Town of Buxton
Minutes for October 30, 2013 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Clifford L. Emery, Jean C. Harmon, Penny J. Booker
Robert C. Libby and Peter E. W. Burns were absent.
Others Present: Michael Grovo
Public Hearing – Adopt MMA 2013 General Assistance Ordinance & Amendments to General Assistance Ordinance Appendix B – 7:00 PM
The Chair of the Board, Clifford L. Emery, read the Public Hearing Notice and opened the meeting at 7:04 PM.
Chairman Emery provided an explanation of the changes that involve an update to the ordinance incorporating the new legislative changes and slight decreases in Appendices B, the maximum limits for food.
There were no comments or questions from the public and the meeting closed at 7:04
Meeting Agenda
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes October 23, 2013
Approved 3-0-2
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:30 Chief Grovo came in to update the Board on a couple of issues and get their thoughts and feedback on closing Pleasant Point Park and whether or not the Board is going to leave the gate to the parking lot open to allow it to be plowed or keep it closed for the winter months.
The selectmen discussed a couple of payroll glitches that occurred in the past couple weeks, and needed to get some clarification to clear those up.
A resident came in to discuss a tax issue which they talked about and resolved.
- Email from Maine CDC – Influenza has arrived in Maine
- Press Release from Senator Collins Office – Re: The Senator’s office hours at Buxton Town Hall will be Wednesday, November 6, 2013, from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. A staff member will be available to provide assistance with federal issues and agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs and the IRS. No appointment necessary. All conversations are strictly confidential.
- Email from Eric Hobson, Unit Committee Secretary for the Buxton Boy Scout Troop #349 – Re: Boy Scout Troop Visit
- Email from a Resident – Re: General questions regarding placement of mailboxes
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Harmon reported that with much help from our Tax Collector, LeeAnn Pratt, and Selectman Bob Libby providing a lot of insight and background information, the Municipal Valuation Return is done and ready to send off to the State tomorrow. Selectman Harmon said this is the first time she has done this report so it took a lot of time. She said she made notes on her copy to help whoever does the report next year.
Selectman Harmon has been in the office most every day. In addition to the Valuation Return she has been working on a couple of issues that have come up and some resident issues. She reminded everyone to be mindful of little ones out Trick or Treating tomorrow night.
Selectman Booker commented on how diligently Selectman Harmon worked on the state report for the past seven to ten days and said she did a great job on it.
Selectman Booker is still working with the Maine Department of Labor. They have asked for some additional information and she has been going back and forth with Department Heads trying making sure she has everything on that. Earlier in the week she talked with Beverly Gammon to get some clarification on General Assistance changes, and she has been working on some abatements and exemptions. She mentioned that Steve Heroux was in from the Board of Appeals. He was just looking for some clarification on an issue the Board had with a resident a while ago so they got that information to him as well.
Selectman Emery has been working out of Town. He said he had some conversations with a woman at Pine Tree Waste. She is going to put some numbers together to see where we are now and will get back to him sometime next week to set up a plan to meet with the Board sometime in November. Selectman Emery has been going over mail and working on a couple of other projects.
Selectman Emery said the Board is going to be having a workshop sometime in November to go over a list of items that he has been gathering. The list includes the Internal Control Document. Selectman Emery said the Board has a lot of information from some of our Department Heads and our auditor on some things they need to look at.
The Board is going to try to meet with the Planning Board to talk about a Liquor License Application Ordinance that will give more authority to the Police Department, Fire Department and Code Enforcement Officer to make sure when the applications are brought forth that the Board has input from those departments verifying that all of the items that need to be dealt with by each establishment have been done. Selectman Emery said he has an ordinance from another community that has a lot of Liquor Licenses and the Board is going to present that to the Planning Board to look at.
Selectman Harmon noted that Greg Heffernan wanted to make some minor changes to the Solid Waste Ordinance and our Tax Collector has proposed an ordinance that would require payment of personal property taxes before giving them any type of permit.
Selectman Emery suggested getting a list so they can start the dialogue at their workshop and start to work on those items after they finish the Internal Control Document.
No new business.
E.O. 131410051 – An order to approve an Application for a Veteran Exemption for [Map 8, Lot 20A-31]
Approved 3-0-2
E.O. 131410052 – An order to approve an Application for a Widow Exemption for [Map 7, Lot 11]
Approved 3-0-2
E.O. 131410053 – An order to approve an Application for a Veteran Exemption for [Map 9, Lot 47-48]
Approved 3-0-2
E.O. 131410054 – An order to approve an Application for a Veteran Exemption for [Map 2, Lot 91B]
Approved 3-0-2
E.O. 131410055 – An order to award the town’s fuel contract to PitStop Fuels, Inc., for the term November 1, 2013 through October 31, 2016, at the bid price of Global Rack +.15 on gasoline, diesel, heating oil and K-1; and PitStop Rack +.10 on propane
Approved 3-0-2
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O. 131410056 – An order to adopt the MMA 2013 General Assistance Ordinance
Approved 3-0-2
E.O. 131410057 – An order to adopt GA Appendices B for the period November 1, 2013 – September 30, 2014
Approved 3-0-2
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E. O. 131410049– An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #42
Approved 3-0-2
E. O. 131410050 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #41
Approved 3-0-2
- Next Meeting of the Board
Polls will be open for the State of Maine Referendum Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, from 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
Board of Appeals Meeting Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 7:00 PM
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, November 6, 2013, at 7:00 PM
There will be a Public Hearing Wednesday, November 13, 2013, at 7:00 PM on a Notice of Unsafe Structure
There will be a Public Hearing November 20, 2013, at 7:00 PM on a Liquor License Renewal for Kevin & Sundae Fallen, The Roost Inc., D/B/A Personal Touch Catering
Rabies Vaccination Clinic Saturday, December 7, 2013, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Buxton Public Works Garage. Cost is $8.00 per vaccination – CASH ONLY. All dogs must be brought in on a leash and all cats must be in carriers. For faster service please bring the previous rabies vaccination certificate. Anyone from any community is welcome to attend. For more information call the Buxton Town Hall at 929-6171. The clinic is sponsored by the Hollis Animal Clinic, the Towns of Buxton & Hollis and the Vacationland Dog Club.
- Public Comments and Questions
Chief Grovo went over call statistics for last week and talked about several burglaries in the
area. He asked everyone to be alert, and report anything that looks suspicious
Chief Grovo reported on the successful Drug Take-Back Initiative that took place on Saturday and noted that the State of Maine collected 16,520 pounds of drugs. He talked about some anti bullying/anti drugs programs at the Middle School that the Police Department has been participating in over the past two days, some items they have handed out to the children, and demonstrations with drunk goggles that they will be doing tomorrow as well.
Selectman Emery said he was asked to read a letter from a resident cautioning residents to check the acreage on their tax bills and make sure it agrees with the deed.
Selectman Harmon reminded us that it is the responsibility of the property owner to check the property record card to make sure that information is correct.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 7:36 PM. Approved 3-0-2
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