Town of Buxton
Minutes for June 8, 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: Steve & Lori Anthony, Mike Grovo, Dennis Sweatt, Susan Orfant, Larry Miller, Charles McNutt, Jack Hanna, Carol Sanborn
Special Town Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by John Myers, Town Clerk. Hiram Davis was voted as Moderator. The vote was affirmative to appropriate $20,305 to purchase the used Plymovent Exhaust System from the Saco Fire Department, said money to come from the Fire Fighting Equipment Fund.. The meeting was closed at 7:13 p.m.
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The Meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes June 1, 2011.
Approved 5-0.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
The Board had Chief Grovo come in to discuss a few questions Selectmen Burns had on some invoices. They also met with Fred Farnham. He gave them some findings on the roof assessment that the Board had done a couple of months ago, and they discussed how they should progress with some of the findings. One of the first recommendations was to increase the size of the soffit vents. Fred recommended doing a portion to see if that will alleviate some of the heat problems and ice build-up in the winter time.
- Email from Heidi Swiderek with Maine Municipal Association – Re: Estimated cost for insurance on the Hanson School.
- Email from Laura Veilleux with Maine Municipal Association – Re: Proposal to change the immunity standard under the Maine Tort Claims Act.
- Email from Sharon Leahy-Lind @maine.gov – Re: Hazardous Weather Outlook from York County Emergency Management Agency.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Libby reported that a lot of time has been spent reviewing applications for the Accounts Payable position, and handling a lot of paperwork that is coming through.
Selectman Burns added that the Board has selected six candidates that they will be interviewing. He attended the school budget meeting at the Middle School last Thursday night. The turnout was terrible with only 15 people from Buxton attending and less than 40 voting. The budget was passed that night. On Tuesday the voters will vote yes or no on the final number which is $42,250,101. Buxton’s share is $5,453,271, a $225,133 increase over last year. Selectman Burns said the voters asked for a budget vote that coincides with Town Meeting so he is hoping a lot of people will turn out to vote.
Selectman Emery has been in several times during the week to pick up mail and drop off his selection of candidates to interview for the Accounts Payable position. He said at least 10-12 people have talked with him this week about the Hanson School.
Selectman Senechal reminded people that if the Hanson School passes, there will be costs associated with it. She and Selectman Harmon have been delivering the latest Buxton News letter to the libraries, Plummer’s, Rite Aid, and other locations around Town. Selectman Senechal read information from a new brochure that Maine Municipal Association recently put out to educate the public on programs that are available for residents to get property tax relief. Copies of the brochure are on the counter at Town Hall. Selectman Senechal said aside from that, she has been doing what all the other Selectmen have, reading E-mails, studying applications, and preparing for interviews tomorrow night.
Selectman Harmon also attended the school budget meeting last Thursday. She was surprised with the low turnout; the difference was significant.
The polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Selectman Harmon read the list of candidates, talked about the Articles, and the list of people who have expressed an interest in taking some positions as write in candidates.
Selectman Harmon reported that people have spoken to her about the Hanson School. One person asked “What are people thinking of? Do they not understand the costs associated with maintaining that building?” Selectman Harmon pointed out that these are forever costs if the Town goes into a long term lease. There are occupancy costs which can be significant, and people need to understand that someone has to pay for that. If the Town enters into a lease agreement the Town is responsible for paying those costs. That is each and every one of us taxpayers. The Board has factual numbers; in fact, some are a couple years old so the actual cost may be more. She urged people to get out and vote.
The Board is interviewing candidates for the Accounts Payable position tomorrow beginning at 5:00 p.m. Selectman Harmon said this will be quite a transitional period for us; it is our year end, our Accounts Payable Clerk is leaving, and the Town is switching to new software.
Again she urged people to vote Tuesday and at Town Meeting on Saturday, June 18th.
None.
Selectman Harmon thanked Selectman Senechal for reading the Property Tax Assistance brochure. She said it lets the residents know there are programs they may be eligible for. Not everyone is eligible for everything but there may be parts of it that they are eligible for. The Board encourages people to take advantage of that. Every resident who is a Home owner or Renter is eligible to apply for the Circuit Breaker Refund. She also encouraged people to apply for the $10,000 Homestead Exemption if they have not already done so.
E.O.101106010 – An order to approve 40 hours of vacation time to be in the form of pay for Fred Farnham. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101106011 – An order to approve 16 hours vacation time for Fred Farnham.
Approved 5-0.
E.O.101106012 – An order to approve 24 hours vacation time for John Myers.
Approved 5-0.
E.O.101106013 – An order to allow Greg Heffernan to carry forward 29 hours vacation time to be used before August 1, 2011. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101106014 – An order to approve 40 hours of vacation time to be in the form of pay for Greg Heffernan. Approved 5-0.
