Town of Buxton
Minutes for April 9, 2014 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: Dave Harmon, Robert Elwell, R. Shiloh & Julie Hagerman and crew
Public Hearing on Liquor License Renewal for CHAPS, LLC – 7:00 PM
The Board opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 PM and Chairman Emery explained that they asked the Fire Chief and Code Enforcement Officer to take a look at the establishment to review what items had or had not been corrected since they last met with the owner in December when the owners were making changes upstairs.
Next, Fred Farnham, our CEO, and Nate Schools, Fire-Rescue Chief each talked about areas of concern and things that are not up to code. Fred Farnham ‘s biggest concern is with a handrail going to the second floor that needs a return, steps outside leading up to the deck that need handrails installed, the overall integrity of the deck itself and use.
Chairman Emery explained that the Board is responsible for looking beyond just the sale of liquor to make certain that the building is kept up to code and making sure that people who frequent the establishment are kept as safe as possible.
Chief Nate Schools outlined things that have been taken care of and mentioned other items that need to be addressed including the local alarm that needs to be tied into a monitoring system with an alarm company and into the dispatch center. He referred to the NFPA Fire Codes and saw a wire in the stairwell that had been cut and was not capped off. The sprinkler system needs to be tested, and Chief Schools expressed his concern with a gas grill on the deck that is in violation of NFPA safety code. In closing he said the whole group has been open to changes that have been asked of them and he has no problem working with them.
Police Chief Grovo spoke briefly and said the police have not had many calls there and what they have had were not that serious. He said he has not placed any restrictions on this establishment.
Following that there was some discussion between the Board, Fred Farnham and the owner, Shiloh Hagerman about overflow parking and how it might relate to the building capacity. Fred Farnham explained how to calculate the building’s capacity and the owner said he has had that checked.
Mr. Hagerman spoke to the issues that have been identified and said they have made a concerted effort to do things right. He mentioned training coming up soon and said he will be partnering with other bars in the area to get as many of their bartenders trained as possible. He also said he has
plans to shut the bar down for a week this summer to take care of maintenance that includes items mentioned by Code Enforcement and Fire.
Chairman Emery closed by saying that the Board is pleased that the owners take their responsibilities seriously and are working with the Town to make sure everything is up to code.
There were no other comments or questions and the Board closed the Public Hearing at 7:24 PM.
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The meeting was called to order at 7:28 PM.
Selectman Emery led the recital of the Pledge.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes April 2, 2014
Approved 3-0-2
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
The Selectmen went through their budget. They met with the Police Chief to talk about the meeting tonight and went over a few budget issues.
The Board discussed Pleasant Point Park and some of the issues down there. They are going to put together a meeting between the Trustees, the Board, and the Police Chief before they open up the park for spring.
The Selectmen met with the Fire Chief and Fred Farnham to discuss their inspection of Chap’s and the Public Hearing tonight.
The Board talked about capital items that will be in the Warrant and other budget items. Selectman Emery said the Board will present the Admin Budget at the Budget Committee Meeting next Tuesday night; they will probably workshop once more then meet for the last time with the Budget Committee.
None
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Burns reported that he and Selectman Booker attended the Budget Advisory Committee’s joint meeting at Central Office last week when the preliminary draft of the school budget was presented for next year. The overall budget proposed is increasing 2.4% to $45,622,550. Buxton’s share will increase 1.5% from 27.449% to 27.87% of the budget. As it stands right now and if no changes are made Buxton’s share will increase by $270,852.00 which is a 4.5% increase over last year so next year we will pay the school $6,289,972.00
Selectman Burns said he attended the Board Workshop Tuesday night from 5:00 until 6:45PM, then went in to the Budget Committee Meeting until after 8:00 PM. Aside from meetings, he has been in the office every day working on budgets.
Selectman Booker reported on the Board’s meeting with Tripp Technology who has joined forces with Biz Compass. They made a presentation updating the Board on how that works for them and also gave the Board an update on what they have to do with our hardware and software to upgrade from Windows XP.
Selectman Booker attended the Budget Advisory Committee meeting and said the following day she and Selectman Burns had a good discussion about the school budget. She has been reviewing more applications for the Transfer Station. Selectman Booker talked about a meeting with Mr. Appleby to discuss the town’s water testing. There was some concern with the amount of testing but he explained that a lot had to be done up front and now that this has been taken care of and our water tested fine, they will pick and choose different things to test each year; so there will not be as much cost going forward. Selectman Booker also reported attending the Board Workshop and the Budget Committee Meeting after that.
Selectman Harmon reported that she has mostly been going over the Warrant and budget numbers. She said she appreciated Selectman Booker looking over the Warrant as well.
Selectman Harmon said at the Board workshop last night the Selectmen talked about capital items in the budget and where they would take that money from and made a couple of adjustments to the Warrant. They will be making a couple of adjustments to the Administrative budget that they discussed tonight and Selectman Harmon said each of the Selectmen has a copy of the second draft of the Warrant to go through.
Selectman Harmon said she is not very encouraged by the school budget but thanked Selectman Burns for the news. There was some discussion among the Board about the date of the district meeting and when people can vote on that.
Selectman Harmon closed by saying she is spending most of her time on budgets and the Warrant.
