Town of Buxton
Minutes for August 15, 2012 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Dianne M. Senechal, Clifford Emery, Robert C. Libby, Jean C. Harmon, Penny J. Booker.
Others Present: Marilyn Hopkins, Jack Hanna, Peter Burns, Charisse Keach
Meeting Agenda
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes August 8, 2012. Approved 3-0-2.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Our Treasurer, Charisse Keach, came in to inform the Board about the banking bids. Six banks submitted proposals and the committee narrowed it down to three. The Board will be doing an Executive Order later in the meeting.
A gentleman came in and talked with the Board about trucks on Fountain Street.
The Selectmen had a short discussion on Hot Bituminous bids which they will award tonight.
- Email from Tony Vigue – Re: Saco River Cable-TV Equipment List.
Selectman Senechal said this message is notifying the Town that Time Warner is now making a move to begin negotiations to sign the contract with Saco River Cable Television. Our representative is in the audience tonight and will fill us in later.
- Health Alert from Maine Public Health – Re: Emerging bacterial infection from deer ticks.
- Email from Michael Edgecomb, Director of Government Relations for Time Warner Cable – Re: Account Number Change for Time Warner Cable Customers
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Libby has been working on the Municipal Valuation Report for the State, along with Email messages and requests for abatements.
Mr. Libby said with the real estate market being what it is, people have expected a reduction in property valuation. The Town, in conjunction with Bob Gingras, our appraiser, made the decision to take 20% off the value of land which will amount to about a 10% overall reduction. The tax rate will have to compensate for the reduction but this will put the Town more closely in line with real estate sales that have been made over the last year and a half.
Selectman Harmon was on the Committee to review the banking bids. She spent a considerable amount of time Monday with the committee interviewing three of the banks that sent bids. She thanked Charisse Keach for the enormous amount of work that went into the preparation for that, checking all the references, and following up on other questions. Charisse, John Myers and Marilyn Holland were also on the committee. Jean said they put a lot of time and a lot of thought into the process and she thanked each of them.
Selectman Emery was on vacation the past two weeks but he called in to make sure he kept up with what was going on. He has been catching up on mail and resumes for the Public Works position. He thanked everyone who dealt with the banks and all the institutions that took time to submit proposals, and all the time and money they spent doing that. He said the Town really appreciates that.
Selectman Booker has been reviewing mail and reading public works applications. She has been trying to get in as often as she can during lunch hour from her other job, trying to keep up with what’s going on and coming back in the evening to check mail. She said she had the chance to discuss the 20% reduction in land valuations, has seen a couple of abatement applications come through, and has been discussing the banking bids. She said that Charisse did a great job.
Last week Selectman Senechal reported that the parking lots had been paved however, the parking lots were actually sealed, not paved, and cracks were filled. She said it looked dark like paving and she just used the wrong word for it. She apologized if she misled anyone last week by saying they were paved.
Selectman Senechal said there was a spike this week in applications for the Public Works job that will be posted until August 22. She was impressed with the discussion tonight regarding the banking bids and thanked Charisse and the committee for doing a wonderful job.
Personnel Policy – The Board set a tentative date of September 11 to workshop on the manual.
The Board will review the Internal Control Document next.
There is a vacant position on the Planning Board. If anyone is interested, please send a letter to the Board of Selectmen, or Email selectsecbuxton@sacoriver.net
Hazardous Waste Day will be Saturday, October 6, 2012 from 10 AM ~ 2 PM. This is a free service for Buxton residents only. Commercial or industrial waste will not be accepted. Items containing mercury are accepted all year long for free. It is saved and put into the hazardous waste.
E.O.121308010 – An order to approve the abatement of a Supplemental Tax Warrant and Certificate for tax year 2009 in the amount of $1,143.45 for [Map 2, Lot 97]. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121308011 – An order to approve Charisse Keach’s attendance at a General Ledger Balancing workshop. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121308012 – An order to approve 8 hours vacation time for Gregory Heffernan. Approved 5-0.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O.121308013 – An order to award the Hot Bituminous bid to Dayton Sand & Gravel at a price of $64.89 per ton. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121308014 – An order to deny a Poverty Abatement Application for Case No. PA12-003. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121308015 – An order to award the banking services bid to Bank of Maine for a period of three years effective August 29, 2012.
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.121308008 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #124 and #14. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121308009 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #13. Approved 5-0.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Twelve Town Group Meeting Monday, August 20, 2012, at 6:30 PM at Waterboro Town Hall.
Board of Selectmen meeting Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at 7 PM.
There is an opening for a highway worker in our Public Works Department. This is a full time position with benefits. You can find more information about the job on the Town’s web site, in the Smart Shopper, or at www.jobsinme.com.
Selectman Harmon was happy to report that work on Back Nippen Road is finished.
Selectman Emery said that was more of a project than was anticipated. It was the first good sized project that our Public Works Director took on and Mr. Emery said they did a professional, excellent job.
- Public Comments and Questions
Marilyn Hopkins introduced herself as Assistant Vice President of Sanford Institution for Savings, and Manager of the Buxton Branch. They were one of the banks that participated in the bid process and Marilyn said although they were not selected they know there are a whole lot of other factors that go into those decisions. She thanked the Town for taking time to review their bid. They handle several ancillary accounts for the Town and she said they welcome that opportunity. She expressed appreciation and graciously thanked the Town again for taking time to review their bid
Peter Burns spoke about the great job Public Works did on Back Nippen Road and he also commented on how nice the monument looks in Groveville.
Mr. Burns talked about the many Email messages from Tony Vigue and went on to explain in detail the contract negotiation process with Time Warner. He said we are very fortunate to have Tony because he watches all the rulings that have gone on and all the things the cable companies have tried to do.
Dianne Senechal asked Mr. Burns to tell us how Saco River Cable Television is funded and how we get fees on that.
Peter Burns explained that on every Time Warner Cable Television bill there is a 5% franchise fee. That fee is divided up based on the number of subscribers in each town and portioned back to the town. Buxton takes in $60,000 - $80,000 every year. We keep part of it here and pay a portion of it ($6,000-$7,000 per year) to the operation in Hollis to fund this broadcast, Planning Board meetings and other meetings.
Mr. Burns continued with an in depth explanation of the franchise negotiation process and the equipment needed to upgrade our system. He closed by saying that he hopes the contract will be signed soon.
None.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 7:31 p.m. Approved 5-0.
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