Town of Buxton
Minutes for July 2, 2014 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Clifford L. Emery, Penny J. Booker, Peter E. W. Burns, Dennis P. Santolucito
Jean C. Harmon was not present
Others Present: Chief Mike Grovo
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM.
Chairman Emery took a few minutes to welcome home Jamie Grant and the rest of the 133 who came home after an 11 month tour of duty in Afghanistan. The Board wants Jamie to know that they and the citizens of this community are very proud of the work he and his comrades did there. The Board is glad that he is home safe and looks forward to seeing him soon.
Chairman Clifford L. Emery led the pledge.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes June 25, 2014
No vote taken because there was not a quorum.
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
The Police Chief came in and went over some issues. He and the Fire Chief were there and talked with the Board about the antenna on the EMA building and the antenna system that is going to go up in the Chicopee area. The equipment has been ordered and the Board is moving forward with that.
The Selectmen gave the “okay” on the new fire truck. Chief Schools has been talking with three different companies on that and made a choice that the Board was comfortable with so the truck will be ordered and that project will be moving along.
Also, the Fire Department will be going out to bid on sealcoating at the three fire stations. That project was approved at Town Meeting.
Selectman Emery said a lady who lives up at Bonny Eagle Pond had called in about some concerns she has with the boat launch there. He and Selectman Burns and the Public Works Director will be going up to take a look at that.
The Selectmen also talked about a Workshop and agreed to meet for a Workshop on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at 6:00 PM.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Santolucito said he is still trying to read, learn, and understand what is going on.
Selectman Burns was in Monday and Tuesday going over mail. He met with Chief Schools on both days talking about several projects they are working on. He spoke with Chief Grovo on one of the days he was in, and talked with Chet on other projects going on at Town Hall.
Selectman Booker said she has been sitting in on some of the discussions that Peter Burns talked about. She talked with Selectman Emery about some items for the Workshop and followed up to double check on the date on the OTT Agreement because our cost should be going down. She wants to keep an eye on that to make sure that happens.
Selectman Booker mentioned a letter that came through from the Animal Welfare Society and said our Animal Control Officer has a copy of the letter that talks about the availability of reduced fees for low income families for spaying and neutering animals. Anyone interested in more information on that should contact our Animal Control Officer at 207-929-5151.
Selectman Emery came in a few times last week and talked with Selectman Booker about items for discussion at the Board’s upcoming Workshop. He said he followed up with our attorney and received a Quit Claim Deed for the property the Town voted to turn over to the church at Buxton Center.
Selectman Emery said he also talked with Chief Schools about the antenna program that was approved at Town Meeting. He talked with Tom Kennie, our Public Works Director, about some projects he has going on, and a couple of things the Board wanted him to look into.
Selectman Emery said things are running smoothly and he has no major concerns about anything. He gave credit for that to the employees of the Town who he said do a fine job making this community work on a daily basis.
Demolition of old Town Garage – Selectman Emery said the Board wants to work on this at their upcoming Workshop.
Davis Road in Chicopee – The Selectmen are getting all the information together and will be going in to talk with the Town’s attorney about it. He said he will work on getting the finding of facts together that came out of when that subdivision was put into place so the rest of the Board can review it and determine what is pertinent when they meet next Tuesday night.
Selectman Booker said she noted that the Board needs to keep track of appointments that need to be made to some boards and committees. Selectman Emery talked briefly about the number of members on the Planning Board in light of the recent Charter change and whether there should be 7 or 5 members.
He also mentioned an individual who asked to be appointed to the School Board. The Board had to post the vacancy before they could make an appointment. They have done so and agreed to move forward with the appointment after Selectman Emery gets input from Selectman Harmon.
Selectman Santolucito resigned from the Appeals Board leaving a vacancy there as well. He asked for anyone who is interested in serving on the Appeals Board to please come forward and let the Board know.
E.O. 141507003 – An order to approve 11 hours of vacation time for John Myers
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 141507004 – An order to approve 8.75 hours of vacation time for Charisse Keach
The Board held this order; no vote taken
E.O. 141507005 – An order to approve 8 hours of vacation time for Nathan Schools
Approved 4-0-1
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 131407018 - An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant numbers 114 and 115
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 141507001 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #002
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 141507002 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #001
Approved 4-0-1
- Next Meeting of the Board
Public Hearing Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at 7:00 PM on adoption of the MMA Model Ordinance GA Appendix A
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at 7:10 PM or immediately following the Public Hearing
Board of Selectmen Meeting Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 6:00 PM for a Workshop
Buxton Town Hall will be closed Friday for the 4th of July holiday. The Transfer Station will be open as usual on Saturday, July 5. There will be no change in the curbside trash pick-up schedule.
The Summer Library Program has started. It is at the Buxton Center Elementary School on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 PM.
Selectman Booker announced that the Food Cupboard that was at Plummer’s is moving into the garage by the Buxton Center Baptist Church and expects to be open Wednesday July 16, 2014 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM.
- Public Comments and Questions
Chief Grovo went over call numbers for the 330 calls that came in last week.
He then talked about the first meeting he held with residents last week at the Chicopee Fire Station to start the Neighborhood Watch Program. More than 40 people attended and he feels that number will continue to grow. The next meeting will be held at the church in Chicopee on Thursday, July 31, 2014 because they anticipate more people. Chief Grovo said some people have stepped forward to take on certain responsibilities and he expects to see this grow from there. He said this should help reduce crime in that area and bring people closer together so they can watch their neighbors and know each other.
Chief Grovo talked about two recent robberies. He read a Press Release on one of the robberies that occurred on June 18 at a residence on Parker Farm Road announcing the arrest of two individuals by the Buxton Police Department in conjunction with the York County Sheriff’s Office. He read details of the robbery and the investigation leading to the arrest of the two individuals who were identified.
Chief Grovo said there was another robbery on June 17. The police know who that is and there are warrants out for the arrest of these people. He expects this case to be solved once these individuals have been arrested. Chief Grovo explained that many of these crimes are drug related and creating the Community Watch should help a lot of people know what is going on in the community and help them communicate information to the right people in a faster way.
Selectman Emery explained that these were not random crimes. In each case people knew each other and they were specifically targeted because of information one had about the other. He stressed that people in the area should not feel threatened from these individuals because they were not randomly breaking into homes, they went to two specific homes for specific reasons.
Chief Grovo added that these were two homes that were specifically picked out because of information that the suspects had about them.
Selectman Emery asked Chief Grovo about Pleasant Point Park.
Chief Grovo said he has been down there several times and it has been very busy. He said a lot of people seem to be using the area and it looks good at this time. He wants people to know that the Police are doing details down there and are watching closely.
Selectman Emery said the Public Works crew will be picking up the trash in the Park 2 to 3 times a week.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 7:30 PM
Approved 4-0-1
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