Town of Buxton
Minutes for January 14, 2015 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Clifford L. Emery, Jean C. Harmon, Penny J. Booker, Peter E. W. Burns, Dennis P. Santolucito
Others Present: None
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
The meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM.
Chairman Emery led the recital.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes January 7, 2015
Approved 5-0
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
The Town Farm Park Trustees came in and talked with the Board about the dugouts at the softball field and what needs to be done. Selectman Booker is now going to contact representatives from the Softball Association to set up a meeting hopefully in the next two weeks so the Board can go over this with them along with the Trustees.
At 5:50 Tashia Pinkham, our Recreation Director, met with the Board to go over some questions they had about the Wellness Program that she runs for Town employees and how that works. Selectman Emery said it was very informative.
At 6:00 PM Chief Grovo came in.
The Board went into Executive Session at 6:23 PM per 1 M.R.S.A. 405 (6) (A) on a personnel matter. The Board came out of Executive Session at 6:40 PM.
Selectman Harmon mentioned a conversation she and Selectman Booker had with Nate Schools regarding a recent York County EMA meeting he attended. Chief Schools met the new York County EMA Director, Art Cleaves, and wanted some information about our National Incident Management System. Selectman Harmon gave Chief Schools a book the Board has with information about that.
- Email from Michael Moreau, Maine DOT – Re: Maine DOT Paving Operations for 2015
- Email from Geoff Herman, Maine Municipal Association – Re: Review of Governor LePage’s Proposed State Budget
Selectman Emery said the Board will take a look at it and see how it affects us. There are some drastic changes that the Governor would like to see on the money that we have been receiving from the state that we will no longer receive. He said it looks like the Board is going to have to make some trips up to the State House this year to be vocal about that.
- Email from John L. Myers, Jr., Buxton Town Clerk – Re: Dog Licenses for 2015
- Press Release from the Maine Coalition to Stop Smart Meters – Re: Appeal to Law Court for Independent Decision on safety of Smart Meters
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Santolucito attended the Municipal Meeting that SAD 6 hosted last evening. He reported that it was a good meeting and said the more Budget Advisory Committee meetings he attends the more he sees there are a lot of challenges the school faces with unfunded mandates and things they are required to do. He said it looks like it is going to be a very challenging year again. He said he thinks they are very transparent and said everything is out there for people to see.
Selectman Harmon reported that a group of second graders came in to Town Hall last Friday on a field trip. She and Selectman Burns were here when the group went into the Selectmen’s Office. She thanked John Myers, the Transfer Station and Police Department for spending time talking with the children and explaining what goes on in their departments.
Selectman Harmon also attended the Municipal Meeting at SAD 6 last night. She said it was a good meeting, and very well-attended. She said there were officials there from almost every town except Limington. She talked about the representatives who were there and some of the conversation they had. Representative Valentino asked for input and specific
information and Selectman Harmon said it was good to start the dialogue about some of the challenges we are facing.
Selectman Booker followed up about the Municipal Meeting last night and spoke at length about the meeting. She said what she appreciated the most is that the Municipal Officers, the School District, and Representatives from the State are all in contact, communicating with each other and finding out what each other’s needs are. She talked about specific information the representatives asked for and said it was good communication. She said everyone can feel comfortable that they can contact their representatives whenever they want. They are very available and they want to hear from everybody.
Selectman Booker said she read the overview of the Governor’s proposed budget and said she did not see much that she enjoyed reading. She added that as one of the representatives said, there will be a lot of work to do on it. Selectman Booker tracks insurance monthly and said she has been putting in information to bring that up to date to make sure we are on track with what we budgeted. She found it to be right where it should be and said she is comfortable with that.
Selectman Burns also commented on the Municipal Meeting and said he thanked the 4 representatives for coming. The meeting started at 7:00 PM and he said they did not leave until around 9:30 so it was a lot out of their personal time. He said it is extremely important that people contact their state representatives. He talked briefly about the Governor’s proposed budget and said he agreed that the Board is probably going to have to take some trips to Augusta to do some testifying because the financing for the schools and towns does not look good.
Selectman Burns already started preparing some of the budget items that he is responsible for and said that he enjoyed meeting with the second graders that came in on a field trip.
Selectman Emery attended the Planning Board Meeting Monday night and presented the road ordinance updates that he has been working on. The meeting went well and he said the Planning Board and Board of Selectmen are setting up a Public Hearing for Monday, February 9. They are doing that together so they only have to hold one Public Hearing instead of two.
Selectman Emery said he talked with the Public Works Director about an issue with one of the trucks and with the backhoe. Selectman Emery asked him to put together a 2-3 year capital improvement plan to submit with his budget to see what needs to be done over the next couple of years. He talked with another Department Head about the same thing and said the Board is going to ask all the Department Heads to do the same thing so they can get things prioritized.
Selectman Emery mentioned that the Board needs to meet with the Budget Committee soon. After a brief conversation about their Workshop Tuesday night, the Selectmen agreed that they will be ready to meet with the Budget Committee at 6:30 PM next Wednesday night to share their expectations.
None
None
E.O. 141501010 – An order to approve Beverly Gammon’s attendance at a Maine Welfare Directors Association GA Basics Workshop
Approved 5-0
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 141501008 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #064 in the amount of $602,002.27
Approved 5-0
E.O. 141501009 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #063 in the amount of $50,402.39
Approved 5-0
- Next Meeting of the Board
Board of Selectmen meeting Tuesday, January 20 for a Workshop
Board of Selectmen meeting with Budget Committee Wednesday, January 21 at 6:30 PM
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, January 21 at 7:00 PM
SAD 6 Budget Advisory Committee Meeting Thursday, January 15 at 6:30 PM at Central Office
Buxton Town Office will be closed Monday, January 19 and the Transfer Station will be closed Tuesday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
There will be no change in the Curbside Pick-up Schedule
Please remember to sign up for Rescue Subscriptions for 2015. Our Rescue Subscriptions cover the period beginning January 1 and ending December 31 each year. You can subscribe at any time during the year but all subscriptions will expire on December 31.
- Public Comments and Questions
None
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting at 7:28 PM
Approved 5-0
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