Town of Buxton
Minutes for May 20, 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: Randall P. Segler, Bill Thompson, David A. Fogg, Anthony S. Fusco, Charles Schaefer, Betty Schaefer
Public Hearing 7:00 PM – Secret Ballot Articles for June 9, 2015 Annual Town Meeting
Before opening the Public Hearing, Selectman Harmon asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. After reciting the Pledge, Selectman Harmon read the Public Hearing Notice. The Board voted to open the hearing at 7:01 PM.
Selectman Harmon read each of the Secret Ballot Articles. Selectman Burns explained the proposed changes in Article 3 and Selectman Harmon explained the proposed changes in Articles 4 through 9 then opened the hearing up for public comments.
Property owner David Fogg, co-owner Anthony Fusco, and Bill Thompson from BH2M Engineers each spoke and explained why they are opposed to prohibiting construction of single-family homes in the Business Commercial District on Route 202.
The Selectmen explained that they are doing their best to think strategically about the future and act in the best interest of the community. The Business Commercial District was voted in by the people years ago and the Board also believes this is the best use for that area and where we want to keep traffic going.
Mr. Fusco asked if the town would get more taxes from homeowners or businesses and the Selectmen said the Town would get at least twice as much in taxes from a business.
There were no more comments or questions and the Public Hearing was closed at 7:40 PM.
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
Selectman Harmon called the meeting to order at 7:41 PM.
The Pledge was recited earlier.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes May 13, 2015
Approved 4-0-1
- Discussion held between 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:00 our Recreation Director, Tashia Pinkham, came in to let the Board know that the Town of Buxton received a Coastal Healthy Community Coalition worksite Wellness Recognition Award along with a check for $400. Selectman Harmon said the Board has not decided what they will use that money for.
The Board talked about the S. D. Hanson Scholarship and the Elvry Churchill Scholarship that the Town administers each year and made a selection for the S. D. Hanson Scholarship that will be given to the student at graduation on June 5.
The Selectmen talked about the Fire Department and two trucks they are having issues with. Selectman Emery spoke with the Fire Chief about what the issues are and the Chief is going to go ahead and get the repairs done.
The Board talked about the Internal Control Document. Selectman Santolucito has taken on the task of reviewing this document and notes the other Selectmen have made and will give the Selectmen his thoughts so the Board can get that project back in motion and finalized.
The Board also talked about LD 1082 which is the Bill that would allow Frye Island to not contribute to the SAD 6 appropriation. As it currently stands there has been a resolve that Frye Island and SAD 6 need to come to some sort of agreement to negotiate in good faith what their contribution should be.
Selectman Burns explained that the report has to be given to the Legislature by January 1, 2016, and if the district and Frye Island cannot come to a resolve and some agreement, the Education Committee said they will resolve it. Selectman Burns said we do not know what the result will be but that is the direction it is going in right now.
Selectman Harmon said this is something the Board is very passionate about. The Selectmen sent out letters last week to the Education Committee and feel that it is good to keep the issue in the forefront of the Committee’s mind and to let them know that the impact to the Town of Buxton would be devastating financially for us.
Selectman Burns went on to say that the Board had a long discussion about school assessments and the effect of the increases over the last 10 years to the Town. Our contribution has gone from 4.9 million dollars to over 6.6 million dollars and at the same time the Town has kept the same level of undesignated surplus. The Town’s accountant tells the Board that the municipality should carry at least 90 days’ worth of cash to cover expenses. Selectman Burns said the Town has been carrying the same amount of money but just the school’s portion has gone up that much. He is of the opinion that the Town needs to carry a little bit more because we do not have 90 days’ worth of surplus. He said the Board needs to discuss this more and decide what they are going to do and
how much out of the undesignated surplus they normally take to offset increases to our tax rate. He said the Board took a lot of time looking at those numbers and trying to understand them and this is a discussion they need to have.
- Legislative Bulletin No 18 from Maine Municipal Association
Selectman Harmon gave a summary of some of the Legislative issues including the former “Circuit Breaker Program” now known as the Income Tax Fairness Credit. According to the article she read, the program is not being utilized as the State intended it to be and less than half of the money the State set aside for this has been returned to taxpayers. She encouraged people to apply for the credit if they are eligible.
