Town of Buxton
Minutes for June 6, 2012 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Peter E. W. Burns, Robert C. Libby, Jean C. Harmon, Clifford L. Emery. Dianne M. Senechal.
Others Present: Michael Grovo, Dennis Sweatt, Adam Ricci, Henry Huntley, Dennis Santolucito, Charisse Keach, Penny Booker, Larry Miller, David Harmon, Jack Hanna, Jeremiah Ross.
Meeting Agenda
The Meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes May 30, 2012. Approved 3-0-2.
Robert C. Libby and Dianne M. Senechal were absent.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:45 p.m. a resident came in with a complaint.
At 6:00 Ian Smith, a life scout came in looking for a project.
At 6:45 another resident came in.
- Letter from Narragansett Number One Foundation – Re: $8,698 Grant for Town Farm Park.
- Letter from Narragansett Number One Foundation – Re: $10,000 Grant for Community Days Fireworks.
- Letter from Narragansett Number One Foundation – Re: $7,421 Grant for Buxton ToyBox.
- Letter from Gregory Zinser, York County Manager – Re: Funding outside agencies through the County budget.
The Selectmen discussed whether or not they want to vote to have some of our tax money that was sent to York County go to outside agencies that they select or that the York County Budget Committee selects. The Board agreed the Town should take care of this within the Town and decide what agencies we want to support within the Town.
- Letter from David Anderson – Re: The Firefighter Academy through York County Chief’s Association.
David Anderson sent a letter to let the Board know he has completed the Firefighting Academy through York County Chiefs Association. David did very well in the program and the Board congratulates him on this achievement.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Libby reported that he has been reviewing Articles for Town Meeting and trying to anticipate what questions might come up on them. He said there are a lot of resumes and Emails coming in.
Selectman Harmon attended the SAD 6 District Budget Meeting at the Middle School. She said it was lengthy and she was disappointed that answers given to her on several questions she asked were very vague. She encouraged everyone to get out and vote Tuesday.
Selectman Harmon has also been working on preparation for the upcoming Town Meeting, talking with John Myers about the Tax Levy Limit, talking with Marilyn Holland, our Accounts Payable Clerk about upcoming year end issues, and mentioned a lot of correspondence coming in. She congratulated the seniors of the Class of 2012 on their upcoming graduation.
Selectman Emery said resumes have been coming in steadily and he has reviewed all of them for both positions that are open. He said the Board can now think of who they want on a hiring panel outside the Board so the Board can get them to look at the resumes and give their ideas.
Selectman Senechal said she has been catching up on all her work from last week. She said she spent about 3 hours reading Emails and is completely caught up on reading all the resumes for both positions.
Selectman Senechal reported that Summer Camp for children in Town starts June 18 and runs 7 weeks. The Summer Camp people will take 3 field trips each week to various places. All staff is First Aid and CPR Certified and have a background check done before they are hired. For more information go to buxtonrec.com or talk to Tashia. Community Days will be July 20 & 21, and Fireworks will be on July 22.
Selectman Burns said he was pleased with the turnout at the SAD 6 School Budget Validation Meeting Thursday night. There were 186 votes cast on the first Article and 107 votes on the last Article. He said that was the first part now we need everyone to vote on June 12.
Selectman Emery said he also attended the School District Budget Validation Meeting and said it was lengthy.
The Board is reviewing the Personnel Policy.
None.
E.O.111206003 – An order to approve a Pole Permit for Central Maine Power Company and Saco River Telephone, LLC to construct and maintain one pole on Upper Egypt Road, 57 feet Northerly starting from pole number 2 in accordance with Notification 300975166 and Work Order 1000439134. Approved 5-0.
E.O.111206004 – An order to rescind E.O.111205034 appointing three Deputy Chiefs to be in charge of Buxton Fire & Rescue until further notice, and to appoint Greg Jones as Acting Chief until a new Buxton Fire Chief is appointed. Approved 5-0.
E.O.111206005 – An order to approve the hiring of Michael H. Nourse as a full time police officer at a pay rate of $18.27 per hour starting June 12, 2012. Approved 5-0.
E.O.111206006 – An order to approve the following Victualers’ Licenses: Chicopee Market; Goodheart’s Pizza Parlor; Timberline Country Store. Approved 5-0.
E.O.111206007 – An order to approve 32 hours Vacation Time for Michael Grovo. Approved 5-0.
E.O.111206008 – An order to approve an Abatement for Real Estate Taxes for fiscal year 2011/12, in the amount of $2650.19 for [Map 2, Lot 81-1A]. Approved 5-0.
E.O.111206009 – An order to approve the termination of the Agreement with Accounts Receivable Management of Maine effective July 6, 2012. Approved 5-0.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O.111206010 – An order to adopt an Accounts Payable Policy on reissuing checks effective June 6, 2012. Approved 5-0.
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.111206001 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #111. Approved 5-0. This Warrant was $55,400.
E.O.111205030 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant
#109 and #110. Approved 5-0.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, June 13, 2012, at 7 PM.
Planning Board Meeting will be Monday, June 11, at 7 PM in the small conference room at Town Hall.
The Comprehensive Plan Committee will meet for a workshop Tues., Wed., and Thurs., June 12, 13, and 14, at 6 PM in the small conference room to continue tallying the results of their recent survey.
