Town of Buxton
Minutes for December 18, 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: Michael Grovo
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The meeting was called to order at 7:08 PM.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes December 11, 2013
Approved 4-0-1
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
The Board discussed the upcoming budget and they talked about putting together a packet of information that they plan to relay to Department Heads in the next week or so via a memo.
The Selectmen talked about the old town garage and possibly closing the bay that is closest to the intersection and using that for the Community Cupboard and the Food Pantry. They will be looking into what the cost of doing that might be and will have someone get inside the building to do a feasibility study on that.
The Selectmen talked about a snow removal issue in West Buxton village.
They discussed the Department Heads, how smoothly the year has gone and what a great job each Department Head has done this year.
The Selectmen talked about having the Town’s Auditor in after the first of the year to go over the final draft of the audit.
The Board discussed their last Workshop that was cancelled because of a storm. Selectman Burns is going to be away for a few weeks and the Selectmen want to wait until he is back to have their next Workshop. In the meantime Selectman Emery said they have enough information so they can start working on several of the items on their list.
- Email from Saco River Community TV – Re: Documentary Announcement and cable broadcast debut of “Buxton, Maine: An American Story”
- Email from Saco River Community TV – Re: Tony Vigue honored.
The Board honored Tony Vigue for all the work he has done on the Cable Franchise Agreement. Mr. Vigue also received a Legislative Honor that was presented to him at South Portland City Hall on Monday, December 16, 2013
- Notice of Buxton Town Hall Blood Drive to be held Monday, January 6, 2014, from 1:00 ~ 6:00 PM
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Booker reported that she has been in most days, some days more than others depending on what was going on with the weather and whether or not there were other Selectmen here to talk to about some issues. She mentioned that she had a good conversation with the Director of the Transfer Station last Friday. They talked about several issues.
Selectman Booker attended the Wreaths Across America ceremony last weekend and said as usual it was very well done. She mentioned that the Scouts were there for the first time and said it was nice to see them.
Selectman Harmon has been in every day going over day-to-day things. She reported that John Myers and other Department Heads have been meeting with OTT in regards to upgrading the phones. Based on her discussions with John she said there are some questions that we need to be asking. John is checking with some others who have upgraded to see if they have had any issues.
Selectman Harmon mentioned that Buxton Toy Box is now in full swing mode and noted that we are helping a fewer number of families this year.
Selectman Harmon talked about the Public Works crew and said they have been out long hours and have done an excellent job.
Selectman Harmon mentioned the resident on Town Farm Road who had issues with her mobile home and said that there was a contingency of volunteers who went there to help. They were able to shore up the roof and get the material on there so it will be enclosed for the winter. Carrie Ross who runs a local day care had put a call out for volunteers which was very well received. She put together pictures of everyone working there that are posted outside Fred Farnham’s office. Selectman Harmon said it was a real community effort to help that resident so she will be all set for the winter.
Selectman Burns has been in most days. He received notification from Tony Vigue that the Time Warner Contract for cable TV was signed by Time Warner on December 12 and Selectman Burns said that means that within sixty days they will be sending a check to the Town for the PEG money. Buxton will receive $18, 316.29 that will go into an account that will be used to upgrade equipment for broadcasting meetings and other things that are in the contract.
Selectman Emery reported that he had a conversation with a representative from Casella Waste about a contract extension for our curbside trash pickup. He went over the contract with them in detail, made some changes in our favor and discussed it with the rest of the Board. The contract does not run out until July so he said they will get the contract put together so the Board can get that behind them after the first of the year. That will allow them to know exactly what our budget will be this year for curbside pickup and for all of our bulky waste material at the Transfer Station. Selectman Emery said he also spent a couple of hours going over the contract with the Transfer Station Manager and talking about some other things going on there.
The Selectmen are going to have a Workshop some time after Selectman Burns gets back but they will be working on some of the issues so they will be ready to go when they do have the Workshop.
The Board will be looking at use of the old Town Garage.
E.O. 131412015 – An order to approve a Pole Permit for Central Maine Power and the Town of Buxton to construct and maintain one pole at the corner of Gorham Road and Tory Hill Drive in accordance with Notification 301149593 and Work Order 1000496032. Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131412016 – An order to approve 16 hours vacation time for Tashia Pinkham.
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131412017 – An order to approve an Abatement of Real Estate taxes in the amount of $113.75 for [Map 7, Lot 62-11].
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131412018 – An order to approve an Abatement of Real Estate taxes in the amount of $325.00 for [Map 8, Lot 40B]
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131412019 – An order to approve an Abatement of Real Estate taxes in the amount of $161.25 for [Map 10, Lot 2B]
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131412020 – An order to approve 32 hours vacation time for Michael Grovo
Approved 4-0-1
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O. 131412021 – An order to update the fee schedule in the Traffic Control Ordinance dated December 18, 2013
Approved 4-0-1
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E. O. 131412013 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #56
Approved 4-0-1
E. O. 131412014 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #55
Approved 4-0-1
- Next Meeting of the Board
The next meeting of the Board will be Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at 7:00 PM. Due to the holidays the Board will not meet but will come in to sign the Payroll and Accounts Payable Warrants.
2014 Dog Licenses are due by Tuesday, December 31, 2013. Please license your dogs now to avoid paying additional fees.
Reminder: 2014 Rescue Subscriptions and renewals are effective for the period beginning January 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2014. You can sign up any time during the year.
The Buxton Town Office will be closed Wednesday, December 25.
The Buxton Transfer Station will open and close early on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, 2013. Instead of their usual hours (10:00 AM ~ 6:00 PM), they will open at 8:00 AM and close at 4:00 PM. Notices will be posted at Town Hall and the Transfer Station to remind everyone.
There will be no curbside trash pickup on Christmas or New Year’s Day. Pickup for those days will be one the following Friday (Dec. 27 & Jan. 3).
There will be a free Christmas Dinner December 25 at the Buxton Centre Baptist Church at 938 Long Plains Road. Dinner will be served from noon until 2:00 PPM. For more information call 929-3011 or 929-3060.
Don’t forget that the Texas Roadhouse is having a fundraiser for our Keep the Heat On Program which will be Saturday December 28. Flyers will be available at businesses around town and here at the Town Hall. If you go to the restaurant on that day with a flyer, or a picture of the flyer on their cell phones, 10% of your bill will be donated to Keep The Heat On.
- Public Comments and Questions
Chief Mike Grovo shared details about a very successful drug bust on Hurlin Smith Road that was a combined effort with the Drug Enforcement Agency. The case was initially started by Officer Andy Ward who is our lead Dispatcher, and Sergeant Staples headed up the investigation with DEA. Chief Grovo thanked everybody that was involved in the case.
Chief Grovo mentioned that he has some good candidates for the Animal Control Officer position and he will be scheduling interviews the first of January.
Chief Grovo commented on the great job our Public Works crew is doing with the roads and he wished everyone happy holidays.
Selectman Emery expressed a Merry Christmas to everyone from the Board. He said it has been a good year for the Town and the Board is very grateful not only to the people in this room but to all of the people who work for the Town of Buxton that have done an excellent job this year and made the Board very proud.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 7:34 PM
Approved 4-0-1
| 