- A “Thank You” note from a resident – Re: Recent fire at Frugal Farmer
- Maine Public Health Alerts from Maine CDC – Re: Increase in Group A Strep Infections and Varicella Update
- Email from Maine Municipal Association Nomination Committee – Re: Proposed Slate for MMA Vice President and Executive Committee Members
- Email from Time Warner Cable – Re: Programming Notice
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Santolucito reported that he attended the SAD 6 meeting last night. He spoke briefly about LD 1082 and the discussion at that meeting about the impact it would have on the towns in the district. He mentioned the district budget meeting next Thursday the 28th at 7:00 PM at Bonny Eagle Middle School Gymnasium and urged everyone to get out to vote.
Selectman Burns was in Monday and Tuesday checking on mail. He also met with Chet Ouellette to get an update on some projects he is doing. Selectman Burns talked about the district budget meeting and reminded us that the turnout last year was pathetic. He talked
about the process of voting on each of the Articles and said if the budget passes as is, the increase to Buxton will be $282,088, a 4.7% increase. The overall school budget increase is 2.8%. He encouraged people again to go to the meeting and learn how their money is being spent. Buxton’s Secret Ballot vote will be on June 9 and the Town Meeting will start at 9:00 AM the following Saturday.
Selectman Booker also attended the SAD 6 meeting last night. She mentioned that the Board was told last week that the Education Committee had another workshop on LD 1082 and the Committee was disappointed that there were no representatives there from the school district because Frye Island had hired a lobbyist who was there. She said it was the Board’s understanding that people do not get to speak at workshops and we had three Representatives in the room. She was disappointed that the Committee had that kind of reaction and said the Selectmen could not go to a 1:30 PM workshop in Augusta on a Wednesday and be back here by 4:00 PM for their meeting. She talked about the letter the Board sent to the Committee explaining why they could not be there and various meetings they did
attend and said the Board does still care about what is going on with that.
Selectman Booker shared an update on the Bar Mills Bridge project and work that has been done there.
Selectman Harmon spoke about the SAD 6 meeting last night and she said even though the overall school budget increase is only 2.8% and Buxton’s share is 4.8% when you look at that big number, it is scary.
Selectman Harmon reported that the Auditor has been at the Town Office today doing some work. She talked about the Solid Waste Survey regarding a curbside recycling program she spoke about last week, and said people may see it out on the counter at Town Hall or on the website. Greg Heffernan, our Solid Waste Manager put the survey out asking people what their interest is in the program. He has already received a significant number of surveys back. If you did not get one yet, you can pick one up at the Transfer Station, at Town Hall or you can log onto our website. Selectman Harmon reported that she talked with Chet Ouellette about calling the contractor to find out when his crew is coming to mow the lawn. She found out that he is scheduled to come out this week to
mow.
Selectman Harmon told us that a few weeks back Patrick Bonsant, Station Manager at Saco River Community TV, came over to do a public service announcement about the Transfer Station. People can see it on the local cable channel or there is a link on the Town website. She said it is a short filming of the Transfer Station and Patrick Bonsant did a fantastic job narrating. She thanked Darren Mercier and Tom Meserve for not being camera shy. It was a day when Greg Heffernan was out on vacation and Selectman Harmon said both Darren and Tom did a great job.
Selectman Burns said he agrees it is really a good film. He said the guys at the Transfer Station always have a smile on their faces and did a great job. He encouraged people to watch it.
None
None
None
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 141505013 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #100. Approved 4-0-1
The amount was $588,318.08.
E.O. 141505014 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #099. Approved 4-0-1
The amount was $47,613.87.
- Next Meeting of the Board
The Selectmen will normally meet and hold office hours 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 made with the Secretary of the Board.
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, May 27 at 7:00 PM
Planning Board Meeting Tuesday, May 26 at 7:00 PM
SAD 6 District Budget Meeting Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 PM at the Bonny Eagle Middle School Gymnasium
The Municipal Office will be closed Monday, May 25 to observe Memorial Day.
The Transfer Station will be closed on Tuesday, May 26. There will be no change in the curbside trash pick-up schedule.
- Public Comments and Questions
None
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 PM
Approved 4-0-1
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