Town of Buxton
Minutes for February 6, 2013 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Dianne M. Senechal, Clifford L. Emery, Robert C. Libby, Jean C. Harmon, Penny J. Booker.
Others Present: Darren Mercier, David Harmon
Meeting Agenda
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes January 16, 2013. Approved 3-2.
Selectmen Meeting Minutes January 30, 2013. Approved 3-2.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:00 PM Fred Farnham, our Code Enforcement Officer, came in to go over his budget for fiscal year 2013/14.
At 5:05 PM the Board went into Executive Session for 1 M.R.S.A. 405 6 (A) and came out of session at 5:16 PM.
At 5:17 PM the Board went back into Executive Session for 1 M.R.S.A. 405 6 (A) and they came out of session at 5:21 PM.
A resident came in to ask about ISO. Selectman Senechal said that our Fire Chief is working on it. It is not going to happen overnight; there are lots of components to it and he is attacking those that do not require money first.
The Trustees of Town Farm Park, our Recreation Director and a resident who sells playground equipment came in to talk about the park which received a Grant from Narragansett Number One Foundation for a playground. They showed the Selectmen plans for the playground and equipment. They are going to try to get the playground in by the end of April.
- Email from Nina Chabot – Re: Meeting of Legislators & Municipal Officials Saturday, February 9, 2013.
Selectman Senechal said the meeting may end up getting cancelled due to the snowstorm.
- Reminder from Central Maine Power about year-round work that they do to reduce outages. If anyone has a question they can contact Nicholas Hahn at 207-621-3942.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Libby said he has been concentrating on the budget this week. He attended the three hour workshop Monday night and also reported that the Board has started interviews with Department Heads on their budgets.
Selectman Harmon has also been reviewing budgets and noted that quite a few have come in as well as some of the Department Head budgets. She commented on the workshop Monday night. The selectmen went through the whole Personnel Manual without interruption. Selectman Harmon said Penny is going to make the changes they agreed on and give the Board another draft that will be sent to our attorney for review.
Selectman Emery gave a lengthy report on the York County Budget and the impact of going from a calendar year to a fiscal year budget. It will cost the Town of Buxton an extra $40,000 a year for the next five years. Selectman Emery said if municipalities lose Revenue Sharing, Buxton would lose approximately $550,000 a year. He added that cost along with the result of other changes the Governor has proposed, factored in what we know at this point about the school budget, and found that it can add $2.00 to $3.00 to our mil rate. He and other town officials hoped to meet with the County Commissioners to ask them if they would hold off on changing the County budget until the towns can see exactly what is coming down from the State.
The York County Commissioners met tonight and decided not to have that discussion. They went into Executive Session and made the decision to move forward with the budget change.
Selectman Emery said he had a call from a gentleman who lives on Simpson Road and they had a lengthy conversation about the condition of the road. This morning he drove down the road and believes that the major issues are related to culverts that were not properly installed. They have dropped and made those areas rough. There are also some breakdowns on the outside lip of the road. Selectman Emery met with Tom Kennie at Public Works and they talked about a program for Simpson Road and Atkinson Road which also needs some attention. They agreed that these are the two roads the Town will probably spend paving money on this year to make sure we bring them back so we do not lose these roads.
Selectman Booker reported that the Board had a good meeting Monday night when they worked on the Personnel Policy. She has also been reading budgets and said that the first Budget Committee meeting went very well. She has been in every day this week.
Selectman Senechal talked about the Personnel Policy and said the Board has taken things out that we do not do so the document will reflect how personnel matters are done here in the town. She thanked Penny Booker for making the revisions for the next round and said she thinks the Board will be ready to send the manual off to the attorney once that is done.
Selectman Senechal said she has been handling some correspondence and working on budgets like everybody else has been. She said the majority of the Board’s time for the next month or two will be spent on budgets.
Personnel Policy – In process and almost finished.
None
E.O. 121302003 – An order to appoint Randall Porter to the position of a Trustee to the Estes Park to be effective until December 31, 2016. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121302004 – An order to appoint John Myers to the position of Public Access Officer to be effective until replaced. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121302005 – An order to approve the hire of Elizabeth Faulkner as a full-time Dispatcher starting February 10, 2013, at a pay rate of $17.67 per hour. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121302006 – An order to approve the hire of Thomas England as a part-time Dispatcher starting January 30, 2013, at a pay rate of $14.36 per hour. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121302007 – An order to approve the hire of Kevin Morton as a part-time Dispatcher starting January 30, 2013, at a pay rate of $14.36 per hour. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121302008 – An order to approve the hire of Amanda Nguyen as a part-time Dispatcher starting January 30, 2013, at a pay rate of $14.36 per hour. Approved 5-0.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None.
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O.121302001 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #70. Approved 5-0.
E.O.121302002 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #69. Approved 5-0.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Board of Selectmen Meeting for Workshop Thursday, February 7, at 11:00 AM.
Board of Selectmen Meeting for Workshop Monday, February 11, at 1:00 PM.
Planning Board Meeting Monday, February 11, at 7:00 PM.
Budget Committee Meeting Tuesday, February 12, at 6:00 PM.
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, February 3, 2013, at 7:00 PM.
None.
- Public Comments and Questions
None.
None.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 7:26 PM. Approved 5-0.
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