Selectman Emery was in last week and went over some things that are going in the Town Report. He was in Monday for a short period of time. On Tuesday the Selectmen met early then went to the Budget Committee meeting last night. Last week he finished reviewing applications for the Transfer Station position and said the Board needs to get on top of that as soon as they can.
Selectman Emery said everyone has been working hard on budgets. Everything is done and they are just putting it all together now to see where things are and see if they need to go through budgets again and make any changes before they meet with the Budget Committee for the final time.
Selectman Emery reported that the Board made the decision today to put an article in the Warrant for the cost to take down the old town garage. He has an estimate for demolition cost and said the Town needs to raise the money to do that. The money will be taken from Undesignated Surplus. The Board has some different options but they need to take the old building down before they can do anything with the property. He explained how they will dismantle the building and haul away everything except the cement pad, rear concrete wall and part of an end wall. The Board thought they might use the building but water is leaking in everywhere and Selectman Emery said there is no way to keep water out any more so it is of no use to the Town.
None
Selectman Harmon reported that Buxton Center Elementary School will be open July 7 through August 8 for anyone age 18 or younger to participate in a summer feeding program where breakfast and lunch will be provided. She said this is a program the school has secured through federal money. She said they have done it in the past in other schools. She said she is not sure how successful those programs were but this will coordinate with the Summer Rec Program and any summer school that anyone needs to attend. It will be open to anyone age 18 and under. They are hoping that this will be a huge success. As time gets closer, they will be talking about it more.
E.O. 131404008 – An order to appoint Fred A. Farnham to the position of Code Enforcement Officer effective until April 30, 2015. Approved 4-0-
E.O. 131404009 – An order to appoint Fred A. Farnham to the position of Building Inspector effective until April 30, 2015. Approved 4-0-1
E.O.131404010 – An order to appoint Fred A. Farnham to the position of Plumbing Inspector effective until April 30, 2015. Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131404011 – An order to appoint Peter Gordon to the position of Deputy Code Enforcement Officer effective until April 30, 2015. Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131404012 – An order to appoint Peter Gordon to the position of Deputy Building Inspector effective until April 30, 2015. Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131404013 – An order to appoint Peter Gordon to the position of Deputy Plumbing Inspector effective until April 30, 2015. Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131404014 – An order to approve 16 hours of vacation time for Greg Heffernan.
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131404015 – An order to approve an Application for Veteran Exemption for [Map 6, Lot 75]. Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131404016 – An order to appoint Michael Robinson to the position of Trustee of Pleasant Point Park to be effective until December 31, 2016. Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 131404017 – An order to approve a Poverty Abatement for case number PA 14-001.
Approved 4-0-1
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O. 131404018 – An order to approve the application for a Liquor License renewal for Julie & R. Shiloh Hagerman doing business as CHAPS, LLC. Approved 4-0-1
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E. O. 131404006 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #89. Approved 4-0-1
E. O. 131404007– An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #88.
Approved 4-0-1
- Next Meeting of the Board
Budget Committee Meeting for Workshop Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 6:30 PM at the EMA building
Planning Board meeting Monday, April 14, 2014 at 7:00 PM
Budget Committee Meeting Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 6:30 PM at Buxton Town Hall
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 7:00 PM
Public Hearing Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at 7:00 PM regarding a Liquor License Application renewal for Skip’s Lounge located at 288 Narragansett Trail, Buxton
There will be a Budget Advisory Committee Meeting Thursday, April 10, 2014 from 5:30 -9:00 PM at Central Office.
Twelve Town Group Meeting Monday, April 14, 2014 at 6:30 PM at Waterboro Town Hall
Selectman Emery asked Selectman Burns if the Superintendent has scheduled a time to present the budget to the towns. Selectman Burns said the Superintendent used to do that but it was stopped. He said he will ask about that at the next meeting with the school.
There will be a Community Potluck lunch Friday, April 11, 2014 at 11:30 AM at the Buxton Town Hall. Contact Tashia Pinkham, Recreation Director at 207-929-8381 for more information.
Selectman Harmon mentioned that last week Buxton’s oldest resident, Vivian Emery passed away. The Board presented her with the Boston Post Cane this past fall in what Selectman Harmon described as a very lively ceremony. Selectman Harmon said she will be missed.
- Public Comments and Questions
Robert Elwell went to the podium and asked some questions about the school budget meetings. Selectman Burns explained the process.
Mr. Elwell asked about money that the school received back from the state last year. Selectman Burns explained how much money there was, where it came from and what the school did with it. He had asked Mr. Brockman to keep the money in a separate line item in the budget so we could keep track of that money. Mr. Brockman’s plan was to dole it out over several years but Mr. Burns said a couple of weeks ago all the money was applied to reduce the increase for everyone next year.
Robert Elwell asked if we are going to get a credit for it and Mr. Burns replied that the increase to the Town of Buxton is going to be 4.5% as opposed to something the might have been more than that. Mr. Elwell asked if anything has been done to prevent that from happening again and Selectman Burns explained that we have no control over that because it is the State.
Selectman Emery provided some insight on where the money the State gave back came from and talked about a much larger increase in the school budget that is likely to happen next year.
Robert Elwell asked about the ISO Fire Protection Class Rating and Selectman Emery said work on that has been an ongoing thing. The Fire Chief explained the whole process when he presented his budget to the Budget Committee. Selectman Burns added that Chief Schools is talking about having ISO come in the fall of 2014 to do their review.
There were no more comments or questions.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 7:56 PM
Approved 4-0-1
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