House & Senate on two Bills of Municipal interest.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Libby talked about the downturn in real estate and said more and more people are asking questions. He explained the downturn is the same all over, and if we try to change an individual property value, it will take it out of relationship to all the others. We have a very low tax rate because our valuations are high. The assessment stays there while the value is going down. He said there are about 4000 property cards and every one would have to be changed. Taking the values down would reduce the valuation of the Town, and increase the tax rate. He said the bill to the real estate would be the same number it is right now so we are just sitting on it.
Selectman Libby said the Board interviewed applicants for the Transfer Station, and they have been trying to keep up with Bills in the Legislature that might have some effect on our Town.
Selectman Burns attended the Franchise negotiation meeting last Thursday night and on Friday Selectman Libby gave him a two hour lesson on how the property tax is made and how to fill out the cards. He is trying to learn more about that. Selectman Burns said Tuesday was the deadline for applications for the Accounts Payable Clerk. The Selectmen received 40 applications which they are in the process of reviewing. He has been reading those and keeping up with mail.
Selectman Emery participated in interviews the Board did with four applicants for the Transfer Station. He said the Board will fill that position very soon. He has been in to go through mail and has been keeping in touch with the other Selectmen to stay on top of all that is going on.
Selectman Senechal said she has been on the Board about a year and she said this is the first time she has participated in interviews. She has been reviewing applications for the Accounts Payable position and collecting background information on the cost of insurance should the Town by chance lease the Hanson School next year.
Selectman Harmon said she wrote a note to Selectman Senechal asking what it would cost to insure the building when it is vacant and also asked what the liability issues would be to the Town for volunteers who could be injured while working there.
Selectman Senechal said the Hanson School would be vacant for a period of time and a vacant building would cost a lot more to insure. Volunteers would not be covered under the Town’s Workers Comp policy but the Town can purchase separate Volunteer Insurance. She talked about the estimated cost of that and some of the limitations.
Selectman Harmon said the Public Hearing last week on the Secret Ballot questions was quite lengthy. She said the Board encourages people to be informed about the Hanson School. They want people to be aware of the costs associated with it. If the question passes, the Town will not be able to occupy the building immediately. There are things that would have to be done before the building could be occupied.
Candidates’ Night was last Thursday and all the candidates for Selectman were there. The meeting was televised.
Selectman Harmon mentioned the large amount of paperwork the Selectmen have, voting is coming up, and Town Meeting is coming up. The Selectmen are making sure all their numbers are correct and she is confident everything will be in order by June 18th. Selectman Harmon talked about how busy the people out front have been with residents coming in for absentee ballots. She encouraged people to get out and vote.
Thursday night District 6 will have a meeting to settle the dollar amounts for the Warrant Article and residents will vote yes or no on the 14th. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Middle School.
There will be a Special Town meeting Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. to see if the Town will vote to appropriate $20,305 to purchase a used Plymovent Exhaust System from Saco.
Selectman Harmon read the Warrant Article and explained this is a system many fire departments use. It attaches to the exhaust on the vehicles and prevents large amounts of carbon monoxide from getting into the building.
None
E.O.101106003 – An order to approve an Application for a Victualers License for Robin Parlin, doing business as Robyn’s Ice Cream.
Approved 5-0.
E.O.101106004 – An order to approve 8 hours time off without pay for Susan Myers.
Approved 5-0.
E.O.101106005 – An order to approve 42 days off without pay for Ruth Scheibenpflug.
Approved 5-0.
E.O.101106006 – An order to deny a Poverty Abatement Application for Case Number
PA 11-004. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101106007 – An order to approve Personal Property Abatement for case P.P. 1006.
Approved 5-0.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None.
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.101105001 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #48-11. Approved.5-0.
E.O.101105002 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#48-11. Approved 5-0.
- Next Meeting of the Board
SAD 6 Budget Meeting Thursday, June 2, 2011, 7:00 p.m. at Bonny Eagle Middle School.
Special Town Meeting Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at 7:00 p.m.
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at 7:10 p.m., or immediately following the close of the Special Town Meeting.
None
- Public Comments and Questions
Dennis Sweatt thanked anyone who worked around the Korean War Memorial. He said it looks beautiful and is an asset to the center of Groveville. He said it is one of the best he has seen.
He also commented on Public Works and said the road crew does an exceptional job and he thinks we have a good crew there.
Mr. Sweatt spoke about his strong feelings against leasing the Hanson School building. He said this building whether empty or used as a community center will be expensive to maintain; it has a massive roof to replace when it needs to be done, will need massive maintenance, and when it is unoccupied, the insurance will be up there. He apologized for hurting anyone’s feelings but he said the Town of Buxton does not need another building to maintain and heat. He talked about low market value, and parking issues. He hopes enough people will think about the tax dollars.
Cliff Thomas also talked about the Hanson School and asked if it would be possible to put the police station there.
Selectman Harmon explained how the money will have to be used in the first year and she said even if it was to be a police station, it would still need to be handicapped accessible and the same issues would still need to be addressed
Selectman Emery said a lot of the $68,000 would have to be used just to heat and maintain the building. He said one of the biggest issues is parking. SAD 6 would give the Town a list of dates when they would need parking overflow so it would be very difficult to put someone in there who would need parking every day.
Cliff Thomas spoke briefly about the Comprehensive Plan Committee and shared his thoughts on the drop back. He said this deals with private property and asked people to think about the impact the drop back would have on local farming business. He reminded people that this is private property that owners could use, and said he wants to encourage a “Yes” vote on Articles 3 & 4.
Mr. Thomas asked about the new Shore land Zoning Ordinance and whose responsibility it would be to notify D.EP. if Buxton does not adopt a new Ordinance. There was some discussion with the Selectmen about that and Selectman Libby concluded that it would be up to the Selectmen to notify DEP. He asked Cliff Thomas who he would want to enforce it and he said no question, he would want D.E.P.to do it.
Selectman Harmon asked the Board if they have finished reviewing applications for the Accounts Payable position. After a short discussion, the Selectmen agreed to make their selections by Friday so interviews can be set up for next week.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 6:45 p.m. Approved 5-0.
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