Town of Buxton
Minutes for May 13, 2015 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Jean C. Harmon, Peter E. W. Burns, Penny J. Booker, Dennis P. Santolucito
Clifford L. Emery was absent
Others Present: Michael Grovo
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
Vice Chairman, Jean Harmon, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Selectman Burns led the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes May 13, 2015
Approved 3-0-2
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Chief Schools came in unexpectedly around 4:20 and provided the Board with an update on what is happening with the sprinkler system at Skip’s Lounge. Chief Schools also talked with the Board about his Administrative Assistant leaving and posting for that job. Selectman Harmon said Jen Barschdorf has been here almost 8 years; we will miss her, and wish her well. The Board talked with Chief Schools briefly about temporarily filling that position in-house.
Chief Schools also gave the Board an update on the new fire truck that is being built. The Chief and one of the deputies are going down to inspect it the last week of May and the truck should arrive here around the first week of June.
Chief Schools updated the Board on ISO and how that is coming along and the Board also talked with the Chief about property and business inspections his crew has been doing.
After that Chief Grovo came in and gave the Selectmen an update on what is happening in that Department.
At 5:30 the Board had Charisse Keach, our Treasurer, come in. Several weeks back Frank Guidi came in and gave the Board a proposal on a new dental program. Selectman Harmon said she asked Charisse do some comparisons with our present plan and another plan the Board had been presented with. The Selectmen talked with her about that, asked questions, and the Board is having Charisse do a memo to employees to get their feedback on that.
Selectman Emery stopped in on his way to the York County Budget Committee Meeting and started drafting a letter to the Education Committee regarding LD 1082, the Bill that would allow Frye Island to not pay their portion for SAD 6. The Board received an email from Representative Don Marean expressing disappointment that no one from this Board or the School Board was represented at the recent committee workshop and Selectman Emery is drafting a response to that message.
After that the Board discussed the wording of the Rules of the Board and talked about the purchase of portable microphones that he has been working on getting for Town Meeting.
The Board also discussed the recent copy of Focus on Finance from SAD 6. The Selectmen were trying to figure out how some of the numbers were arrived at. Selectman Burns said they finally figured it out.
- Legislative Bulletin No. 17 from Maine Municipal Association
- Email from a resident – Re: Poland Spring (Nestle) truck traffic on River Road
Selectman Harmon said that the resident is concerned about tractor trailer trucks coming up Route 112 and trucks turning left to go over the bridge in West Buxton, and the condition of the roads due to the wear and tear of these vehicles driving that route. Selectman Harmon said she thinks the Board should draft a letter to let the resident know that the Board hears his concerns but there is not a lot they (the Board) can do. The writer suggested that these are all Poland Spring trucks but Selectman Harmon said the Board is not sure anyone can truly identify all the tractor trailer trucks as doing business with Poland Spring. Selectman Harmon said the Board will get an answer back to the person who wrote the email.
- Email from the SAD 6 Business Office – Re: Focus on Finance
- Email from Dave Francoeur, Deputy Director York County EMA – Re: 2015 Public Officials Workshop June 2
- Emails from Dave Francoeur, Deputy Director, York County EMA – Re: EMA Director’s Meeting and NIMS Alert 02-15
Selectman Harmon said that her only concern is that when we have hurricanes or other storms with possible power outages, the Town of Buxton is serviced out of the Portland District instead of Alfred, so it makes it difficult when there are conference calls and they are talking to CMP about what their plans are should the power go out.
- Email from Bonita Pothier from Senator Angus King’s Office – Re: Press Release
Selectman Harmon explained that Senator King and Senator Collins and a group of 59 of their colleagues sent a letter to the FCC regarding modernization of rules to ensure that Americans in rural areas have access to affordable Broadband services
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Santolucito reported that he was in last night working with the Public Works Director, Tom Kennie, doing interviews. He said there are three good candidates and the Board will be making a decision on that sometime next week.