The Public Works crew will be attending the Maine D. O. T. Highway Congress on Thursday, June 7.
There are two positions open on the Planning Board in addition to the two listed on the Ballot for June 12. Two people have expressed interest and the Board is planning to meet with each of them next Wednesday.
Absentee Ballots are available at Town Hall.
Secret Ballot Voting and Maine Primary & Referendum Elections, and the SAD 6 District Budget Validation Referendum Election will be Tuesday, June 12. Polls will open 6 AM to 8 PM.
Annual Town Business Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 16, starting at 9 AM.
Benefit Bean Supper Saturday, June 16, 4:30-6 PM at Buxton Community Food Coop on Route 22 in Buxton Center. Cost is $7/Adults, $3/children under age 12. This is a benefit for someone in our community who was injured and is unable to work at this time.
- Public Comments and Questions
Adam Ricci shared information on the Humane Society’s conference he recently attended in Las Vegas and some programs he is working on bringing into the community. He said he will keep the Board posted.
Larry Miller, a School Board Member, spoke about the District Budget Meeting that occurred on May 31. He spoke about some of the Articles and complaints that came up at the meeting. He reported that the budget that was approved at that meeting was $101,000 lower than what the School Board proposed and said that will reduce Buxton’s school assessment by approximately $27,600.
Mr. Miller said if the school budget fails on June 12 the School Board will have to consider what if any changes to recommend and whether to put the Warrant for the next District Budget Meeting in open format, or leave it in the closed format. If it were an open format he said it would permit the Board’s recommendations to be raised by a majority of the voters which would likely lead to increased tax assessments for the Town. He encouraged voters to vote yes on the June 12 budget question.
Selectman Burns asked Larry Miller to talk about the second question on the ballot. Mr. Miller read the question and a discussion followed about what a yes vote would mean. Mr. Miller explained that the law requires voter approval for demolition of the old buildings. In his opinion a yes vote would authorize that but it would not require the District to do that. He said a no vote means that the district could not tear them down.
Selectman Emery said he was led to believe a yes vote would mean that the buildings would go away if another agreement was not reached by November.
Mr. Miller stated his opinion again and said he suspects that if the District has to pay for utilities for another heating season, electricity, and insurance for property that is not being used for any purpose at all, there should be a lot of unhappy voters.
Dennis Sweatt spoke about the Hanson School and the vote last year to tear it down. He said the District had permission to tear it down and did not so he would like to know what portion of the budget this year is being used to heat, light, clean, and maintain the building.
Selectman Burns said $150,000 in the current budget was for the demolition of one building in Buxton and one in Hollis. The buildings were not torn down and some of that $150,000 was probably used for that.
Dennis Sweatt asked what it is going to cost next year and Selectman Burns said there is a budget line for “Hanson District” and there is $50,000 in the proposed budget for demolition for the old Central Office should that get approved.
Mr. Miller clarified the vote taken a couple years ago was to give approval to close the school and no longer use it for educational purposes. He said closing does not mean or authorize demolition. He explained what is in the building now, what areas are closed off or used for storage, and future use.
Dennis Sweatt commented said the word “demolition” was in there and since the building was reported to have mold and other issues he is very surprised that all of a sudden people are occupying the building and we are continuing to spend money on it.
Dennis Sweatt asked if the Police Officer just hired is a new position or replacing someone.
The Selectmen said it is a replacement.
Dennis Sweatt talked about Article 4 and the number of lots that will be affected and how they are being taxed.
Selectman Libby explained that it is the property owner’s responsibility if there is a problem to check the property tax card and see what he is paying for. He said it is up to the owner to look it up and ask questions. If someone has a problem with a piece of property as far as the assessment on it, the amount of land or whatever improvements there may be on it, they should be in her asking questions.
Dennis Sweatt asked why anyone would question it if they have been grandfathered as buildable lots.
Selectman Libby explained the land may be taxed as raw or undeveloped land at a much reduced tax rate. He said the property owner should ask for a permit and if the building inspector says no, he should go straight to the assessor and expect the taxes to go back to raw land.
Selectman Emery talked about Ordinances that are in place and said that how the Town votes is how it functions. If the people of the community vote to change something, they did it, not the Board of Selectmen. He said if you do not agree, as a taxpayer you have the right to challenge that and can ask for an Administrative Appeal.
Jeremiah Ross, Vice Chairman on the Planning Board explained that the majority of the Planning Board voted for the change. He talked about the appeals process and said the change will affect 23 of the 3500 lots in the Town of Buxton. He said in a recent case, there was an appeal for a lot that was less than the 40,000 sq. feet and did not meet the buildable requirement area, the square footage area, and the Board of Appeals granted the appeal. He explained that there was a public meeting, this item was on the agenda, and they debated it. Six Board members attended and the vote was 6-0 in favor of the change.
Henry Huntley spoke in opposition to Article 4 and encouraged people to vote against it. He said he is in favor of everything except the sentence changing the square footage from 20,000 to 40,000 for grandfathered lots.
Chief Mike Grovo provided statistics on the 388 calls that came in May 22 through June 2. He provided information on the Fireworks Ordinance and what is legal to use and what is not legal. He urged people to call the Police Department if they have questions.
None.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 8:11 p.m. Approved 5-0.
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