Town of Buxton
Minutes for August 7, 2013 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Clifford L. Emery, Jean C. Harmon, Penny J. Booker, Peter E. W. Burns
Robert C. Libby was absent.
Others Present: Mike Grovo, Tom Kennie, Mark Coosard
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes for July 31, 2013
Approved 4-0-1
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:00 Chief Mike Grovo came in and the Board went into Executive Session pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. 405 (6) (A). The Board came out of Executive Session at 5:45 PM.
LeeAnn Pratt, our Tax Collector, came in to talk with the Board about tax bills that will be going out very soon. Along with the tax bills there will be a lot of other information regarding dog licenses, upcoming Recreation programs, and the Rescue Subscription Form.
Tom Kennie, our Public Works Director, came in and went over job applications we already received. Applications will continue to come in until Friday, August 9th. At that time they will review all the applications, decide which applicants they want to interview, then set the interviews up within the next week or so.
- State House news Update from Representative Donald Marean
- Maine Municipal Association’s Report on State Budget Surplus
- Email from Buxton-Hollis Historical Society
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Harmon has been in every day. She mentioned the Board’s Workshop last night and thought it was productive. They talked about the Transfer Station, consideration of the Town of Hollis, the Safety Training Plan, and the West Buxton Public Library roof. Today she sat down with David Anderson who drafted the Safety Training Plan that the Board looked at. He has made the changes that the Board talked about and has given her a second draft that she will route around to make sure it covers everything they wanted to address.
Last week the Board mentioned talking with a resident who has an issue with his private well. Selectman Harmon contacted D.O.T. Thursday and on Friday she and Fred Farnham met with him at that gentleman’s house to take a water sample. The D.O. T. Representative is going to get back to them.
Selectman Burns reported that he has been in reading resumes for the Public Works position and discussing some carry-forwards and accounts that the Board has to reconcile. He said a School Board member came in last Friday with an update on the finance meeting that SAD #6 had to explain how they plan to handle the $619,250 that the State sent back to the district after the budget closed. It is his understanding that Bill Brockman is going to meet with elected officials in all the SAD 6 towns and make the same presentation so they will have an understanding of what the school’s plan is. Selectman Burns talked about some of the options and said he is anxious to hear the presentation to elected officials so they can all hear about the school’s plan.
Selectman Booker reported having a discussion with someone who was interested in being a Trustee on the Pleasant Point Park Committee in the fall. She said there is another person who is also interested but the Board is waiting to hear back from her. Selectman Booker was in the park last week and talked about how nice it was there. She said she has also been in the office reviewing resumes, dealing with budgets, and she attended the Workshop last night.
Last Friday Selectman Emery went down on Route 112 to look at the situation with the resident’s well and said he and Fred Farnham had a long discussion Monday morning about what they saw and perceived the problem to be.
While Selectman Emery was in the office Monday, he took a call from a resident who was upset about the length of time it took for our rescue to get from Bar Mills to his home. Chief Schools also contacted the resident and Selectman Emery said they all came to the same conclusion and the resident seemed pleased with what he heard. Selectman Emery said he told the resident that the final decision on where services are is one that the Fire-Rescue Chief will make because he is the one who knows where help is, where equipment needs to be, and how we react to different things in the community. Selectman Emery asked the resident to write a letter expressing his concerns so we will have it on file.
Selectman Emery mentioned the Board’s Workshop last night. He had a list of things they needed to discuss and thought it was a good meeting. One of the things they talked about was the Mil rate. He said the Board did not come to a final decision last night but talked about where they think they may be. There are a few more things they have to look at before they finalize that and expect to be reporting the final rate to the people in the very near future.
Safety Training Plan – The Board discussed this at length at their Workshop and Selectman Harmon talked to David Anderson who is going to be working with them on the program. It needs some fine tuning but after that it should be in place.
Personnel Policy – The Board hoped to finish the policy at their Workshop last night. It is actually finished but needs a final stamp of approval from each of the selectmen. Selectman Libby was not at the Workshop.
None
E.O. 131408003 – An order to approve 16 hours of vacation time for Tashia Pinkham
E.O. 131408004 – An order to approve 8 hours vacation time for Greg Heffernan
E.O. 131408005 – An order to deny a Poverty Abatement for Case #PA 13-005
E.O. 131408006 – An order to adopt Rules of the Board for the 2013/2014 fiscal year
- Executive Orders by Initiative
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E. O. 131408001 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Accounts Payable Warrant #15, and #116
E. O. 131408002 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #14
- Next Meeting of the Board
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at 7:00 PM
There will be a Twelve Town Group meeting on Monday, August 12, 2013, at 6:30 PM, in the Waterboro Town Hall.
There is a job opening in our Public Works Department for a Laborer/Equipment Operator. A job description and other information about the job has been posted on the town website and on www.JobsinME.com. Resume and cover letter should be directed to the Board of Selectmen, 185 Portland Road, Buxton, ME 04093. Deadline for applications will be 4:00 PM, August 9, 2013.
There are two vacant positions on the Planning Board and one vacancy on the Budget Committee. If interested in any of these positions, please send a letter of interest to the Board of Selectmen, 185 Portland Road, Buxton, ME 04093 or stop in, leave your name and contact information and we will set up a time for you to meet with the Board.
- Public Comments and Questions
Chief Grovo thanked folks who came out last weekend to Aubuchon Hardware and donated money. He said it was a great time and there were a lot of people there.
This is the first year that the Police Department had a Dunk Tank at Buxton Community Days to raise money for Keep the Heat On. Chief Grovo said they raised $105.00 and hope to do it again next year. He thanked the Town’s Department Heads for donating their time to sit in the tank.
Chief Grovo is setting up interviews on August 15, 2013 for Animal Control and reserve positions and invited someone from the Board joining them.
SAD 6 notified Chief Grovo that they are having a Safety Committee Meeting on Friday, August 16, 2013.
The next prescription drug take back initiative is scheduled for October 26th.
There were 456 calls that came in last week and Chief Grovo went over a summary of what the calls were for. He also read a letter from a Buxton resident who thanked the Police Department and recognized some officers for stopping a speeder on her road. Chief Grovo thanked the resident for taking time to write the letter. He said it means a lot to him and to the officers.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:26 PM
Approved 5-0-0
| 