Selectman Santolucito mentioned that next week there is a meeting scheduled with the Budget Advisory Committee and the Finance Committee of SAD 6.
Selectman Burns attended the Twelve Town Group Meeting Monday night and reported that they talked about the proposed survey the twelve towns will be sending out to find out peoples’ interest in Broadband. He explained that this is high-speed, in the 100 gigabyte area Broadband and it is not what you can buy currently from the local cable company. He expects the survey will be going out in the next week or two and said this is an issue the group will continue to pursue. Sheriff Bill King and his “right hand man” will be at the next Twelve Town Group Meeting talking to the group about the deputies doing rural patrol and other things.
Selectman Burns reported that he also was here last night to interview applicants for Public Works.
Selectman Booker reported that she attended the public hearing the Planning Board had Monday night regarding land on Route 202 that is zoned for business commercial. She explained that there is a group that wants to put houses there and the Selectmen have proposed to eliminate that opportunity. Selectman Booker said she spoke at the hearing and her point was that except that the Board is trying to eliminate the opportunity for residential development they are really not changing what the voters wanted. They (voters) already voted that the best use of that property is for business commercial. Selectman Booker said the Board is just trying to make everybody aware that this situation has come up and they are going to have another opportunity to vote on it and speak again as to
whether that is what they want or not. She said she feels that it is the Board’s responsibility to see what is best for the whole town and it seems like the best use of that particular part of town is commercial.
Selectman Booker said she was here for the interviews last night. She then went on to talk about tracking LD 1082 and waiting to see when the workshop was. She said the Selectmen were told that the lobbyist for Frye Island had gone to the last workshop which the Board considered not to be a public hearing and not a time when people were allowed to speak. Apparently that lobbyist was allowed to speak so Selectman Booker and Selectman Burns were watching for the next workshop which was scheduled for tonight. Because it interfered with the Selectmen being here for the Selectmen’s Meeting, they were unable to attend the workshop. The Board received word that the committee was disappointed that no one was there; but the Selectmen had no reason to believe that being there
would have made any difference. Selectman Booker explained that is why Selectman Emery drafted a letter to the committee.
Selectman Harmon reported she was here for the Public Works interviews and also attended the public hearing the Planning Board had Monday night. She said she did not get up and speak because Selectman Booker and Selectman Emery expressed the Board’s position and she would not have said anything different. She said this will be question 4 on the ballot and she proceeded to read the question. Selectman Harmon said the town has the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen; we do not have a town planner or a town manager and she feels that the responsibility lays with these two boards to see the future of the Town of Buxton; the voters at one point voted that Route 202 should be our business commercial zone. That is where they felt that business should come. She commented
on a statement someone made to her about businesses being all around the town and agreed that is a true statement because our current Zoning Ordinance allows businesses in certain zones with Conditional Use Permits issued by the Planning Board. The same thing with the proposal for houses being built on Route 202 is a Conditional Use Permit because it is in a business commercial zone. Currently as our zoning stands houses are allowed to be in that zone with a Conditional Use Permit. One of the speakers at the Public Hearing said he/she did not like the fact that the Board “back-dated” this. Selectman Harmon explained that the effective date falls back to the date they presented it to the Planning Board. The Board did not pick a random date and go back; they are using the date the proposed change was given to the Planning Board. Selectman Harmon said this is intended to preserve the commercial space the town has. Once you put houses
there, they are there. Selectman Harmon used the example of something like a Walmart coming in and said if other space on Route 202
becomes available and is sold, it could potentially have that kind of business on it. She said she would not want a Walmart to go in beside her house. That is why the Board feels it should bring the question to the people. Selectman Harmon said it will be voted on by the people; it is not a decision that will be made by the Selectmen.