E.O.101106015 – An order to approve 8 hours vacation time for Bruce E. Mullen.
Approved 5-0.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O. 101106016 – An order to approve the hire of Zachary Waterhouse as a full time employee with a start date of June 7, 2011 at a pay rate of $12.00 per hour.
Approved 5-0.
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.101105008 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #49-11. Approved.5-0.
E.O.101105009 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#49-11. Approved 5-0.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Planning Board Meeting Monday, June 13, 2011, at 7:00 p.m.
Annual Town Meeting secret ballot voting day Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Election of Moderator at 5:30 a.m. Polls open 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Selectmen’s Meeting Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at 7:00 p.m.
The Board of Selectmen will have interviews Thursday, June 9, 2011 for the Accounts Payable Clerk position.
Annual Town Meeting will continue Saturday, June 18, 2011, starting at 9:00 a.m.
Public Hearing Wednesday, June 22, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. – Liquor License Renewal Application for Stacey Breault, D/B/A Chefa’s Inc., a catering business at 405 Portland Road.
- Public Comments and Questions
Selectman Burns spoke about a complaint he received from a resident regarding a statement on a recent mailing that went out urging voters to save the Hanson School. He explained that the $75,000 cost to demolish the building is in the school budget and will be shared by all the Towns in the school District. However, the $68,000 in the Warrant Article to come out of the Town’s undesignated Surplus will come from Buxton residents.
Susan Orfant spoke on behalf of the Saco River Art League to let everyone know about their upcoming show “Art is Community”, a juried show and sale of regional arts and fine crafts sponsored in part by the Saco River Grange. It will be held at the white church in Bar Mills next to the Grange Hall Friday, June 17th, 4-8 p.m., Saturday 10 to2, and Sunday 10 to 4. She also commented on the Hanson School and volunteer work that might reduce the cost, and urged people to vote on that.
Selectman Emery said volunteers are great but the Town has to go into this with real costs on the books. They cannot count on volunteers and until the work has actually been done, voters should go to the polls expecting to pay the full costs.
Dennis Sweatt shared his thoughts on the Hanson School. He said it is a “money pit and talked about the $75,000 cost every year for just heat, lights and insurance. He also talked about the roof, lead paint, and other work that will need to be done He said he does not know how the taxpayers can do it and he hopes people will get out and vote.
Lori Anthony also shared her opinions on the Hanson School. She said there is too much that needs to be done at too much expense to the taxpayers. Many people are just getting by and do not need to be saddled with more expense. She feels Buxton needs its leaders to focus on the health and safety of the people not more recreation. We need good roads and our police and fire equipment and personnel need to be kept up to date, and we need to take care of our seniors and citizens in need.
Carol Sanborn spoke about the Hanson School saying that we are in a very bad financial world right now. She would like to see the building refurbished but we cannot do it on the backs of our taxpayers that are barely surviving now. She said the older people in Town are barely getting by and some are not getting by. People just do not have the money. She said once the lease is signed Buxton will be responsible and she hopes people look long and hard before deciding to take this on.
Larry Miller asked the Selectmen about the two Executive Orders to approve vacation time to be in the form of pay for department heads. A discussion followed about the Personnel Policy. Mr. Miller said he has no issue with reasonable carry-forward but does have a problem with extra pay, especially if it was not in the budget.
Mr. Miller then spoke as a member of the School Budget Committee in support of the School Budget Referendum to be voted on June 14th. He shared his financial point of view and explained details in the budget and why the result is an overall increase this year
Charles McNutt commented on employees taking pay in lieu of vacation time. He said it is not unique to Buxton and he feels the employer benefits from the employee’s services and productivity. He thinks it is a decent policy and would like to see it continued.
Mr. McNutt talked about the Hanson School and said he thinks people are putting the solution in front of the problem when it should be the other way around. He thinks re-purposing an old building is a bad deal and urged people to vote against it.
Mr. McNutt then talked about the SAD 6 budget. He said this $42 million dollar budget represents business as usual with no appreciable gain in student programs, student achievement, or pursuit of excellence. He said this $42 million dollar budget is not going to make any improvement.
Larry Miller answered some of Mr. McNutt’s questions. He said he favors performance based compensation but he is reluctant to give across the board increases without it.
Chief Grovo read a Health Alert regarding unhealthy air quality and expressed concern for elderly folks in Town. He encouraged people to call if they have questions or concerns. The Chief also talked about recent training the police department was involved in. Buxton Police had the top two positions one day and the top three positions one day. He received very positive feedback. His goal is to send one officer to be trained as an EVOC instructor to do the training here. He said there were 14 to 16 Police Departments from all over Maine who participated.
Selectman Harmon encouraged people to get out and vote Tuesday.
None.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 8:30 p.m. Approved 5-0.
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