Town of Buxton
Minutes for October 9, 2013 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Clifford L. Emery, Robert C. Libby, Jean C. Harmon, Penny J. Booker, Peter E. W. Burns
Others Present: Michael Grovo, Jack Hanna, Robert Elwell, Shawn Surette, David Harmon
Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 7:20 PM.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes for October 2, 2013
Approved 5-0-0
Selectman Harmon spoke about going with Selectman Booker last Thursday to the Maine Municipal Association’s Annual Convention at the Augusta Civic Center to support John Myers who was being recognized as incoming President of the Maine Town & City Clerks’ Association. Selectman Emery showed the plaque that was presented to John for that service and a plaque that was also presented to the Town of Buxton in recognition of the Town’s support for the Association and John Myers as the new President of that Association. To his surprise, John Myers also received the Ethelyn Stuart Marthia Award in memory of Ethelyn Stuart Marthia who John served with for several years.
John Myers talked briefly about working with Ethelyn Stuart Marthia and because of that, he said the award is very special to him. He expressed appreciation for the awards.
In addition to those awards, the Town of Buxton was awarded third place in Maine Municipal Association’s Annual Town Report Competition.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:20 PM the Board went into Executive Session per 1 M.R.S.A. §405 (6) (D). The Board came out of Executive Session at 5:23 PM.
At 5:30 John Myers met with the Board to discuss a personnel issue.
At 6:00 PM two residents came in and talked with the Board about a tax issue with them.
The Selectmen spent the rest of their time signing documents and going over accounts payable and payroll.
- Email from Maine Municipal Association – Re: Solid Waste Management Panel
- Maine Public Health Alert – Re: Post Exposure to Hepatitis A Virus
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Libby has been working with Selectman Harmon on the Real Estate Sales Ratio Report which he said is coming along well. He took some time and went over supplements and abatements that had been done previously and discussed the police union contract with the other selectmen, and talked with them about some other issues.
Selectman Harmon has been calculating the percentage of sales ratios and said she is going to have Selectman Libby check her math to make sure it is right. She mentioned going to Augusta with Selectman Booker last Thursday to see John Myers get sworn in as incoming President of the Maine Town & City Clerks’ Association. The rest of the week she worked on day-to-day issues. She is going to start working on the Valuation Report with Selectman Libby’s help to guide her along.
Selectman Burns has been in every day. He completed the final editing of the Buxton Cable TV Franchise Contract with Time Warner and he said after four and a half years the Board is now ready to address that with an Executive Order later in this meeting.
Selectman Booker congratulated John Myers on being the new President of the Maine Town & City Clerks’ Association. Much of her time the past week was spent following up on the Department of Labor citations that we needed to address and correspondence that needed to go out in the mail this week.
Selectman Emery has been working out of town but called in to keep up with things that have been going on and to give input when it was needed. He thanked Selectman Burns for the work he has done on the Franchise Agreement. Mr. Burns served on the committee for about two and a half years before and even when he was not a Selectman he was the Board’s designee and continued serving on the Town’s behalf. Selectman Emery expressed the Board’s appreciation and thanked Selectman Burns for all the work he has done.
Personnel Policy – The Board expects to adopt the final policy at their meeting next week.
Selectman Harmon mentioned the Internal Control Document and the selectmen agreed that they need to tackle that next.
E.O. 131410017 – An order to approve 32 hours of vacation time for Tashia Pinkham
Approved 5-0-0
E.O. 131410018 – An order to approve an Application for a Veteran Exemption for [Map 9, Lot 21-8]
Approved 5-0-0
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O. 131410019 – An order to ratify the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Town of Buxton and the Buxton Police Association/Maine Association of Police for the Dispatchers and Police Officers for the term of July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Approved 5-0-0
E.O. 131410020 – An order to enter into a franchise agreement between the Town of Buxton and Time Warner Cable Northeast LLC. This franchise agreement shall be known as the “Buxton Cable Television Franchise.” The term of this agreement is 15 years from the date of signing by both parties. Buxton will receive 5% of the Cable TV fees paid by Buxton subscribers as well as a onetime payment of PEG grant money totaling $18,316.29
Approved 5-0-0
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E. O. 131410015 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #35
Approved 5-0-0
E. O. 131410016 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #34
Approved 5-0-0
- Next Meeting of the Board
Planning Board Meeting Monday, October 14, 2013, at 7:00 PM
Twelve Town Group Meeting Monday, October 14, 2013 at the Waterboro Town Hall at 6:30 PM
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, October 16, 2013, at 7:00 PM
Buxton Town Office will be closed Monday, October 14, 2013, for Columbus Day and the Transfer Station will be closed Tuesday, October 15, 2013. There will be no change in the curbside trash pickup schedule next week.
There are two vacant positions on the Planning Board and one on the Budget Committee. If anyone is interested, please send a letter of interest to the Board of Selectmen, 185 Portland Road, Buxton, Maine 04093, or stop in and leave your name and contact information so we can set up a time for you to meet with the Board.
There will be a Flu Shot Clinic at Buxton Town Hall Friday, October 18, 2013, from 12:15 – 1:00 PM for town employees and from 1:00 ~ 2:00 PM for the public. Please remember to bring your insurance card with you.
Buxton Town Hall Blood Drive Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at 1:00 PM ~ 6:00 PM at 185 Portland Road. Please call 1-800-RED CROSS to make an appointment.
The town is soliciting bids for a three-year contract to supply the town with fuel. More detailed information is available for pick-up at the Town Office or you can email a request to selectsec buxton@sacoriver.net. Bids must be presented to the Board of Selectmen, 185 Portland Road, Buxton, Maine 04093 in sealed envelopes plainly marked “Fuel Bid”, and must be received no later than 4:00 PM, Tuesday, October 15, 2013. The
Town of Buxton reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
We are also soliciting bids for Lawn Mowing & Trimming Services for 2014 – 2016.
A copy of the Contract and Bid Sheet is available for pick-up at the Town Office or you can email a request to selectsecbuxton@sacoriver.net. Bids must be presented to the Board of Selectmen, 185 Portland Road, Buxton, ME 04093 in sealed envelopes clearly marked “Lawn Mowing Bid”, and must be received no later than 4:00 PM, Wednesday, October 23, 2013. The Town of Buxton reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
- Public Comments and Questions
Chief Michael Grovo provided information about the nature of calls that Dispatch handled between September 29 and October 5. He reminded everyone that the next prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative will be on October 26 from 10:00 AM ~ 2:00 PM and at 4:00 PM that same day, at the Elementary School, the Police Department will be doing the Trick or Trunk event.
Robert Elwell asked the Board for an update on ISO.
Selectman Burns said he talked with the Fire Chief about that earlier today and the Chief said within the next month or so they will be testing the ponds for water reserve. After that he has some paperwork to do and then he will be calling for an audit to be done.
Robert Elwell asked if there is a time frame like within the next year or so.
Selectman Burns said the Fire Chief is working with a budget. There was a line item in the budget for that and he believes that within a year an audit will be done.
Robert Elwell said that is good news and it is going to help the residents on their Homeowner premiums.
Selectman Burns responded by saying that the Chief is on top of that and he knows the importance of it.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 PM
Approved 5-0-0
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