Selectman Harmon then talked about a curbside recycling proposal that was brought to the Board a couple weeks ago by Pine Tree Waste. She said the question was asked whether or not individuals could participate in this. The Board received an answer that Pine Tree would need between 300 and 500 residents to participate and pay for a curbside recycling program. Selectman Harmon talked with Greg Heffernan, Transfer Station Manager, to find out how we could get that information out to find out if there is interest in that. He thought he would put a survey out to have available at Town Meeting and also at the Transfer Station. Selectman Harmon said a minimum of 300 people need to be willing to participate but obviously the more there are the lower the cost would
be.
None
- New Business
- Executive Orders
E.O. 141505011 – An order to approve 1.5 hours of time off without pay for Ruth Scheibenpflug
Approved 4-0-1
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O. 14105012 – An order to adopt the Rules of the Board as amended May 13, 2015
Approved 4-0-1
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 141505009 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #098. Approved 4-0-1
The amount was $106,872.47.
E.O. 141505010 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #097. Approved 4-0-1
The amount was $46,673.31.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Board of Selectmen holding a Public Hearing Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 PM on Secret Ballot Articles for the June 9, 2015 Annual Town Meeting.
The Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, May 20 will start immediately following the public hearing
SAD 6 Budget Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00 PM at the Transportation Building
There will be an American Red Cross Blood Drive at Buxton Town Hall Monday, May 18 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Please call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS for an appointment.
Selectman Harmon said one of the reasons the Selectmen amended the Rules of the Board is that on occasion there are three Selectmen in the office on a Wednesday night before 5:00 PM. They are typically there by 4:00 PM. By amending that time in the Rules of the Board, it lets people know that the Board is available for the public, employees, Department Heads, for anyone to come in if they want to. The Selectmen will normally meet on Wednesdays between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM in the Selectmen’s Office to discuss pending issues. They may make decisions and meet with townspeople, employees and others who wish to meet with the Board, preferably by appointment with the secretary of the Board.
Selectman Burns brought up again that the School Board will vote to approve the school budget warrant articles on May 18. The Focus on Finance lists all those articles. On Tuesday, May 19 the warrant will be given to the Town Clerks to be signed by them and made official. On Wednesday, May 20 there will be a public budget forum to go over that and on Thursday, May 28, at 7PM at the Bonny Eagle Middle School Gym there will be a District Budget Meeting. That is where the public has a chance to go and hear the articles as they are being voted on. Whatever number is voted on that evening is what will be presented to voters on June 9. All you will see is a question, “Do you approve the budget that was voted on May 28, 2015?”; “yes” or
“no”. You will not even see the amount. Selectman Burns said no one has the chance to complain about anything unless they go to that meeting. He (Selectman Burns) said as it stands right now, if this goes through as proposed the total increase to town of Buxton will be $283,088, a 4.47% increase. He said that is everything including Adult Ed. The town will be paying $6,609,537 for the school. That is more than 60% of our total municipal budget. That is roughly 37 to 38 cents on our mill rate just for the school budget and that is before the town spends anything. Selectman Burns said if you have something to say, go to that meeting and vote.
- Public Comments and Questions
Chief Grovo went over statistics for last week.
He informed us that there have been two confirmed cases of rabies in Buxton. One on Salmon Falls Road where bat attacked cat and the bat tested positive for rabies. The other was near 590 Parker Farm Road where a sick fox was laying in the driveway and wouldn’t leave. That also tested positive for rabies. Chief Grovo warned people to stay away from wild animals especially if they are acting strangely, and call the Maine Warden Service if it is wildlife.
Chief Grovo also cautioned people about ticks that are out in full force. He said this is going to be a bad year for ticks and urged everyone to get their animals protected.
Selectman Santolucito asked the Police Chief to remind people what the Community Cares Program is about. Chief Grovo said the program is for people who live alone that have no family or friends and no one close by to keep an eye out or check on them. He explained how the process works and told people to contact Dispatch for more information.
Selectman Burns asked about the 911 hang up calls and how those are handled. Chief Grovo and the Board talked about how some of those calls happen and the Chief told the Board that if the Department gets a 911 call, they are going to return the call and send an officer out.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 PM
Approved 4-0-1
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